The Miridae are a large and diverse family of true bugs, commonly known as plant bugs, leaf bugs, or grass bugs. They belong to the suborder Heteroptera and form the largest family of true bugs, with over 10,000 known species worldwide, and new ones are still being described.

Plant bugs are typically small and soft-bodied, ranging from 2 to 12 mm long, and come in a wide variety of colours and patterns, including green, brown, red, and black forms. Many have an elongated body and a distinctive triangular or heart-shaped marking on the back, caused by the folded wings.

Most species feed by piercing plant tissues with their slender beak-like mouthparts to suck sap from leaves, stems, or flower buds. Some are important agricultural pests, damaging crops and garden plants, while others are predatory, feeding on small insects such as aphids and mites, and are therefore considered beneficial to farmers and gardeners.

The nymphs (young bugs) look like smaller, wingless versions of the adults and develop through several stages before becoming fully winged. Adults are most often seen in summer, resting on flowers, leaves, or grasses.

In the UK, many species of Miridae are common, including the Common Green Capsid (Lygocoris pabulinus), often found on garden plants, and the Grass Bug (Leptopterna dolabrata), which inhabits meadows and grasslands.

Plant bugs are a vital part of grassland and hedgerow ecosystems, forming links between plants and predators, and adding to the rich diversity of true bugs in the natural world.