Liocoris tripustulatus

Liocoris tripustulatus or the common nettle bug is a species of plant bug belonging to the family Miridae, subfamily Mirinae. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1781.[1][2]

Liocoris tripustulatus
Adult
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Miridae
Genus:
Liocoris
Species:
L. tripustulatus
Binomial name
Liocoris tripustulatus
(Fabricius, 1781)
Synonyms

Distribution

This species can be found in most of Europe.[3][4][5][6]

Habitat

These plant bugs are generally found on low vegetation.[7]

Description
Liocoris tripustulatus
Nymph

Adults are normally 4 to 5 mm long, darker brown with cream-coloured to yellow highlights. The scutellum shows a heart shaped marking, while in the wings there are two spots. Across the body is present a more or less visible clear band. This species is quite variable in colour. In springs the basic colour is darker, while the cuneus is bright orange-yellow. The new generation of adults is commonly paler and markings are less pronounced. Head width is about 1/2 of the width of the pronotum. Legs are pale yellowish, striped with black rings. Tibiae show short dark spines.[8][9]

Biology

Adults can be found all year. Following mating, females may survive until mid-summer, when the adults of the new generation appear.[8] The primary food of these bugs in all stages of development is nettles.[8]

Bibliography
  • Hudec K., Kolibáč J., Laštůvka Z., Peňáz M. a kol. (2007): Příroda České republiky: průvodce faunou, Academia
  • Kerzhner I. M.; Josifov M. (1999). "Family Miridae". In Aukema, Berend; Rieger, Christian. Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region. 3, Cimicomorpha II. Amsterdam: Netherlands Entomological Society. pp. 1–577, pages 108 & 109. ISBN 978-90-71912-19-1.
  • Kment P. (2013) - Preliminary check-list of the Heteroptera of Czech Republic
  • Schwartz, Michael D. & Foottit, Robert G. (1998). Revision of the Nearctic species of the genus Lygus Hahn, with a review of the Palearctic species (Heteroptera: Miridae). Memoirs of Entomology International number 10. Gainesville, Florida: Associated Publishers. ISBN 978-1-56665-066-3.

References
  1. BioLib
  2. NCBI
  3. Kerzhner I. M.; Josifov M. (1999). "Family Miridae". In Aukema, Berend; Rieger, Christian (eds.). Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region. 3, Cimicomorpha II. Amsterdam: Netherlands Entomological Society. pp. 1–577, pages 108 &amp, 109. ISBN 978-90-71912-19-1.
  4. Schwartz, Michael D. & Foottit, Robert G. (1998). Revision of the Nearctic species of the genus Lygus Hahn, with a review of the Palearctic species (Heteroptera: Miridae). Memoirs of Entomology International number 10. Gainesville, Florida: Associated Publishers. ISBN 978-1-56665-066-3.
  5. Fauna Europaea
  6. GBIF
  7. Eakringbirds
  8. British Bugs
  9. UK Wildlife


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