Large bug preening its antennae

[Bruce Williams]

Stockgrove Country Park, Beds - 15th November 2009.

I though some of you might be interested in these pics of a bug preening its antennae. The 3 shots are from a series of 9 taken over a period of about a minute (as you can see I shifted viewpoint part way through).

Help with identification appreciated:



Bruce

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Bruce,

Very interesting - I wonder if it has tiny spurs on the tarsi to aid cleaning? It looks like he's cleaning his rostrum in the third image too. Thanks for posting!

Do you have a dorsal view at all? I'd like to see any other markings to help with ruling in/out other species. Eitherway it's a Damselbug, Nabidae family. One for Joe or Tristan I think!

Take care,

Jason

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Jason, Dorsal shot as requested:



....and a close-up for luck:



Bruce

[asheleaf]

lookd likr Nabis lineatus, Reed Damsel Bug, but i'm not sure

Ashe

[tristanba]

N. limbatus female this one

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

Thanks Jason, Dorsal shot as requested

A great pair of additional shots there, Bruce. Different angles always help

[Bruce Williams]

Ashe, Tristan and Jason - Thanks for your interest and help with identification.

Tristan, you had me working hard with Google to track down "connexivum*" (from your website) but I believe I have it sussed - I think it's the outside border/margin of the abdomen (often quite distinctive in bugs) - am I right?

Quote (British Bugs website - N. limbatus): The similar Reed Damsel Bug N. lineatus can occur in similar habitats to N. limbatus, but is larger and has a narrower connexivum, giving it a more elongate appearance.

Bruce

[tristanba]

That's right Bruce - there are various Hemipteran anatomy illustrations on the 'bit about bugs' page, one of which includes the connexivum

[Bruce Williams]

That's a useful reference Tristan - I certainly haven't found better on the web.

Bruce