BRITISH BUGS HOME

British Bugs Home - An online identification guide to UK Hemiptera. True bugs (Hemiptera) are one of the major groups of insects found in the UK, comprising nearly 2000 species. The purpose of this website is to illustrate as many of these as possible, since they are poorly covered by popular field guides. The availability of digital cameras (PENTATOMIDAE) DYRODERES UMBRACULATUS White-shouldered Shieldbug. Dyroderes umbraculatus. Family: Pentatomidae. A largely brown species with characteristic broad white margins to the front of the pronotum and a white-tipped scutellum. Adults and nymphs feed on bedstraws Galium species and there is one generation a year. Although well established in the Channel Islands,

it was not

(MIRIDAE) HARPOCERA THORACICA Harpocera thoracica. Family: Miridae. A handsome bug which is very common throughout Britain 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 (COREIDAE) CORIOMERIS DENTICULATUS Coriomeris denticulatus Denticulate Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. A reddish-brown squashbug which is disinctly bristly, particularly on the pronotum, legs and antennae. The lateral margins of the pronotum are covered in white spines, each ending in a dark tip. This species feeds on black meddick, Melilotus sp and other related plants in the (RHOPALIDAE) BRACHYCARENUS TIGRINUS An attractive straw-coloured rhopalid with extensive black markings on the head, adjacent to the eyes. The pronotum is speckled with black, particularly on the hind angles and the scutellum is also marked with black at the base. The head is markedly shorter and less pointed than in Rhopalus or Stictopleurus. This species is a recent arrival in (COREIDAE) BATHYSOLEN NUBILUS A ground-dwelling species feeding on members of the pea family, particularly Black Meddick Medicago lupulina; nymphs can be found June-August. Historically very scarce, this species can now be found more widely across southern England and east Anglia, favouring a variety of dry and sparsely-vegetated habitats. Adult: All year.

Length 5.5-7.0 mm.

(MIRIDAE) MIRIS STRIATUS Miris striatus Family: Miridae A distinctively large and well-marked species, which should be unmistakeable. The cuneus varies from yellow to orange-red, but is never black-tipped (unlike the smaller and more rounded Rhabdomiris striatellus, which occurs in similar habitats).The rather ant-like nymphs are dark with yellow markings and reddish-brown

legs.

(MIRIDAE) STENODEMA LAEVIGATA Stenodema laevigata Family: Miridae 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. S. laevigata is very similar to S. calcarata and S. trispinosa, but lacks femoral spurs. There is a notch in the underside of the hind femora,

near the apex.

(LYGAEIDAE) MEGALONOTUS CHIRAGRA Megalonotus chiragra Family: Lygaeidae Megalonotus species are medium-sized ground bugs in which the pronotum is covered with dense pubescence and is coarsely punctured, particularly across the posterior. The front femora bear a large tooth and several smaller ones. M. chiragra is distinguished by the long erect hairs on the pronotum and the regular (DELPHACIDAE) STENOCRANUS MINUTUS Stenocranus minutus Family: Delphacidae Stenocranus species all have pale brown wings, often with a darker median stripe towards the apex, but they differ in several minor details of the head and forelegs. Separation of some species is difficult, and requires several features to be visible; specimens should be dissected for confirmation. This species has a strongly elongated head (when viewed

BRITISH BUGS HOME

British Bugs Home - An online identification guide to UK Hemiptera. True bugs (Hemiptera) are one of the major groups of insects found in the UK, comprising nearly 2000 species. The purpose of this website is to illustrate as many of these as possible, since they are poorly covered by popular field guides. The availability of digital cameras (PENTATOMIDAE) DYRODERES UMBRACULATUS White-shouldered Shieldbug. Dyroderes umbraculatus. Family: Pentatomidae. A largely brown species with characteristic broad white margins to the front of the pronotum and a white-tipped scutellum. Adults and nymphs feed on bedstraws Galium species and there is one generation a year. Although well established in the Channel Islands,

it was not

(MIRIDAE) HARPOCERA THORACICA Harpocera thoracica. Family: Miridae. A handsome bug which is very common throughout Britain 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 (COREIDAE) CORIOMERIS DENTICULATUS Coriomeris denticulatus Denticulate Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. A reddish-brown squashbug which is disinctly bristly, particularly on the pronotum, legs and antennae. The lateral margins of the pronotum are covered in white spines, each ending in a dark tip. This species feeds on black meddick, Melilotus sp and other related plants in the (RHOPALIDAE) BRACHYCARENUS TIGRINUS An attractive straw-coloured rhopalid with extensive black markings on the head, adjacent to the eyes. The pronotum is speckled with black, particularly on the hind angles and the scutellum is also marked with black at the base. The head is markedly shorter and less pointed than in Rhopalus or Stictopleurus. This species is a recent arrival in (COREIDAE) BATHYSOLEN NUBILUS A ground-dwelling species feeding on members of the pea family, particularly Black Meddick Medicago lupulina; nymphs can be found June-August. Historically very scarce, this species can now be found more widely across southern England and east Anglia, favouring a variety of dry and sparsely-vegetated habitats. Adult: All year.

Length 5.5-7.0 mm.

(MIRIDAE) MIRIS STRIATUS Miris striatus Family: Miridae A distinctively large and well-marked species, which should be unmistakeable. The cuneus varies from yellow to orange-red, but is never black-tipped (unlike the smaller and more rounded Rhabdomiris striatellus, which occurs in similar habitats).The rather ant-like nymphs are dark with yellow markings and reddish-brown

legs.

(MIRIDAE) STENODEMA LAEVIGATA Stenodema laevigata Family: Miridae 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. S. laevigata is very similar to S. calcarata and S. trispinosa, but lacks femoral spurs. There is a notch in the underside of the hind femora,

near the apex.

(LYGAEIDAE) MEGALONOTUS CHIRAGRA Megalonotus chiragra Family: Lygaeidae Megalonotus species are medium-sized ground bugs in which the pronotum is covered with dense pubescence and is coarsely punctured, particularly across the posterior. The front femora bear a large tooth and several smaller ones. M. chiragra is distinguished by the long erect hairs on the pronotum and the regular (DELPHACIDAE) STENOCRANUS MINUTUS Stenocranus minutus Family: Delphacidae Stenocranus species all have pale brown wings, often with a darker median stripe towards the apex, but they differ in several minor details of the head and forelegs. Separation of some species is difficult, and requires several features to be visible; specimens should be dissected for confirmation. This species has a strongly elongated head (when viewed

BRITISH BUGS HOME

British Bugs Home - An online identification guide to UK Hemiptera. True bugs (Hemiptera) are one of the major groups of insects found in the UK, comprising nearly 2000 species. The purpose of this website is to illustrate as many of these as possible, since they are poorly covered by popular field guides. The availability of digital cameras (RHOPALIDAE) STICTOPLEURUS PUNCTATONERVOSUS Stictopleurus punctatonervosus Family: Rhopalidae Key to the Rhopalidae of Central Europe (German) Both historically rare or accidental, two Stictopleurus species have recently become well-established in the UK. The genus is characterised by the banded connexivum and the spatulate tip to the scutellum. (COREIDAE) CERALEPTUS LIVIDUS Ceraleptus lividus Slender-horned Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. A large and distinctive squashbug; the dark eyestripe and pale edges to the base of the corium are useful and consistent identification features. Following adult emergence and mating in the spring, larvae can be found June-August feeding on various herbaceous legumes such as (COREIDAE) COREUS MARGINATUS DOCK BUG Coreus marginatus Dock Bug. Family: Coreidae. A large and mottled reddish-brown squashbug with a broad, oval abdomen. The two small projections between the antennae are diagnostic. There is one generation per year, adults mating and laying eggs in spring. The nymphs feed on dock and other related plants in the Polygonaceae; new

adults may be

(RHOPALIDAE) MYRMUS MIRIFORMIS Myrmus miriformis Family: Rhopalidae Key to the Rhopalidae of Central Europe (German) In contrast to other rhopalids, Myrmus miriformis and Chorosoma schillingi are rather hairless as adults and elongate in shape, bearing a superficial resemblance to some of the mirid grass bugs. M. miriformis males have two colour morphs: a green form (marked with red) and a brown form, while females are (COREIDAE) SPATHOCERA DALMANII Spathocera dalmanii Dalman's Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. This small squashbug is characterised by the long, pale-sided pronotum (much longer than wide). The head, antennae and pronotum lack spines and there are two wedge-shaped black markings on the BRITISH BUGS GALLERY MIRIDAE British Bugs Gallery Miridae. Tribe: Bryocorini. Key features: Small brownish bugs (< 4 mm) found on ferns; macropterous or brachypterous, macropters with a single membrane cell. Pronotum with a rounded collar. Monalocoris filicis. (CICADELLIDAE) STREPTANUS SORDIDUS Streptanus sordidus. Family: Cicadellidae. A genus of three rather variable species, usually with short wings and a broad outline. Care must be taken over identification due to some inconsistency and confusion in past identification guides. S. sordidus normally has lateral dark lines on the front part of the vertex, curved near the

front margin

(NABIDAE) HIMACERUS APTERUS Himacerus apterus Tree Damsel Bug Family: Nabidae This genus has a black connexivum with orange-red spots, and rather reddish-brown wings. H. apterus is normally micropterous, the wings not reaching beyond the 3rd or 4th abdominal segment. It is best separated from the smaller H. mirmicoides by the longer antennae (≥ length of thorax + abdomen), shorter wings and longer hairs on the hind (PENTATOMIDAE) NEOTTIGLOSSA PUSILLA Neottiglossa pusilla Small Grass Shieldbug. Family: Pentatomidae. A small brown species, with paler margins to the pronotum and abdomen, and a pale central stripe running down the pronotum and scutellum. The short head is rather flattened at the front. In dry, open grasslands, feeding on various grasses, but usually in much lower numbers than

BRITISH BUGS HOME

British Bugs Home - An online identification guide to UK Hemiptera. True bugs (Hemiptera) are one of the major groups of insects found in the UK, comprising nearly 2000 species. The purpose of this website is to illustrate as many of these as possible, since they are poorly covered by popular field guides. The availability of digital cameras (PENTATOMIDAE) DYRODERES UMBRACULATUS White-shouldered Shieldbug. Dyroderes umbraculatus. Family: Pentatomidae. A largely brown species with characteristic broad white margins to the front of the pronotum and a white-tipped scutellum. Adults and nymphs feed on bedstraws Galium species and there is one generation a year. Although well established in the Channel Islands,

it was not

(MIRIDAE) HARPOCERA THORACICA Harpocera thoracica. Family: Miridae. A handsome bug which is very common throughout Britain 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 (COREIDAE) CORIOMERIS DENTICULATUS Coriomeris denticulatus Denticulate Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. A reddish-brown squashbug which is disinctly bristly, particularly on the pronotum, legs and antennae. The lateral margins of the pronotum are covered in white spines, each ending in a dark tip. This species feeds on black meddick, Melilotus sp and other related plants in the (COREIDAE) SPATHOCERA DALMANII Spathocera dalmanii Dalman's Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. This small squashbug is characterised by the long, pale-sided pronotum (much longer than wide). The head, antennae and pronotum lack spines and there are two wedge-shaped black markings on the (LYGAEIDAE) MEGALONOTUS CHIRAGRA Megalonotus chiragra Family: Lygaeidae Megalonotus species are medium-sized ground bugs in which the pronotum is covered with dense pubescence and is coarsely punctured, particularly across the posterior. The front femora bear a large tooth and several smaller ones. M. chiragra is distinguished by the long erect hairs on the pronotum and the regular curvature to the hind margin of the pronotum (MIRIDAE) MIRIS STRIATUS Miris striatus Family: Miridae A distinctively large and well-marked species, which should be unmistakeable. The cuneus varies from yellow to orange-red, but is never black-tipped (unlike the smaller and more rounded Rhabdomiris striatellus, which occurs in similar habitats).The rather ant-like nymphs are dark with yellow markings and reddish-brown

legs.

(CICADELLIDAE) STREPTANUS SORDIDUS Streptanus sordidus. Family: Cicadellidae. A genus of three rather variable species, usually with short wings and a broad outline. Care must be taken over identification due to some inconsistency and confusion in past identification guides. S. sordidus normally has lateral dark lines on the front part of the vertex, curved near the

front margin

(DELPHACIDAE) STENOCRANUS MINUTUS Stenocranus minutus Family: Delphacidae Stenocranus species all have pale brown wings, often with a darker median stripe towards the apex, but they differ in several minor details of the head and forelegs. Separation of some species is difficult, and requires several features to be visible; specimens should be dissected for confirmation. This species has a strongly elongated head (when viewed (RHOPALIDAE) STICTOPLEURUS ABUTILON Stictopleurus abutilon Family: Rhopalidae Key to the Rhopalidae of Central Europe (German) Both historically rare or accidental, two Stictopleurus species have recently become well-established in the UK. The genus is characterised by the banded connexivum and the spatulate tip to the scutellum.

BRITISH BUGS HOME

British Bugs Home - An online identification guide to UK Hemiptera. True bugs (Hemiptera) are one of the major groups of insects found in the UK, comprising nearly 2000 species. The purpose of this website is to illustrate as many of these as possible, since they are poorly covered by popular field guides. The availability of digital cameras (PENTATOMIDAE) DYRODERES UMBRACULATUS White-shouldered Shieldbug. Dyroderes umbraculatus. Family: Pentatomidae. A largely brown species with characteristic broad white margins to the front of the pronotum and a white-tipped scutellum. Adults and nymphs feed on bedstraws Galium species and there is one generation a year. Although well established in the Channel Islands,

it was not

(MIRIDAE) HARPOCERA THORACICA Harpocera thoracica. Family: Miridae. A handsome bug which is very common throughout Britain 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 (COREIDAE) CORIOMERIS DENTICULATUS Coriomeris denticulatus Denticulate Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. A reddish-brown squashbug which is disinctly bristly, particularly on the pronotum, legs and antennae. The lateral margins of the pronotum are covered in white spines, each ending in a dark tip. This species feeds on black meddick, Melilotus sp and other related plants in the (COREIDAE) SPATHOCERA DALMANII Spathocera dalmanii Dalman's Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. This small squashbug is characterised by the long, pale-sided pronotum (much longer than wide). The head, antennae and pronotum lack spines and there are two wedge-shaped black markings on the (LYGAEIDAE) MEGALONOTUS CHIRAGRA Megalonotus chiragra Family: Lygaeidae Megalonotus species are medium-sized ground bugs in which the pronotum is covered with dense pubescence and is coarsely punctured, particularly across the posterior. The front femora bear a large tooth and several smaller ones. M. chiragra is distinguished by the long erect hairs on the pronotum and the regular curvature to the hind margin of the pronotum (MIRIDAE) MIRIS STRIATUS Miris striatus Family: Miridae A distinctively large and well-marked species, which should be unmistakeable. The cuneus varies from yellow to orange-red, but is never black-tipped (unlike the smaller and more rounded Rhabdomiris striatellus, which occurs in similar habitats).The rather ant-like nymphs are dark with yellow markings and reddish-brown

legs.

(CICADELLIDAE) STREPTANUS SORDIDUS Streptanus sordidus. Family: Cicadellidae. A genus of three rather variable species, usually with short wings and a broad outline. Care must be taken over identification due to some inconsistency and confusion in past identification guides. S. sordidus normally has lateral dark lines on the front part of the vertex, curved near the

front margin

(DELPHACIDAE) STENOCRANUS MINUTUS Stenocranus minutus Family: Delphacidae Stenocranus species all have pale brown wings, often with a darker median stripe towards the apex, but they differ in several minor details of the head and forelegs. Separation of some species is difficult, and requires several features to be visible; specimens should be dissected for confirmation. This species has a strongly elongated head (when viewed (RHOPALIDAE) STICTOPLEURUS ABUTILON Stictopleurus abutilon Family: Rhopalidae Key to the Rhopalidae of Central Europe (German) Both historically rare or accidental, two Stictopleurus species have recently become well-established in the UK. The genus is characterised by the banded connexivum and the spatulate tip to the scutellum. BRITISH BUGS HETEROPTERA GALLERY Represented by around 30 species and 4 families in mainland Britain, shieldbugs are flattish oval or shield-shaped bugs which have a large scutellum, usually reaching the wing membrane. Many are large, colourful and distinctive, although the larval instars are more difficult to identify. They are known as stink bugs in the USA due to

their

(PENTATOMIDAE) PICROMERUS BIDENS Picromerus bidens Spiked Shieldbug. Family: Pentatomidae. A large and distinctive predatory shieldbug, which has unmistakeable thorn-like projections on the front of the pronotum. This species usually overwinters as eggs and less frequently as nymphs, becoming adult by July/August. The nymphs are greyish-black, with pale banded legs and

yellow

(MIRIDAE) STENODEMA LAEVIGATA Stenodema laevigata Family: Miridae 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. S. laevigata is very similar to S. calcarata and S. trispinosa, but lacks femoral spurs. There is a notch in the underside of the hind femora,

near the apex.

BRITISH BUGS GALLERY MIRIDAE British Bugs Gallery Miridae. Tribe: Bryocorini. Key features: Small brownish bugs (< 4 mm) found on ferns; macropterous or brachypterous, macropters with a single membrane cell. Pronotum with a rounded collar. Monalocoris filicis. (RHOPALIDAE) MYRMUS MIRIFORMIS Myrmus miriformis Family: Rhopalidae Key to the Rhopalidae of Central Europe (German) In contrast to other rhopalids, Myrmus miriformis and Chorosoma schillingi are rather hairless as adults and elongate in shape, bearing a superficial resemblance to some of the mirid grass bugs. M. miriformis males have two colour morphs: a green form (marked with red) and a brown form, while females are (RHOPALIDAE) STICTOPLEURUS PUNCTATONERVOSUS Stictopleurus punctatonervosus Family: Rhopalidae Key to the Rhopalidae of Central Europe (German) Both historically rare or accidental, two Stictopleurus species have recently become well-established in the UK. The genus is characterised by the banded connexivum and the spatulate tip to the scutellum. (CICADELLIDAE) KYBOS CF. BUTLERI Kybos cf. butleri Family: Cicadellidae A distinctively coloured species in which the corial-claval suture is not darkened. It is however very difficult to distinguish from K. rufescens, which can be separated only on features of the ventral surface of the base of the abdomen in males.The host-plant is a useful guide to identification, but is not sufficient in itself. (MIRIDAE) GRYPOCORIS STYSI Grypocoris stysi. Family: Miridae. 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 (LYGAEIDAE) PERITRECHUS LUNDII Peritrechus lundii Family: Lygaeidae Peritrechus species have only one or two small spines on the front femora. As in Scolopostethus, a pale spot is present at the sides of the pronotum, although this is not always obvious. In P. lundii, the wing membrane has a characteristic white spot at the tip and the sides of the pronotum are distinctly

keeled.

HET NEWS 22

2 Updated keys to Terrestrial Heteroptera exc. Miridae Pete Kirby has produced an updated version of his keys to Terrestrial Heteroptera excluding Miridae, which

BRITISH BUGS HOME

British Bugs Home - An online identification guide to UK Hemiptera. True bugs (Hemiptera) are one of the major groups of insects found in the UK, comprising nearly 2000 species. The purpose of this website is to illustrate as many of these as possible, since they are poorly covered by popular field guides. The availability of digital cameras (PENTATOMIDAE) DYRODERES UMBRACULATUS White-shouldered Shieldbug. Dyroderes umbraculatus. Family: Pentatomidae. A largely brown species with characteristic broad white margins to the front of the pronotum and a white-tipped scutellum. Adults and nymphs feed on bedstraws Galium species and there is one generation a year. Although well established in the Channel Islands,

it was not

(MIRIDAE) HARPOCERA THORACICA Harpocera thoracica. Family: Miridae. A handsome bug which is very common throughout Britain 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 (COREIDAE) CORIOMERIS DENTICULATUS Coriomeris denticulatus Denticulate Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. A reddish-brown squashbug which is disinctly bristly, particularly on the pronotum, legs and antennae. The lateral margins of the pronotum are covered in white spines, each ending in a dark tip. This species feeds on black meddick, Melilotus sp and other related plants in the (COREIDAE) SPATHOCERA DALMANII Spathocera dalmanii Dalman's Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. This small squashbug is characterised by the long, pale-sided pronotum (much longer than wide). The head, antennae and pronotum lack spines and there are two wedge-shaped black markings on the (LYGAEIDAE) MEGALONOTUS CHIRAGRA Megalonotus chiragra Family: Lygaeidae Megalonotus species are medium-sized ground bugs in which the pronotum is covered with dense pubescence and is coarsely punctured, particularly across the posterior. The front femora bear a large tooth and several smaller ones. M. chiragra is distinguished by the long erect hairs on the pronotum and the regular curvature to the hind margin of the pronotum (MIRIDAE) MIRIS STRIATUS Miris striatus Family: Miridae A distinctively large and well-marked species, which should be unmistakeable. The cuneus varies from yellow to orange-red, but is never black-tipped (unlike the smaller and more rounded Rhabdomiris striatellus, which occurs in similar habitats).The rather ant-like nymphs are dark with yellow markings and reddish-brown

legs.

(CICADELLIDAE) STREPTANUS SORDIDUS Streptanus sordidus. Family: Cicadellidae. A genus of three rather variable species, usually with short wings and a broad outline. Care must be taken over identification due to some inconsistency and confusion in past identification guides. S. sordidus normally has lateral dark lines on the front part of the vertex, curved near the

front margin

(DELPHACIDAE) STENOCRANUS MINUTUS Stenocranus minutus Family: Delphacidae Stenocranus species all have pale brown wings, often with a darker median stripe towards the apex, but they differ in several minor details of the head and forelegs. Separation of some species is difficult, and requires several features to be visible; specimens should be dissected for confirmation. This species has a strongly elongated head (when viewed (RHOPALIDAE) STICTOPLEURUS ABUTILON Stictopleurus abutilon Family: Rhopalidae Key to the Rhopalidae of Central Europe (German) Both historically rare or accidental, two Stictopleurus species have recently become well-established in the UK. The genus is characterised by the banded connexivum and the spatulate tip to the scutellum.

BRITISH BUGS HOME

British Bugs Home - An online identification guide to UK Hemiptera. True bugs (Hemiptera) are one of the major groups of insects found in the UK, comprising nearly 2000 species. The purpose of this website is to illustrate as many of these as possible, since they are poorly covered by popular field guides. The availability of digital cameras (PENTATOMIDAE) DYRODERES UMBRACULATUS White-shouldered Shieldbug. Dyroderes umbraculatus. Family: Pentatomidae. A largely brown species with characteristic broad white margins to the front of the pronotum and a white-tipped scutellum. Adults and nymphs feed on bedstraws Galium species and there is one generation a year. Although well established in the Channel Islands,

it was not

(MIRIDAE) HARPOCERA THORACICA Harpocera thoracica. Family: Miridae. A handsome bug which is very common throughout Britain 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 (COREIDAE) CORIOMERIS DENTICULATUS Coriomeris denticulatus Denticulate Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. A reddish-brown squashbug which is disinctly bristly, particularly on the pronotum, legs and antennae. The lateral margins of the pronotum are covered in white spines, each ending in a dark tip. This species feeds on black meddick, Melilotus sp and other related plants in the (COREIDAE) SPATHOCERA DALMANII Spathocera dalmanii Dalman's Leatherbug. Family: Coreidae. This small squashbug is characterised by the long, pale-sided pronotum (much longer than wide). The head, antennae and pronotum lack spines and there are two wedge-shaped black markings on the (LYGAEIDAE) MEGALONOTUS CHIRAGRA Megalonotus chiragra Family: Lygaeidae Megalonotus species are medium-sized ground bugs in which the pronotum is covered with dense pubescence and is coarsely punctured, particularly across the posterior. The front femora bear a large tooth and several smaller ones. M. chiragra is distinguished by the long erect hairs on the pronotum and the regular curvature to the hind margin of the pronotum (MIRIDAE) MIRIS STRIATUS Miris striatus Family: Miridae A distinctively large and well-marked species, which should be unmistakeable. The cuneus varies from yellow to orange-red, but is never black-tipped (unlike the smaller and more rounded Rhabdomiris striatellus, which occurs in similar habitats).The rather ant-like nymphs are dark with yellow markings and reddish-brown

legs.

(CICADELLIDAE) STREPTANUS SORDIDUS Streptanus sordidus. Family: Cicadellidae. A genus of three rather variable species, usually with short wings and a broad outline. Care must be taken over identification due to some inconsistency and confusion in past identification guides. S. sordidus normally has lateral dark lines on the front part of the vertex, curved near the

front margin

(DELPHACIDAE) STENOCRANUS MINUTUS Stenocranus minutus Family: Delphacidae Stenocranus species all have pale brown wings, often with a darker median stripe towards the apex, but they differ in several minor details of the head and forelegs. Separation of some species is difficult, and requires several features to be visible; specimens should be dissected for confirmation. This species has a strongly elongated head (when viewed (RHOPALIDAE) STICTOPLEURUS ABUTILON Stictopleurus abutilon Family: Rhopalidae Key to the Rhopalidae of Central Europe (German) Both historically rare or accidental, two Stictopleurus species have recently become well-established in the UK. The genus is characterised by the banded connexivum and the spatulate tip to the scutellum. BRITISH BUGS HETEROPTERA GALLERY Represented by around 30 species and 4 families in mainland Britain, shieldbugs are flattish oval or shield-shaped bugs which have a large scutellum, usually reaching the wing membrane. Many are large, colourful and distinctive, although the larval instars are more difficult to identify. They are known as stink bugs in the USA due to

their

(PENTATOMIDAE) PICROMERUS BIDENS Picromerus bidens Spiked Shieldbug. Family: Pentatomidae. A large and distinctive predatory shieldbug, which has unmistakeable thorn-like projections on the front of the pronotum. This species usually overwinters as eggs and less frequently as nymphs, becoming adult by July/August. The nymphs are greyish-black, with pale banded legs and

yellow

(MIRIDAE) STENODEMA LAEVIGATA Stenodema laevigata Family: Miridae 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. S. laevigata is very similar to S. calcarata and S. trispinosa, but lacks femoral spurs. There is a notch in the underside of the hind femora,

near the apex.

BRITISH BUGS GALLERY MIRIDAE British Bugs Gallery Miridae. Tribe: Bryocorini. Key features: Small brownish bugs (< 4 mm) found on ferns; macropterous or brachypterous, macropters with a single membrane cell. Pronotum with a rounded collar. Monalocoris filicis. (RHOPALIDAE) MYRMUS MIRIFORMIS Myrmus miriformis Family: Rhopalidae Key to the Rhopalidae of Central Europe (German) In contrast to other rhopalids, Myrmus miriformis and Chorosoma schillingi are rather hairless as adults and elongate in shape, bearing a superficial resemblance to some of the mirid grass bugs. M. miriformis males have two colour morphs: a green form (marked with red) and a brown form, while females are (RHOPALIDAE) STICTOPLEURUS PUNCTATONERVOSUS Stictopleurus punctatonervosus Family: Rhopalidae Key to the Rhopalidae of Central Europe (German) Both historically rare or accidental, two Stictopleurus species have recently become well-established in the UK. The genus is characterised by the banded connexivum and the spatulate tip to the scutellum. (CICADELLIDAE) KYBOS CF. BUTLERI Kybos cf. butleri Family: Cicadellidae A distinctively coloured species in which the corial-claval suture is not darkened. It is however very difficult to distinguish from K. rufescens, which can be separated only on features of the ventral surface of the base of the abdomen in males.The host-plant is a useful guide to identification, but is not sufficient in itself. (MIRIDAE) GRYPOCORIS STYSI Grypocoris stysi. Family: Miridae. 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 (LYGAEIDAE) PERITRECHUS LUNDII Peritrechus lundii Family: Lygaeidae Peritrechus species have only one or two small spines on the front femora. As in Scolopostethus, a pale spot is present at the sides of the pronotum, although this is not always obvious. In P. lundii, the wing membrane has a characteristic white spot at the tip and the sides of the pronotum are distinctly

keeled.

HET NEWS 22

2 Updated keys to Terrestrial Heteroptera exc. Miridae Pete Kirby has produced an updated version of his keys to Terrestrial Heteroptera excluding Miridae, which

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True bugs (Hemiptera) are one of the major groups of insects found in the UK, comprising nearly 2000 species. The purpose of this website is to illustrate as many of these as possible, since they are poorly covered by popular field guides. The availability of digital cameras has now made recording images of insects easier than ever before - but remember this can never be a substitute for collecting a voucher specimen . If you're not sure where to start, read the 'bit about bugs' section, which contains information about their anatomy, taxonomy and ecology, before visiting the gallery, which is the portal to the various groups within the Hemiptera. If you already have a suspected name, or wish to check the details of a particular species, you can look it up in the

systematic lists.

more than 500 species illustrated Please be aware that while many bugs can be reliably identified from photos, separation of similar species ideally requires examination of actual specimens. For further details please see the disclaimer

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© Tristan Bantock & Joseph Botting 2018 PROVISIONAL SHIELDBUG ATLAS

2018

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