Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) 207
to damage by B. hilaris. For example, organic growers are altering planting schemes and timing to avoid
painted bug infestations, and large farm growers have begun to use transplanted cole crops rather than
direct seeding. These altered strategies are more costly to the growers.
The present chapter reviews the literature on Bagrada hilaris pertaining to its systematic and taxo-
nomic history and identification, worldwide distribution, basic biology, host range, and impact and man-
agement in agricultural systems. Through the compilation of this information, we hope to promote the
continued development of methods to reduce the damage caused by this pest.
3.2 Taxonomy and Identification
3.2.1 Taxonomy
Bagrada primarily is an Old World genus with three subgenera and 16 species (Rider 2006). The lit-
erature on the painted bug is somewhat confusing due to several alternate names and synonymies for
this species. In particular, B. pictus and B. cruciferarum, synonyms of B. hilaris, commonly are found
in the Old World literature. B. pictus (as Cimex pictus), although described prior to B. hilaris, is not a
valid name because it previously was used to describe a leaf-footed bug (primary junior homonym);
B. cruciferarum was an unnecessary new name for B. pictus. See the beginning of this chapter for details
and Chapter 2 for a review of the relationships among the pentatomoids, including B. hilaris. A search
of the literature citing the three most common species names for this pest resulted in 42 citations of
ABC
DE F5.0 mmFIGURE 3.1 (See color insert.) A, Comparison of adult Murgantia histrionica and Bagrada hilaris (dorsa l view);
B, B. hilaris egg; C, B. hilaris egg covered in soil; D, “Blind” cabbage injury from B. hilaris feeding, Yuma, Arizona; E,
2nd and 3rd instar nymphs of B. hilaris; F, large cluster of B. hilaris nymphs feeding on broccoli seed heads. (Images A-C
and D-F: courtesy of C. Scott Bundy and John C. Palumbo, respectively).