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Stictopleurus abutilon
Family: Rhopalidae
Key to the Rhopalidae of Central Europe (German)

Both historically rare or accidental, two Stictopleurus species have recently become well-established in the UK.

The genus is characterised by the banded connexivum and the spatulate tip to the scutellum. The two species are very similar and best separated with reference to the fine detail of the pronotum. In S. abutilon, the dark marks behind the anterior margin take the form of two full circles (half circles in S. punctatonervosus). There is also a narrow impunctate band in front of these markings.  Note that these characters are not always easy to discern. 

 The distribution was initially centered around the Thames gateway area of Kent and Essex, but this species is now found throughout much of southern England in dry grassland habitats.

Adult: All year; new generation complete by August
Length 7-8 mm

 Stictopleurus abutilon
Detail of pronotum Adult: Kent (October 2009) ©Tristan Bantock
Stictopleurus abutilon pronotum Stictopleurus abutilon
Adult: Kent (October 2009) ©Tristan Bantock

 Adult: Kent (October 2009) ©Tristan Bantock
Stictopleurus abutilon pronotum Stictopleurus abutilon pronotum
Adult: Berks (October 2009) ©Jonathan Michaelson

 Adult: Essex (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock