# Biology and Ecology of Lygus pratensis (Linn, 1758) (Heteroptera: Miridae): Towards the Practical Management of Cropping Landscapes in China

## TL;DR

This paper reviews the biology and ecology of Lygus pratensis, an agricultural pest, and explores new strategies for its management in China.

## Contribution

The paper synthesizes knowledge on L. pratensis and proposes ecological control strategies based on farmland landscape patterns.

## Key findings

- L. pratensis is a major pest affecting cotton and other crops, with increasing resistance to insecticides.
- Ecological control and landscape management are suggested as effective alternatives to chemical control.
- Factors like reproductive period and adaptability contribute to L. pratensis population growth.

## Abstract

Lygus pratensis (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is a significant agricultural pest extensively documented in various countries and regions. This pest causes considerable damage to cotton production and can also adversely affect cash crops such as alfalfa and fruit trees. The infestation of L. pratensis is on the rise, and chemical control using broad-spectrum insecticides remains the primary method for managing L. pratensis in cotton fields, which has resulted in an increase in resistance to these agents in L. pratensis over the years. We primarily review multiple aspects, including its life history and habits, host plants, pheromones, diapause characteristics, migratory dispersal, the relationship between L. pratensis occurrences and environmental factors, chemical control and resistance, sampling surveys and prevention indicators, ecological control, molecular genetic control, and the ecological effects of farmland landscape patterns on L. pratensis. We focus on the outlook for the conservation effectiveness of farmland landscape patterns on the diversity of natural enemies and the developmental direction of the ecological regulation of L. pratensis. The aim is to develop new control strategies and technologies to enhance the comprehensive control of L. pratensis.

Lygus pratensis (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an agricultural pest widely distributed across Europe, China, North Africa, the Middle East, and India. The population of L. pratensis has increased in recent years due to the prolonged reproductive period, high productivity, and strong adaptability of adult L. pratensis, along with other factors such as changes in crop planting schemes. It significantly damages cotton production and adversely affects commercial crops such as alfalfa and fruit trees. Recent studies on the interrelationship between landscape features and pest management have provided new insights for controlling L. pratensis. This paper primarily reviews multiple aspects, including its life history and habits, host plants, pheromones, diapause characteristics, migratory dispersal, the relationship between L. pratensis occurrences and environmental factors, chemical control and resistance, sampling surveys and prevention indicators, ecological control, molecular genetic control, and the ecological effects of farmland landscape patterns on L. pratensis. We focus on the outlook for the conservation effectiveness of farmland landscape patterns on the diversity of natural enemies and the developmental direction of the ecological regulation of L. pratensis. The aim is to develop new control strategies and technologies to enhance the comprehensive control of L. pratensis.