Anthocoris nemoralis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Anthocoris nemoralis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Anthocoris nemoralis (no. 3; second row from top, far left) depicted by Saunders, 1892 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Family: | Anthocoridae |
| Genus: | Anthocoris |
| Species: | A. nemoralis |
| Binomial name | |
| Anthocoris nemoralis (Fabricius, 1794) | |
Anthocoris nemoralis is a true bug in the family Anthocoridae. The species is native to Europe and is introduced in North America.[1] It is a predator of aphids, spider mites and jumping plant lice, and is therefore used as a biological pest control agent.[2]
The adult of this species is about 3 mm (0.12 in) long and is mostly black, with white markings on its wings. The nymphs grow to about 6 mm (0.24 in) long, the smaller nymphs being yellowish to orange, and the larger ones having a yellowish to orange head and thorax and a darker coloured abdomen.[3]
Distribution
Anthocoris nemoralis has a West Palearctic distribution and is found from the British Isles across Western Europe East to the Caucasus and South to the Mediterranean basin. It is absent from Fennoscandia. It was introduced into Eastern Canada accidentally, and then in 1963 was introduced purposefully into British Columbia in an attempt to control pear psylla. Later it spread southwards to California where it feeds on various exotic psylla pests of ornamental plants.[4]
