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Pithanus maerkelii
Family: Miridae

An unmistakable and rather ant-lke bug which is almost always micropterous, although fully-winged females do occur infrequently. The connexivum, wing edges and 1st antennal segment are pale and the pronotum is swollen in the middle.

A widespread and fairly common species across the UK in damp grasslands; P. maerkelii is largely predatory.

Adult: June-August (although males short-lived)
Length 4-5 mm
Pithanus maerkeli
Adult female: north Wales (June 2008) ©Tristan Bantock

Pithanus maerkeli Pithanus maerkeli
Adult female: north Wales (May 2008) ©Tristan Bantock

Adult male: Berks (June 2009) ©Jonathan Michaelson

Pithanus maerkeli
Pithanus maerkeli
Adult male: Yorks (June 2008) ©Joe Botting Adult macropter: north Wales (June 2010) ©Tristan Bantock