| Tropidothorax leucopterus (Goeze, 1778) |
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Scientific name: Tropidothorax leucopterus (Goeze, 1778) Common name: French name: Punaise de l'Asclépiade Order: Heteroptera Family: Lygaeidae Wingspan : 9 to 11 mm. Biotope: Dry and hot places, dry meadows, sunny woodland edges. Geographic area: Southern and central Europe. Observation period : August to June. |
Tropidothorax leucopterus is one of the red and black Lygaeidae without white spot on the middle of the membranous wing. You can tell it apart with the two large black spots on the pronotum, clearly enlarged at the back and not reaching the head at the front. The head, antennae and legs are completely black. There is a black spot on each corium and one small white spot at the inner angle of the membranous wings. Tropidothorax leucopterus mainly feed on White Swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum hirundinaria) and on some other plants. The red and black colours warn the predators about the toxicity of these bugs. You can sometimes observe them gathered in large groups on the host plants or under tree bark in late summer. |
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I have only observed a few isolated specimens basking under sunlight during these first warm days. I will see if I can find large groups in late summer. |
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Another specimen, observed very close to the place where the above one was seen, but landed on vegetation this time. |
André Bon March 2021
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