Cabbage Stem Weevil vs Western Plant Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cabbage Stem Weevil Western Plant Bug
Scientific Name Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus Lygus hesperus
Order Coleoptera Hemiptera
Family Curculionidae Miridae
Size 2.5-3.5 mm 5-6 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Herbivores Sap Feeders
Regions Europe Western North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cabbage Stem Weevil

A grey weevil that mines inside brassica stems. Larvae tunnel through stems causing weakening. One of several Ceutorhynchus species affecting oilseed rape.

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Did You Know?

Larval tunneling weakens plant stems to the point where they may snap in windy conditions.

Western Plant Bug

A small, oval plant bug that is one of the most important cotton pests in the western United States. It is variable in color from pale green to dark brown. Feeding on cotton squares causes them to abscise, resulting in yield losses.

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Did You Know?

When alfalfa hay is harvested, millions of these bugs take flight simultaneously and can migrate en masse to nearby cotton fields, causing sudden severe damage.