Small World Discoveries

HEMIPTERA > HETEROPTERA > CIMICOMORPHA > Miridae > Orthotylini

As far as I can ascertain the Orthotylini tribe includes around 40 species in 15 genera.

Unfortunately, the 'British Bugs' website only covers certain species, so it's difficult to be sure. However, from what I can establish, nearly half of them are in the Orthotylus genus. They are predominantly green bugs with many that are very similar and difficult to reliably identify from external features. The remaining species appear to be reasonably distinctive so, hopefully, they're easier to distinguish.

However, before I start worrying about the detail, I need to find some of these, because at the moment I've only managed to photograph the two species featured below.

Heterotoma planicornis, commonly known as the Thick-antennae Plant Bug, is a very distinctive species with elongate body shape and broad and flattened 2nd antennal segments. They are abundant throughout most of Britain on various plants and trees, in particular nettles. Both the adults and their reddish nymphs feed on small insects as well as plant buds and unripe fruits. Eggs hatch in May, the nymphs becoming adult from June onwards.

Pachytomella parallela is not featured and, consequently, I needed help with identification. A bit of online research led me to a detailed European description that confirmed; males typically macropterous, elongated body, 3-4mm, head and body dark brown to black, legs similar, femora with yellowish apices; females brachypterous, oval body, about half the size of the males, colour similar. The species appears to be widespread and relatively common in Scotland, more local elsewhere in the north and in Wales, and scattered and infrequently recorded in the south.

Updated, Feb.25 (v.2)