A mirid bug nymph in my vegetable delivery

I've always hoped that I might find something interesting in fruit or vegetables bought from a greengrocers or supermarket - maybe a tropical spider or a scorpion. No luck yet, but this little mirid bug nymph Calocorus alpestris turned up in a cauliflower that we had delivered from a supermarket during Lockdown.

This is a sap-sucking plant bug - you can see its syringe-like mouthparts in the photo above. Its presence is rather reassuring, an indication that the cauliflower isn't loaded with pesticides. If it's safe for Calocoris to feed on, it's surely safe for a human to eat.

This is a nymph, with stubby, partially developed wings, and it will need to go through a final moult before it can become airborne.

On the British Bugs web site it's described as a local species, often found in damp woodlands, with a mainly upland and northern distribution in Britain, feeding on nettles.

I must thank @BritishBugs , @WildJennySteel and @Tracker_Bob on Twitter for identifying this for me.