Drymus brunneus
(Sahlberg, 1848)
brown groundbug
Drymus brunneus is a dirt-colored seed bug in the Rhyparochromidae. It inhabits damp, shaded forest environments across the Palearctic region, where it lives concealed in soil litter and feeds on seeds of herbaceous plants and trees. The shows flexible timing, with occurring as either or depending on geographic location.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Drymus brunneus: //ˈdrɪməs ˈbruːniəs//
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Identification
A dirt-colored seed bug in the Rhyparochromidae, distinguishable from similar Drymus by geographic distribution and preferences. Specific diagnostic characters not provided in available sources.
Images
Habitat
Shady deciduous and coniferous forests, lowland forests, and occasionally more open such as bogs and wet meadows. Found on banks by standing and flowing waters. Lives hidden in damp soil litter with fungus and moss. In the Alps, occurs up to 1300 meters above sea level. Tolerates winter flooding of habitat.
Distribution
Palearctic region. In the West Palearctic, absent only from the far north of Northern and Eastern Europe. Eastern range extends to the Caucasus and Siberia. Recorded in Albania, Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lapland, Livonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Caucasus, Siberia, and Turkey.
Seasonality
are active at favorable temperatures even in winter. One per year occurs in Central Europe. Hatching and -laying timing varies across the range due to non-uniform seasonal development.
Diet
Seeds of various herbaceous plants and trees, including Birch (Betula) and Alder (Alnus).
Host Associations
- Betula - seed sucks at seeds
- Alnus - seed sucks at seeds
Life Cycle
Development cycle is seasonal but not uniformly timed across the range. can occur as () or as depending on geographic location. One per year in Central Europe.
Behavior
Lives concealed in damp soil litter with fungus and moss. remain active at favorable temperatures even during winter. Tolerates flooding of in winter.
Ecological Role
Seed in forest floor .
Similar Taxa
- Other Drymus speciesSimilar dirt-colored seed bug ; differentiation requires examination of specific diagnostic characters not detailed in available sources.
More Details
Taxonomic note
The was described by Sahlberg in 1848. GBIF and NCBI list it as accepted, while Catalogue of Life indicates it as a synonym; this discrepancy likely reflects ongoing taxonomic revision.
Habitat tolerance
Unusually tolerant of winter flooding in its , suggesting to riparian and wetland forest edge environments.