| | 56. True Bugs. Laymen often refer to all insects as bugs, but
entomologists (scientists who study insects) reserve the name for
one order of insects.
|
 | 57. All true bugs have straw-like mouth parts. Not all true
bugs are plant pests, but those that are, like this boxelder bug,
feed by piercing the tissues of their hosts and sucking up plant
juices. |
 |
58. Several species of leaf-footed bugs, pictured here on the
left, and most stink bugs, here on the right, are plant feeders.
A second character common to all true bugs can be seen on these
specimens. The wing covers are hard and leathery, except for the
tip which is thin and membranous. |
 |
59. Small circles of dead leaf tissue on forsythia, rose, sumac,
and a wide range of cultivated flowers indicate the presence of
four line plant bugs. Tarnished plant bugs cause similar damage
to an even wider range of host plants.
|
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60. Honeylocust and black locust trees are susceptible to
infestation by the honeylocust plant bug. |
 |
61. These stunted and deformed leaves were caused by early
spring feeding of the honeylocust plant bug. Such damage is
seldom harmful to the tree, but it is unsightly and may cause
twig dieback. |
 |
62. Lacebugs are one of nature s little wonders. Under
magnification, they are revealed as princesses of the insect
world. Nobody knows why they are so delicately decorated.
Unfortunately, several lacebug species, pretty as they are, are
devilish plant pests. |
 |
63. Adult lacebugs may fly to other hosts and may not be seen
when plants are examined. However, their prior activities are
confirmed by black, shiny spots of excrement and spiny cast skins
on the underside of damaged leaves. |
 |
64. The upper surfaces of lacebug damaged leaves show a coarse
stippling. Azalea, andromeda, sycamore, and oak are the most
common ornamental plants which can develop lacebug problems. Do
not confuse the name lacebugs with lacewings, which are
beneficial insects. |
| | 65. Leafhoppers are cousins of true bugs, but the damage they
cause to plants is very similar to lacebug injury. |
 |
66. There are hundreds of species of leafhoppers, all similar in
size and shape. The adults are about 1/4 inch long and usually
green. |
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67. Young leafhoppers known as nymphs are similar to adults,
except that their wings are not developed. Cast skins left
behind each time the nymphs molt are a clue to the presence of
leafhoppers. Their feeding causes distorted leaves, coarse
stippling, or yellow leaf tips, depending on the host plant and
the species of leafhopper. |
| | 68. That concludes Part 1: Insects that Feed by Sucking Plant
Juices.
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