Small World Discoveries

HEMIPTERA > HETEROPTERA > PENTATOMORPHA > LYGAEOIDEA > Lygaeidae

This large family includes around 90 species of mainly small, predominantly dark-coloured, mostly ground-dwelling bugs that feed on seeds. Although the majority are rather drab and infrequently recorded, there are a few more colourful species that can often be found on low vegetation rather than on the ground. However, despite the size of this family only a few species are actually regarded as common and, from what I can see, there are probably 15 at most that I'm likely to encounter locally. It's a bit of a specialist group and certainly in respect of the true ground bugs is a family that's best left to the experts. Fortunately, most of the more frequently found species can be readily identified and, as such, have been given common names based on their appearance, preferred habitat or foodplant.

One of the most widespread and frequently encountered members of the family is the Birch Catkin Bug [Kleidocerys resedae]. It is a small, 5mm body length, reddish-brown coloured bug with very long, partly transparent forewings with dark markings on the corium. The scutellum has some white markings and the clavus (the narrow strip either side of the scutellum) has three rows of punctures. The Heather Groundbug [Klieidocerys ericae] is similar, but slightly smaller and with much shorter wings. It's as common as the Birch Catkin Bug but, as its name suggests, is found primarily on heathland rather than in woodland, parks and gardens where Birch or Alder grows. The markings are subtly different, particularly the pale areas of the scutellum that are more extensive, however the habitat alone invariably distinguishes the species.     

There are so many small dark-coloured species that I'm amazed I haven't found more, but at present my records only include the Brown Groundbug [Drymus brunneus] which is usually found in damp areas, often in leaf-litter, and the Nettle Groundbug [Heterogaster urticae] which is primarily a southern species that typically occurs in more open habitats on nettles.

Scolopostethus is a tricky genus of six species that, in most cases, are difficult to distinguish. The exception, possibly, is the Thompson's Groundbug [Scolopostethus thomsoni]. It has the same general appearance as the others with the characteristic pale spots on the sides of the keeled pronotum, but is somewhat distinguishable by usually having shorter wings. More specifically, the antennal segments change in colour from S1 being pale or certainly lighter, continuing onto S2 before darkening and with S3 and S4 always dark. It's a common species that can be found in a wide range of habitats, including gardens.

An interesting little species that I hope to find someday is the European Chinchbug [Ischnodemus sabuleti]. It's primarily a wetland species, but also occurs on dry grasslands. It can be found throughout the spring and summer months, often in large numbers, feeding on reeds and grasses. It's an elongate, distinctive species with a long-winged (macropterous) and, less common, short-winged (micropterous) form.

The family as a whole consists of 40 genera separated into ten subfamilies.