Pacific Grass Bug
Irbisia pacifica
This record describes Irbisia pacifica (species). Recorded family: Miridae. Recorded order: Hemiptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
- Suborder
- Heteroptera
- Superfamily
- Miroidea
- Family
- Miridae (Plant Bugs)
- Subfamily
- Mirinae
- Tribe
- Mirini
- Genus
- Irbisia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
on grasses of semi-arid rangelands in valleys and lowlands
Geographic Range
w. NA (BC-CA east to MT-CO, the widest range of any species in the genus)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: nymphs and adults feed on leaves of grasses (Poaceae), incl. wheatgrass ( Agropyron ), brome ( Bromus ), wildrye ( Elymus ), barley ( Hordeum ), and Red Fescue ( Festuca rubra ) feeding causes yellow spotting and curling of foliage; I. pacifica feeds preferentially on the second and third youngest leaves rather than on the youngest and oldest leaves ( A.G. Wheeler, "Biology of the Plant Bugs" )
About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hemiptera, the group containing Irbisia pacifica. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hemiptera (true bugs) includes over 80,000 described species across cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and bed bugs. Aphids alone cost global agriculture an estimated $2.5 billion annually in crop losses.
Ecological role of the group
Many Hemiptera are essential food sources for birds and predatory insects. Cicadas provide massive nutrient pulses during emergence events - a single Brood X emergence can involve trillions of individuals across 15 states.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) caused $37 million in apple crop losses in a single year in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Bed bug infestations in the U.S. increased by 500% between 2001-2010, costing the hotel industry hundreds of millions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA, EPA, University research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Pacific Grass Bug (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by v belov