Closterotomus trivialis Plant Bug Closterotomus trivialis

Closterotomus trivialis, is a variable mirid plant bug native to the Mediterranean but imported to the UK on plants and rapidly established in southern UK since 2010.

They are some 7-8mm long. Females are usually green and yellowish green. Males are usually blackish with red wing case tips (cuneus).

Both usually have two dark spots in the centre of the pronutum (leading to confusion with the Two-spotted Grass Bug Stenotus binotatus) but they also have a dark spot on each pronutum "corner" (which the Grass Bug does not). They are also visually similar to C. fulvomaculatus; the red-tipped males can be similar to Pantilius tunicatus and the green females to Adelphocoris lineolatus.

Adults appear in May-July in the UK.

They feed on St John's Wort and Raspberry Sage, among other shrubs, but in their native Mediterranean they are pests on Olives and Citrus.