Hocking County had a serious problem last growing season with Harlequin bug damage on crucifers. Any plant that was not monitored with hand picking or treated with insecticide was severely damaged up to complete loss of product.
Scouting started in mid-May with the first bugs noted at The Urban Farm on June 13th.
Feeding damage from the bugs is noted on the leaf in the form of white stippling. Large holes were caused by feeding of Cabbage White larvae
Hand picking was used to remove the several bugs noted instead of insecticide to allow harvest of the remaining broccoli. The planting beds will be rotated out of broccoli within the next couple weeks and no other cruciferous vegetables will be planted until August, but scouting will continue.
Harlequin bug (Murgantia histrionica) –> Profile: Journal of Integrated Pest Management
Factsheet: University of Maryland