Red bug on hazel.

[Gerel]

Hi all,

Spotted this one yesterday, on a hedgerow hazel. The bug was fairly small, 4 - 5mm long. I'm thinking a Psallus sp. but wonder if it is possible to take it any further (if it had been on birch I would be suggesting P. betuleti as a possibility).



cheers

Steve

[Acutipuerilis]

Psallus sp. looks good Steve, and I'm thinking salicis - but that should be on alder. Any of that about?

[JRsbugs]

I got one exactly the same as yours Steve, on 21st July and I think it was around 4mm.

Mine was dead on a plant underneath the Horse Chestnut tree. There's Oaks nearby but these things fly! Except mine didn't, I could have collected it!

I found a site with lots of Psallus pics, P. salicis looks to have a pale 1st antennae segment. The femora also look to have hairs, mine look to have none.

Janet

[Acutipuerilis]

Sorry, my mistake - I was seeing A1 as brown rather than black. This is a female Psallus ambiguus - dark apex to A2. Some are exceedingly reddish, although this does indeed take the biscuit.

[JRsbugs]

That makes sense, mine was also under the edge of an apple tree!

Mine also takes the biscuit, if it was alive.

[Gerel]

Thanks both, that looks good to me.

It was quite vividly red, really showed up on a dull day.

Steve