WVU Update
Published as a Special Insert for Farm Bureau News
Fall 2013
West Virginia sees increased sightings of harlequin bug
T
he harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica, is an insect pest
of vegetable crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage,
cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, radish, and turnips
(vegetables from the Brassicaceae family).
Description
Harlequin bugs are in the stink bug
family and are black with bright red,
yellow, or orange markings.
Damage
This pest injures host plants by
sucking the fluids from plant tissue.
This can result in yellow