David Element
Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images
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Bugs
6 - Mirid (Capsid) Bugs
MIRID BUG Heterotoma
planicornis
MIRID BUG Heterotoma
planicornis
·
With
its massively swollen second and to a lesser extent first antennal segments the
mirid bug Heterotoma planicornis must be one of the most instantly
recognisable of British insects once magnified but it is a small and
inconspicuous insect that needs to be looked for. Such adaptations (and
particularly rather dramatic and potentially cumbersome ones like this)
normally have a biological purpose. In this case the massive surface area of
the antennae is likely to be associated with the detection of pheromones as
there is little likelihood of a purely decorative purpose unless they are involved
in signalling to prospective mates, something that would only work if the
insects were close enough to be able to see one another. This behaviour may
indeed happen although the photographer has not observed it but if so, it might
indicate that pheromones are being distributed as well. It would be interesting
to view the surface characteristics of one of these antennae under an electron
microscope. Magnification of these photographs confirms that the second
segments are grooved underneath and covered with tiny hairs, suggesting that
the structures are intended to maximise the surface area of these segments.
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