TY - JOUR AU - Daane, Kent M AU - Yokota, Glenn Y AU - Krugner, Rodrigo AU - Steffan, Shawn A AU - da Silva, Paul G AU - Beede, Robert H AU - Bentley, Walter J AU - Weinberger, Gary B TI - Large bugs damage pistachio nuts most severely during midseason JF - California Agriculture JO - Calif Agr Y1 - 2005/04/01 VL - 59 IS - 2 SP - 95 EP - 102 PB - University of California Agriculture and Nature Resources SN - 0008-0845 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3733/ca.v059n02p95 L3 - 10.3733/ca.v059n02p95 AB - “Large bug” damage to pistachio nuts varies by season, as well as among insect species and development stages, with larger bugs typically causing more damage than smaller bugs. We investigated pistachio damage by three large bug species (leaffooted bug, redshouldered stink bug and flat green stink bug) at different development stages and throughout the season, using field surveys and cage studies. Before fruit set occurs in June, most damaged nuts are dropped from the cluster without reducing fruit load. The midseason period (June to July) is the most critical because the damaged nuts remain in the cluster. After shell hardening, the kernel is largely protected from bug feeding.