Birch Catkin Bug

A small to medium-sized bug, usually associated with birch catkins but often found on other tree species. It is red-brown or orange-brown in colour, with transparent or translucent corium marked with several black dots in the centre and along the rear margin of the corium, adjacent to the wing membrane. The corium, clavus and pronotum are punctate. K. ericae is very similar but slightly smaller and found on heathland, associated with heather; it has not been confirmed as present in VC55. K privignus or K resedae f. privignus has an unbroken dark border to the corium, and is associated with alder. Good photographs, note habitat and associated tree species Adults overwinter, emerging and breeding in the early spring, when they fly and emit mating calls using a strigil found on one of the hind wing veins. Nymphs occur between March and September and there may be several generations a year. Common (ref: British Heteroptera checklist 2021 , on British Bugs website) https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Lygaeidae/kleidocerys_resedae.html