ID Required Please

GrayB · #1 (**permalink**) 13-04-2009, 03:51 PM

I managed to get a shot of this Insect today but have no idea what it is and i've never come across one before.
It was around 4-5mm in length and jumped like a leafhopper, can anyone ID it for me?
Thanks.
Gray.

squishy · #2 (**permalink**) 13-04-2009, 03:53 PM

looks like a gravid psyllid... the antenna look short though

GrayB · #3 (**permalink**) 13-04-2009, 04:30 PM

Thanks Adam.
They do look similar. Are they fairly common in the UK then?
Gray.

squishy · #4 (**permalink**) 13-04-2009, 05:00 PM

yep... i'm not sure though, the antenna and the head look wrong to me

Acutipuerilis · #5 (**permalink**) 13-04-2009, 05:08 PM

It is a psyllid, but a rather unusual one. This is a thing called Spanioneura fonscolombii, which is restricted to Box, and is usually found (uncommonly) in southern England. Could be an interesting record - whereabouts was it, and was there any Box nearby?

Psyllids generally are very common, and there are about 50 species, albeit some very rare. Among the most common ones live on apple trees and nettles, although there are a wide range of hosts, and a lot overwinter on conifers. They're very cute little critters, but hardly anyone studies them in the UK.

GrayB · #6 (**permalink**) 13-04-2009, 06:42 PM

The term "box" really doesn't mean anything to me

but what i can tell you is it was in my garden in Birmingham.
Your ID is spot on, though the majority i've just seen in a quick search seemed to be green.
If there's one is it possible there's more around?
And thanks for all the info on them, much appreciated.
Thanks both.

Gray

Acutipuerilis · #7 (**permalink**) 13-04-2009, 08:23 PM

Hi Gray. By Box, I mean Box trees/bushes - like Yew, but with rounder leaves, and often used for hedges. The classic topiary hedges are usually made of this. This species only feeds on that plant, so if there's none of it around, then the chances are it's a fluke - just one that happened to be passing. If you have got some Box hedging, then it's likely to have loads of them on it - or at least a good few.

They are usually green (at least in the pictures I've seen), but pale yellow is also well known. Psyllids generally are very variable in colour, with some species changing dramatically over the seasons... it makes the IDs a bit of a challenge in the less distinctive ones!

Whereabouts in the country was this? As I say, it could be interesting if it's outside southern England.

Joe

GrayB · #8 (**permalink**) 13-04-2009, 08:49 PM

Joe,
Sorry for the "Box" confusion

but yea now I understand you, there is one less than three feet away though it was actually photographed on a Lupin plant.
I was photgraphing a Mirid Bug but a small brown line drew my attention away and it was this, it's a stunning little insect.
It's location was Birmingham West Midlands.
Thanks Again.
Gray

tristanba · #9 (**permalink**) 13-04-2009, 11:37 PM

These are great aren't they? I found a lot on a box hedge in north London last winter - it seems they overwinter as adults. Scarce according to the literature but probably all over the place. Look out also for the Box Psyllid, another species which feeds on Box.

Cheers
Tristan