Groundbugs

Birch Catkin Bug: Kleidocerys resedae

VC30 Status: Very common

Adult: All year

An extremely common and widespread species, found wherever there are birch trees. Distinctive in appearance with a rust red colouration and long transparent wing cases. Could only be confused with the similar looking Kleidocerys ericae, but this is an extremely rare species in Bedfordshire. Small Kleidocerys from heathland areas with reduced black markings and more white on the scutellum should be retained for closer inspection.

Kleidocerys ericae

VC30 Status: Rare

Adult: All year

The heathland counterpart of K.resedae, and a far scarcer species in Bedfordshire, with just a handful of records from heathland sites. Very similar in appearance to K.resedae, but typically has more extensive white markings on the scutellum, and fewer dark markings on the wing cases.

Nettle Groundbug: Heterogaster urticae

VC30 Status: Very common

Adult: All year

A common and widespread species, which can be abundant on nettles in the late Spring. Rather plain in appearance, best distinguished by the checkered markings on the connexivum (the outer edge of the abdomen) and a dense covering of long hairs on the body.

European Chinchbug: Ischnodemus sabuleti

VC30 Status: Very common

Adult: All year

A distinctively elongated ground bug found year round in grassland and wetland habitats. Occurs in both macropterous and micropterous forms. Unlikely to be confused with any other species in Bedfordshire.

Macrodema micropterum

VC30 Status: Local

Adult: All year

A small and shiny bug that is common on heathland areas in Bedfordshire.

Cymus melanocephalus

VC30 Status: Very common

Adult: All year

 The commonest of the three very similar looking species of Cymus to be found in Bedfordshire, found in damp areas in a range of different habitats. Best distinguished from the other common species, Cymus glandicolor, by the lack of a pale central keel on the scutellum.

Cymus glandicolor

VC30 Status: Common

Adult: All year

 The second most frequently recorded Cymus to be found in Bedfordshire, also found in damp areas in a range of different habitats. Best distinguished from the other common species, Cymus melanocephalus, by the  pale central keel on the scutellum.

Pine Cone Bug: Gastrodes grossipes

VC30 Status: Common

Adult: All year

A large and distinctive bug found in association with Scots Pine. The rarer Gastrodes abietum is similar, but has pale sides to the pronotum, and is found in association with Norway Spruce.

Eremocoris podagricus

VC30 Status: Scarce

Adult: All year

A large species of ground bug that has predominantly been recorded from downland sites in Bedfordshire, but which has recently been found away from the chalk in the east of the county. Distinctively marked and unlikely to be confused with any other species occuring in Bedfordshire.

Eremocoris fenestratus

VC30 Status: Very rare

Adult: All year

A recent addition to the Bedfordshire fauna, with single records in 2021 and 2022.  Associated with Junipers, and historically restricted to the Chilterns before apparently going extinct, before reappearing in the London area in 2010. 

A large and distinctive species, unlikely to be confused with any other bugs occurring in Bedfordshire.

Rhyparochromus vulgaris

VC30 Status: Recent colonist/rare

Adult: All year

A large ground bug that has recently colonised Bedfordshire, with 5 records since 2020. May turn up anywhere in the county in dry grassland and bare ground habitats. Could only be confused with the less brightly marked Rhyparochromus pini, a heathland specialist that hasn't been recorded in the county since 2004.

Graptopeltus lynceus

VC30 Status: Scarce

Adult: All year

A large and distinctive ground bug that feeds primarily on Viper's Bugloss, but may also be found on Green Alkanet and Forget-me-not species. The pale markings around the edge of pronotum and on the scutellum are distinctive. 

Rather scarce and localised to the east of Bedfordshire, possibly overlooked elsewhere on the Greensand Ridge.

Drymus ryei

VC30 Status: Local

Adult: All year

A small and rather non-descript species of ground bug, found in dry leaf litter. Tends to be darker than the commoner Drymus sylvaticus, and is usually brachypterous, with the wing tips falling just short of the tip of the abdomen.

Drymus sylvaticus

VC30 Status: Common

Adult: All year

A small and rather non-descript species of ground bug, found in leaf litter. Tends to be lighter than the scarcer Drymus ryei, with contrasting darker stripes on the corium, and is usually macropterous, with the wing tips covering the tip of the abdomen.

Drymus brunneus

VC30 Status: Fairly common

Adult: All year

Another non-descript species of ground bug, typically found in damper habitats than the other Drymus species. The wing cases are noticeably broadened across the middle and are brown in colouration.

Peritrechus lundii

VC30 Status: Local

Adult: All year

A small but distinctive ground bug, with white markings on the wing membrane and the wing cases. Locally common in the county where the food plant, Common Storksbill occurs around heaths and dry grasslands.

Peritrechus geniculatus

VC30 Status: Local

Adult: All year

One of two very similar looking species of Peritrechus found in the county, and distinguished from P.nubilis by the lack of a pale front margin to the pronotum, as well as the 3rd antennal segment being as thick or thicker than the 1st.

Aphanus rolandri

VC30 Status: Local

Adult: All year

Perhaps the most distinctive of the ground bugs to be found in Bedfordshire, with a bright orange spot at the base of the wing membrane contrasting with the otherwise black colouration. Very localised in the county, but can be very common where it occurs, especially around stands of Climbing Corydalis.

Arocatus roeselii

VC30 Status: Scarce

Adult: All year

An attractively marked red and black species of ground bug, found in association with Alder and London Plane. Individuals on Plane tend to be paler in colouration, and have historically been treated as a separate species, but recent opinion is that there is only one species. Rather scarce in Bedfordshire, with only 1-2 records a year on average.