Tomato bug

Nesidiocoris tenuis

1. Identification

• Common name: Tomato bug
• Scientific name: Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter
• Order: Hemiptera
• Family: Miridae

2. Pest description

• Small yellowish-green bug, very mobile and with a narrow body.
• Nymphs similar to adults, but without wings.
• Feeds by sucking, causing necrosis of the tissues.
• Polyphagous species, common in greenhouses and protected crops.
• It can act as a beneficial agent in biological control, but it becomes a pest when populations are high.

3. Main hosts

• Tomato.
• Pepper.
• Aubergine.
• Potato.
• Various spontaneous and ornamental solanaceous plants.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Necrosis on the petioles, leaves and shoots.
• Borings and dark spots on young fruits.
• Flower abortion and flower drop.
• Deformations and reduced production.
• More severe damage in greenhouses with high populations.

5. Biological cycle

• Several generations per year in a protected environment.
• Oviposition in the plant tissues, especially petioles.
• Rapid nymphal development at high temperatures.
• Adults active throughout the year in greenhouses.
• Populations increase rapidly in spring and summer.

6. Monitoring

• Observation of necrosis on petioles and shoots.
• Inspection of nymphs and adults on the underside of the leaves.
• Monitoring with yellow sticky cards.
• Assessment of the intensity of damage on flowers and fruits.
• Recording of population progression throughout the crop cycle.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: removal of spontaneous host plants and balanced management of nitrogen fertilisation.
• Biological: use of beneficial agents such as Macrolophus pygmaeus to reduce population pressure.
• Integrated protection: continuous monitoring, interventions only when justified, judicious application of authorised insecticides and integration of cultural practices to avoid population outbreaks.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Nesidiocoris tenuis.
• CABI Invasive Species Compendium – N. tenuis.
• Urbaneja, A., Calvo, F., & Belda, J. (2009). “Biological control of tomato pests in the Mediterranean basin: successes and challenges.” Biocontrol Science and Technology.
• Sánchez, J. A. (2008). “Ecology and management of the mirid bug Nesidiocoris tenuis in tomato crops.” Journal of Applied Entomology.
• Calvo, F., Bolckmans, K., & Urbaneja, A. (2012). “Biological control-based IPM in greenhouse tomatoes.” Pest Management Science.