![]() ![]() Pitted areas eventually turn black or translucent, and may eventually drop out of the leaf, leaving holes that sometimes looks more like a caterpillar than a sap-feeding insect. Special enzymes attack the glue that holds plant cells together, causing pits in the leaves where the cells literally collapse after feeding. In addition the saliva itself packs a special punch. They found that the four-lined plant bug’s saliva, produced by unusually large salivary glands, making up 15-20% of the insect’s body weight. Its damage is one of the most severe for a leaf-feeding bug of this size, according to USDA scientists who recently reported on the feeding behavior of these insects. What makes the fourlined plant bug unique is the rather severe damage (see image) that can be caused by relatively few individuals. Herbs, mints, and composite flowers seem to be especially favored. This insect has been recorded as a pest from about 250 different plant species, both herbaceous and woody plants. Don’t be fooled by its pretty face, though. I just received a question and picture of this insect attacking tomatoes in Denton county. The fourlined plant bug, Poecilocapsus lineatus, is a small, attractively colored insect that is active right now. Judging by the stripe pattern it is a Common Spotted Ladybird (wiki: Harmonia conformis) and from the body shape & size Id also say 3rd instar. There are a total of 352 Black and Orange Bugs in the database based on this description. The fourlined plant bug is attractively striped in yellow and black, with an orange head. The listing below showcases common insects with the colors Black and Orange associated with them and found throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. ![]()
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