Diet

• Adults and nymphs: Primarily feed on grasses (family Poaceae), using their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract plant juices from leaves and stems.

• They are generally associated with grassy vegetation, pastures, meadows and other open habitats.

• Documented host plants include grasses such as Digitaria, Panicum and Setaria.

• Feeding can produce small areas of discolouration or damage to grass leaves, although the importance varies among species.

Range

• Collaria is a genus of plant bugs (Miridae) in the subfamily Mirinae, tribe Stenodemini.

• The genus has a primarily New World and Neotropical distribution, with species occurring from Canada and the United States through Mexico, Central America and South America. Some species are also found in Africa.

• They are occasionally sighted in Zihua, particularly in areas with abundant grasses.

Habitat

• Most commonly associated with grasslands, meadows, pastures, roadside vegetation, fields and other open grassy habitats.

• Around Zihua, look through tall grasses and grassy margins, particularly in open areas adjacent to forest or scrub.

• Adults often sit lengthwise along grass blades, where their elongated bodies provide effective camouflage.

• They can also be found in disturbed areas and agricultural landscapes where suitable grasses are present.

Size

• Adult length: generally around 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in).

• Body elongated and relatively slender, typical of grass-feeding Stenodemini.

• Colouration varies by species but is commonly brown, greyish, reddish-brown or greenish, often with longitudinal markings.

• The long legs and elongated body are adaptations well suited to moving among narrow grass leaves.