[ID] Nysius graminicola?

[Jason Green]

Morning all,

I collected this nice little Lygaeid bug of the genus Nysius which I beat from Ragwort on a brownfield setting on the 10th July 2011.

The second antennal segment is black-banded basally, and to me, when examined the first hind tarsal segment is actually longer than the subsequent two combined. It's something you notice in the first second of seeing it through the microscope - my query is down to graminicola being an RDB species, and no previous London records that I can find. Photos below, see what you make of it.

10/07/2011

Dorsal of set micro-staged specimen, view of hind-left tarsi and metapleuron.

Thanks for looking!

Take care,

Jason

[tristanba]

Hi Jason,

The tarsal character looks very convincing to me - I have never found graminicola but am guilty of not checking senecionis/graminicola types often enough to be honest since I always assume they will be senecionis.

This species has probably undergone massive increase in recent years but still very under recorded. I will be looking at these more closely next year!

Tristan

[Jason Green]

Thanks Tristan! As I said, it hits you when you view it microscopially and would have left me in no doubt had it been the deciding-characteristic of the most common one.

As you say, very likely another recent contender for a massive range increase - but always good to confirm an apparent RDB3 species, nonetheless. I actually remember thinking, 'Shall I, or not?' being as though I was after sphecid-types that day... glad I did, a very nice record.

[asheleaf]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

The second antennal segment is black-banded basally, and to me, when examined the first hind tarsal segment is actually longer than the subsequent two combined.
Jason

do i take it this is not the case with senecionis?

Ashe

[Jason Green]

Yes, correct. With senecionis, the first tarsal segment is shorter than T2, 3 + the claw. As you'll appreciate in the photo, that isn't the case here - it's longer.

I had to take the included photo several times as I couldn't get it straight from above - it subsequently then appeared shorter and more like senecionis, which goes to show how much the right angle is needed.

[tristanba]

I have a photo showing the hind tarsus of senecionis on Flickr, as Jason says, T1 < T2+T3. Really need to write some Nysius species pages for the BB website, I have had so little time to work on it lately.

[asheleaf]

thanks for all that useful info. I shall pay more attention to them next year.

cheers, Ashe

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by tristanba

I have a photo showing the hind tarsus of senecionis on Flickr, as Jason says, T1 < T2+T3. Really need to write some Nysius species pages for the BB website, I have had so little time to work on it lately.

Feel free to use the images in the first post supplementarily should you like, Tristan.