Brachycoleus decolor

Description

Brachycoleus decolor is a species of plant-feeding insects of the family Miridae. Brachycoleus decolor can reach a length of about 6.5–9 millimetres (0.26–0.35 in). These relatively large true bugs have a short and wide head. Body is covered with yellowish fine hairs. Legs are yellowish-orange. Pronotum and hemelytra show distinct longitudinal black markings on a pale yellow or green background. This species is present in Russia, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Macedonia, Poland, Siberia and Central Asia, Turkestan and Turkey. Brachycoleus decolor lives in high-mountain deciduous forests, rocky grounds and pastures, at an elevation up to 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) above sea level. These true bugs maily feed on Apiaceae, especially on parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), field eryngo (Eryngium campestre) and Peucedanum species. This species can be found, however, on spurge (Euphorbia spec.) and knapweeds (Centaurea spec.). Adults can be seen in June and July. Brachycoleus is a genus of plant-feeding insects of the family Miridae. Species within this genus are quite large and broad. Males usually are slender than the females. Head is wide and short. Bodies are covered with erect and semierect yellowish fine hairs. Basic color may be mainly red, orange and yellow, with black markings.