Newly available Pherobank Omnilure for Nesidiocoris tenuis

Nesidiocoris tenuis

English: Tobacco leaf bug/Tomato bug
French: Capside du tabac

Nesidiocoris tenuis is a predatory mirid bug commonly used in integrated pest management (IPM) for controlling whiteflies, aphids, and lepidopteran eggs, particularly in tomato and other solanaceous crops. Native to the Mediterranean region, it is now widely introduced into greenhouses and open fields. While beneficial as a biological control agent, Nesidiocoris tenuis can also act as a pest, especially in the absence of prey. It feeds by piercing plant tissues, which can result in necrotic rings on stems, flower abortion, stunted growth, and fruit blemishes. Excessive populations may cause significant economic losses, making population monitoring essential. Balancing its use for pest control with its potential to damage crops is a key consideration in IPM strategies.

In 2012, David Hall's group at the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich (UK), identified the pheromone as a mixture of 1-octanol and octyl hexanoate. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-021-01270-1)
The pheromone compounds are released by both sexes, but they primarily attract males.

Pherobank has produced and formulated the pheromone in Omnilures to achieve an optimal release profile. Field testing has shown that this product is suitable for attracting Nesidiocoris tenuis.