COMMON NAME

Brown smudge bug

Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Alias

Hemiptera

Heteroptera

Miridae

Deraeocoris signatus

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Description

The adults are mottled brown with a ‘w’ marking where their wings overlap. The nymphs are 1-2mm long, dark orange-red colour, and are a bit like large aphids .Aphids have cornicles, tube-like structures protruding from the rear of their abdomens whereas mirid nymphs do not. Some of these mirid bugs look like each and are easily mistaken. My gallery image could also be the broken back bug or a brown mirid as they are all very similar in size and colour.

Adult size: 4.5 mm

Out and about

Active in throughout summer. This bug is native to Australia it is present in New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Reproduction and Life cycle

Eggs are laid singly, usually into leaf tissue with just the tip of the egg protruding slightly, The cycle from egg to adult can be as quick as 3 weeks in ideal, warm conditions although numbers appear to reduce if it remains hot for a few days or if there is heavy rain or storms. Unhatched eggs and adults can over winter in sheltered spots.