What is "tarnished plant bug"

n. widespread plant and fruit pest [syn: Lygus lineolaris]

The tarnished plant bug (TPB) or Lygus lineolaris is a species of plant-feeding insects of the family Miridae. It has piercing-sucking mouthparts and has become a serious pest on small fruits and vegetables in North America. It feeds on over half of all commercially grown crop plants, but favors cotton, alfalfa, beans, stone fruits, and conifer seedlings. This bug can be found across North America, from northern Canada to southern Mexico. Adults grow up to 6.5 mm in length, and are brown with accents of yellow, orange or red, with a light-colored "V" on the back (dorsal).