4-9-2007
On the 6th of April, I came accross some newly hatched Leaffooted bugs on hosting plants in the Madera area. The historical strike window is mid to late April. Is there a criteria to time the flight to the nut crops?
Elia Akel
I just got the note from Eli (forwarded from Pete on the AAIE server). My
guess is that this is not leaffooted. I haven't ever had a call on
immatures this early in the season. I might be wrong on this, but I would
certainly look at the little buggers and get a positive ID before deciding
on sprays.
Walt Bentley
Perhaps you could tell us a little more about the life cycle of this critter. Do they overwinter as adults? Is that what we should see first? Where does the first generation breed?
Devin Carroll
They do winter as adults. There is some debate on the number of generations
per year, but Kent has stated there are three. I would agree with this
based on my observations in Kern County during the mid 1980's.
Leptoglossus clypealis winters as adults in dark areas. We have found them
under tarps and in old pump houses. The first sightings usually are on
Yucca, as it blooms. But, as you know, they often fly into almonds and
pistachio where they caused all the damage last year. I know they also do
tremendous damage to pomegranates and I am sure they winter there. Also,
either clypealis or zonatus is known to feed on juniper berries. That is
about the extent of my knowledge.
Walt Bentley
Walt supplied a nice review. Here also is a PNP article that give a bit more information.
Kent Daane