Psallus ambiguus

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Psallus ambiguus
Polymerus unifasciatus

Polymerus unifasciatus

Systematics
Subordination : Bed bugs (heteroptera)
Family : Soft bugs (Miridae)
Subfamily : Phylinae
Tribe : Phylini
Genre : Psallus
Type : Psallus ambiguus
Scientific name
Psallus ambiguus
( Fallén , 1807)

Psallus ambiguus is a type of bug from the family of soft bugs (Miridae).

features

The bugs are 3.8 to 4.9 millimeters long. The genus Psallus includes small, often red, gray or dark brown speckled bugs, in which the pronotum and the hemielytres are covered with pale, scale-like hairs and in which the thorns of the rails ( tibia ) arise from black points. The species of the genus can often only be differentiated with difficulty or not at all on the basis of external characteristics. Most of the time, however, the species can be narrowed down based on the host plant. Psallus ambiguus is relatively large and has a black first and pale third antennae . In the males the second antennae is black, in the females it is partially pale on the basal half. Their basic color is very variable and ranges from light brown-red to brown-black.

Occurrence and habitat

The species is distributed in Europe, south to the north of the Mediterranean region and east to Asia Minor and the Caucasus region. In Germany and Austria the species occurs everywhere and is mostly common. Dry and humid habitats are settled with more or less strong shade.

Way of life

Psallus ambiguus lives on many different deciduous trees, but prefers the rose family (Rosaceae) such as apples ( Malus ), hawthorns ( Crataegus ), pears ( Pyrus ), blackthorn ( Prunus spinosa ) and rowan berries ( Sorbus aucuparia ). They are less common on alders ( Alnus ), willows ( Salix ), birches ( Betula ), oaks ( Quercus ) and others. But they also feed in a predatory manner and are therefore considered beneficial insects in fruit growing because they fight spider mites , aphids , leaf fleas and also caterpillars of butterflies . The nymphs can be observed from late April to early May, the adults from late May to early August.

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. 256 f .
  2. ↑ Psallus ambiguus. British Bugs, accessed July 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

Commons : Psallus ambiguus  - collection of images, videos and audio files