Unidentified bug with dark red eyes

[Bruce Williams]

Stockgrove Country Park, Beds. Sorry but was unable to get dorsal shot - bug wouldn't cooperate .

Don't think I've seen this one before so help with id appreciated.



Bruce

[Acutipuerilis]

It's one of the Phytocoris species, Bruce... may be possible to pin down the species even with these views, but for now I'm off to bed. Goodnight!

[Jason Green]

Hi Bruce,

It's a Mirid, and very likely a Dicyphus sp. Now, am I right in thinking these are the only two photos you have? I know you said you don't have a dorsal - - but do you have any others that may show any another aspect of the dorsal view, such as the rear of the wings, for example?

I'm looking at it, but can't quite place the black markings on the femora for now

Take care,

Jason

EDIT: Just read Joe's reply... obviously need to get to bed myself, then

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Joe and Jason. The only other shot I have is a quarter-face-on shot but of course that shows even less of the wings,

Bruce|

[Jason Green]

Well, maybe that could help here! Some bugs can be IDd by looking at the ratio of the antennae segments compared to the width of the head, for example.

I think it's often helpful if members posting ID requests could indicate which other angles - if any - that they have. Obviously you'd only need to post the obvious angles to start with, but if an ID couldn't be made from that viewpoint then we'd know which other angles you had, and ask you to subsequently post them if they would show more what we need? You know; tarsi colour, antennae colouration, etc.

[tristanba]

Phytocoris sp are tricky, especially without a dorsal view. This bug certainly shows wide pale bands on the mid tibiae (wider than the dark bands) which rules out reuteri and dimidiatus. I don't think it's tiliae since the dark markings on the pronotum are not sharply defined, leaving populi and longipennis as options.

There are some very nice illustrations of Phytocoris is this issue of Het News:
http://www.hetnews.org.uk/pdfs/Issue...008_2422Kb.pdf

Cheers
Tristan

[Bruce Williams]

Jason - Here's the other pic I mentioned.



Thanks for your help and info Tristan.

Bruce