Arocatus longiceps

Arocatus longiceps

Alternative names
Plane Tree Bug
Arocatus longiceps/roeselii
Description

A  distinctive black and red or orange ground bug with an orange abdomen. 

Similar Species

Arocatus roeselii on Alders

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

You must state the tree speces on which the bug was found.  If this is not known/unclear, submit as genus only

Habitat

Plane trees (Platanus sp.)

When to see it

All year round.

Life History

Feeds on the seeds of plane, producing several generations before overwintering communally under bark. Flies readily in warm conditions, when the orange abdomen is conspicuous.

UK Status

Found widely in the southern half of Britain.  A recent immigrant to the UK, first noted in 2007 and by the end of 2015 it had become abundant on Plane trees in parts of London. (ref:. British Bugs webpage for the combined species)

VC55 Status

Not known. In 2024 there were no verified records from Plane trees.  

Further Information

https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Lygaeidae/Arocatus_longiceps.html

The UK Species Inventory lists 2 separate species (A roeselii and A longiceps), although the British Bugs webpage states that it is more probable that these are the same species, but that the two names may still used to distinguish between alder-feeding and plane-feeding individuals.   We have therefore decided to maintain the two separate species, with an option to submit as genus only if the host-tree is not certain

 

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

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records

Photo of the association

London Plane

This distinctive ground bug feeds on the seeds of Plane Trees.