Strange little insect

goosey · #1 (**permalink**) 16-06-2008, 12:45 PM

This is one of seveal on the eupatorium. Only about 3mm long, its legs are actually more green than the photo shows, and those feelers/antennae are moving constantly coming together, moving apart and actually rotating.
Any one know what it can possibly be?

Pudding4brains · #2 (**permalink**) 16-06-2008, 12:49 PM

Hi Goosey,

It's a (true) Bug (nymph) - I think a Miridae ... funny looking antennae those - have seen 'm before myself ... should be able to dig up a name (or at least genus name) later tonight, unless you or someone else comes up with a good answer sooner

Cheers, Arp

paul m · #3 (**permalink**) 16-06-2008, 01:00 PM

I agree with Arp - I've seen one like it! Yes, it is a mirid/capsid.
It is very similar to Heterotoma merioptera which is fairly common in UK. There may, of course, be related species ......

goosey · #4 (**permalink**) 16-06-2008, 02:29 PM

Thanks Paul and Arp, do you think this could be one of the parent bugs then? There are at least four of these on the same plant (which is incidently my favourite plant of this year. It supports lots of life besides these, all ladybird stages a tortrix moth earlier today and the sparrows will devour the seeds later in the year

) These are much smaller than shieldbugs about 8mm.

Pudding4brains · #5 (**permalink**) 21-06-2008, 06:21 PM

Hi Goosey,

This thread had slipped my mind, sorry

Quote:

Originally Posted by goosey

Thanks Paul and Arp, do you think this could be one of the parent bugs then?

No, certainly not - that's some other Miridae (and that's all I should say about those).

Paul is spot-on about the species, although the little one's modern name is supposed to be Heterotoma planicornis. It's supposed the be the only like species in GB and NL, so the ID should be good

Cheers, Arp

goosey · #6 (**permalink**) 22-06-2008, 08:21 AM

Thank Arp. I would have expected there to have been more than just this one species the same in both NL and GB!
I will have to go through all my old photo's and see if I have a picture some where of what possibly could be the parent bug. If it moves in the garden and I spot it, there should be an image

.

Pudding4brains · #7 (**permalink**) 22-06-2008, 11:34 AM

Hi Goosey,

Quote:

Originally Posted by goosey

I would have expected there to have been more than just this one species the same in both NL and GB!

Well, a German Heteropterist (Ringo Dietze) just taught me today that in Germany and other parts of Europe (France, Eastern-Europe) there is indeed another species with similar antennae: Excentricus planicornis, but those are supposed to have dark legs as oposed to the pale yellowish-green legs on Heterotoma planicornis.

Checking with Fauna Europaea teaches us that those are listed as "no data" for NL and GB, which is a much weaker statement than "Not Present". I'm guessing that they must be very rare (no records), but at the same time cannot be totally ruled out (??!).

All my images of adults are dated "mid july", so you may have to wait a bit to get a chance of a picture. For the time being I've dropped in one of mine - but certainly not "Gallery"-material.

Cheers, Arp

goosey · #8 (**permalink**) 23-06-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pudding4brains

All my images of adults are dated "mid july", so you may have to wait a bit to get a chance of a picture. For the time being I've dropped in one of mine - but certainly not "Gallery"-material.

Cheers, Arp

Thanks for posting the picture! I have found one on the same plant as the larva, so whether it "was" the larva or not I don't know. You did so well get those photo's though - they are so fast! I am still working on get one in focus

.
I have found more of the larvae in the buddleia and lavender since BTW.

paul m · #9 (**permalink**) 23-06-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goosey

......... You did so well get those photo's though - they are so fast! I am still working on get one in focus

.
............

Most bugs are very difficult to photograph close up - shieldbugs not so bad but most of them move when you're a metre away - same thing applies to weevils .... You either need a tele-macro lens or to be very stealthy .... which is why I stick to the big clunky things like beetles!

Yes, very good pictures. I don't think, Goosey, you'll be able to put a firm id to the nymph but you've got the genus and "possible/probable" species which isn't bad.

Pudding4brains · #10 (**permalink**) 23-06-2008, 08:09 PM

Hi "Guys"

Thanks for the nice words - I had actually hesitated to upload this as it is indeed the 'best' I have (many, many more 'out of focus' from other occasions

), but even at that not really sharp ... oh well .. glad you approved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul m

I don't think, Goosey, you'll be able to put a firm id to the nymph

I just had a second look and it seems to me it clearly has pale yellow/green legs, so Heterotoma planicornis should be okay