Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
Recent taxonomic studies have recognised that Lygus pratensis (L.) consists of several species and other workers have shown that the Tarnished Plant Bug of N. America is L. lineolaris (P. de B.), a species confined to that continent. Although it is impossible to be certain what species is referred to in all of the earlier works on biology and pest incidence of L. pratensis in the Palaearctic region, evidence is given which shows that L. rugulipennis Popp. is the more important pest in this region and it is to this species that the name European Tarnished Plant Bug should be applied. Observations on the life-cycle of L. rugulipennis in England have been carried out and they show that there are normally two generations per year; the second generation becomes adult in the autumn and overwinters in this stage, egg-laying occurring the following spring. This agrees in general with that previously described for L. pratensis, sens. lat.