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Adelphocoris lineolatus Lucerne Bug
Family: Miridae

Mirids in the genus Adelphocoris share a combination of characters including a large elongate body, large eyes, long antennae, prominent tibial spines and a long rostrum reaching the hind coxae.

This species
is similar to the much rarer A. quadripunctatus and is best separated by the paired lines on the scutellum and paired spots on the pronotum (occasionally absent). The 2nd antennal segment is also entirely pale and under the microscope, the dark pubescence on the elytra is fine and inconspicuous.

A very common bug across Britain on various herbaceous legumes including restharrow, clovers, vetches in both dry and damp grassland.

Compare: Closterotomus norwegicus

Adult: July-October
Length 7.5-9.5 mm
Adelphocoris lineolatus
Adult: Oxfordshire (July 2007) ©Tristan Bantock

Adelphocoris lineolatus Adelphocoris lineolatus
Adult: Oxfordshire (July 2007) ©Tristan Bantock

Adult: Worcs (August 2008) ©Brian Kilford
Adelphocoris lineolatus Adelphocoris lineolatus
Adult: north London (August 2008) ©Tristan Bantock Nymph: Kent (July 2009) ©Tristan Bantock