Lygus spp.
Pest description, crop damage and life history
See:
Common Pests of Vegetable Crops
Pest monitoring Sweep nets can be used to sample for lygus bugs. In the Pacific Northwest, a suggested treatment threshold is one-half adult or one-half fourth- or fifth-instar per sweep. In California, for dry beans, treatment thresholds vary depending on the variety and the stage of the crop, from one-half to two lygus bugs per sweep. In celery, treatment thresholds range from one-half to one insect per plant.
Management-biological control
Generalist predators, such as lacewings and damsel bugs, may prey on lygus bug nymphs. Conserve populations of these biological control agents by minimizing applications of broad-spectrum insecticides.
Management-cultural control
Lygus bugs are likely to move when other food sources become unsuitable. Common weeds that are good hosts of lygus bugs include pigweed and wild radish. Mowed alfalfa fields nearby are commonly a source of large numbers of lygus bug adults. A number of practices can reduce or control the movement of adults from alfalfa into nearby bean fields. These techniques leave uncut, tall alfalfa (which is attractive to lygus bug adults) within or near the cut area.
Management-chemical control: HOME USE
Follow information given on the label about the timing and cutoff date for the particular vegetable you are spraying.
- azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- carbaryl
- plant-derived essential oils (rosemary, peppermint etc.)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- pyrethrins-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- zeta-cypermethrin
Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE
- beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) at 0.019 to 0.025 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 14 days. Do not exceed 0.05 lb ai/a per season. Do not feed treated vines or hay to livestock.
- bifenthrin/imidacloprid (Brigadier) at 0.06 to 0.0875 lb ai/a. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.13 lb ai/a imidacloprid and 0.13 lb ai/a bifenthrin. Retreatment interval 7 days.
- bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/a per season.
- borate complex (Prev-Am Ultra) apply at 0.4% solution. Spray to complete coverage. REI 12 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
- Chenopodium ambrosioides extract (Requiem Prime) at 4 to 8 pints formulated product per acre. REI 4 hr. Use high rate when conditions are favorable for heavy pressure. OMRI-listed for organic use.
- cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.038 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. Retreatment interval 14 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.1 lb ai/a per season. Do not feed vines or hay.
- dimethoate (Dimethoate 4E) at 0.5 lb ai/a. PHI 14 days. REI 48 hr. Do not feed or graze treated plants. Do not exceed 1 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 7 days. Also available as SLN ID-900001, ID-980008, ID-970011, ID-860016, ID-970008, ID-860004.
- gamma-cyhalothrin (Declare) at 0.01 to 0.015 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.06 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not graze or harvest for feed. An oil or nonionic surfactant improves performance.
- lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 0.02 to 0.03 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.12 lb ai/a per season. Do not graze or harvest for feed.