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
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Adult female:
north Wales (June
2008) ©Tristan Bantock
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Adult female:
north Wales (May
2008) ©Tristan Bantock
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Adult male:
Berks (June
2009) ©Jonathan Michaelson
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Adult male: Yorks
(June
2008) ©Joe Botting
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Adult macropter:
north Wales
(June 2010) ©Tristan Bantock
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