The common flowerbug (''Anthocoris nemorum'') is a common minute pirate or flower bug.

Distribution

The common flowerbug is found across Europe and the

Palearctic The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa. The realm consists of several bioregions: the Euro-Si ...

to China. It is common in

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

and

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. In the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, ...

it is found to about 2000 meters above sea level'

Habitat

It more commonly inhabits lower moist, shaded vegetation than trees, and especially nettles in the later half of the growing season.

Description

''Anthocoris nemorum'' is typically 3–4 mm in length. These bugs have soft elongated flat bodies, with reflective forewings and black pronotum. The legs are mostly orange-brown, with small dark patches close to the tips of the femora. The antennae are mainly orange, with dark tips. In particular, antennal segments I and IV are usually dark, while II and III are pale with dark apices. The front wing is shiny transparent with a distinctive black dot in the center. The membrane shows an hourglass-shaped characteristic black spot at the wing tip. Nymphs of ''Anthocoris nemorum'' are dark brown or reddish brown .Influential Points
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Biology

Adults can be found all year. They are predatory insects, feeding on small insects including greenfly and

red spider mites ''Tetranychus urticae'' (common names include red spider mite and two-spotted spider mite) is a species of plant-feeding mite generally considered to be a pest. It is the most widely known member of the family Tetranychidae or spider mites. Its ...

. ''A. nemorum'' lays its eggs inside plant leaves. It has been used as a

biological pest control Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also i ...

since 1992, primarily to control '' Cacopsylla pyri''. It is capable of biting humans.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Common flowerbug Anthocoridae Hemiptera of Europe Insects described in 1761 Articles containing video clips Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus