Macrolophus Fieber, 1858

Macrolophus Fieber, 1858: 326 . Type species by monotypy: Capsus nubilus Herrich-Schaeffer, 1835 (= Phytocoris pygmaeus Rambur, 1839).

Macrolophus is a zoophytophagous genus of almost worldwide distribution currently containing 27 species (Schuh, 2002 -2013). Many species of the genus are known as predators of thrips, whiteflies, aphids or mites, and several species, viz. M. pygmaeus, M. melanotoma, and M. costalis are used in biological control (Wheeler 2001; Castañé et al. 2013; Evangelou et al. 2013). When prey is not available, they feed on plant leaves, pollen or nectar (Perdikis and Lykouressis 2000).

Determination to species level requires a large series of specimens and is extremely difficult for most species due to the high variability in morphometric measures and, to a lesser extent, coloration. Identification of teneral, freshly molted specimens as well as specimens stored in alcohol is practically impossible. The shape of parameres and the structure of aedeagus are also very similar between most Macrolophus species (Fig. 9) and could not be used for reliable identification. The fauna of European Russia and Caucasus includes five species of Macrolophus keyed below.