NOTE
Black Grass Bug (Hemiptera:Miridae) Damage to Intermediate Wheatgrass Forage Quality
Sue L. Blodgett, 2 Andrew W. Lenssen 3 and S. Dennis Cash
Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717 USA
J. Entomol. Sd. 41(1): 92-94 (January 2006) Key Words rangeland insect pest, forage quality, pest management
The black grass bug, Labops spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae), is native to the western U.S. and was first observed damaging range grasses in the western U.S. coincident with the increase in seeded acreage of wheatgrasses (Agropyron and Thinopyrum spp. (Poaceae)) (Bohning and Currier 1967, J. Range Manage. 20: 265-267). Black grass bug refers to a complex of species belonging to genus Labops spp. and (rb/s/a spp., though in this study Labops was the predominant genera represented. Differ- ences in grass species susceptibility to black grass bug damage have been studied (Bohning and Currier 1967, Todd and Kamm 1974, J. Range Manage 27: 453-458; Higgins et al. 1977, J. Range Manage. 30: 380-384). Black grass bug has been documented damaging crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) (Boh- ning and Currier 1967), mixed crested and intermediate wheatgrass (Elytrig/a inter- media (Host) Nevski (Poaceae)) (Todd and Kamm 1974), wheat (Triticum aest/vum L.) fields in Montana (Bohning and Currier 1967), pubescent wheatgrass (formerly Agropyron trichophorum) = intermediate wheatgrass (formerly Agropyron interme- dium) now Thinopyron intermedium ( Host) Barknight and Dewey, and other wheat- grasses (Bohning and Currier 1967). Higgins et al. (1977) ranked susceptibility of several grasses to black grass bug feeding (most to least susceptible): intermediate wheatgrass, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L. (Poaceae)), slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners (Poaceae)), orchardgrass (Dactyl/s glomerata L. (Poaceae)), smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss. (Poaceae)), moun- tain brome (Bromus marginatus Nees ex Steud. (Poaceae)), and a mixture of native grass species including Letterman s needlegrass (Achnutherum letterman/i (Vasey) Barkworth (Poaceae)), sheep fescue (Festuca ovina L. (Poaceae)), and mountain muhly, (Muhlenbergia montana (Nutt.) A. S. Hitchc. (Poaceae)). Black grass bug overwinters as an egg within grass stems, which hatch in the spring, completing one generation per year. Piercing-sucking mouthparts of immature