The western tarnished plant bug, Lygus hesperus, is one of the most devastating pests of cotton grown in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Current control recommendations call for use of broad spectrum insecticides applied early in the growing season. These applications may lead to buildup of secondary pests that subsequently require additional applications of pesticides. In an effort to determine the prevalence and distribution of entomopathogenic fungi in L. hesperus populations, a fall and spring survey was conducted across the valley and, in addition, five alfalfa and cotton fields were sampled weekly through the cotton growing season. To date, the fungus Beauveria bassiana has been found at many sites and, in one field, 65% of the collected insects were infected. Results will be presented on the impact of naturally occurring B. bassiana on L. hesperus populations through the summer, 2001 growing season.
Species 1: Hemiptera Miridae Lygus hesperus (western tarnished plant bug)
Keywords: entomopathogenic fungus, epizootiology
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA