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Title: AN ANNOTATED LIST OF THE PLANT BUGS, OR MIRIDAE (HEMIPTERA: HETEROPTERA), OF KENTUCKY

Author
item Henry, Thomas
item COVELL, CHARLES - UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
item WHEELER, A - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of New York Entomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2005
Publication Date: 7/30/2005
Citation: Henry, T.J., Covell, C.V., Wheeler, A.G. 2005. An annotated list of the plant bugs, or Miridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), of Kentucky. Journal of New York Entomological Society. 113:24-76

Interpretive Summary: Plant bugs represent the largest family of true bugs and contains numerous agriculturally important species. Many plant bugs, such as lygus bugs, are important crop pests, causing significant economic losses in the United States. In addition, a growing number of these bugs are now recognized as predators of various pest insects, and thus are of considerable interest to those involved in biological control. This paper presents a checklist of 202 species of Miridae, or plant bugs, of Kentucky, based on the study of more than 4,000 specimens from the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville collections and fieldwork conducted by the authors, supplemented by a review of the literature. One-hundred seventy-seven species are newly recorded from the state. Localities, dates, and host plants are provided for each species, along with selected papers providing biological information. The information presented in this paper will provide a wide array of researchers, regulatory personnel, and state departments of agriculture important information on distribution, seasonal occurrence, hosts, and biology of this large and diverse group of economically important bugs.

Technical Abstract: A list of 202 species of Miridae, or plant bugs, of Kentucky is presented, based on study of more than 4,000 specimens from the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville collections and fieldwork conducted by the authors, supplemented by a review of the literature. One- hundred seventy-seven species are newly recorded from the state; 25 species were listed from Kentucky in Henry and Wheeler's (1988) catalog of Canada and the United States and a few other literature sources. The Miridae in this list are arranged alphabetically by subfamily, tribe, genus, and species. Distribution, dates, and host plants are provided for each species. When a Kentucky host was not recorded, literature documenting known hosts is given, along with selected papers providing biological information.