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Key to the Most Common Bugs Found on Flowers and Foliage Plants
1. Thorax with lateral extensions divided into numerous small
cells. (Fig. 53a, b) ref. #2
1.' Thorax without lateral extensions and not divided into
numerous small cells. ref. # 3
Zoom Figure 53a: Chrysanthemum lace
bug.
2. Lateral extensions of thorax with spines (Fig 53a) (Immatures
with each segment of abdomen with a multiple-tipped spine on each
side); feeds on chrysanthemum, aster, scabiosa, and goldenrod....
Chrysanthemum lace bug.
Zoom Figure 53b:Azalea lace bug.
2.' Lateral extensions of thorax without spines (Figure 53b)
(Immatures with each segment of abdomen with a slender, simple
spine on each side, Fig. 53c); feeds beneath azalea and
rhododendron leaves; Upper surface of leaves stippled with a gray
coat, the undersurface often spotted with excrement ("fly
specks"). Azalea lace bug.
Click here for more about the Azalea
lace bug.
Zoom Figure 53c: Azalea lace bug
(Immature).
3. Robust bug with black, red or orange, and yellow markings; shield-shaped or oval in top view (Fig. 54); feeds on cleome and flowering cabbage and kale.....Harlequin bug.
3.' Not as above: if bug has conspicuous red markings, then it is slender; not shield-shaped. ref. # 4.
Zoom Figure 54: Harlequin bug.
4. Small (1.6 to 2 mm), black bugs (Fig.55a, b) that jump readily (nymphs 0.7 to 2 mm long and yellow to dark green with a black spot on each side)....Garden Fleahopper.
Zoom Figure 55a: Garden Fleahopper.
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Zoom Figure 55b: Garden Fleahopper.
4.' Bug larger than 2 mm or does not have jumping habit and does
not always cause pale spots. ref. # 5
5. Bug relatively slender (about three times longer than
wide); rosy red or pink with a black stripe or indistinct band
down the back (Fig. 56); found on iris, daylilies.... Lopidea
confluenta.
Zoom Figure
56: Lopidea confluenta
5.' Bug oval or variously shaped; not rosy or pink with a
single black strip down the back; found on many plants. ref. # 6
6. Oval bug up to 7 mm long; greenish yellow with four black
stripes down wings (Fig. 57); (immatures bright red with black
dots on thorax; last instar with yellow outer strip on wing
pads); damage round, depressed spots that may be almost white to
almost black...Fourlined plant bug.
Zoom Figure 57: Fourlined plant bug.
6.' Not with four black stripes down wings, etc. ref. # 7.
7. Oval bug up to 6.4 mm long; white markings form a sort of triangle on thorax; color various hues of brown (Fig. 58) (nymphs are yellow-green to green with small black spots; older nymphs similar to adults); young tender growth (terminal) yellowed or distorted, stunted, or twisted; shiny circular excrement spots on leaf surface...Tarnished plant bug.
Zoom Figure 58: Tarnished plant bug.
Click here for more about the Tarnished
plant bug.
7.' Not quite as above. ref. # 8
8. Oval bug up to 5 mm long; green with indistinct brown markings; widely distributed in the United States but more abundant in the South, especially southern Florida... Tayorilygus pallidulus
8.' Oval bug up to 4 mm long; dark, smokey brown with wine-red marking on outer wing margin; infested chrysanthemum buds later produce misshapened flowers; common in Florida... Polymerus testaceipes.
University of Florida/IFAS Reference to Pest Control Guides