mirid

plural mirids

1. biologyAny insect of the family Miridae, a plant bug.

   Mirids continued to be underappreciated as predators even after several species had been used successfully in classical biological control in the 1920s and 1930s.

   2000, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., “Chapter 28: Predacious Plant Bugs (Miridae)”, in Carl W. Schaefer, Antonio Ricardo Panizzi, editors, Heteroptera of Economic Importance, page 657

   2 more examples

   Interestingly, the reproductive consequences of hornworm and mirid attack are very different for the plant. While the plant metabolically responds very similarly to hornworm and mirid attack and gains resistance to hornworms, attack by mirids (in contrast to attack by hornworms) does not reduce the reproductive success of the plant, although the damage from these piercing-sucking insects can be substantial.

   2006, Marcel Dicke, Willem Takken, Chemical Ecology: From Gene to Ecosystem, page 29

   Green mirids may be present at any crop stage from seedlings to podding. Mirid populations are typically low during the vegetative phase, but can increase rapidly after budding as a result of in-crop breeding.

   2007, H. Brier, “7: Pulses—Summer (including Peanuts)”, in P. T. Bailey, editor, Pests of Field Crops and Pastures: Identification and Control, page 186

   Synonyms: capsid bug, grass bug, leaf bug, mirid bug, plant bug