The Fourlined plant bug is a species of true bugs, and it belongs to the family Miridae in the order Hemiptera. The Fourlined plant bugs are minor pests, and their infestation is not much severe as they remain active for a short period. In occasional infestation, they extend to damage to most mint and Composite plants. Otherwise, they're the pest of small trees, woody shrubs, and flowering plants. Their preferred hosts include hyssop, marjoram, lavender, peppermint, sage, spearmint, ageratum, dahlia, coreopsis, florist's chrysanthemum, wormwood, gaillardia, tansy, Shasta daisy, and globe thistle. They can severely affect parsnips, and light to medium infestation occurs on squash, peas, radishes, potato, lettuce, and cucumber. The nymphs do the maximum damage when they feed on garden and landscape plants from late spring through early summer throughout North America.
The fourlined plant bug hails from Canada and United States and remains pervasive throughout most mid-western and eastern US and Canada. The fourlined plant bug is less common in most southern US. However, occasional presence in St. Lucie and Lee counties. Moreover, their distribution in the west of the Rocky Mountains and northwestern states is least documented. However, they are partially present in eastern North America through Nova Scotia to Florida, Saskatchewan in Canada, and southern Mexico on their preferred hosts.
Adult fourlined bugs are yellowish to yellowish-green with four black lines running down the wings, and these four lines account for their name. The adults measure about 0.30 inches long, and 0.15 inches wider. The legs and antennae are greenish-black. The heads are distinctive orange with discrete red eyes. The nymphs are often yellowish-green to red with several black tints on the thorax. Nymphs grow speedily and molt five times to develop wing pads. The nymphs have variable colors from bright red to bright orange in the last instar and black tints on the thorax.
Fourlined plant bugs overwinter as eggs in incisions that a female cut in the stems of herbaceous plants. Eggs hatching occurs in late spring, and the newly hatched nymphs feed on the best available host plants. Nymphs cover the entire 5-instars within 17 days. However, their hatching and speedy growth are temperature-dependent that could delay in cool climates. The nymphs may acquire the size of about 1/5th of an inch. Meanwhile, they develop black wing pads that reach half of their body, and yellowish-green stipe appears on the outer margins of the wing pads. The adults who emerge during early summer feed for a month disappear in the wild. The adult mating occurs during mid or late summer, and the egg-laying continues for a week or 10-days. A female lay about one dozen eggs that she tightly packs into the incisions purposefully developed for the overwintering of eggs. The eggs hatch next spring. Fourlined plant bugs can have only one generation per year in most habitats throughout their range.
The fourlined plant bug is a sucking insect that extracts the chloroplast from the leaf tissues giving them the appearance of semi-transparent chewed holes on their surfaces. The feeding pattern and damage caused by the bug are caused by fourlined plant bug is diverse and depends on the features of the leaves, including the texture, structure, and venations. These spots may turn angular or circular, yellowish or brownish. Often the rusty part of the leaves drops from the branch, turns upwards, and withers. Sometimes the damages look similar to flea beetle, and a rusty look for leaf blight or blotch. This is a unique type of damage, and no other pest does like that. The damage may be obvious in newly emerged leaves and terminal shoots of the herbaceous and ornamental plants. Fourlined plant bugs could only infest vegetables and orchards in the absence of preferred host plants. However, that feeding is limited to one month only.
Fourlined plant bugs emerge late spring or early summer in the garden as the result of eggs hatching that adult females lay during late summer and fall.
Besides following all preventions and cultural control practices if bugs damages remain prevalent on the garden plants, here are the most proven ways to suppress their population using the organic and chemical methodologies;
Biological control for Fourlined plant bugs is not well-studied enough that the gardeners could apply. Moreover, there are pests of short duration, and their damage is often cosmetic. Most biological controlling techniques are expensive and need gardeners' time and patience when fully adopted combined with a complete IPM approach. However, there are many organic solutions, and a few of them are listed below;
Bonide- All Seasons contain 98% mineral oils that derive from fossilized plants and animals in the earth's crust. These oils often remain exposed to very high temperatures and break when applied to plants. However, some controversies still exist about their organic nature. The horticultural oils come under organic listing and are approved by NOP in the US. This product is also OMRI-listed and approved for organic gardening. Mineral oils like all-season suffocate pests and eggs, and they can't jump to the next stage. Apply mineral oils on the garden plants in fall and spring if you're sure that Fourlined plant bugs invade your plants regularly.
Bonide- All Seasons oil comes in a ready-to-use formulation and doesn't need mixing with water.
Bonide- Insecticidal Soap contains 1% Potassium Salts of Fatty Acids is also a contact poison, and a direct misting on the bugs can provide better control. These salts dissolve the chitin or cuticle of the bugs composed of lipoproteins. Most bugs stop feeding, dehydrate, and die within 24 hours of application. Most insecticidal soaps are approved in gardening, and there is no harm in spraying them on all sorts of edibles, including vegetables and fruits.
This product is also available in a ready-to-use formulation so the gardeners can easily target the bugs that feed on the plants.
Natria- Neem oil spray contains 0.9% Clarified Hydrophobic extracts of neem oil, and it comes in a ready-to-use formulation. Neem oil provides moderate control over Fourlined plant bugs provided they receive mist on their bodies directly. Otherwise, if applied as a dormant spray, reduces eggs hatching. Its application when the Fourlined plant bugs are feeding actively on garden plants can deter their feeding since it is often hard that bugs would receive a direct mist on them. They are very active and quit their position when threatened or disturbed. However, Neem oil applications can stop many other pests and diseases that harm your plants besides Fourlined plan bugs.
Point out the nozzle towards active bugs and push the trigger of this ready-to-use product.
Diatomaceous Earth can be a good knock once the Fourlined plant bugs invade your garden. Its immediate applications can avoid feeding and those bugs who come into direct contact with it can kill. The product contains 85% Silicon Dioxide in the crystalline form, and razor-sharp edges can puncture anything that touches them. DE is OMRI-listed and approved for organic gardening by NOP throughout the US. The bugs can't develop or show any resistance against DE as it kills through mechanical action. There are no residue effects on the pets and environment.
sprinkle this finest dust on the foliage of the plants when they’re actively feeding.
Cutter- RTS Bug-Free Spray contains 0.16% of Lambda-cyhalothrin, and it's the same ingredient that famous insecticide Karate consists. Lambda is a synthetic Pyrethroid in an isomeric farm and kills many flying, boring, chewing, and crawling insects that harm your garden plants. It contains prolonged residual effects and could sustain the plant surfaces and water bodies for months. Never apply Lambda on short-maturing vegetables, lettuces, microgreens, and berries.
Connect Cutter- RTS with a garden hose, and cover 5000 square feet of garden area or 200-medium sized plants, approximately.
Due to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authorities should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used lawfully, consistent with the product's label.
Check out our other guides on common garden bugs.
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