In July 2012, an Assassin Bug nymph
was found in an area of heathland at the Sherwood Forest
CP. It's identity was unknown and at the time was
presumed to be the Heath
Assassin Bug Coranus subapterus. In late July 2017, we swept an adult (upper
four photographs) from an area of Budby South Forest and
when photographing it, presumed it was a female C.
subapterus.
After reviewing the photographs and seeing that the
underside was completely dark/almost black, we realised that the
original identification was probably incorrect and the search for a
male specimen continued until September 2021, when a male was eventually
found on Budby South Forest, within yards of the 2017 female finding.
The specimen was sent to Keith Alexander and then to Stuart Foster, who
eventually confirmed that it was Coranus aethiops. |
