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Examples of harmful heteroptera bugs are: the common green capsid Lygocoris pabulinus, the common nettle bug Liocoris tripustulatis and the European tarnished plant bug Lygus rugulipennis. Their piercing mouth parts cause damage to affected leaves by puncturing the cells and sucking out their contents. Small holes are left in the punctured leaves at growth points; these later become large holes. The pattern of damage looks more or less the same in all crops. Small brown dots are visible on young leaves. With further leaf growth, these brown dots become holes. When the main buds of a plant are pierced by a heteroptera bug, growth is delayed and bushy growth results from highly branching growth areas. In addition, this damage causes the young leaves to become markedly deformed. After further growth, they usually have frayed, angular holes in them.

Due to the large size of the suborder of heteroptera bugs, there is no general description of the appearance of adults. Heteroptera bug eggs generally look the same. These are banana-shaped, cream-colored shiny eggs with a small rounded, green cap on one side.

Furthermore, bugs can be recognized by their pungent smell. They spread this smell when they are disturbed.  

To prevent a heteroptera bug plague, you can use insect screens in the window vent spaces. Many heteroptera bugs fly into the greenhouse by chance, after which they settle there if the climate is favorable.

When heteroptera bugs are spotted in the crop, this pest must be treated as soon as possible. It is important to be as thorough as possible with pest control applications, because heteroptera bugs can do a lot of damage. Heteroptera bugs treatment is mostly done with broad-action chemical substances such as Calypso, Admire and Actara In order to combat resistance, it is important to alternate between these products with different mechanisms of action. For this, you can use Nomolt. Biological products will not have the desired effect on the bug. 

Please note: for instance. Biological measures will not have the desired effect on heteroptera bugs. 

For an overview of all approved products and natural predators against heteroptera bugs in your crop, you can refer to the Spray advice reference. 

Apart from harmful heteroptera bugs, other heteroptera bugs are also used in horticulture as natural enemies. These are the so-called predator bugs. For example: Orius against thrips and Macrolophus against white fly.

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