Wildlife Review 2024: Bugs (Hemiptera)

Although the term bugs is commonly used to describe insects in general, true bugs have piercing mouth parts used for sucking juices from plants or with some species, other insects. Many bugs, especially aphids, are plant specific and this can aid identification. A total of 130 species were identified this year with fifteen new for the site audit, this compares well with last year's 116 and twenty-two new species.

Shieldbugs (Pentatomoidea)

Divided into several families, just one small shieldbug (Acanthosomatidae) noted, Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale from 17th May. A Bordered Shieldbug Legnotus limbosus, a burrowing shieldbug of the family Cydnidae found on 9th May was a new species for the Recording Area.

Bordered Shieldbug Legnotus limbosus 9th May - Kevin Rylands

The typical shieldbugs (Pentatomidae) are the largest family containing the most familiar and commonly encountered species. The first Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina appeared on 20th January with the first Gorse Shieldbug Piezodorus lituratus on 1st February. Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum was noted from 6th May, Bronze Shieldbug Troilus luridus on 21st May, Bishop's Mitre Aelia acuminata from 2nd June and Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes on 24th June.

Bronze Shieldbug Troilus luridus late instar nymph 3rd September - Alan Keatley 

Leatherbugs (Coreidae)

The first leatherbug of the year, the ubiquitous Dock Bug Coreus marginatus was active from 6th January. Rhombic Leatherbug Syromastus rhombeus were noted from 9th April and Denticulate Leatherbug Coriomeris denticulatus from 21st May.

Denticulate Leatherbug Coriomeris denticulatus 27th July - Alan Keatley

Rhopalid bugs (Rhopalidae)

The only representative on site, the black and red Cinnamon Bug Corizus hyoscyami was recorded from 27th April.

Spurgebugs (Stenocephalidae)

The nationally scarce Portland Spurgebug Dicranocephalus agilis is usually seen on site, however this year one wasn't spotted until 19th October.

Groundbugs (Lygaeidae)

Ground dwelling and mostly found in the sandy areas or grasslands of the reserve.

Overwintering as an adult, it wasn't a surprise to find a Peritruchus geniculatus on 18th January. Aptly named Dune Groundbug Trapezonotus arenarius were active from 6th March and the distinctive Coastal Groundbug Beosus maritimus from 17th March. It wasn't until June 2nd that the next groundbug was found, Thomson's Groundbug Scolopostethus thomsoni, with Ischnocornis angustulus on 17th June and a Nysius huttoni on 22nd June. The next, Megalonotus chiragra on 1st July, was a new addition to the site list. Two further species Stygnocoris fuligineus noted on 8th August and Nysius ericae on 28th August.

Coastal Groundbug Beosus maritimus 17th March - Alan Keatley

Beetbugs (Piesmatidae)

A beet leaf bug Parapiesma quadratum was abundant in the upper saltmarsh from 30th March.

Stiltbugs (Berytidae)

New for the Recording Area, the nationally scarce Hairy Stiltbug Berytinus hirticornis was a good find on 1st February. The appropriately named Common Stiltbug B. minor were seen from 9th May.

Hairy Stiltbug Berytinus hirticornis 1st February - Alan Keatley

Lacebugs (Tingidae)

A Gorse Lacebug Dictyonota strichnocera on 6th May was the only species recorded this year.

Flower bugs (Anthocoridae)

Found almost anywhere on site Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum were active from 18th March with A. confusus from May 17th.

Damsel bugs (Nabidae)

The first of the year was a Grey Damsel Bug Himacerus major on 11th January, with Common Damsel Bug Nabis rugosus from 15th February and Ant Damsel Bug H. mirmicoides from 16th July.

Ant Damsel Bug Himacerus mirmicoides 19th September - Alan Keatley

Plant bugs (Miridae)

A large family, most plant feeders and mainly appearing in summer.

The first of the year was the Common Nettle Plant Bug Liocoris tripustulatus found on its host plant from 26th April. Capodes sulcatus on 11th May was the second of the year, with Stenoderma laevigata from 17th.

Capodes sulcatus - Alan Keatley

Into June, Acetropis gimmerthalii from 2nd, Psallus ambiguus from 11th, Potato Capsid Closterotomus norwegicus, Deraeocoris flavilinea and D. ruber from 24th, and from 27th the silver-patched Orthotylus flavosparsus, Common Green Capsid Lygocoris pabulinus and a restharrow mirid Macrotylus paykulli.

Psallus ambiguus 11th June - Alan Keatley

An orange-spotted Grypocoris stysi and the common Plagiognathus arbustorum were noted on 1st July with the predatory Campyloneura virgula and the tamarisk mirids Tuponia brevirostris and T. mixticolor from 6th, a sea purslane mirid Ortholylus moncreaffi and a stilt mirid Phytocoris varipes from 13th, Heterotoma planicornis and Lygus maritimus from 16th and Apolygus spinolae on 19th.

A Lucerne Bug Adelphocoris lineolatus was recorded on 5th August with a Plagiognathus chrysanthemi on 7th, Black-kneed Capsid Blepharidopterus angulatus and Compsidolon salicellum on 15th and a restharrow mirid Dicyphus annulatus on 26th. In September, Lygus pratensis was noted on 4th with a new species, the tiny black mirid, Orius niger was a good find on 17th.

Lucerne Bug Adelphocoris lineolatus 5th August - Alan Keatley

Froghoppers (Cercoidae)

The Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius with its "cuckoo spit" was recorded from 27th April. Alder Spittlebug Aphrophora alni was noted on 7th August and Lined Froghopper Neophilaenus lineatus on 10th October.

Alder Spittlebug Aphrophora alni 7th August - Alan Keatley

Leafhoppers (Cicadelldae)

Euscelis incisus, a common leafhopper, was the first of year on 6th January, with Mocydia crocea the second on 1st February. On 17th May three additional species were recorded Potato Leafhopper Eupteryx aurata, Nettle Leafhopper Eupteryx urticae and an oak leafhopper Iassus lanigerus. Oncopsis flavicollis was noted from 22nd May with Sage Leafhopper Eupteryx melissae from 24th June, and a new species for the Recording Area, a bramble leafhopper Ribautiana tenerrina the same day. Alder Leafhopper Eupterycyba jucundi was recorded from 27th June.

Starting off July Zygina ordinaria and Doratura stylata on 1st with a tamarisk leafhopper Opsius stactogalus from 6th and a nettle leafhopper Macropsis scutellata on 27th. Now much reduced in number Green Leafhopper Cicadella viridis was found from 8th August and a popular leafhopper Viridicerus ustulatus on 26th August. New for the Recording Area, an alder leafhopper Kybos smaragdula was found in numbers on 10th October.

Doratura stylata 1st July - Alan Keatley

Lacehoppers (Cixiidae)

Two species were recorded, Tachycixius pilosus noted from 17th May and Cixius nervosus on 24th September.

Cixius nervosus 24th September - Alan Keatley

Planthoppers (Delphacidae & Issidae)

The Sand Sedge planthopper Kelisia sabulicola, and new addition to the site audit, Stencranus minutus was found on 19th February. The common planthopper Issus coleoptratus active from 11th May.

Stencranus minutus 19th February - Alan Keatley

Aphids (Aphididae)

Aphids are small soft-bodied sap suckers, a few species of which are well known pests and may appear in large numbers. Identification can be complex with different forms of the same species, although the host plant can aid identification in some instances.

Thirty-two species were identified this year, notably there were seven new species. Woolly Apple Aphid Eriosoma lanigerum and Ornate Aphid Myzus ornatus (found on a variety of plants) on 17th May, Mealy Cabbage Aphid Brevicoryne brassicae on 26th June, Sallow Leaf-vein Aphid Chaitophorus salicti on 29th June, Large Pine Aphid Cinara pinea on 5th August, Poplar Shoot Aphid Chaitophorus populeti on 10th August and Holly Aphid Aphis ilicis on 24th August.

Large Pine Aphid Cinara pinea 5th August - Alan Keatley

Other species included Vetch Aphid Megoura viciae from 24th April, the introduced Lupin Aphid Macrosiphum albifrons from 28th April, Ivy Aphid Aphis hederae and Dark-green Nettle Aphid Aphis urticata from 17th May and Evening Primrose Aphid Aphis oenotherae from 27th June. 

Later species included Italian Alder Aphid Crypturaphis grassi from 1st July, the conspicuous Giant Willow Aphid Tuberolachnus salignus, usually found wandering on willow branches or fencing from 15th August and Bronze Sea-aster Aphid Macrosiphon asteris was noted on 15th September. 

Giant Willow Aphid Tuberolachnus salignus 8th November - Alan Keatley

Jumping plant lice (Psyllidae)

Another small soft-bodied family of bugs. Some species form galls on host plants and can be plant specific.

Bay Sucker Trioza alacris and Trioza centranthi galls were noted all year, the latter on Red Valerian. The first adults were Rock Samphire Psyllid Bactericera crithmi on 27th April, with a box psyllid Spanioneura fonscolombii noted on 11th May, new for the Recording Area, Psylla ambigua on sallow on 15th May and on 17th an oak psyllid Trioza remota and the hawthorn psyllids Cacopsylla melanoneura and C. peregrina. An alder psyllid Baeopelma foersteri found on 15th August was the final species.

Baeopelma foersteri 15th August - Alan Keatley

Mealybugs (Pseudococcidae)

A group of unarmed scale insects, a new species and family for the Warren in the form of Phormium Mealybug Balanococcus diminutus was found hidden at the base of planted New Zealand Flax on 1st January.