Preliminary data on rearing the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris, on host plant tissues: With an emphasis on comparisons of Mississippi Delta and Hills populations

Lygus lineolaris is a major crop pest, especially of cotton, in the mid-south agricultural region of the United States. Previous research has shown that L. lineolaris does not affect cotton the same in the Delta and Hills regions of Mississippi. This study was conducted to determine if differences could be seen between L. lineolaris from these two regions of Mississippi. Comparisons were made of development time and survival of L. lineolaris reared on artificial diet, broccoli, cotton, corn, green bean, and pigweed. There was no interaction of Region*Host (df=5, 28.6, F=0.41, p=0.84). Region was not a significant factor (df=1, 6.24, F=0.41, p=0.54), however host was significant (df=5, 33.6 F=9.05, p<0.0001).