Green bean extract-induced oviposition site preference in laboratory reared western tarnished plant bug (Heteroptera: Miridae)

Abstract

Lygus hesperus Knight is a major pest of agricultural crops in the san Joaquin Valley of California. They have been the subject of many laboratory studies over the years and many protocols exist for their rearing. This article examines the feasibility of using an artificial egg oviposition packet instead of organic material or an artificial diet packet. When given the choice between diet packets and egg packets treated with an extract of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), females chose egg packets significantly more often than diet packets. When given the choice between packets treated with green bean seed or green bean pod shell extract, females chose packets treated with shell extract significantly more often than those treated with seed extract. Treating egg packets with green bean extract encourages female L. hesperus to oviposit on them and produces the greatest yield of offspring.