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Adults:
The tarnished plant bug is a brownish bug mottled with various shades
of reddish-brown and yellow-brown. The adult is about 1/4 inch (6
mm) long and less than half as broad, flattened, and oval in outline.
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Eggs:
Eggs are laid on herbaceous weeds, vegetables, and flowers and are
either inserted into the stems, petioles or midribs of leaves or
into buds, or among the florets of flower heads. The eggs are elongated,
slightly curved, and the outer end is square where it protrudes
from stems. Hatching occurs about 10 days after the eggs are laid. |
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Nymphs:
The eggs hatch into small greenish-yellow nymphs about 1/25 inch
(1 mm) long. These immature forms have long legs, antennae, and
piercing-sucking mouthparts. Nymphs feed constantly and are the
most destructive phase of this insect. They grow rapidly, shedding
their skin five times and gradually taking on the appearance of
the adult. After the final molt, the now-adult insect is sexually
mature with full-size wings.
The life cycle is completed in 3-4 weeks.
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Damage inflicted by tarnished plant
bug on beans
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by Section 107 of the 1976 copyright law.
Copyright is held by Cornell University.
Maintained by Jason D. Plate. Last updated Mar. 8th, 2007.
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