Alfalfa Plant Bug
The alfalfa plant bug is a elongated bug with a color ranging from greenish to yellowish, with 2 dark spots on the pronotum. The scutellum is light with 2 darker, longitudinal stripes. The head is triangular, antennae and legs are long. The body length ranges from 7.5 to 9mm. The eggs overwinter in the lower parts of alfalfa stems and other leguminous plants. In May, the larvae hatch, from which adult insects develop in June. Females lay about 40 eggs in the stems. Larvae of the 2nd generation feed from mid-July to August. Adult insects appear in early September. Females lay eggs in the stems, where they overwinter. Two generations develop during the season.
Drying up and falling off of flowers
Larvae and adult insects pierce and suck juices from plants, causing discoloration, drying up, and falling off of buds, flowers, and undeveloped pods. Feeding on seeds inhibits their development. This species occurs mainly on alfalfa and other perennial leguminous plants. Effective control of the pest
It is recommended to apply agrotechnical treatments such as low mowing of plants and spatial isolation from older plantations. Pesticide spraying with products with systemic or penetrating action should be used.
