The terrestrial Heteroptera are a fascinating group of insects, with just shy of 500 species having been recorded in the UK, and new species being added each year. Amongst these are distinctive and easily located species such as the Shieldbugs, and some other truly beautiful species such as the red-and-black marked Corizus hyoscyami, the boldly striped Miris striatus and the delicately patterned Polymerus unifasciatus. Other species may require closer examination using a hand lens or microscope, and in some cases, dissection may be required. Noting the habitat that a bug was found in, and especially the specific plant it was found on, will often significantly improve the chance of identification.

For all terrestrial Heteroptera, the preferred route of receiving records is through the iRecord online recording system. Full instructions on how to use iRecord can be found on the iRecord website.

Alternatively records may be sent via email to the recorder at bugs@bnhs.org.uk, ideally in the form of a spreadsheet containing as a minimum the identity of the species, the date of the record, a named location with grid reference (ideally six figure), the name of the recorder, and who identified the species (if different from the recorder). Please also include reference to any supporting material for your identification such as photographs and/or voucher specimens. For one-off records, or occasional sightings, then just sending an email containing the above details is also perfectly acceptable.