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Plant Bugs (Miridae)
Plant bugs are a large family of piercing-sucking insects that feed on the developing leaves, flowers, and fruit of a wide range of plants, injecting toxic saliva that causes distorted growth, spots, and premature fruit drop. Four-lined plant bugs and tarnished plant bugs are among the most economically important species in gardens and agriculture. Their rapid movement when disturbed makes them difficult to detect and treat. Targeted insecticide applications early in the season when nymphs are present and before damage becomes widespread provides the most effective control.