HEMIPTERA > HETEROPTERA > CIMICOMORPHA > Miridae > Mirini

This is the second set of species I've managed to photograph that are members of the Mirini tribe.

Calocoris roseomaculatus is a rather splendid species with rosy-red patches on the forewings and, in well-marked specimens like the one I found on Hartland Moor, to a lesser extent on the prontum and head with similar colouration extending to the legs and antennae. The scutellum is pale with a dark central line, and the length of the 2nd antennal segment is shorter than the 3rd and 4th combined, which are important features to check when looking at poorly marked or faded individuals that might be mistaken for a mature male Closterotomus norwegicus (featured on the previous page), which could have similar wing markings. The species has scattered, localised distribution, occurring in dry grassland areas where they feed on plants such as birds-foot trefoil, common restharrow and kidney vetch.  I was really pleased to find such a beautifully marked individual especially as this species has only been officially recorded from Dorset a handful of times in recent years.

Grypocoris stysi is a conspicuous and attractive woodland plant bug that's often found on nettles, but also on umbellifers and White Bryony. Adults feed on flower heads as well as small invertebrates such as aphids. It's a distinctive species with a mainly black body with a chequered pattern of pale yellow or whitish markings, and normally bright orange, but sometimes paler yellow-orange, cuneus. Although unofficial common names are shunned by some authors as they can cause confusion, this species is generally referred to as the Orange-spotted Plant Bug.

As an example of the problems that can occur by using common names, this next species Liocoris tripustulatus could be referred to as the Common Nettle Bug, Nettle Plant Bug or even the Nettle Capsid Bug. Google any of those names and they'll bring up this species, but you will also be presented with other similar names like Nettle Ground Bug or Common Nettle Flower Bug for example, both referring to different species. Interestingly, the last name refers to Plagiognathus arbustrum from the Phylini tribe and is the name used by iNaturalist. I had no reference of that name and can only surmise that it's the common name used in North America the same as they use Nettle Capsid Bug for Liocoris tripustulatus. Personally, I think this is a great example that shows how two very similar names can refer to completely different species. Notwithstanding those comments, I've always captioned Liocoris tripustulatus as the Nettle Plant Bug and will continue to do so.

It's another reasonably distinctive, although variable, bug that's primarily associated with nettles and, as with Grypocoris stysi, is the only species in its genus. The adults that overwinter emerge in the spring when their ground colour is typically darker, and with the scutellum and cuneus a deeper orange-yellow, than later in the season. Following mating, females may survive until the next generation of adults appear in mid-summer. The new adults are generally paler and less intensely marked, often with the scutellum and cuneus being more of a cream colour. The variation in colour is strongly related to age.

The three Polymerus species are all predominately black, or black and yellow, in colour with the upper surface covered in scale-like golden or silver hairs. In Polymerus unifasciatus the pronotum is mostly black with the rear margin narrowly yellow. The corium is largely yellow extending to the lateral margins and the boundary with the clavus (the strips either side of the scutellum). The cuneus has obvious red markings. It's a locally common species in a variety of habitats where bedstraws are growing.

The Lygus genus includes five variable and superficially similar species that are renowned for being exceptionally difficult to confidently identify without detailed examination. However, taking into account habitat as well as typical colouration and markings, and close comparison with available photos of confirmed specimens I'm pretty sure that the two individuals featured here are probably Lygus pratensis.

Updated, Feb.25 (v.3)