Lygus bugs are indigenous insect pests in the order Hemiptera. They feed on floral and seed parts. Depending on the host, Lygus can cause loss of quantity (yield) as well as quality (surface scarring or pitting). The host range of Lygus hesperus is large with 110 host associations being reported. Crops on which Lygus is problematic include cotton, black-eye beans, lima beans, seed alfalfa, lettuce, tomato, pome fruits, and seed crops. Other crops that act as habitat are safflower, sugar beets, alfalfa forage, and almost any weedy field of tomatoes, garlic or onion. Range land and disturbed fallow ground can develop weed hosts, in which Lygus will build and from which populations will migrate. In field and row crops, Lygus migrates from other sources. In cotton for example, a field might be under complete biological control until Lygus migrate and if the population exceed action thresholds, insecticides are required to reduce their numbers. A major problem in Lygus management is the lack of selective, environmentally soft insecticides; thus secondary pest outbreaks often follow Lygus migration. The complexity of managing this polyphagous pest across large areas is immense. Ecological and biological knowledge are essential to develop large-scale (landscape level) management approaches. Development and delivery of alternative management approaches and IPM strategies are required. These include ? development and delivery of host plant resistance, ? mitigating migration by providing favorable and alternative habitat ? biological control to limit population increase in an area-wide context ? improved detection methods, monitoring tools, and action thresholds ? resistance management strategies to maintain pest control products The purpose of the Lygus Bug Management Workgroup is help develop a network among campuses, departments, counties, and external agencies to facilitate the coordination and integration necessary to understanding this regional pest and in developing large-scale management approaches. Currently, there is no single source of knowledge and information. There are many individuals conducting extension and research on the problem with little interaction among themselves The concept of this Workgroup is to draw together the different commodities and biological scientists to explore management opportunities that mitigate the migration potential and evaluate alternative management approaches. This group intends to include CE Specialists, Advisors, and AES researchers from entomology and commodity specialties. The goals of the Lygus Bug Management Workgroup are to: ? Develop communication networks ? Establish a clearinghouse for internal and external funding opportunities ? Help coordinate activities among commodities, departments, campuses, and external agencies ? Develop a statewide conference dedicated to Lygus management Workgroup Structure and Operational Procedures: The members of the workgroups are far-flung geographically and disciplinarily. There are at least two groups working on the Lygus problem, the entomologists who deal with the biology and ecology and the agronomists who are primarily involved in management through host plant resistance. An overlap occurs in the management through chemical control. The annual meeting is planned around the Agronomy Continuing Conference. This conference already draws a large number of interested agronomists. Several entomologists are in attendance, but are mostly lacking due to the number of other Workgroup commitments. Thus far, the entomology contingent has met informally through email, phones, and individual contact. The development of Pest Management Workgroup with an entomology section would facilitate a meeting. However, mechanisms for the entire Workgroup to gather should be developed. A core group of individuals will comprise a coordinating committee (see membership list) and provide the network among and between campuses, counties, workgroups, and commodity groups. The coordinating committee will develop the details of major projects, such as Lygus Symposium. It can make a general call to identify issues from the wider CE, AES, and industry participants. These can be sorted, combined and prioritized. From this list, existing knowledge or gaps in knowledge can be identified. Future direction based on issue list can be suggested. A wider community of interested but less involved parties will be polled for direction and issues. Existing commodity workgroup meetings will provide an opportunity for informing this wider community of activities. Commodity groups will be informed through communication through the appropriate Specialist.