Heterotoma planicornis
Heterotoma planicornis is a species of bug from Miridae family.
Description
Heterotoma planicornis can reach a length of about in males, while females are quite longer, reaching .The species are black or dark red coloured with pale green legs. Adults have some short hairs and strange shaped antennae, with a large flattened second antennal segment. The nymphs are reddish in color and also have said strange antennae.
These species are look almost like its counterpart, Heterotoma merioptera and can be difficult to distinguish.
Ecology
The eggs are laid into young wood, hatch in May and the nymphs become adults by June. Adults occur from July to September. The eggs overwinter. This plant sucker shows one generation per year.The nymphs and adults are active predators of spiders, aphids and mites. They are polyphagous, feeding on various insects, but also on numerous plants and trees.
They prefer unripe fruits, buds, juices and nectar of various plants, mainly of Crataegus species, common alder, common hazel, oak, nettles and tansy Tanacetum vulgare.