Arocatus roeselii | |
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Arocatus roeselii, upperside | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Heteroptera |
Family: | Lygaeidae |
Genus: | Arocatus |
Species: | A. roeselii |
Binomial name | |
Arocatus roeselii (Schilling, 1829) | |
This species can be found in most of Europe, in the Middle East and Caucasus. [1] [2] It is not present in the British isles.
In 2008, it was reported in large numbers in London by the Natural History Museum, London, England, but the species was later identified as a related species, Arocatus longiceps , that has a more elongated head and generally a reddish body.
These bugs preferably live under the bark of Alder or Sycamore. [3]
Arocatus roeselii can reach a length of 6–7.2 millimetres (0.24–0.28 in). [4] This species is very variable. The upperside of these bugs is red and black, while the abdomen is orange. Head, antennae, scutellum and legs are black. Connexivum is red. Hemelytral membrane is translucent, dark brown. The head length is about the same as the distance between the eyes. [2] [5]
Adult bugs are present all year around with several generations. They overwinter communally under bark. Mating takes place in May. The larvae develop in spring. The new generation adults at the beginning of the summer. [3]
They feed on the seeds of Plane trees (genus Platanus ), on alders ( Alnus glutinosa , Alnus incana ) and in other deciduous trees. [4] [2] [5]
Alders are trees comprising the genus Alnus in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus comprises about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few species extending into Central America, as well as the northern and southern Andes.
The alder flycatcher is a small insect-eating bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. The genus name Empidonax is from Ancient Greek empis, "gnat", and anax, "master". The specific alnorum is Latin and means "of the alders".
Alnus glutinosa, the common alder, black alder, European alder, European black alder, or just alder, is a species of tree in the family Betulaceae, native to most of Europe, southwest Asia and northern Africa. It thrives in wet locations where its association with the bacterium Frankia alni enables it to grow in poor quality soils. It is a medium-sized, short-lived tree growing to a height of up to 30 metres (98 feet). It has short-stalked rounded leaves and separate male and female flowers in the form of catkins. The small, rounded fruits are cone-like and the seeds are dispersed by wind and water.
Alnus rubra, the red alder, is a deciduous broadleaf tree native to western North America.
Alnus incana, the grey alder or speckled alder, is a species of multi-stemmed, shrubby tree in the birch family, with a wide range across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Tolerant of wetter soils, it can slowly spread with runners and is a common sight in swamps and wetlands. It is easily distinguished by its small cones, speckled bark and broad leaves.
The forest bug or red-legged shieldbug is a species of shield bug in the family Pentatomidae, commonly found in most of Europe. It inhabits forests, woodlands, orchards, and gardens.
Frangula alnus, commonly known as alder buckthorn, glossy buckthorn, or breaking buckthorn, is a tall deciduous shrub in the family Rhamnaceae. Unlike other "buckthorns", alder buckthorn does not have thorns. It is native to Europe, northernmost Africa, and western Asia, from Ireland and Great Britain north to the 68th parallel in Scandinavia, east to central Siberia and Xinjiang in western China, and south to northern Morocco, Turkey, and the Alborz in Iran and the Caucasus Mountains; in the northwest of its range, it is rare and scattered. It is also introduced and naturalised in eastern North America.
Elasmostethus interstinctus, the birch shield bug, is species of shield bug in the Acanthosomatidae family. Shield bugs are often called "stink bugs" because they excrete a foul smelling liquid that is used to deter predators.
Halyzia sedecimguttata, or orange ladybird, is a species of Coccinellidae (ladybirds) family.
Aphrophora alni, the European alder spittle bug, is a species belonging to the family Aphrophoridae.
Heterotoma planicornis is a species of bug from Miridae family.
Apoderus coryli, common name hazel-leaf roller weevil, is a species of leaf-rolling beetles belonging to the family Attelabidae subfamily Attelabinae. Because of the trunk-like elongated head, it is often mistakenly attributed to the weevils.
Athous vittatus is a species of beetle in the family Elateridae and the genus Athous.
Clepsis persicana, the white triangle tortrix or the green needleworm, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Alaska and British Columbia to Newfoundland and south to Virginia and west to California. The habitat consists of coniferous and mixed coniferous forests.
Hemichroa crocea, the striped alder sawfly or banded alder sawfly, is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. It is probably native in Europe and has been introduced to North America. The larvae feed on the foliage of several species of alder and sometimes on birch, hazel and willow.
Grammoptera ruficornis is a species of beetle in family Cerambycidae.
Arocatus melanocephalus, the elm seed bug, is a true bug in the family Lygaeidae. The species was initially described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1798, and Maximilian Spinola designated it to be the type species of the genus Arocatus in 1837. This bug is native to Europe but has been introduced to North America.
Eriocampa ovata, known generally as the alder sawfly or woolly alder sawfly, is a species of common sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. The larvae feed on the leaves of the common alder and the grey alder, sometimes causing defoliation.
Psylla alni is a species of psyllid, a plant-feeding hemipteran in the family Psyllidae.
Eriophyes laevis is a gall mite which makes small, pimple-like galls on the leaves of alder. The mite was first described by the Austrian zoologist, Alfred Nalepa in 1889 and is found in Europe and North America.