Isolation-Cage Studies of Certain Hemipterous and Homopterous Insects on Sugar Beets Grown for Seed

Abstract

The effect of certain hemipterous and homopterous insects on sugar-beets grown for seed was studied in field cages of sufficient size to encage the entire inflorescence of a single beet plant. Lygus spp., Chlorochroa sayi, and Thyanta custator drastically reduced the % of viable sugar beet seed produced per plant, but the yield and size of the seed were unaffected by these insects. Nysius ericae in numbers up to 500 per plant had no measurable effect on the crop. Myzus persicae reduced the yield but apparently had no effect on the viability of the seed.