About Drymus brunneus (Sahlberg, 1848)
Drymus brunneus (Sahlberg, 1848) is a species of dirt-colored seed bug belonging to the family Rhyparochromidae, found across the Palearctic region. In the West Palearctic, it is absent only from the far north of Northern and Eastern Europe. To the east, its range extends as far as the Caucasus and Siberia. In the Alps, this species can be found at elevations up to 1300 meters above sea level. Its typical habitats include shady deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as lowland forests. It occasionally occurs in more open habitats such as bogs and wet meadows, and is also found on banks alongside standing and flowing waters. Flooding of its habitat during winter does not appear to negatively affect this species. Drymus brunneus lives hidden in damp soil litter that contains fungus and moss. It feeds by sucking sap from seeds of a variety of herbaceous plants and trees, including birch (Betula) and alder (Alnus). At favorable temperatures, adult Drymus brunneus remain active even during winter. In Central Europe, there is usually one generation per year. The development cycle of this species is seasonal, but not uniform: egg-laying can take place at different times of year across different parts of its range, so overwintering can occur either as an adult imago or as an egg.
