Small World Discoveries

HEMIPTERA > HETEROPTERA > CIMICOMORPHA > Miridae > Mirini

This is the second set representing some of the species I've photograph that are members of the Mirini tribe.

The Orange-spotted Plant Bug [Grypocoris stysi] is a conspicuous and attractive woodland species often found on nettles, but also on umbellifers and White Bryony. Adults feed on flower heads as well as small invertebrates such as aphids. It's a distinctive species with a mainly black body with a chequered pattern of pale yellow or whitish markings, and normally bright orange, but sometimes paler yellow-orange, cuneus.  

The Nettle Plant Bug [Liocoris tripustulatus] is another reasonably distinctive, although variable, bug that's primarily associated with nettles and, as with Grypocoris stysi, is the only species in its genus. The adults that overwinter emerge in the spring when their ground colour is typically darker, and with the scutellum and cuneus a deeper orange-yellow, than later in the season. Following mating, females may survive until the next generation of adults appear in mid-summer. The new adults are generally paler and less intensely marked, often with the scutellum and cuneus being more of a cream colour. The variation in colour is strongly related to age.

The Lygus genus includes five variable and superficially similar species that are renowned for being exceptionally difficult to confidently identify without detailed examination. However, taking into account habitat as well as typical colouration and markings, and close comparison with available photos of confirmed specimens I'm pretty sure that the two individuals featured here are very probably Lygus pratensis.

The Hazel Bug [Pantilius tunicatus] is described as a reasonably common and widespread species across southern Britain yet, at the time of writing, there were only two confirmed records from Dorset. It can be found on the lower branches of hazel, alder or birch. It is a large bug with a body length of around 8-10mm. The colour and extent of red markings is variable with newly emerged adults often being entirely green. Pantilius tunicatus is a late season species that typically won't be seen until September and probably not much beyond the end of October.

The three Polymerus species are all predominately black, or black and yellow, in colour with the upper surface covered in scale-like golden or silver hairs. In Polymerus unifasciatus the pronotum is mostly black with the rear margin narrowly yellow. The corium is largely yellow extending to the lateral margins and the boundary with the clavus (the strips either side of the scutellum). The cuneus has obvious red markings. It's a locally common species in a variety of habitats where bedstraws are growing.

The Striped Oak Bug [Rhabdomiris striatellus] is a particularly attractive, well-marked, woodland species that is primarily associated with oaks. It has a yellow pronotum with black markings, dark forewings with yellow stripes and yellow cuneus with a black tip. It is only likely to be confused with the larger and more elongate Miris striatus, which has a completely yellow to orange-red coloured cuneus without the black tip and an entirely dark head. Adults may be seen from early May to the end of July.

The common, small 5-6mm long, Black Plant Bug [Capsus ater] can be found in grassland habitats throughout the UK but, unlike most capsid bugs, feeding low on the grass stems rather on the heads or developing grains. It has a rather oval appearance with the head and pronotum varying in colour from rusty brown to black. Adults may be seen from June to September.

The eight Phytocoris species featured on the 'British Bugs' website have a distinctive appearance due to the long hind femora and long 1st antennal segment. The Long-legged Plant Bug [Phytocoris varipes] varies from pale pinkish-brown to red-brown with slightly darker longitudinal markings. It is very similar to Phytocoris insignis but, despite the poor quality of my photos, can be safely separated as Phytocoris insignis is a very scarce species confined to southern heathlands. Typical habitat for Phytocoris varipes is rough grassland where it feeds on various plants, and that's exactly the type of habitat where this one was found at Alners Gorse.