Phytocoris varipes
| Phytocoris varipes | ||||||||||||
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Phytocoris cf. varipes |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Phytocoris varipes | ||||||||||||
| Boheman , 1852 |
Phytocoris varipes is a species of bug from the family of soft bugs (Miridae).
features
The bugs are 5.7 to 7.4 millimeters long. The species of the genus Phytocoris can be recognized by their long thighs ( femora ) of the hind legs and the long first antennae . Only Miridius quadrivirgatus also has these characteristics. Phytocoris varipes has a variable basic color that ranges from pale pink-brown to red-brown. On the top of the body there is a drawing made up of elongated spots. The hairs on the first antennae are shorter than the antennae are wide. The species looks very similar to Phytocoris ulmi , but this species is more evenly patterned and also has a thinner antennae, which is hairy longer. The species cannot be distinguished from Phytocoris insignis on the basis of external characteristics . The males are fully winged (macropter), the females appear macropter or with shortened (brachypteran) hemielytres.
Occurrence and habitat
The species is distributed in almost all of Europe with the exception of the far north and occurs eastward as far as the Caucasus and Iran. It was introduced to North America by humans. In Germany and Austria it is widespread and usually common. The herb layer is settled in dry, warm, open habitats.
Way of life
The bugs live on various herbaceous plants and grasses and mainly suckle on the flowers and unripe fruits, but are zoophytophagous, possibly mainly phytophagous. It is not known whether the bugs suckle on all of the plant species on which they were found. The potential host plants include various daisy family (Asteraceae) as yarrow ( Achillea ), knapweed ( Centaurea ), camomile ( Matricaria ) and Artemisia , legumes (Fabaceae) as clover ( Trifolium ), ononis ( Ononis ), grass pea ( Lathyrus ), broom ( Cytisus scoparius ) and also dock ( Rumex ) from the knotweed family (Polygonaceae), rennet herbs ( Galium ) from the red family (Rubiaceae) and sweet grasses (Poaceae) such as timothy ( Phleum ) or bristles ( Bromus ). So far, egg laying has been observed on the stems of common yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ). The adult bugs appear from the beginning of June, rarely from June. Mating and oviposition take place in July and August and the adults die in the course of October.
supporting documents
Individual evidence
- ↑ 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. 111 ff .
- ↑ Phytocoris varipes. British Bugs, accessed January 4, 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
- Phytocoris varipes in Fauna Europaea. Retrieved January 4, 2015
- www.britishbugs.org.uk - photos, description