Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Plagiognathus moerens

Plant Bug (Family:Miridae?) - Plagiognathus moerens Mirid on Cream-cup poppy - Plagiognathus moerens Mirid nymph - Plagiognathus moerens Plant Bug - Plagiognathus moerens Miridae? - Plagiognathus moerens Miridae? - Plagiognathus moerens Plagiognathus moerens? - Plagiognathus moerens Plagiognathus moerens? - Plagiognathus moerens
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Infraorder Cimicomorpha
Superfamily Miroidea
Family Miridae (Plant Bugs)
Subfamily Phylinae
Tribe Phylini
Subtribe Oncotylina
Genus Plagiognathus
Species moerens (Plagiognathus moerens)
Explanation of Names
Plagiognathus moerens Reuter 1909
Size
3.8-5.0 mm(1)
Identification
Recognized by the medium to large size, linear pattern of coloration with exocorium and clavus mostly opaque, pale, olive-colored, contrasting with dark endocorium, pronotum varying from entirely black to totally pale, antennae entirely black, dorsal vestiture of recumbent, black, bristlelike setae, and surface of dorsum weakly polished. Linear pattern of coloration similar to lineatus and shoshonea; easily distinguished from those species by the black, bristlelike setae on the dorsum and by the distinctive structure of the male genitalia, the vesica lacking a flange and with very long, evenly attenuated apical spines.(1)
Range
WA―CA―AZ―ID(1)
Food
Hosts: Amsinckia spp. (Boraginaceae), Phacelia spp. (Hydrophyllaceae), &c annuals(1)