Small World Discoveries

HEMIPTERA > HETEROPTERA > PENTATOMORPHA > LYGAEOIDEA > Lygaeidae

This large family includes around 90 species of mainly small, predominantly dark-coloured, mostly ground-dwelling bugs that feed on seeds. Although the majority are rather drab and infrequently recorded, there are a few more colourful species that can often be found on low vegetation rather than on the ground. However, despite the size of this family only a few species are actually regarded as common and, from what I can see, there are probably no more than 15 that I'm likely to encounter locally. It's a bit of a specialist group and, certainly in respect of the true ground bugs, is a family that's best left to the experts. Fortunately, most of the more frequently found species can be identified and, as such, have been given common names based on their appearance, preferred habitat or foodplant.

Lygaeid species are classified under forty or so genera that are separated into ten subfamilies, of which only three are currently represented here.  

The most widespread and frequently recorded member of the family is the Birch Catkin Bug [Kleidocerys resedae]. It is a small, 5mm body length, reddish-brown bug with very long, partly transparent forewings with dark markings on the corium. The scutellum has some white markings and the clavus (the narrow strip either side of the scutellum) has three rows of punctures. The Heather Groundbug [Klieidocerys ericae] is similar, but slightly smaller and with much shorter wings. The markings are subtly different, particularly with the pale areas of the scutellum being more extensive, however the habitat alone invariably distinguishes the species because, as its name suggests, it is primarily found on heathland, whereas Kleidocerys resedae is typically found in woodland, parks and gardens where Birch or Alder grows. Kliedocerys ericae is scarce by comparison, but it has been recorded a few times from Dorset heathland so is a species that I need to be aware of. They are the only members of the Ischnorhynchinae subfamily.

The Nettle Groundbug [Heterogaster urticae] is a little larger with a body length of around 6-7mm. It is superficially similar to a number of other species, but can be distinguished by the alternate dark and light markings on the legs and connexivum, and also the long erect hairs on the head and pronotum. They are reasonably common in open habitats on nettles, but are primarily a central and eastern species according to the latest distribution map, becoming more scattered and local in the west and north. This species is in the Heterogastrinae subfamily together with Heterogaster artemisiae, which is a very scarce southern ground bug associated with wild thyme growing in dry places, such as on chalk downland or in old quarries.

The four remaining ground bugs that I'm currently able to feature are all in Rhyparochrominae, which is by far the largest subfamily with 55 species in 26 genera.

Peritrechus lundii is one of the less common species, mainly associated with dry grassland or heathland rather than a semi-rural garden where the individual featured below was photographed. They are around 4-5mm long and can be identified by their distinctive appearance noting the wing membrane markings that have a characteristic white spot and the tip, and the sides of the pronotum being distinctly keeled.

There are five similar looking Drymus species with the most frequently recorded member of the genus being Drymus sylvaticus, which closely resembles the far less common Drymus ryei but, according to the British Bugs species account, can usually be distinguished by the paler brown forewings that are distinctly marked in black including a characteristic dark oblong band by the apex of the clavus. Drymus ryei has slightly wider and much darker forewings that typically end just short of the tip of the abdomen.

The widely distributed Brown Groundbug [Drymus brunneus], which is usually found in less dry areas than the previous two species, can be recognised by the bicoloured pronotum where the posterior portion is brownish black, effectively forming a band between the black front part and the black scutellum. 

Scolopostethus is a tricky genus of six species that, in most cases, are difficult to distinguish. The exception, possibly, is the Thompson's Groundbug [Scolopostethus thomsoni]. It has the same general appearance as the others with the characteristic pale spots on the sides of the keeled pronotum, but is somewhat distinguishable by usually having shorter wings. More specifically, the antennal segments change in colour from S1 being pale or certainly lighter, continuing onto S2 before darkening and with S3 and S4 always dark. It's a common species that can be found in a wide range of habitats, including gardens.

And, just to finish off, an interesting little species that I hope to find someday is the European Chinchbug [Ischnodemus sabuleti]. It's primarily a wetland species, but also occurs on dry grasslands. It can be found throughout the spring and summer months, often in large numbers, feeding on reeds and grasses. It's an elongate, distinctive bug with both a long-winged (macropterous) and, less common, short-winged (micropterous) form.

Updated, Feb.25 (v.4)