False Chinch Bug-Forest Health Pest Alert
From Bugwoodwiki
Georgia Forestry Commission. Forest Health Pest Alert. June 6, 2000
Nysius raphanus Howard
Order Heteroptera: Family Lygaeidae
The false chinch bug resembles the chinch bug Blissus leucopterus (Say), and is often mistaken for it except for its shorter, slender body. Normally the false chinch bug is a pest of potatoes, beets, cabbage, cotton, corn and sorghums. Recently the bugs have been found feeding on first year containerized longleaf pine seedlings. Damage appears to be worse in arid fields and where a total broadcast of herbicides was used. Insectides are effective in killing the false chinch bug, but due to their migration habits, a recently sprayed field can be re-infested within days following the insecticide application.
 Photo by Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org |  Photo by Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org |
The bugs normally increase during early spring and summer, principally on weeds. During droughts or in fields where herbicides have been used, weeds are either absent are less succulent and the bugs migrate to other hosts such as pine. Damage is done by their piercing-sucking mouthparts. They remove sap from the needles causing the needles to wilt and die.
The adults are small, averaging about 3 mm in length. Both adults and nymphs overwinter among plant remnants and become active in early spring. Eggs are laid in the soil and on plants low to the ground and hatch in about four days. The nymphs feed for about three weeks before transforming to adults. In Georgia there are at least 4 generations per year with a fifth likely.
 Photo by Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org |  Photo by Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org |
Little is known about the false chinch bug and its relationship to containerized longleaf pine seedlings. Heavy seedling mortality has occurred in Georgia throughout the Coastal Plain. Damage appears to be heaviest in fields where herbicides were broadly applied as opposed to band applications.
Harrowing of fields before planting is likely to kill many overwintering adults and nymphs, but it may not be practical during droughts because of the migration habits of the bugs. Others are likely to fly and crawl from adjoining fields after the pines have been planted. This is particularly true when drought has desiccated weeds and other host crops.
Insecticides are effective but may not be warranted when rainfall has been normal and there is an abundance of succulent weeds nearby.
A description of the false chinch bug can be obtained by searching through Yahoo or Google.
False chinch bug damage should be reported to the local Georgia Forestry Commission office or county extension agent.
Photos by G. Keith Douce and Chuck Bargeron, The University of Georgia
