Phylus
melanocephalus
Family: Miridae
Phylus bugs are
fairly long and slender and all are partly predatory. There are three species in the UK,
which can be separated with some reliability by the colour of the head
and forewngs. Hostplant is also a useful aid to identification.
P. melanocephalus is
widespread throughout the UK on oak. The forewings vary
from yellow to orange-red but the head is always dark brown or black. The closely related Phylus palliceps was recently synonymized with this species.
Adult: June-August
Length 4.5-6 mm
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Adult:
Berks (June 2008) ©Jonathan
Michaelson
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Adult: west
London (May 2008) ©Julian Oliver
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Adult:
north Wales (June 2008) ©Tristan
Bantock
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