Although used as a generic name for many insects, True Bugs are in fact there own order, the Heteroptera. Unlike the beetles, they have no jaws using piercing mouthparts to feed, bugs literally suck.
A total of 116 species were identified this year, on par with 106 in 2022 and 114 in 2021, with 22 new species added to the site audit.
Shieldbugs (Pentatomaidae) are one of the more recognisable families. Although only seven species were recorded this year, these did include a new find, Bronze Shieldbug Troilus luridus on 3rd August. Others seen were Bishop's Mitre Aelia acuminata, Forest Pentatoma rufipes, Green Palomena prasina, Gorse Piezodorus lituratus, Hairy Dolycoris baccarum and Turtle Shieldbug Podops inuncta.
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Leatherbugs (Coreidae) resemble large brown shieldbugs. Familiar species were recorded included the ubiquitous Dock Bug Coreus marginatus, Denticulate Coriomeris denticulatus and Rhombic Leatherbug Syromastus rhombeus, as well as the nationally scarce Slender-horned Leatherbug Ceraleptus lividus.
Good numbers of groundbugs (Lygaeidae) were found on site, many throughout the year with 15 species recorded. The discovery of the nationally scarce Megalonotus dilatatus on 5 Oct was a highlight, with three other new species for the Recording Area during the year; Nysius huttoni, European Cinchbug Ischodemus sabuleti and Cymus melanocephalus.
The distinctive and local Beosus maritimus is often encountered in the dunes, with the dune groundbug Trapezonotus arenarius, also making occasional appearances at one of its few Devon sites.
Amongst the other species noted included Nettle Groundbug Heterogaster urticae, rare in Devon, the county scarcity Peritrechus geniculatus, the glossy Plinthisus brevipennis, the arboreal Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae and the hairy Stygnocoris sabulosus.
The plant bugs (Miridae) are one of the larger families, a good number of species are represented on site, with over 20 recorded this year.
Often found nectaring on umbellifers, the most widespread are the greenish Potato Capsid Closterotomus norwegicus, Common Green Capsid Lygocoris pabulinus and Black-kneed Capsid Blepharidopterus angulatus, with the more varied Deraeocoris flavilinea and D. ruber, sometimes also joined by the orange spotted Grypocoris stysi.
The latter species was also often around nettles along with Heterotoma planicornis, Liocoris tripustulatus and Plagiognathus arbustorum, the scarce Dicyphus annulatus and Macrotylus paykulli were on Restharrow with Tuponia mixticolor on Tamarisk.
Other mirids included the grass bugs Acetropis gimmerthalii, Notostira elongata and Stenodema laevigata, the long-legged Phytocoris varipes, the jumping Orthocephalus saltator, and new for site and possibly Devon, the ant mimic Pilophorus perplexus.
The scentless plant bugs (Rhopalidae) were represented by the distinctive red & black Corizus hyoscyami, with Spurge bugs (Stenocephalidae) by Dicranocephalus agilis. This nationally scarce dune bug is numerous on site throughout the year.
Smaller groups included the lacebugs (Tingidae) with Acalypta parvula, Agramma laeta, and new to the Warren, Kalama tricornis. There were also three damselbugs (Nabidae); Ant Himacerus mirimicoides, Common Nabis rugosus and Field N. ferus.
The only beetbug (Piesmatidae) recorded was the locally scarce Parapiesma quadratum in the saltmarsh and Restharrow held a third specialist, the Warrens' only stiltbug (Berytidae) representative, Gampsocoris punctipes.
The hoppers (Homoptera) are a group of diverse jumping bugs, 19 species across five families were recorded this year.
Leafhoppers (Cicadllidae) are the largest family with the first of the year Euselis incisus found in early January. Expected species included Oncopsis flavicollis on birch, Eupterycyba jucunda on alder, the brightly patterned Eupteryx melissae, E. thoulessi and E. urticae on mallow, Water Mint and nettles respectively, and the bright green Cicadella viridis in wet grassland.
Five species were recorded new to the Recording Area, Megopthalmus scabripennis on 30th May, Balclutha punctata and Deltocephalus pulicaris in the dune grassland on 26th August, Thamnotettix dilutior on oak on 15th September and Alnetoidea alneti on Alder on 8th October.
Two planthoppers (Delphacidae), were recorded, Kelisia sabulosus across the site on Sand Sedge and in June Dicranotropis hanata was another new bug for the site; a widespread, but under recorded small species found on various grasses.
The first froghopper (Aphrophoridae) of the year was Neophilaenus lineatus in February, the first cuckoo-spit, formed by the larva of the Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius was noted on 3rd May. Alder Spittlebug Aphrophora alni were on Alder in May with Aphrophora salicina on willows in July.
Two species were lone representatives, Tachycixius pilosus, a lacehopper (Cixiidae) and Issus coleoptratus, an Issidae.
The jumping plant lice (Psyllidae), were largely recorded from their galls with Trioza alacris on Bay, T. centranthi on Red Valerian, T. remota on oak and T. urticae on nettle. Two species were recorded as adults, Cacopsylla fulguralis on Elaeagnus and new for the Recording Area, Bactericera crithmi on Rock Samphire.
By far the largest family of bugs are the ubiquitous aphids (Aphididae). In general aphids can be difficult to identify to species level, although the food plant can be a useful clue. New species identified this year included Megoura viciae on vetch, Therioaphis ononidis on Restharrow, Uroleucon aeneum on thistle, Aphis urticata on nettle and Woolly Apple Aphid Eriosoma lanigerum.
Other expected species included the American Lupin Aphid Macrosiphum albifrons on Tree Lupin, Giant Willow Aphid Tuberolachnus salignus, Drepanosiphum plataniodis on Sycamore, Crypturapius grassi on Italian Alder, Aphis oenotherae on Evening Primrose, Laingla psammae in Marram flowers and the gall causers, Hayhurstia atriplicis on oraches and Thecabius affinis on poplars.
Two scale insects were recorded, Brown Soft Scale Coccus herperidum and Mussel Scale Ledidosaphes ulmi, new for the Recording Area.
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