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BeneficialTarnished plant bug

Damsel bugs for tarnished plant bug

Nabidae (mostly Nabis spp.) · wild predator
Against tarnished plant bug

UC IPM names damsel bugs (Nabis spp.) among the naturally occurring predators of lygus bug nymphs in strawberries, with bigeyed bugs, minute pirate bugs and spiders, and Wisconsin Extension lists tarnished plant bug nymphs among their prey. Expect background predation, not control: the damage threshold for lygus in strawberry is very low, and UC IPM warns that most insecticides effective against lygus also disrupt natural enemies.

RateWild — not sold; conserve the ones already present
TimingSpring into summer, while lygus nymphs are on weeds and crops
macro · damsel bugs on tarnished plant bug
The pestTarnished plant bugLygus lineolarisCat-faced strawberries, spotted and distorted shoots, blasted budsFull pest profile →

Before you act

Slender, tan or greyish bugs with a narrow head, bulging eyes and thickened front legs held up as if lifting a skirt. Adults and nymphs hunt aphids, moth eggs, small caterpillars and plant bug nymphs in gardens and crops. How to recognise it, what it is confused with and how to keep it around are on the full Damsel bugs profile.

Other controls for tarnished plant bug

  • Big-eyed bugsWild predator · Wild — conserve the ones already present; not in commercial production as of Cornell's 2011 guide

Damsel bugs against other pests