Oviposition, Survival, Growth, and Observed Population Increase of Lygus hesperus (Heteroptera: Miridae) on Selected Bean Cultivars

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Abstract
Twenty cultivars of three bean species were evaluated for resistance to Lygus hesperus Knight, the principal pest of beans in California. We examined their effect on no-choice ovipositional preference, survival, growth rate, and observed gross rate of increase by the insect. Common bean varieties were preferred by lygus bugs over lima bean and cowpea varieties as an ovipositional site. Lygus bug gross increase was greatest on cowpea cultivars, intermediate on common bean, and least on lima bean. Significant differences in the number of eggs laid by lygus bugs were found among lima bean varieties. Oviposition was greatest on the cultivar ‘Mackie’ and least on ‘Wilbur.’ Gross increase of this insect differed significantly among cowpea varieties. Gross population increase was greatest on ‘California Blackeye 5’ and least on ‘Collossus.’ Nymphal survival and gross increases were greatest on common bean eultivars ‘Aurora’ and ‘Black Turtle Soup 39’ and least on ‘Sutter Pink.’ These differences suggest that breeding bean cultivars resistant to lygus bugs is feasible.