''Myrmecoris gracilis'' is a species of flightless

Hemiptera Hemiptera (; ) is an order (biology), order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, Reduviidae, assassin bugs, Cimex, bed bugs, and shield bugs. ...

n bug from the family Miridae. The genus '' Mymecoris '' is monotypic with one Palaearctic species. It differs in its outward appearance and way of life from other "grass bugs" in the Stenodemini, being predatory and an effective

ant mimic Ant mimicry or myrmecomorphy is mimicry of ants by other organisms. Ants are abundant all over the world, and potential predators that rely on vision to identify their prey, such as birds and wasps, normally avoid them, because they are either un ...

.Chinery, 2005

Description

The bugs are four to six millimeters long. The adult insects resemble ants of the genus '' Formica'', the larvae dark '' Lasius'' ant species. The appearance of a typical

hymenoptera Hymenoptera is a large order (biology), order of insects, comprising the sawfly, sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Over 150,000 living species of Hymenoptera have been described, in addition to over 2,000 extinct ones. Many of the species are Par ...

n "waist" is created by the paler coloration of the front of the abdomen and the back of the thorax, contrasting with the rest of the body which is mainly black, effectively camouflaging the bug's thick waist. They are often found together with ants, to which they have a convincing but superficial resemblance. The long rostrum is held inconspicuously beneath the head. The bugs suck plant juices, but feed mainly on aphids, other small insects and insect eggs, sometimes on honeydew, unlike other "grass bugs" (Stenodemini) which are exclusively herbivorous. The larvae hatch in May. The adults can be found from early June to early August. There is one generation a year. The overwintering eggs are buried in older blades of grass. Both sexes are usually flightless but some winged individuals occur. The generic name is from Ancient Greek: Μύρμηξ, ''Múrmēx'', ant, and κόρῐς, ''kóris'', bug. The specific name is the Latin for slender or graceful.

Distribution and habitat

''Myrmecoris gracilis '' is found across the whole of northern and central Europe, as well as the western part of the northern Mediterranean.Wachmann, 2004 To the east it is common in Siberia,

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

and Korea. The bug lives on dry and warm to moderately damp, grassy open habitats. The adults can be seen climbing on grasses and herbaceous plants in cool damp weather. The species was formerly classed by the IUCN as "Rare" in its pre-1994 system; in the UK, the species had been recorded in 15 ten-kilometre squares or fewer at that time. It is described as a "not common" inhabitant of dry heathland in Britain, where it is confined to the far south of England in an area bounded by Exeter, Bristol, Oxford, Luton and Eastbourne. In the Avon Gorge it forms 11.1% of the insect visitors to ''

Trinia glauca ''Trinia glauca'' (honewort) is a low-growing umbellifer found in rocky areas. Description Honewort is a low-growing glabrous plant. Its stems can reach 20 cm, and are surrounded by abundant fibrous remains of petioles at the base. It is mu ...

''.

References

Sources

* M. Chinery: ''Collins Complete Guide to British Insects''. Collins, 2005. Pages 96–97. . * E. Wachmann, A. Melber, J. Deckert: ''Cimicomorpha. Microphysidae (Flechtenwanzen), Miridae (Weichwanzen).'' Goecke & Evers, Keltern 2004. . {{Taxonbar, from=Q1956786 Mimicry Miridae Hemiptera of Europe