Macrosaldula scotica

Description

Macrosaldula scotica is a species of true bugs. The species is widespread in boreomontane Europe It occurs in Northern Europe well north of the Arctic Circle and in the British Isles in the North. In the South, they are common especially in the Alps, the Apennines mountains, the Massif Central and the Pyrenees. It is found also in the Caucasus mountains and the Atlas mountains of Morocco . In Central Europe it is found in the central uplands and the Alps from 900 to 1800 meters above sea level. The habitat is vegetation-free banks of coarse gravel and boulders and intervening sand surfaces on slow and fast flowing rivers. Like other Saldidae Macrosaldula scotica is a very active predator of smaller insects and other arthropods, very agile on the ground and making jumping flights. The females lay their eggs in the ground, sunken dead plant material or other substrates.Overwintering occurs in the egg stage or as adults.The wintering of imagines is mainly in drier habitats, often near the usual shore habitats