Wide Range of Hosts for Bagrada Bug

Taylor Hillman Field & Row Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Specialty Crops, Tree, nut & vine crops, Vegetables

Courtesy : Surendra Dara

Courtesy : Surendra Dara

The bagrada bug has spread across California, and the wide range of hosts for the bug is concerning to a lot of the state’s producers.

Wide Range of Hosts

Also known as the painted bug, the bagrada bug can cause huge damage because it feeds on plants in large populations. Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Surendra Dara says the concern is the amount of crops the bug is known to feed on. Dara says these bugs move in large bunches, and it’s possible they will try plants as they go until they find what they are looking for. Dara says those tendencies complicate control.