Techniques for surveying mirid bug (Heteroptera: Miridae) populations and assessing crop damage caused by these pests
Author of the article:LU Yan-Hui1** ZENG Juan2 JIANG Yu-Ying2 WU Kong-Ming1
Author's Workplace:1. State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193 China; 2. National Agro-Technical Extension and Service Center, Beijing, 100125 China
Key Words:mirid bugs, developmental stages, population density, seasonal dynamics, sampling, survey
Abstract: Mirid bugs (Heteroptera: Miridae) are important insect pests of cotton, fruit trees and many other crops. Their eggs are mostly laid in the plant tissues, nymphs move quickly and like to hide under leaves and inside flowers, and adults have great flight and dispersal capacity. Based on the above characteristics, a set of techniques for population survey and damage assessment have been developed for mirid bugs in China. These techniques now provide the foundation for the monitoring and management of pestiferous mirid bugs.