Скачать или смотреть Mirid bug (Heterotoma planicornis) - Brighton, July 2022

This rather unusual looking insect is a species of bug from the family Miridae, sometimes called Capsid bugs, Plant bugs, Leaf bugs or Grass bugs which makes up the largest family of 'true bugs' (Hemiptera).

This Perhaps I was aided by the strong breeze that was blowing at the time?

The body is dark brown to black which contrasts strongly with predominently green legs and the eyes are reddish, depending on the light, but its most obvious characteristic is the long flattened 2nd segment of the antenna, which give it a body length of around 5mm.

One generation is produced each year, with eggs laid in late summer but hatching in May. The reddish nymphs can be seen (if you look very hard) until July with the adults usually found until October.

Despite being abundent throughout most of the UK this is not an insect you're likely to casually spot too often as it prefers to roam in low vegetation, often among nettles, or on trees where it's obviously particularly well camouflaged.

Both nymphs and adults are both 'phytophagous' (plant-eating) and 'zoophagous' (carnivorous) with insect prey including psyllids, mites and aphids.

PK

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