Tarnished Plant Bugs

Calls are coming into the Extension Office wanting to know the identification of a small, almost yellowish brown bug on plants, houses, trees, and veggies.

Photo by Shanna Ciano

There seems to be an abundance of tarnished plant bugs or Lygus bugs.  They are relatively harmless.  When found in large numbers on veggies, consider if its getting near the end of that plants growing season.  If so, don't do anything.  If not, you may want to handpick or apply a foliar insecticide labeled for the plant when the bugs are present.

Weed management is important in reducing numbers of these guys, so be sure to take a look around and see if you are providing harborage with excessive weeds.