A Year in Bugs

April

As the days grow longer and the spring vegetation bursts into life, the bug season really gets started, with all of the over-wintering species emerging and looking to feed and mate. Check patches of dead-nettles for Pied Shieldbugs, and Garlic-Mustard or garden brassicas for the Brassica Shieldbug, which comes in red and white spotted versions. Hairy Shieldbugs are now present in abundance in parks and gardens, and both Birch Shieldbugs and Parent Bugs can now be readily found on fresh birch leaves. Close inspection of forget-me-nots may reveal the presence of the all black Sehirus luctuosus, although these can be remarkably hard to unearth even where the host plant is abundant

Alongside the shieldbugs, their close relatives the squash bugs start to become more obvious in April, with Dock Bugs and Box Bugs common throughout the county in a variety of habitats, and Rhombic Leatherbugs widespread in dry, open habitats. On the county's heaths the diminutive Macrodema micropterna can now be found scuttling between patches of heather, and where patches of Climbing Corydalis or Fumitory are present, look out for the distinctively marked Aphanus rolandri.

April marks the first appearance of species which over-winter as eggs, with Harpocera thoracica likely to be the first of these to be encountered, and often very abundant for a short period in April and May. Moth trappers may well find this species amongst their egg-boxes, as like many species of Heteroptera, they are readily attracted to light.

May

May sees the bug year picking up steam, with a host of new species starting to appear. Checking hawthorns and oaks may reveal Miris striatus, either as the ant-like nymphs, or later in the month the beautifully patterned adults. Keep an eye out also for the similar looking but pale-headed Rhabdomiris striatellus, and another beautifully marked species Cyllecoris histrionius, both also found commonly on and around oaks.

Alongside this trio of easily identified oak specialists comes the first of the Psallus species, a genus with many very challenging species to identify, often requiring dissection of males for confirmation. Early species include Psallus perrisi/wagneri, which may in reality only actually represent a single species, and Psallus varians, which is very similar in appearance to both Psallus mollis and Psallus confusus. For peace of mind, it is recommended to develop a degree of Psallus blindness!

Parks and gardens as well as woodland areas are likely to play host to the lengthily named Dryophilocoris flavoquadrimaculatus, as well as the most common of Bedfordshire's species of Rhopalidae, Rhopalus subrufus, which reaches a peak in May, and then again in August and September.

Whilst most of the county's shieldbugs have already emerged, the Woundwort Shieldbug tends to be somewhat sluggish, and only starts to appear in numbers in May on Hedge Woundwort. Although one of the smaller shieldbug species it is nonetheless distinctive with its shining purple and white colouration.

As the month progresses, and grasses get longer, a new cast of characters starts to appear, building in abundance and diversity as May passes into June. First to appear in numbers are the curiously womble-like Bishop's Mitre, and the plant bug Stenodema laevigata, both of which over-winter as adults, soon followed by rapidly developing nymphs of Leptopterna dolobrata. In drier areas two of the county's scarcer squash bugs, the prickly Coriomeris denticulatus and Ceraleptus lividus may be found, or in areas of close-cropped grass where Common Storksbill is abundant, the unobtrusive Arenocoris falleni may reveal itself to a diligent searcher.

Visitors to heathland sites or wherever Broom is present may well find that giving a bush or two a shake will reveal the presence of Heterocordylus tibialis, the first of a remarkably diverse set of species that feed on this seemingly tough and unpalateable plant to appear each year. Whilst visiting sandy sites where Broom may occur, keep an eye out for the large and distinctive groundbug Graptopeltus lynceus, and the smaller and shinier Megalonotus praetextus.

June

This is the month where grassland species hit their peak, with the May species becoming more abundant, and joined by several new species. Both Stenotus binotatus and Notostira elongata are common in the same locations as Leptopterna dolobrata, whilst in drier grasslands its congener Leptopterna ferrugata may be found, along with the bristly Amblytylus nasutus. Capsus ater, with its distinctively expanded antennae, may also be found in grassy areas from now on.

June is a good time to search nettles for an array of species, both by direct observation, and by using a sweep net to uncover hidden bugs. The highly variable Plagiognathus arbustorum is extremely common, and often joined by the distinctive Deraeocoris ruber and Heterotoma planicornis, the latter again having expanded antennae. The colourful Grypocoris stysi may be abundant in early June before disappearing for another year, whilst the plain green Lygocoris pabulinus has a long season from June through to September.

Away from the nettles, now is the time to look for the recently arrived Closterotomus trivialis, especially in gardens, where it can be found on a wide range of plants. Also common in gardens, as well as on a range of trees and shrubs, is the large and distinctive Deraeocoris flavilinea, often found sitting on Ox-eye Daisy flowers. 

Those prepared to try a spot of tree beating will find a new set of species. Hazel will probably produce both Phylus coryli and the distinctively dark-eyed Orthotylus tenellus, whilst Phylus melanocephalus is common on Oak. The most frequently recorded of the three Atractotomus species, A.mali, is readily found now on Hawthorn and Apple trees, and beating of these may also produce the small lacebug Physatocheila dumetorum.

A species unlikely to be found without specific searching is the small and indistinctly marked Dicyphus globulifer, but close inspection of patches of Red or White Campion will often reveal its presence. Similarly, checking foxgloves may reveal the closely related Dicyphus pallicornis, although care must be taken in separating this from generalist Dicyphus species, especially the recent colonist Dicyphus tamanii.

Warm summer nights are good news for moth trappers, and amongst their catch may be one of Bedfordshire's largest and most impressive bugs, Reduvius personatus, which is closely associated with houses, but rarely seen despite its size.

July

Many of the species listed above continue to be common throughout July, with many reaching their peak in abundance now. These include the delicately patterned Campyloneura virgula, commonly found on Hazel, Oak and Hawthorn, and Closterotomus norwegicus, common on low vegetation and often found on flowers of composites.

The two confusingly similar Apolygus species appear now, commonly found on brambles, nettles and other low vegetation. Apolygus spinolae is particularly found on brambles, and has a dark tip to its cuneus, whilst Apolygus lucorum is more common on Tansy and Mugwort, and is all green. Recent genetic work suggests that these may actually all be one species.

One of the most common species from mid to late Summer is the small and bristly Plagiognathus chrysanthemi, although it is most likely to be found by sweep netting as it tends to stay low down on ruderal vegetation. More obvious is the bright green Orthops campestris, the most frequently recorded Orthops species in the county, and often found on flowers of fennel and umbellifers.

In grassland habitats, the large and distinctive Adelphocoris lineolatus is common on legumes such as clovers, and may be joined by the unusual rhopalid Myrmus miriformis. Where knapweed is flowering you are almost certain to find the distinctively marked Oncotylus viridiflavus, sitting prominently on the flowerheads.

June sees the over-wintering damselbugs such as Nabis rugosus and Nabis ferus joined by those which hatch out from eggs in the spring, with Nabis flavomarginatus common in grassland habitats, joined by Nabis limbatus in damper areas. Tree beaters will now start to encounter Himacerus apterus, the Tree Damsel Bug, alongside the now abundant adult Forest Bugs.

A species unlikely to be found without specific searching is Metatropis rufescens, which feeds on Enchanter's Nightshade in shady woodland areas, and can often be found by close inspection of the host plant.

August

The bug year continues strongly throughout August, with most of the Summer species still present, and some late emerging species appearing for the first time. Perhaps the most common of these is the Black-kneed Capsid, Blepharidopterus angulatus, one of a confusing array of largely green bugs, but readily recognised by the distinctive black 'knees'.

Staying with confusing green bugs, two of the most easily identified of the Orthotylus species can be found now. Orthotylus flavosparsus has a constellation of white hair patches on its body, and is common on fat hen and oraches, whilst Orthotylus ericetorum is a heathland species, found on heather, and has distinctive yellow tips to the cuneus.

Whilst the formerly abundant Stenotus and Leptopternas are largely gone by August, grassland areas are still productive, with the red antenna bearing Trigonotylus caelestialum at its most common now, joining the still common Notostira elongata, Bishop's Mitre and Tortoise Shieldbugs. The ragwort loving Phytocoris varipes is extremely common now, as are Lygus pratensis and Lygus rugulipennis. In the driest areas, the elongate rhopalid Chorosoma schillingi may be found blending in with dead grass stems.

August is the peak month for all three of the county's Pilophorus species, attractive marked rather ant-like species associated with trees. Pilophorus perplexus is the most common, found on oaks, followed by the Scots Pine loving Pilophorus cinnamopterus. Least commonly recorded, but not uncommon, is Pilophorus clavatus, associated with willows.

Those beating in search of Pilophorus may well encounter other late season arboreal species, such as the large and distinctive Bronze Shieldbug, common on a range of tree species, and the long antennaed Megacoelum infusum on oaks. One of the county's most delicately patterned species, Malacocoris chlorizans, is common now on Hazel.

September

The bug year starts to slow noticeably now, with few new species appearing, and diversity and abundance starting to reduce noticeably. One pair of species that is at their most abundant now are the Stictopleurus species, Stictopleurus abutilon and Stictopleurus punctatonervosus, both common on flowers of the compositae, especially Ragwort.

The county's heaths are well worth a visit at this time of year, with the large and distinctive Alydus calcaratus common, and joined by the heather loving Rhopalus parumpunctatus and Heather Damselbug, Nabis ericetorum. Fortunate/skilled observers may find two of the county's less commonly recorded shieldbugs, the predatory Spiked Shieldbug and the surprisingly elusive Heather Shieldbug.

Perhaps the last of the new species to appear is the large and distinctive plant bug, Pantilius tunicatus, which can be common on Birch and Alder through September and into October, often joined by Parent Bugs.

Those partaking in ivy watching (a thoroughly recommended activity) may find Box Bugs amongst the ivy leaves, perhaps joined by one of the more recent additions to the county list, the Mottled Shieldbug, which can be found year round, but seems to have a particular fondness for ivy.

October-December

As Autumn turns to Winter, the bug year draws to a close, with only the over-wintering species still to be found, and gradually disappearing into hibernation. One species which is most commonly recorded at this time of year is the very large Western Conifer Seed Bug, a native of the USA which often comes into houses to over-winter, and may be joined by various species of shieldbug.