Oak bug

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Oak bug
Oak bug (Harpocera thoracica)

Oak bug ( Harpocera thoracica )

Systematics
Subordination : Bed bugs (heteroptera)
Family : Soft bugs (Miridae)
Subfamily : Phylinae
Tribe : Phylini
Genre : Harpocera
Type : Oak bug
Scientific name
Harpocera thoracica
( Fall , 1807)
male

The oak bug ( Harpocera thoracica ) is a type of bug from the family of soft bugs (Miridae).

features

The bugs are 6.0 to 6.8 millimeters long, making them the largest representatives of the Phylinae in Central Europe. Sex dimorphism is present in males and females . Males are more elongated and have longer rails ( tibia ) and a significantly thickened second antennae . The antennae bears a downwardly directed field of dense hair. It is believed that these represent an adhesive device with which the male holds on to the pronotum during mating in the female . This modification of the antennae is unique among the Central European soft bugs.

Occurrence and habitat

The species is common in Europe, with the exception of northern Scandinavia and east in Asia to the Caspian region. In Germany and Austria it is widespread and it is mostly common. Mostly sunny, dry habitats are settled.

Way of life

The bugs feed on zoophytophagus and live on oaks . They suckle on the male buds and pollen sacs of the young flowers of their host trees as well as on aphids . Their development is extremely rapid. Under favorable conditions, the development of the nymphs can be completed in two weeks in early spring, so that the first adult bedbugs appear from early May or late April. However, these will die by mid-June at the latest. Males are very active in flight and fly to artificial light sources at night.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d 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. 230 ff .
  2. ↑ Harpocera thoracica. British Bugs, accessed January 3, 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 : Oak bug ( Harpocera thoracica )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files