Sucking Insects That Affect Vegetable Plants
Bulletin #5039
The mouthparts of sucking insects are developed Stink bugs: These bugs feed on the fruit of a
for piercing and sucking. These pests damage plants wide range of plants including beets,
by inserting their mouthparts into plant tissue and beans, pears, squash, tomatoes and
removing juices. Heavily infested plants become corn, causing the fruit to become
yellow, wilted, deformed or stunted, and may eventu- shrivelled and deformed. One of the
ally die. Some sucking insects inject toxic materials most common species attacking
into the plant while feeding, and some transmit home gardens isthe green stink bug.
disease organisms. The following are some ex- Hand-picking may lower number
amples of sucking insects: sufficiently for damage control. To
control, use rotenone or malathion.
Aphids: Often called
Tarnished plant bugs:
plant lice, are small,
Tarnished plant bugs feed on the
soft-bodied insects.
leaves of many plants, causing
They range in color
them to curl, reducing growth, and
from black to green to
transmiting diseases. These pests
yellow. Their numbers
also deform apples and cause corky,
may greatly increase
deformed strawberries. They become
in a short time and crowding stimulates the produc-
active early in the spring. To control use
tion of winged forms. They may cover the entire
rotenone, malathion, or methoxychlor.
surface of a leaf or stem. They can be vectors of
viruses. Encourage natural predators, such as Squash bugs: Mature squash bugs
ladybird beetles or lacewing larvae. Lacewing eggs are about an inch long and are
can be purchased from seed companies. These gray-black in
eggs soon hatch and give good aphid control. Roten- color. While still
one or malathion can be used to control aphids. immature, they
are strikingly
Leafhoppers: Leafhoppers are small, green, colored with
wedge-shaped insects that attack many white and black.
garden, forage and fruit Squash bugs suck juice
crops. They suck out plant from the leaves and stems
juices causing yellowing, of squash, pumpkins,
leaf-curling and stunting. melons and related plants, and thus spread disease.
They also transmit several Hand-picking may be effective. To control, use roten-
disease organisms, especially one or malathion. Leaving boards or shingles out
associated with yellows. Use roten- overnight between the rows of cucurbits is a way to
one, carbaryl, malathion or methoxy- "harvest" squash bugs. The bugs tend to use the
chlor as controls. The potato leafhopper occasion- boards and shingles for cover. They can easily be
ally makes it into Maine, inflicting heavy damage. gathered and disposed of early in the morning.
A Member of the University of Maine System
The Land Grant University of the State of Maine and U. S. Department of Agriculture cooperating
Cooperative Extension provide equal opportunities in program and employment
Thrips: Thrips are minute insects that feed on Management
pollen and tender plant tissue. They rasp Control of sucking insects with insecticides is
the tissue and suck up the exuding often difficult because of the insects capacity to
sap. The leaves take on a silvery reproduce rapidly. Also, they may develop resistance
appearance after the thrips feed, to the chemicals. Often a blast of water from a
and plants become stunted and garden hose will knock the pests off the plant.
deformed. Thrips are usually a Observe the waiting periods listed on the labels
pest of seedling plants but may attack for insecticides (number of days from applying or
plants in any stage, especially gladiolus, using an insecticide to when the crop can be har-
onions and blueberries. To control, use vested or used).
malathion or rotenone. If possible, protect bees by spraying only in late
afternoon or evening. Do not spray plants when
Spider mites: Spider mites are not flowers are present.
insects, but are closely related to ticks and
chiggers. Theysuck out juices from leaves
and stems, causing plants to become
deformed or have a bronze or yellow
appearance. Heavy infestations can
cause leaf and flower bud drop and death
of the plant. Use insecticidal soap, kelthane,
or malathion to control the mites.
Clay A. Kirby, Insect Diagnostician
When Using Pesticides James F. Dill, Pest Management Specialist
2004
ALWAYS FOLLOW
LABEL DIRECTIONS! Where trade names are used, no discrim
-ination is intended and no endorsement by
Cooperative Extension is implied.
Published and distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914 by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Land Grant
University of the State of Maine and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. Cooperative Extension and other agencies of the USDA provide
equal opportunities in programs and employment.