Orius laevigatus

Orius laevigatus

Description

Length 2.2 to 2.5 mm. Front and rear angles of pronotum each with a long hair; mid-tibia pale brown; dorsal body surface not entirely black. 

Similar Species

Other Orius species. 

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Microscopic examination and/or dissection required. 

Habitat

Can be found on various plants where it searches for prey.

When to see it

Summer.

Life History

Adult predatory, eating thrips, aphids, whitefly and moth eggs. The nymphs mainly devour thrips larvae. Adults and nymphs can survive on pollen. 

UK Status

Common, widely used as a biological predator. 

VC55 Status

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records