Plant Bug – Metriorrhynchomiris dislocatus

Miridae, the largest family in Heteroptera are economically and globally important pests of alfalfa, apple, cocoa, cotton, sorghum, and tea, among many others. Some plant bugs are predators of other insect crop pests and have been used successfully in biological control. Certain omnivorous plant bugs have been considered both harmful pests and beneficial natural enemies of pests on the same crop, depending on environmental conditions or the perspective of an observer.

As high-yielding crop varieties that lack pest resistance are planted, mirids are likely to become even more important pests. They also threaten crops as insecticide resistance in the family increases, and as the spread of transgenic crops alters their populations. Predatory mirids are increasingly used as biocontrol agents, especially of greenhouse pests such as thrips and whiteflies. [3]

The Miridae are unique within the Heteroptera in their possession of specialized setae known as trichobothria on the middle and hind femora. Most species lack the pair of ocelli found situated between the compound eyes of the majority of heteropteran species; the exception to this rule is the subfamily Isometopinae, which is thought to be the sister group of all remaining Miridae (the most basal lineage). The hemelytra, or forewings, nearly always have a well-demarcated cuneus, a triangular structure that is found in some other groups such as the non-parasitic Cimicoidea (bed bugs and their relatives) and whose anterior margin if formed by the costal fracture.

Some diagnostic characteristics of plant bugs in the family Miridae:

Membranous portion of forewing has 1 or 2 closed cells

Thickened portion of front wings with a cuneus, a triangular shaped area adjacent to membranous area

Ocelli (simple eyes) – most species lack them

4-segmented antennae and rostrum (beak)

3-segmented tarsi [1]

Specialized setae known as trichobothria on the middle and hind femora [4]

Order Hemiptera: True Bugs number almost 5,000 species in North America, and 40,000 worldwide. They have mouthparts formed into a beak, adapted for sucking plant juices or the liquefied insides of their animal prey.
Suborder Auchenorrhyncha – Cicadas & Planthoppers
Suborder Sternorrhyncha – Aphids, scales, mealybugs, jumping plant lice.