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Trapezonotus desertus Family: Lygaeidae Trapezonotus species are medium sized ground bugs which are rather oval in shape. The sides of the pronotum are regularly rounded and thinned at the edges to produce narrow keels.   T. desertus was previously considered conspecific with T. arenarius and T. dispar, and the three species are very difficult to separate, ideally requiring examination of the male parameres. In T. desertus the blade of the paramere is quite strongly curved towards the tip (see right). The mid tibiae are frequently partly pale in T. desertus, particulary in males. Although both macropterous and brachypterous forms occur, the wing membranes in brachypters often show little overlap. The commonest member of the genus, widespread across the UK, particularly on heathland and chalk grassland. Adult: All year Length males: 4.0-4.7 mm, females: 4.2-5.1 mm
	Adult male (with parameres): Surrey (October 2009) ©Tristan Bantock
Adult: Surrey (July 2009) ©Tristan Bantock	Adult: Hants (September 2009) ©Tristan Bantock
Adult: Hants (September 2009) ©Tristan Bantock	Adult: Hants (September 2009) ©Tristan Bantock