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.
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.