Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Onion seed-Lygus bug

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Includes

Pale legume bug (Lygus elisus)
Western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus)

Pest description and crop damage Lygus bugs are Hemipteran insects with characteristic piercing-sucking mouthparts. Adults are about 0.25 inch long, half as wide, somewhat hunchbacked, flat on the abdomen, and oval in shape. Immature lygus are smaller than adults and do not have wings. Newly hatched lygus resemble aphids. Lygus bugs can feed on developing onion seed, rendering it non-viable.

Management-chemical control

  • azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5) at 7 to 16 fl oz/A (0.021 to 0.049 lb ai/A). PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. In most cases, apply at high rate. This botanical pesticide acts slowly. Spray early and check for effect. Repeat in 7 to 10 days as needed. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic production.

Kaur, N. (Ed.). 2024 Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook.
© Oregon State University.

Use pesticides safely!

  • Wear protective clothing and safety devices as recommended on the label. Bathe or shower after each use.
  • Read the pesticide label—even if you’ve used the pesticide before. Follow closely the instructions on the label (and any other directions you have).
  • Be cautious when you apply pesticides. Know your legal responsibility as a pesticide applicator. You may be liable for injury or damage resulting from pesticide use.

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