Normski4ash - Macro Photography
---OR---
Apolygus spinolae
Apolygus species are green and rather broadly oval in shape. The black tibial spines do not arise from black spots and the 2nd antennal segment is usually shorter than the width of the pronotum at the base.
Separated from the similar A. lucorum by the paler ground colour and by the cuneus, which is black at the extreme apex.
Campyloneura virgula
A common predatory bug found on a range of trees across the UK, particularly hazel, hawthorn and oak. Males are extremeley rare, raising the possibility that C. virgulamight be parthenogenetic.
Anthocoris nemorum - Common Flower Bug
Probably the most common species of this difficult genus. The forewings are entirely reflective (right), and the pronotum entirely black. The legs are mostly orange-brown, with variable development of small dark patches near the tip of the femora, especially on the hind leg. The antennae are largely pale in the 2nd and 3rd segments, with dark tips to the segments, and dark 1st and 4th segments (how reliable this is we cannot yet be certain). The dark patch on the membrane is typically hourglass-shaped.
Deraeocoris Ruber
More common in southern Britain and very rare in Ireland, this bug feeds on small insects and can be found on a range of plants, especially nettles.
The ground colour (inlcuding the scutellum) ranges from red-orange to almost fully black, although the cuneus is always red to some extent. The forewings are very shiny. The tibiae are unbanded and the 1st antennal segment and at least the base of the 2nd are black.
Dryophilocoris flavoquadrimaculatus
This is one of several mirids which are mostly black with yellow markings. Although distinctive, it is similar to the much rarer Globiceps species, which have less extensive yellow areas at the front of the corium. In addition, the pronotum and forewings of D. flavoquadrimaculatus are covered with long fine erect hairs and the posterior of the pronotum is strongly raised. Always macropterous.
A common spring species on oak throughout Britain.
Stenodema laevigata
Stenodema species are elongate grass bugs with a longitudinal furrow between the eyes. The genus is best distinguished by the coarsely and densely pitted pronotum.
Grypocoris stysi
A conspicuous bug found widely throughout the UK, usually on nettles in woodland, and sometimes umbellifers and white bryony. The adults and larvae feed on both flower heads as well as small invertebrates such as aphids.
The chequered pattern of light yellow-white areas and striking orange-yellow cuneus make confusion with other species unlikely.
Eggs hatch in May and nymphs become adult in June and July, rarely surviving much beyond August.
Heterotoma planicornis
The broad and flattened 2nd antennal segment, dark ground colour and contrasting greenish legs make this species unmistakeable.
Abundant throughout most of Britain on various plants and trees, in particular nettles. Both adults and the reddish nymphs feed on small insects as well as plant buds and unripe fruits.
Eggs hatch in May, the nymphs becoming adult from June onwards.
Liocoris tripustulatus
Common throughout the UK and associated mainly with nettles, the foodplant for all life stages, this is a variable but distinctive species. The colour of the scutellum and cuneus ranges from cream to deep yellow and the pale legs are striped with black rings. Short dark spines are present on the tibiae. Head width ≈ 1/2 pronotum width, length of 2nd antennal segment > head width.
This bug may be found as an adult all year, and variation in colour is strongly related to age. On spring emergence following hibernation, the ground colour is typically darker and the cuneus more orange-yellow. Following mating, females may survive until the new generation of adults appears in mid-summer, which is generally paler and less intensely marked.
Nabis limbatus Marsh Damsel Bug
Widespread and common in damp grassland and wet meadows throughout the UK, N. limbatus has a broad body and very short wings. This species is always micropterous, and the forewings are shorter than in N. flavomarginatus,covering the 2nd and part of the 3rd abdominal segments only.
The similar Reed Damsel Bug N. lineatus can occur in similar habitats to N. limbatus, but is larger and has a narrower connexivum, giving it a more elongate appearance. Note that male damsel bugs are much more slender than females, so this character must be used with care.
Adults lay eggs in summer which hatch the following spring.
Plagiognathus chrysanthemi
A very common bug found throughout the UK on a range of plants in the Compositae, such as ragwort and yarrow. It is particularly common in dry grasslands and wastelands.
A fairly small greenish bug with a dense covering of dark hairs on the upper surface. The tibial spines are dark and set in black spots; the hind femora are pale but also dark-spotted. The antennal pattern is characteristic.
Tingis cardui Spear Thistle Lacebug
Tingis species are grey-brown lacebugs which are covered in white powdery deposits made of wax. The 4th antennal segment is clearly broader than 3rd and there are three frontal processes (small projections arising from the front of the head between the antennae). They are always fully-winged.
Tingis cardui is found commonly throughout most of Britain on spear thistle, the hostplant. It is distinguished from otherTingis species by the black-tipped antennae and tibiae and by the 2-3 rows of meshes at the edge of the pronotum and along the margins of the forewings. The two projections arising just behind the eyes (occipital processes) are very short, and do not extend beyond the frontal processes.
Striped Oak Bug - Calocoris striatellus
Length 7 to 8 mm. This is a very striking bug. The females are usually paler then males. The only possible confusion risk is the larger and more elongate Miris striatus, which has a completely yellow/orange cuneus and an entirely dark head.
Mirid Bug - Harpocera thoracica
Length about 6 mm. A handsome bug. The sexes are dimorphic and very different in appearance; males are more elongate in shape, with longer tibiae and a distinctive inflated 2nd antennal segment.
Flower Bug - Stictopleurus punctatonervosus
Length 7 to 8 mm. The genus is characterised by the banded connexivum and the spatulate tip to the scutellum. There are two very similar species which are best separated with reference to the fine detail of the pronotum. In S. punctatonervosus, the dark marks behind the anterior margin take the form of two half circles (full circles in the similar S. abutilon). Note that these markings are not always easy to discern.
Scolopostethus affinis
Length 3.5-4.5 mm. A difficult genus including some common species; all have one large and several small spines on the underside of the front femur. The sides of the pronotum have a large and obvious pale spot just behind the middle. The critical features in S. affinis are the short wing membrane (about 3 times wider than it is long), and the antennal pattern; the 1st and 2nd segments are pale, and the 3rd and 4th segments dark (although the base of the 3rd is often pale also).
Deraeocoris lutescens
A small predatory bug found commonly on a wide variety of plants across southern Britain, but favouring deciduous trees, particularly oak.
A generally orange-brown species with blackish markings and translucent forewings. Although sometimes rather variable, there are usually two dark bars on the scutellum, which is unpunctured.
This species overwinters as an adult, mating in the spring; the new generation is complete by late summer.
Orthops basalis
This genus contains three small bugs (<5 mm) which are often found on umbellifers (Apiaceae). They generally have dark antennae. Although external characters are useful,some specimens cannot be reliably identified without dissection.
O. basalis is never green or green-tinged like O. campestrisand is larger, more elongate and often more extensively dark-marked. Males often show three pale spots on the scutellum, as shown here. Although very similar to O. kalmii, the 3rd antennal segment is relatively long, only slightly less than the head width.
Lygocoris Rugicollis
Length 5.5 to 7.0 mm. Lygocoris species can be distinguished from similar green bugs by the very fine and inconspicuous pale brown tibial spines and at high magnification, the break in the keel between the eyes. The pronotum is rather straight-sided. In L. rugicollis the pronotum is strongly wrinkled and the entire upper surface lacks obvious hairs. The side margins are often yellow. There are other very similar species and care needs to be taken with identification.
Megaloceroea Recticornis
Length 8 to 10mm. This is an elongate grass bug with extremely long antennae and long slender hind legs which differentiate it from the similar-looking Stenodema species. Its colour varies from green to straw yellow in the adult, whilst nymphs are green with two brown bands on the thorax. The tarsi are all dark. It has a longitudinal furrow between the eyes in common with others in this group. It can be separated from the similar Notostira elongata by the fact that the tibiae and 1st antennal segments are covered with short spinose hairs.
Corizus hyoscyami
Length 9 mm. A very handsome species which should be unmistakable. Although striking, it does bear a superficial resemblance to the red and black ground bugs.
Although photographed in Italy, these are to be found in Britain, more so in the South west, though there are records of them much further North.
Closterotomus norwegicus Potato Capsid
This common and widespread bug can be found in meadows and hedgerows across Britain, where it feeds on a wide range of plants, especially nettles, composites and clovers.
It is one of several similar green species, although mature males are tinged red-brown and specimens from northern Britain may have brownish-black markings. The tibial spines are shorter than the width of the tibia, and the length of the 2nd antennal segment is roughly equal to the 3rd and 4th combined.
The two spots on the pronotum are frequently absent, as are the dark markings at the top of the scutellum.
Leptopterna dolabrata
Leptopterna species are large and common grass bugs which often have reddish or orange-yellow forewings. They have a transverse furrow between the eyes and the legs and antennae are covered in long dark hairs.
There are two very similar species, both of which are sexually dimorphic. Males are always macropterous (fully-winged) and females usually brachypterous (partly-winged).
Male: Colour darkens with age, from black and yellow to black and orange-red. The length of the 2nd antennal segment is much greater than the 3rd and 4th combined.
Female: The 2nd antennal segment is thinner than the base of the front tibia.
Fine Streaked Bugkin - Miris striatus
Length 9-11 mm. A distinctively large and well-marked species, which should be unmistakable. The cuneus varies from yellow to orange-red, but is never black-tipped. The rather ant-like nymphs are dark with yellow markings and reddish-brown legs.
Stephanitis takeyai Andromeda Lacebug
This species is a fairly recent arrival in the UK and was first recorded in 1998. It is native to Japan, where it feeds on Pieris japponica and has been introduced into the USA and Europe via the plant trade. As well as Pieris, it also uses Rhododendron and azaleas as hostplants and is regarded as a pest in ornamental gardens, there are several generations per year, the bug overwintering as eggs.
Pantilius Tunicatus
Reasonably common and widepread across southern Britain at least, this bug may be found on the lower branches of hazel, alder and birch.
The large size (antennae shorter than the body) and spectacular colouring make it almost unmistakeable. The extent of the red markings is variable, and newly emerged adults can be almost entirely green. It is a late season species and usually does not appear until September.
Adult: September-October, may overwinter
Length 8-10mm
Harpocera thoracica
A handsome bug which is very common throughout the UK on oak. The sexes are dimorphic and very different in appearance; males are more elongate in shape, with longer tibiae and a distinctive inflated 2nd antennal segment.
Adults appear in the spring and are short-lived (particularly males), the species spending almost all the year in the egg stage and larval development taking only 2 weeks. The reddish nymphs are covered in dark hairs and the two basal antennal segments are thickened. Males are attracted to UV light and may be found in moth traps.
Plagiognathus arbustorum
This extremely common bug is found throughout the UK on a range of plants, particularly nettles.
Although the ground colour varies from pale olive-green to almost black, the head and front of the pronotum are usually dark, as are the 1st and 2nd antennal segments.The dark margins of the hind femora are a very useful identification feature; these are present in late instar nymphs also. The spines on the hind tibiae are equal to or longer than the tibial width and generally arise from black spots. The pronotum and forewings are covered in dark hairs.
Deraeocoris flavilinea
A species which has rapidly colonised the UK following its arrival in 1996, and is now widely established and common across south and central Britain at least. The host-plants are sycamore and field maple, although it may frequently be encountered on other trees and shrubs.