Review of 2019 and 2020 - Bugs: Flower Bugs

FLOWER BUGS (ANTHOCORIDAE)

Information about identifying this family has been quite hard to find.  The information for each species at the British Bugs website is of course extremely helpful, but not all the species are covered which has sometimes left me with a bit of doubt about the identifications.  I only recorded them if they check out fully with the criteria given at British Bugs but not knowing what the species that weren't covered should look like always made me a bit nervous.  More recently I'm grateful to have been sent draft keys to British Heteroptera and these have enable me to make more progress with difficult families like this one.  Only the more recent records below (those identified since spring 2020) have benefited from these, and some have been pretty challenging even with the key!  As always, any corrections or other help always welcome.


Anthocoris confusus - One in my garden moth trap on 14th August 2020.  I'd previously identified one (in 2018) at the meadows but after finding other similar species in exactly the same place shortly afterwards (and having initially got in a muddle with their identification) I decided my earlier record should be treated as uncertain.  But this this one certainly showed a dull band along the inner edge of the embolium and the inner corner of the cuneus was also dull, so I think it's good.

Anthocoris confusus, North Elmham, 14th August 2020 with close up showing the contrast between dull and shiny parts of the wing (it was easier to see in life than in the photo!)

Anthocoris nemoralis - One in my garden moth trap on 14th January 2019 was the first of this species that I have identified although I may have overlooked it before.  3 records at the Cathedral Meadows between 8th March and 3rd August 2019, all taken from Broom (growing under Oaks).  As the 3 at the meadows were on Broom, and especially as the similar Broom-feeding Anthocoris sarothamni was found in the same patch of Broom (see below) I was keen to ensure I was especially careful to eliminate that species.  One in my garden moth trap again on 17th February 2020.

Anthocoris nemoralis, North Elmham, 14th Juanuary 2019

Anthocoris nemoralis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th March 2019

Anthocoris nemoralis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th April 2019

Anthocoris nemoralis, North Elmham, 17th February 2020

Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum - Recorded at the Cathedral Meadows on 8th April and 5th July 2019.  Nymphs recorded there on 19th August and 11th September 2020, both raised to adults in order to confirm their identity (one taken from Oak, the other from Bramble).

Anthocoris nemorum, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th April 2019

Anthocoris nemorum nymph, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August 2020

Anthocoris nemorum nymph, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th Septenber 2020

Anthocoris nemorum, 14th September 2020 (same individual as nymph above from 11th September)

Anthocoris sarothamni - Taken from Broom at the Cathedral Meadows on 22nd February and 26th April 2019, the first times I've identified this species.  Most of the Broom was removed by the railway company later in the year and the remnants have been much less productive so far.

Anthocoris sarothamni, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th April 2019

Cardiastethus fasciiventris - None.  I found this species at the meadows in 2018.


Orius vicinus - An Orius sp. caught in my garden moth trap on 31st July 2020 and 2 found at the meadows on 16th September and 30th October (on Bindweed and Oak) provided a bit of an identification challenge.  They were all females and keyed to either Orius majusculus or Orius vicinus, which are supposed to differ by overall size and the length of the copulatory tube.  All 3 were comfortably within the size range for vicinus (2.2mm to 2.4mm: the key gives 2.2 to 2.5 for vicinus and 2.6 to 3.2 for majusculus) but the key advises against placing "undue reliance" on the size distinction.  I'm not sure if that means you *have* to check the copulatory tube to be sure, or just that you should additionally check the copulatory tube for those at the larger end for vicinus or smaller end for majusculus.  The copulatory tube is a bit of anatomy I've not needed to look at before and proved a bit challenging to find and/or recognise.  The first one I looked at (not the first I caught, the one from 16th September) showed a darkened squiggly line in the right place (in the intersegmental membrane between the seventh and eight abdominal segments) but it seemed quite a bit longer than the illustration in the key for vicinus - more like majusculus.

Orius sp. and its 7th and 8th segmeents, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th September 2020

Could it be a small majusculus then?  I wasn't convinced - this darkened line really didn't look like a tube, and it hadn't taken up the stain at all which is odd as the key says the tube should be visible on stained specimens.  So I stepped up the magnification and had a really careful look.  On closer inspection there was a tube-like structure at the top left edge of the darkened line, and this had taken up some stain, and was pretty much the right size, shape and position as it should be on vicinus.

part of the 7th segment of presumed Orius vicinus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th September 2020

The next one I looked at (the first one I caught, in my garden on 31st July) seemed to have a stained tube-like structure in the same place of a similar form but much easier to see this time.

presumed Orius vicinus, North Elmham, 31st July 2020 - showing 7th segment

On the last one the seventh segment got a bit damaged as I cleared and cleaned it, with a break right across where the copulatory tube should be.  So I don't think I can call this either way based on the copulatory tube, but as it was also the smallest one (2.2mm) I think it's probably safe to call this one vicinus too.

presumed Orius vicinus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th October 2020 - showing damaged 7th segment

Having spent far too much time sorting these out and wishing that at least one of them had been a male I realised that another bug I had caught at home on 11th August 2020 was probably one of these too, not what I had initially identified it as.  Fortunately I still had the specimen, and it was a male!  Of course there is no reason to assume it must have been the same species as the others but nevertheless it was very reassuring to see that this one had an unquestionably vicinus paramere, boosting my confidence that the female were correctly identified as this species too.

male Orius vicinus, North Elmham, 11th August 2020 - showing paramere

Prior to these there were 2 additional similar bugs which I swept from White Dead Nettle at the meadows on 10th April 2020.  One looked a lot like the Orius above but the other was almost black and smaller.  When I retained and photographed them I assumed they were different species but intriguingly when I came to examine the specimens the black one appeared much paler than it had looked when it was alive, though still obviously darker than the other one.  They both keyed the same way, or I should say miskeyed, becuase my initial attempts to identify them took me to a species in a different genus which I now realise was incorrect.  Upon reaching a conclusion I discarded the specimens, but as soon as I processed the first couple of Orius above I realised that I must have gone wrong with the earlier specimens.  I sifted through the specimens in my discard pot (which I always keep for a while, just in case of these sorts of eventualities) but the tiny size meant it was hard to find them.  I eventually found the darker example, but it was in poor condition.  I had indeed made a mistake - it was, I now believe, another female Orius but, as I had remembered, smaller than the ones above - just under 2mm (~1.95mm).  There was no sign of any hairs at any of the corners of the pronotum but it was in poor condition now so I can't be sure these weren't all broken off.  That being so I can't rule out Orius nigra.  The only other species for which the key draws attention to dark colouration is horvathi, but it suggests finding a male to confirm that species (there are no records of horvathi on NBN Atlas, so perhaps not so likely?).  My guess is that the larger one (2.3mm) was another vicinus but of course I can't be sure of that without re-checking the specimen so won't be recording it.

unidentified Orius sp., North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 10th April 2020

Temnostethus pusillus - One in the garden moth trap on 27th September 2020, the first time I've identified this species.

Temnostethus pusillus, North Elmham, 27th September 2020

Next page: Lygaeidae

3 new moths for the garden, including Epinotia tedella, bringing the garden list past 800

Apparently the Common Spruce Bell Epinotia tedella is indeed common in coniferous forests across the UK, but it is rare in Norfolk (can go several years in a row without any records), and there aren't any coniferous forests in my back garden.  So finding one in my trap on 17th June was one of the best, if not the best, find of the summer.  I have to say it wasn't much to look at, being very worn, and although tedella was always a contender I had to gen det it to be sure what it was.

Common Spruce Bell Epinotia tedella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th June

This wasn't the only new moth for the garden that night - there was also an Agrimony Case-bearer Coleophora follicularis, a species I'd had at Bawdeswell three times (confirmed by Jon Clifton as I wasn't gen detting back then) but not here at North Elmham despite checking all possible candidates since moving here.

Agrimony Case-bearer Coleophora follicularis (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th June

Yet another new moth for the garden was a Thistle Conch Aethes cnicana, a species I'd only seen twice before.  I must have had photos of this as my notes about it refer to them but they aren't in the folder where they should be and I can't find them anywhere else either.  It would appear that I have accidentally deleted them, or just maybe incorrectly labelled them and filed them away under something else.  Three new moths for the garden in one night is an increasingly rare occurrence!  They also take my garden moth list through a milestone - past the 800 mark to 801.

There were some more new moths for the garden year list too: Oak Carl Tischeria ekebladella, Cypress-tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, Purple Bar, Barred Yellow, Bordered Pug, Tawny-barred Angle and Cream-bordered Green Pea.

Oak Carl Tischeria ekebladella, North Elmham, 17th June

Purple Bar, North Elmham, 17th June

Barred Yellow, North Elmham, 17th June

Bordered Pug, North Elmham, 17th June

Tawny-barred Angle, North Elmham, 17th June

Cream-bordered Green Pea, North Elmham, 17th June

Other moths were 2 Blackthorn Slenders Parornix torquillella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Fen Crest Brachmia inornatella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 2 False Cacao Moths Ephestia woodiella, Small Dusty Wave, 4 Treble Brown Spots, 5 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Grey Pine Carpet, 2 Green Carpets, 2 Sandy Carpets, Freyer's Pug, Common Pug, Grey Pug, V-Pug, Double-striped Pug, Treble-bar, Clouded Border, Peppered Moth, 4 Willow Beauties, Pale Oak Beauty, 4 Clouded Silvers, 3 Light Emeralds, Common Footman, Buff Ermine, 3 Heart and Darts, Flame, 2 Flame Shoulders, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Ingrailed Clays, 3 Common Wainscots, 4 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, 3 Dark Arches, Tawny Marbled Minor, 3 Middle-barred Minors, Treble Lines, 4 Uncertains, 3 Burnished Brasses, 25 Straw Dots and 9 Snouts.

The green lacewing Chrysopidia ciliata was new for the year, as was a Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius.  Other things included the bugs Orthotylus tenellus and Psallus varians, the leafhopper Oncopsis flavicollis and the soldier beetle Cantharis cryptica.

Chrysopidia ciliata, North Elmham, 17th June

Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius, North Elmham, 17th June

Next day a Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum was attracted to a Grapholita lobarzewskii pheronome lure, a new bug for the garden.

Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum, North Elmham, 18th June

Early April - moths starting to appear

No April fools on 1st April but an Early Grey was new for the year.  Not many other moths: Small Quaker, Clouded Drab and 9 Hebrew Characters.

Early Grey, North Elmham, 1st April

Next day this Varied Carpet Beetle Anthrenus verbasci appeared in the house (as usual, in a room without carpets).  This one was my first this year.

Varied Carpet Beetle Anthrenus verbasci, North Elmham, 2nd April

That night Twin-spotted Quaker made it on to the year list.Others moths were 2 Shoulder Stripes, Oak Beauty, Common Quaker, 6 Clouded Drabs, 11 Hebrew Characters and 2 Chestnuts.

Twin-spotted Quaker, North Elmham, 2nd April

It missed its own month but a March Tubic Diurnea fagella was new for the year on 3rd April.  Other moths that night were 3 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, March Moth, 3 Oak Beauties, Red Chestnut, 2 Small Quakers, 5 Common Quakers, 7 Clouded Drabs, Twin-spotted Quaker and 9 Hebrew Characters.

March Tubic Diurnea fagella, North Elmham, 3rd April

A single new moth for the year for the fourth consecutive night on 4th, this time Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.  Also that night: Oak Beauty, Dotted Border, 3 Small Quakers, Common Quaker, 3 Clouded Drabs, 5 Hebrew Characters and Black Sexton Beetle.

Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, North Elmham, 4th April

The following night's moths were March Moth, 3 Common Quakers, 2 Clouded Drabs, 2 Twin-spotted Quakers and 10 Hebrew Characters. The only new species for the year in the trap was this Buff-tailed Bumblebee (I guess the tick it was carrying would have been too had I been able to identify it).

Buff-tailed Bumblebee, North Elmham, 5th April

The following night produced March Moth, 2 Small Quakers, Common Quaker, 8 Clouded Drabs, 10 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

On Saturday 7th I took a birding group round Minsmere in Suffolk.  As I was tucking into a slice of Chocolate Challenge at the cafe after we'd finished I felt a sharp nip to the back of my hand.  The culrpit turned out to be this Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum.

Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum, Minsmere, 7th April

A good variety of moths at home that night, though an Engrailed was the only one that was new for the year.  The others were 6 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Shoulder Stripe, Red Chestnut, 10 Small Quakers, 7 Common Quakers, 7 Clouded Drabs, Twin-spotted Quaker, 11 Hebrew Characters, Early Grey and Chestnut.

Engrailed, North Elmham, 7th April

There were a few other insects caught too, including my first green lacewing of the year, a male Chrysoperla carnea, and my first leafhopper of the year, Empoasca vitis.  Having recently joined the Dipterists Forum I thought I'd try my hand at identifying a fly, but failed.  I think it belonged to the family Simuliidae but I couldn't get any further than that.

Chrysoperla carnea (male), North Elmham, 7th April

Epoasca vitis, North Elmham, 7th April

Simuliid fly sp., North Elmham, 7th April

The following night was quieter with just 4 Small Quakers, 3 Common Quakers, Twin-spotted Quaker, 17 Hebrew Characters and Black Sexton Beetle. Next day was even worse with Varied Carpet Beetle inside, 3 Small Quakers and 7 Hebrew Characters.

The night of 10th April was more promising and hopes were raised when I went to have a quick look round the outside of the trap before I went to bed as the first two moths I saw were both new for the year: Water Carpet (not quite annual here) and Brindled Pug.  It turned out they were the only new for the year but a reasonable variety included March Tubic Diurnea fagella, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Red Chestnut, 7 Small Quakers, 4 Common Quakers, 3 Clouded Drabs, 2 Twin-spotted Quakers, 23 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

Brindled Pug, North Elmham, 10th April

Water Carpet, North Elmham, 10th April

Another new moth for the year the following night: Early Thorn.  That was my 30th moth species this year - pretty poor for 11th April (last year I was on 47 by this time despite having spent a week out of the county in early April).  Also March Tubic Diurnea fagella, Red Chestnut, 6 Small Quakers, 4 Common Quakers, Twin-spotted Quaker, 15 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

Early Thorn, North Elmham, 11th April