NC State Extension Publications

Description and Biology

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Fourlined plant bugs, Poecilocapus lineatus, are easily identified by the four black stripes running down the back on a yellow or greenish yellow background. They are about 1/4 inch long. The antennae and body are black, and the legs are yellow-green with black marks. Adults are active and fly readily when disturbed, and nymphs drop down when disturbed. Nymphs are red to orange with black dots on the abdomen. Older nymphs have black wing pads each with a yellow stripe. During the fall, the banana-shaped eggs are laid in individually in groups of six or more vertical slits two to three inches long on plant stems. Eggs overwinter and hatch as plant resume growth the following spring. Nymphs remain near their hatching site and feed on the upper side of leaves, injecting saliva and removing predigested plant juice. Nymphs develop and grow through five molts in three to six weeks. At the last molt, fourlined plant bugs emerge as adults. Adults feed about a month before mating. We have one generation per year in North Carolina.

Four-lined plant bug

Four-lined plant bugs are about 1/4 inch long.

Four-lined plant bug nymph

Four-lined plant bug nymphs are reddish and active.

Host Plants

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Fourlined plant bugs feed on over 250 fruits, many garden vegetables, and herbaceous plants such as chrysanthemum, dahlia, delphinium, lupine, peony, phlox, snapdragon, daisy, mint, sunflower, and zinnia. The damage looks similar to fungal disease spots and can be misidentified as such. With needle-like mouthparts, the fourlined plant bug injects a toxin that digests the components responsible for holding the plant cells together. The bug then sucks out the predigested soup resulting in white, dark, or translucent spots 1/16 to 1/8 in. in diameter. Spots may eventually merge together into large blotches. Entire leaves can turn brown, curl up and eventually fall off. Feeding on new growth may cause wilting. Damage is usually not severe enough to cause plant death although smaller plants are more likely to be stunted.

Four-lined plant bug damage

Four-lined plant bug damage resembles fungal leaf spots.

Residential Recommendations

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Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils are recommended to control fourlined plant bugs. Most of the insecticides labeled for home use on landscape ornamentals should give more than adequate control as well. Fourlined plant bugs are an occasional pest in North Carolina, and may show up any time during the growing season. A few bugs can cause severe cosmetic damage so it is a good idea to examine flowers and shrubs regularly for this pest (and others!).

References

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For assistance with a specific problem, contact your local N.C. Cooperative Extension Center.

This Factsheet has not been peer reviewed.

Author

Professor Emeritus
Entomology

Find more information at the following NC State Extension websites:

Publication date: June 9, 2016
Revised: Sept. 17, 2019

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