Black grass bugs reported in Montana

According to a MSU Extension Ag Alert, damaging numbers of black grass bugs were reported in range and pasture locations in Teton and Big Horn Counties. Black grass bugs were also reported in Fallon, Powder River and Prairie Counties. Black grass bugs are plant sap feeders that target many introduced range grasses, including crested wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass and orchardgrass.

Black grass bugs are dark insects, often with buff-colored markings on the head and the body margin. They are less than a quarter inch long. Both adults and immatures have wide heads and prominent eyes that are...