Lygaeidae | a ground bug Rhyparochromus vulgaris |
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Capel Road garden, 3 April 2008 |
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I had labelled this species as Rhyparochromus pini because that it was it looked like from the i.d. guides I had available when I found it in 2008. Then in September 2014 Rose Stephens photographed a similar bug in her garden near to mine, which was confirmed as Rhyparochromus vulgaris. (See Here) R. vulgaris was stated as being a new arrival to Britain, with "several records from the London area in 2010/11", but by 2014 more widespread than R. pini. However, a distinction between them was said to be the large white triangular markings on the pronotum of vulgaris, which both my and Rose's photos seem to show. Both of our specimens were identified via communication with Tristan Bantock of "British Bugs", and it appears that my 2008 find was the first British record of this species. |