Lygus rugulipennis

Lygus rugulipennis, common name European tarnished plant bug, is a species of plant bugs of the family Miridae.

Lygus rugulipennis
Adult of Lygus rugulipennis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Miridae
Genus:
Lygus
Species:
L. rugulipennis
Binomial name
Lygus rugulipennis
Poppius, 1911

Distribution and habitat

This common and widespread species is present in most of Europe and in the Nearctic realm.[1] These bugs mainly occur in gardens and in areas with abundant vegetation.[2]

Description
Lygus rugulipennis

Lygus rugulipennis can reach a length of 5–6 millimetres (0.20–0.24 in).[3] These small plant bugs can be identified mainly on the basis of the fine details of the corium, that in this species is very pubescent, with the space among hairs less than the length of one hair. Legs are quite bristly and wings-tips are membranous. The color pattern and markings are quite variable, ranging from purple to yellowish brown. Usually the males are more strongly marked than females, that commonly vary from dark red to light reddish-brown. Lygus rugulipennis is quite similar to Lygus pratensis and Lygus maritimus.[2][3][4]

Biology

These polyphagous bugs can be found on many plants. They may feed on Trifolium, Chenopodium, Rumex, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Urticaceae and Asteraceae species. They also feed on potatoes, cereals, alfalfa and other crops, so they are considered a very harmful pest. Adults are present all year, but they are more abundant in late summer. They usually winter in leaf litter.[2][3][5]

Bibliography
  • Nau, B. S. (2004) Identification of plantbugs in the genus Lygus in Britain
  • Jarmo K. Holopinen, Risto Rikala, Pirjo Kailunainen, Jari Oksane - Resource partitioning to growth, storageand defence in nitrogen-fertilized Scotspine and susceptibility of the seedlings to the tarnished plant bug Lygus rugulipennis
  • Jarmo K. Holopainen - Damage caused by Lygus rugulipennis Popp. (Heteroptera, Miridae), to Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings

References
  1. Fauna europaea
  2. Concise Insect Guide Bloomsbury
  3. British bugs
  4. Mohammadreza LASHKARI & Reza HOSSEINI A revised identification key to the Lygus-species in Iran (Hemiptera: Miridae)
  5. J.K.Holopainen, A. Varis Host plants of the European tarnished plant bug Lygus rugulipennis Poppius (Het., Miridae) DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0418.1991.tb00351.x


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