| Rhopalus subrufus (Gmelin, 1790) |
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Scientific name: Rhopalus subrufus (Gmelin, 1790) Common name: French name: Order: Heteroptera Family: Rhopalidae Wingspan : 7 to 8.5 mm. Biotope: Low growing vegetation in bushy places and in clearings. Geographic area: Europe, Asia and America south of the Polar Circle. Observation period : All year. The new generation appears in August. |
Rhopalus subrufus has a reddish brown body which is slightly widen at the rear end. The head is much wider than long. The yellowish brown antennae are 4 mm long and have thickened tips. Rhopalus subrufus can mainly be distinguished by the alternate whitish and black marks on the edge of the abdomen and by the whitish and bifid tip of the scutellum. It feeds on plant sap, especially on St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) and Wild Basil (Clinopodium vulgare). Rhopalus subrufus overwinters as an adult. |
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I have observed this small bug among my strawberry plants. There is no doubt about this species because of the bifid and white tip of the scutellum. |
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I have observed many Rhopalus subrufus on the sides of a forest path during this month of April. |
André Bon August 2012