Rhopalus subrufus
by Steven Falk
The commonest of our four Rhopalus species, which are medium-sized (up to 7.5 mm) brownish or reddish-brown, mottled bugs with wings that extend more or less to the tip of the abdomen and are partially transparent, allowing the black and cream-marked abdomen to show through. In R. subrufus, the margins of the abdomen alternate black and white, and the tip of the scutellum is whitish and bifid.
R. subrufus is widespread and often common over much of southern Britain. It is usually found in association with St John's-worts in rough grassland, brownfield land and woodland rides and clearings. it feeds on buds and seeds.
British Bugs account:
www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Rhopalidae/rhopalus_su...
NBN map:
data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NHMSYS0020309777
