Biology Tarnished plant bugs are about 5-6 mm long and 2.5 mm wide. There legs and antennae are relatively long. Young nymphs are a dull blue-green. They look like aphids but are much more active. Colour in the older nymphs becomes more variable and is similar to that of the adults.
Nymphs develop prominent black dots on the top of the thorax and abdomen.
Symptoms of Damage Plant bugs physically damage the plants by puncturing the tissue and sucking plant juices, affecting the strawberry crop in both quality and quantity. Feeding on the flower blossoms and developing fruit causes uneven pollination. Yields are also affected. Most damage occurs after petal fall. In extreme cases, up to 85 per cent of the fruit may be damaged.