Mirid

[Paul Iddon]

Mirid bugs are common wherever there is an abundant food source. Some mirid species prey exclusively on soft-bodied invertebrates, while others also feed on plant sap if they have depleted prey numbers, causing distorted leaf growth and leaving puncture marks in fruits. (Source)

These were on a bedding plant close to the apple tree - the tree is where I usually find the miridae, so not really sure why this one was down there...

I can't say whether this one is carnivorous or not, but it seemed interested in an aphid.

Paul.

 

[Maggie Terlecki]

Such incredible color and detail, Paul. Great Work! Maggie

 

[Paul Iddon]

Such incredible color and detail, Paul. Great Work! Maggie

Thank you Maggie

Paul.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Paul,

Is it simply draining the juices out of the aphid or ripping it apart?

Do they inject enzymes first?

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

Paul,

I had never hear of your “Mirid” insects, so I thought you had used decmired filters to correct for a color imbalance in your lights, LOL!

Asher

 

[Paul Iddon]

Paul,

I had never hear of your “Mirid” insects, so I thought you had used decmired filters to correct for a color imbalance in your lights, LOL!

Asher

The colour of the insect was wholly because of the petals. These Mirid bugs are a pretty inglorious brown normally...

Paul.

 

[Paul Iddon]

Paul,

Is it simply draining the juices out of the aphid or ripping it apart?

Do they inject enzymes first?

Asher

I have not been able to discover how they predate - so it could be biting or injecting...

Paul.

 

[Asher Kelman]

I have been reading as I always do when I get taught sonething new and fascinating by pictures here!

Interesting that there are 10,000 known species of Mirid insects and many more to be catalogued.

Paul, do your seem to fly or they are strictly terrestrial. They have wings, for sure but no oculi which flying insects seem to always have!

Asher

 

[Paul Iddon]

I saw more this morning Asher. Yes, they fly - the first one I saw today went from the rose flower to the fuchsia shrub.

Here is a crop of the working end to show that amazing proboscis...

Paul.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Amazingly advanced evolution for efficiency and they are so successful!

Asher

 

[Paul Iddon]

That's mother nature for you!

Paul.

 

[Asher Kelman]

That's mother nature for you!

Paul.

What’s stunning is the extent of my ignorance as someone who’s supposed to be very well-educated and knowledgeable. How can we run a planet when we are so damn ignorant!

Asher

 

[Paul Iddon]

There is way too much for a mere mortal on his own to know. The combined minds of a thousand would likely not even have enough knowledge to know it all.

I'm happy in my ignorance and the discovery that follows...

Paul.