Field evaluation of the suitability of four Brassica and two Sinapis species (Brassicaceae) as host plants of Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Heteroptera: Miridae)

Abstract

The relative suitability of Sinapis alba L., Sinapis arvensis L., Brassica carinata A. Braun, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern, Brassica napus L., and Brassica rapa L. as host plants for Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) was measured by comparing the numbers of colonizing adults (first generation), nymphs (second generation), and new-generation adults (second generation) on these species in field plots during flowering and seed development in July and August 1994. The mean numbers of first-generation adults and second-generation nymphs were not significantly different on the six species of Brassica and Sinapis. The mean number of second-generation adults differed significantly on these species, but the differences were relatively small. The results indicate that the six species of Brassica and Sinapis tested are suitable host plants of L. lineolaris and have similar levels of suitability. Key words: Insecta, Miridae, Lygus lineolaris, host plants, Brassica, Sinapis