Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2012
Caged microplots of “Contender” green beans, Phaseolus vulgaris L., were artificially infested with various densities of Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) to determine the effect of feeding on yield and quality, and to establish economic injury levels. Plants infested at bloom or pod set stage were more severely injured than those infested at the flower bud stage. Higher infestation levels reduced crop yield, but the percentage of crude protein in bean seeds was not affected. Based on 1975 crop values and chemical control costs, economic injury levels ranged between 0.3 and 4.4 insects/10 plants depending on crop use, chemical control, and plant stage infested.