Damage: When lygus bugs feed, they damage plant cells with their piercing mouth-parts. This can result in significant injury to foliage, especially when feeding begins early and damage accumulates over the season. Symptom distribution across a field can be extensive, and is not restricted to border areas like many other insect-related symptoms.
Scientific Name:
Lygus species
Type:
Insects & Mites
Photos
An early instar lygus bug nymph (photo by Carrie Wohleb, WSU).
A late instar lygus bug nymph (photo by Carrie Wohleb, WSU).
Lygus bug feeding injury (photo by Carrie Wohleb, WSU).
Control Options for Lygus Bugs on Potatoes
| Material | Application per Acre | REI | PHI | MOA | Eff. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
esfenvalerate (Asana XL) |
5.8 to 9.6 fl oz | 12 h | 7 d | 3 | G | Lygus bugs are on the label but not in the potato section. Apply when nymphs are present if it’s before mid-June. |
|
azadirachtin (Aza-Direct) |
1-3.5 pt | 4 h | 0 d | NC | ND | Apply when nymphs are present. |
|
beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) |
See Label fl oz | 12 h | 0 d | 3 | G | Lygus bugs are on the label but not in the potato section. Apply when nymphs are present if it’s before mid-June. |
|
bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC) |
2.1-6.4 fl oz | 12 h | 21 d | 3 | G | Lygus bugs are on the label but not in the potato section. Apply when nymphs are present before mid-June. |
|
bifenthrin + imidacloprid (Brigadier) |
4.8-6.14 fl oz | 12 h | 21 d | 3, 4A | G | Apply when nymphs are present, but only if it’s before mid-June. |
|
flonicamid (Carbine 50 WG) |
2.0-2.8 oz | 12 h | 7 d | 29 | E | Apply when nymph stages are present. |
|
dimethoate (Dimethoate 400 EC) |
0.5-1.0 pt | 48 h | 0 d | 1B | G | Lygus bugs are on the label but not in the potato section. It will knockback lygus bugs, especially if applied when nymphs are present. |
|
phosmet (Imidan 70-W) |
See Label | 5 d | 7 d | 1B | G-F | Lygus bugs are on the label but not in the potato section. It can knockback lygus bugs, especially if applied when nymphs are present. |
|
methomyl (Lannate LV) |
1.5-3.0 pt | 48 h | 6 d | 1A | G | Kills lygus bugs on contact for knockback control, but it may also knockback some beneficial, predatory insects. Apply when nymphs are present for best results. |
|
beta-cyfluthrin + imidacloprid (Leverage 360) |
2.8 fl oz | 12 h | 7 d | 3, 4 | G | Apply when nymphs are present, but only if it’s before mid-June. |
|
zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang Maxx) |
3.2-4.0 fl oz | 12 h | 1 d | 3 | G | Apply when nymphs are present before mid-June. |
|
azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5 IGR) |
7-16 fl oz | 4 h | 0 d | NC | ND | Apply when nymphs are present. |
|
pyrethrins (PyGanic Crop Protection EC 5.0) |
4.5-15.61 fl oz | 12 h | 0 d | 3A | ND | Apply when nymphs first appear. Don’t wait until plants are heavily infested. |
|
novaluron (Rimon) |
See Label | 12 h | 14 d | 15 | G | Lygus bugs are not listed in the potato section of the label but are mentioned for other crops. Apply when early nymph stages are present. |
|
sulfoxaflor (Transform WG) |
1.5-2.25 oz | 24 h | 7 d | 4C | E | See Section 2ee Recommendation for plant bugs in potatoes. Apply when nymph stages are present. |
|
oxamyl (Vydate C-LV) |
1.1-2.1 pt | 48 h | 7 d | 1A | G | Apply when nymphs are present. |
|
lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) |
1.28-1.92 fl oz | 24 h | 7 d | 3 | G | Apply when nymphs are present before mid-June. |
| Material | Application per Acre | REI | PHI | MOA | Eff. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
esfenvalerate (Asana XL) |
5.8 to 9.6 fl oz | 12 h | 7 d | 3 | P | Lygus bugs are on the label but not in the potato section. Use of pyrethroid insecticides is not recommended mid-season. If used, apply when nymphs are present. Monitor for subsequent pest outbreaks. |
|
azadirachtin (Aza-Direct) |
1-3.5 pt | 4 h | 0 d | NC | ND | Apply when nymphs are present. |
|
beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) |
See Label fl oz | 12 h | 0 d | 3 | P | Lygus bugs are on the label but not in the potato section. Use of pyrethroid insecticides is not recommended mid-season. If used, apply when nymphs are present. Monitor for subsequent pest outbreaks. |
|
bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC) |
2.1-6.4 fl oz | 12 h | 21 d | 3 | P | Lygus bugs are on the label but not in the potato section. Use of pyrethroid insecticides is not recommended mid-season. If used, apply when small larvae are present. Monitor for subsequent pest outbreaks. |
|
bifenthrin + imidacloprid (Brigadier) |
4.8-6.14 fl oz | 12 h | 21 d | 3, 4A | P | Use of pyrethroid insecticides is not recommended mid-season. If used, apply when nymphs are present. Monitor for subsequent pest outbreaks. |
|
flonicamid (Carbine 50 WG) |
2.0-2.8 oz | 12 h | 7 d | 29 | E | Apply when nymph stages are present. |
|
dimethoate (Dimethoate 400 EC) |
0.5-1.0 pt | 48 h | 0 d | 1B | G | Lygus bugs are on the label but not in the potato section. It will knockback lygus bugs, especially if applied when nymphs are present. |
|
phosmet (Imidan 70-W) |
See Label | 5 d | 7 d | 1B | G-F | Lygus bugs are on the label but not in the potato section. It can knockback lygus bugs, especially if applied when nymphs are present. |
|
methomyl (Lannate LV) |
1.5-3.0 pt | 48 h | 6 d | 1A | G | Kills lygus bugs on contact for knockback control, but it may also knockback some beneficial, predatory insects. Apply when nymphs are present for best results. |
|
beta-cyfluthrin + imidacloprid (Leverage 360) |
2.8 fl oz | 12 h | 7 d | 3, 4 | P | Use of pyrethroid insecticides is not recommended mid-season. If used, apply when nymphs are present. Monitor for subsequent pest outbreaks. |
|
zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang Maxx) |
3.2-4.0 fl oz | 12 h | 1 d | 3 | P | Use of pyrethroid insecticides is not recommended mid-season. If used, apply when nymphs are present. Monitor for subsequent pest outbreaks. |
|
azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5 IGR) |
7-16 fl oz | 4 h | 0 d | NC | ND | Apply when nymphs are present. |
|
pyrethrins (PyGanic Crop Protection EC 5.0) |
4.5-15.61 fl oz | 12 h | 0 d | 3A | ND | Apply when nymphs first appear. Don’t wait until plants are heavily infested. |
|
novaluron (Rimon) |
See Label | 12 h | 14 d | 15 | G | Lygus bugs are not listed in the potato section of the label but are mentioned for other crops. Apply when early nymph stages are present. |
|
sulfoxaflor (Transform WG) |
1.5-2.25 oz | 24 h | 7 d | 4C | E | See Section 2ee Recommendation for plant bugs in potatoes. Apply when nymph stages are present. |
|
oxamyl (Vydate C-LV) |
1.1-2.1 pt | 48 h | 7 d | 1A | G | Apply when nymphs are present. |
|
lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) |
1.28-1.92 fl oz | 24 h | 7 d | 3 | P | Use of pyrethroid insecticides is not recommended mid-season. If used, apply when nymphs are present. Monitor for subsequent pest outbreaks. |