The clouded plant bug overwinters in the egg stage. Three to four generations occur per year. Damage Clouded plant bug adults and nymphs feed by inserting their mouth parts into small squares, flowers, bolls, and tender plant tissue. The feeding causes discolored anthers in squares and blooms. Small bolls shed as a result of feeding.
Small spots occur on bolls marking the feeding points.
The spots are dull black with a pinhead sized, glossy black spot near the center of the larger dull spot. The lint inside the boll may be stained a tan color around the entry point. Malformed bolls may result with damage being done to the entire boll or in tiny spots. Occasional malformation results from improper development of one or more boll locks following heavy anther feeding but no discoloration is usually seen. The symptoms of feeding on vegetative parts are wilted or blackened leaves, lesions, knotted or swollen areas on stems and petioles, malformed or tattered leaves, and excessive branching of the main stem at some nodes.