Pod bugs: Riptortus pedestris Clavigralla gibbosa Spin, C. horrens Distant, Riptortus pedestris (F) (Hemiptera: Coreidae)

Symptoms of damage

• Nymphs and adults suck the sap and cause substantial damage to pods and also to stem, leaves and flower buds.
• Infested pods show pale-yellow patches and dark brown feeding scars on pods.
• Shriveled pods, small seeds are results of severe damage.

• Brownish small eggs are glued to the surface of pods or leaves in rows.
• A female will lay about 13 – 186 eggs in batches. Egg period lasts 3 -20 days.

• The newly emerged nymph is delicate, creamy yellowish and later turns greenish-brown.
• It has five instars.
• Nymphal period lasts 11 – 20 days.

• Adult is brown.
• C. horrens have spines on either side of the middle of the prothorax The female is bigger than male. Female has a round and swollen abdomen in comparison with a narrow and pointed abdomen of the male.
• In C. gibbosa, abdomen is bulged.
• R. pedestris is brown, slender, quick flying, with lateral yellow lining on sides of body. Hind femur is flat and slightly enlarged in both sexes.

• Physical collection of bugs in a vessel with water and oil to reduce the population
• Spray any one of the following insecticides