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Cymus melanocephalus
Family: Lygaeidae

 The four bugs in this genus are distinctively shaped and have a highly punctured body and forewings. However, they can be difficult to separate.

C. melanocephalus usually has a dark head and scutellum, and the scutellum lacks a pale central keel on a dark background. The puncturation of the forewing is randomly arranged throughout, rather than having a distinct unpunctured band near the corial-claval suture.

This species is quite common in southern England in damp areas, hostplants including trefoils, loosestrifes and rushes.

Compare Cymus glandicolor, Cymus claviculus
Adult: All year
Length 3-4 mm
 Cymus melanocephalus
Adult: Dorset (August 2008) ©Mark Dunkling
Cymus melanocephalus Cymus melanocephalus
Adult: Cambridgeshire (August 2007) ©Will George

 		Adult: north London (June 2008) ©Tristan Bantock
Cymus melanocephalus
Adult: north London (June 2008) ©Tristan Bantock