Suckfly
Cyrtopeltis notatus Distant, Miridae, HEMIPTERA

DESCRIPTION

Adult - Adults are green-black, slender, plant bugs about 3.3 mm long. They have long slender legs and antennae.

Nymph - Nymphs are greenish with reddish eyes. They have two pairs of wing pads which reach to the middle of the second abdominal segment.

BIOLOGY

Distribution - The suckfly has been reported to occur in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Texas and probably occurs in other tobacco-growing regions.

Host Plants - Tobacco is the principal host plant of the suckfly, although tomato and horsenettle are also fed upon.

Damage - The suckfly, a minor pest, may periodically become abundant and damage late- season flue-cured tobacco. By sucking plant juices, it may reduce coloration, weight and thickness of cured leaves. Quality may also be reduced due to specks of black, gummy excrement on the undersides of the leaves.

Life History - The suckfly apparently overwinters in wooded areas near tobacco fields and usually appears in tobacco about a month or 6 weeks prior to harvest. Eggs are laid singly in leaf tissue and hatch in about 4 days. Nymphs feed on the underside of leaves and molt five times before becoming adults.

CONTROL

If necessary, suckflies may be controlled with insecticides on late-planted tobacco. Treatment should begin when 25 percent or more of the plants show readily visible signs of infestation (e.g., excrement and suckfly nymphs on underside of leaves). For specific chemical recommendations, consult the current North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual.