Insect Summary Report

Murgantia histrionica

General Information

• Preferred crops include: horseradish, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, mustard, Brussels sprouts, turnip, kohlrabi and radish. Can also be seen on tomato, potato, eggplant, okra, bean, asparagus, beets, and fruit trees.
• Has ability to destroy entire crops if left uncontrolled.
• Browning, wilting, and eventual death of host plants can occur under intense feeding conditions. Younger plants have a lower threshold for damage than younger plants.
• Incorporates glucosinolates from crucifer plants, which are undesirable to birds.
• Males produce aggregation pheromone to attract other feeding individuals.

Life Cycle 50-80 Days

• Eggs… (4-29 Days) White and black striped, keg shaped. Usually laid in rows of two in groups of around 12.
• Nymph… (4-9 Weeks) 5-6 molts. Orange and black. Coloration goes from pale orange to more defined colors in older stages. Pierce host with mouthparts and extract sap.
• Adult… Red and black spotted. About 3/8 in. Back has distinct “X” marking. Female produces approx. 115 eggs during lifetime.

 Over-wintering Strategy

• No diapause, but life cycles are extended in the winter, which results in low populations.
• Seek shelter during cold temperatures in winter by hiding under grass cover, rubbish piles, and other insulating materials.
• Adults are usually the only stage to survive winter conditions.

Organic Control

• General Info
  • Plant a small acreage of a non-market preferred host such as turnip, kale or mustard in the spring before market crops are grown to serve as a trap crop. Monitor and Some type of control is necessary to avoid the trap crop becoming a source of infestation.
  • “Rolly Polly” bugs are predators. Mulching of seedbeds will provide habitat for these predators.
•  Commonly Used Products
  • Ferti-Neem Oil
  • Ferti-Organics Karanja Oil
  • Biorepel (Garlic Oil)
  • Neemix 4.5 (Botanical)
  • Pyganic 1.4 (Botanical)
  • Pyganic 5.0 (Botanical)
  • Ecotrol Plus (Botanical Oil)
  • Soaps: Des-X
  • Mycotrol ESO (Biological)
  • BoteGHA ES (Biological)

Cultural Control

• Clear away brush piles, grass thickets, rubbish, and any other material that may serve as insulation during cold temperatures.

• Plastic row covers early in the year to protect vegetation from egg lay and pest feeding.

• Maintain control of weeds such as wild mustard, sheperdspurse, peppergrass, bittercress, and watercress.
• Some resistant varieties listed below

 More Images of the Harlequin Bug