Berytinus hirticornis

Description

Berytinus hirticornis is a bug ofthe stilt bug family (Berytidae). The bugs are 7.8 to 10.6 millimeters long, making them the largest representatives of their genus in Central Europe. Characteristic of representatives of the genus Berytinus, they have a short second antennal segment that is shorter than the club-shaped thickening at the end of the first antennal segment. They also have short femora on the hind legs that do not reach the top of the corium of the hemielytra. In Berytinus hirticornis the first antennal segment bears long erect hairs longer than the segment is thick. The club of the first antennal segment and also the thighs are pale in colour. The species is distributed from North Africa across the Mediterranean region to northern Central Europe and southern Great Britain and east across Southeast Europe and Asia Minor to Central Asia. The species is rare in Central Europe, only distributed locally and often only documented by historical evidence. There is no evidence in the north-west German lowlands, southern Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. In Germany, the species is most frequently documented from the central Rhine area and eastern Germany. In Britain the species was previously only recorded from Devon but it is now found in other parts of the country and is more common in places in the South West. Dry and warm areas with sand and limestone soils are settled.