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Trapezonotus arenarius
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.
 
This species was previously considered conspecific with T. desertus and T. dispar, and the three species are very difficult to separate, requiring examination of the male parameres. In T. arenarius the blade of the paramere is only slightly curved towards the tip (see right).

This is generally the smallest species and the mid and hind tibiae are usually black. Although both macropterous and brachypterous forms occur, the wing membranes are often well-developed in brachypters and the wings show a large degree of overlap.

Widespread but mainly coastal throughout much of the UK, associated with sand dunes and the east anglian brecks.

Adult: All year
Length males: 3.6-4.1 mm, females: 4.1-4.7 mm


 Trapezonotus arenarius
Trapezonotus arenarius
Adult & male parameres: north Wales (August 2008) ©Tristan Bantock
Trapezonotus arenarius Trapezonotus arenarius
Adult: north Wales (April 2009) ©Tristan Bantock

 Adult: north Wales (August 2008) ©Tristan Bantock
Trapezonotus arenarius Trapezonotus arenarius
Adult: north Wales (August 2008) ©Tristan Bantock

 		Nymph: north Wales (August 2008) ©Tristan Bantock