Small World Discoveries

HEMIPTERA > HETEROPTERA > CIMICOMORPHA > Anthocoridae

A large family of small, mostly 3-4mm long predatory bugs, that is widely regarded as being the most difficult group of species to identify.

The 'type species' in terms of the most common and frequently recorded is Anthocoris nemorum, described as having reflective forewings and an entirely black pronotum, coupled with legs that are mostly orange-brown, and antennae that are largely pale in the 2nd and 3rd segments, but dark at the tips. The forewings are boldly marked and the membrane has a distinctive hour-glass shaped patch. Similar species are distinguished by a combination of some of these features, particularly relating to the colour of the forewings, pronotum, legs and antennae.

The 'British Bugs' online identification guide lists 34 species, many of which are shown as being common, but with only seven actually described.