Occasionally gardeners will notice mid-sized (roughly ¼ inch long), orange and black bugs feeding on buds and blooms of daylilies.  Often these are not very numerous and any damage they are causing is inconsequential.

According to the JDC Mississippi State Extension Service, when populations are high, they can cause significant amounts of flower bud abortion and distortion of blooms.  This seems to be more common in the northern portion of the state.

These are true bugs belonging to the genus Lopidea, most likely Lopidea confluenta.

Although they have no official common name, they can be unofficially referred to as Daylily Plant Bugs.

Plant bugs are a group of true bugs that specialize in feeding on flower buds and plant terminals.

Similarly marked species, also belonging to the same genus, occur on phlox and on black locust.  In some parts of the country, the phlox plant bug can cause serious stippling, distortion and injury to phlox leaves and buds.

Where control is desired, these insects can be controlled by spraying with products containing:

Acetamiprid (Ortho Flower, Fruit, and Vegetable Insect Killer)

Acephate (Bonide Systemic Insect Control)

Bifenthrin (Ortho Bug B Gon)

Zeta-cypermethrin (Sevin concentrate)

Permethrin (Hi Yield Garden Pet and Livestock Spray).