Atractotomus mali

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Atractotomus mali
Atractotomus mali

Atractotomus mali

Systematics
Subordination : Bed bugs (heteroptera)
Family : Soft bugs (Miridae)
Subfamily : Phylinae
Tribe : Phylini
Genre : Atractotomus
Type : Atractotomus mali
Scientific name
Atractotomus mali
( Meyer-Dür , 1843)
nymph

Atractotomus mali is a species of bug from the family of soft bugs (Miridae).

features

The bugs are 3.0 to 3.8 millimeters long. The genus Atractotomus includes dark-colored species in which the top of the body is covered with flattened, golden or silver hair. The second antenna segment is often very thickened. In Atractotomus mali the first antennae is almost triangular and much thinner at the base. The second is strongly thickened in both sexes, but especially in the females. The body is quite oval and convex. The nymphs are red with the front part of the body being dark in color.

Occurrence and habitat

The species is distributed in Europe, with the exception of the southern and eastern Mediterranean, east to the Caucasus. It was introduced into North America by humans. In Germany and Austria, the species is widespread and usually common.

Way of life

The bugs live on woody rose plants (Rosaceae), especially on apples ( Malus ) and hawthorns ( Crataegus ), but also on pears ( Pyrus ), prunus and whitebeams ( Sorbus ), and more rarely on low-growing rose plants such as Rubus or roses ( Rosa ) . However, they feed on zoophytophagus and are therefore considered beneficial insects in fruit growing that suckle on spider mites , insect eggs, caterpillars of small butterflies, aphids and leaf fleas . They also suck honeydew . At the same time, they cause damage by sucking unripe fruit, such as apples. Adult bugs appear from mid-June (a little earlier in favorable locations) to mid-August. Only females appear in August.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Ekkehard Wachmann , Albert Melber, Jürgen Deckert: Bugs. Volume 2: Cimicomorpha: Microphysidae (lichen bugs), Miridae (soft bugs) (=  The animal world of Germany and the adjacent parts of the sea according to their characteristics and their way of life . 75th part). Goecke & Evers, Keltern 2006, ISBN 3-931374-57-2 , p. 214 .
  2. ↑ Atractotomus mali. British Bugs, accessed January 2, 2015 .

literature

  • Ekkehard Wachmann , Albert Melber, Jürgen Deckert: Bugs. Volume 2: Cimicomorpha: Microphysidae (lichen bugs), Miridae (soft bugs) (=  The animal world of Germany and the adjacent parts of the sea according to their characteristics and their way of life . 75th part). Goecke & Evers, Keltern 2006, ISBN 3-931374-57-2 .

Web links

Commons : Atractotomus mali  - Collection of images, videos and audio files