Tarnished Plant Bug

Tarnished Plant Bug: (Size=1/4 inch)
Called "tarnished" for its brown-coppery color, this otherwise unassuming little bug is a major pest, especially for commercial growers. The list of favorite hosts reads like catalog of agronomic crops: apples and cotton through flowers and vegetables. In other words, if it grows and you want it, tarnished plant bug probably does too. It's a pest throughout most of North America but primarily in the southeastern U.S. and California's Central Valley.

Nymphs are the more destructive stage. As they feed, they inject a toxin into the plant tissue that stunts or otherwise deforms growth. These sleek, flat insects move very quickly, and adults fly when disturbed. Adults and nymphs overwinter in weedy patches and organic debris, emerging in late spring to feed on young weeds and grasses before moving to favored crops.

Controls:
As with so many pests, control begins with a tidy garden: Keep the garden area free of weeds, and remove organic debris from the garden at the end of the season.

Use garden fabric (row cover) to protect plants, but remove it during bloom to allow access to pollinating insects.

Encourage natural enemies such as ladybugs, spiders, parasitic wasps, birds and toads.

For more specific measures to control serious outbreaks, check with your cooperative extension agent.

Ask an Expert
If you still have questions, please ask our in-house experts. Just click here to send your question by e-mail.