Antennae

Heterotoma planicornis

When it comes to antennae, few insects match the proportions of Heterotoma planicornis, a little insect with appendages that are nearly as long as its body. The combination of a dark body, distinctively long, flattened antennae and lime green legs make it easy to identify. Like many other mirid bug species, this one is primarily a plant eater, feeding on the buds, fruits, nectar and juices of a variety of trees, shrubs and smaller plants, with a particular predilection for nettles. However, it also eats aphids, spiders, mites, and psyllids, and may be important in the control of aphids in orchards. There is one generation per year, with eggs laid in the autumn hatching the following spring. Nymphs develop through the following months, and adults are typically found between July and October. Abundant throughout most of Britain, these little insects are also widespread across much of Europe and have been accidentally introduced to North America and New Zealand.