STUDIES ON THE ARTHROPOD FAUNA OF ALFALFA: VI. PLANT BUGS (MIRIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractThe food habits and biologies of the Miridae, or plant bugs, were studied during research on the arthropod fauna associated with alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., at Ithaca, N.Y., from 1966 to 1969. Seasonal history, population trends, and natural enemies are summarized for the following species found breeding on alfalfa: Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze), A. rapidus (Say), Lopidea marginalis (Reuter), Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), Plagiognathus chrysanthemi (Wolff), and P. politus Uhler. Field observations of predation and scavenging by mirids are reported, including feeding on the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris); potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris); and alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal). The most common sources of animal food on the plants were Hylemya flies killed by fungus, and pea aphid mummies containing pupae of aphidiine wasps. It is concluded that utilization of some animal food on their host plants is a common phenomenon among the Miridae.