A tiny Italian insect ID, please (1 Viewer)

IamFof

Well-known member

• Dec 22, 2019

• #1

Guys, Gals & Gurus,
Found this tiny (5-6mm) insect on the leaf of a Helianthus spp.
I can't decide if it is a Shieldbug (doubtful), cockroach, or what
I thought the very prominent "V" would make it easy. Ha!!
Location: mixed woodland, Abruzzo, Italy.
Any suggestions?
TIA
Fof

 

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E

etudiant

Registered User

Supporter

• Dec 22, 2019

• #2

Looks like a True Bug (order Hemiptera), but I'm not at all knowledgeable on that order, huge number of species.

 

pdwinter

Paul Winter

• Dec 22, 2019

• #3

It might be one of the plant bugs Miridae but I struggle with these.

see e.g. http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/gallery/heteroptera/Miridae/miridae.html

There are quite a few with a V shaped marking!! I expect there will be quite a few more species in Italy than there are in the UK.

 

Ficedula

velico ergo sum

• Dec 22, 2019

• #4

Miridae is correct, but they are difficult enough in UK let alone the Mediterranean.

 

IamFof

Well-known member

• Dec 22, 2019

• #5

@Etudiant - Thank you. You seem to be getting us into the ball park.
@paul - The Miridae has to be correct. Looking through British Bugs Gallery, Lygus pratensis, stuck its head up.
I can't say, at this point, if that is a good ID, but if not, it has to be a close relative.
The head/thorax was what threw me. They reminded me very much of cockroaches. Wrong again.33

Fof

 

IamFof

Well-known member

• Dec 22, 2019

• #6

@Ficedula - Thanks.

By the way. L.pratensis is endemic to Italy.
More research needed (if possible).
Fof

 

A

aeshna5

Well-known member

• Dec 23, 2019

• #7

IamFof said:

@Ficedula - Thanks.

By the way. L.pratensis is endemic to Italy.
More research needed (if possible).
Fof

Click to expand...

It can't be an endemic to Italy as it's found elsewhere in Europe. In biological terms an endemic is found only in that country, state, etc.

 

IamFof

Well-known member

• Dec 23, 2019

• #8

@aeshna5
Whoops! Yes you are 1000% correct.

Fof