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Coptosoma scutellatum Trapezium Shieldbug
Family: Plataspidae

The only member of the Plataspidae in Britain, this species is a small metallic black or bronzy shieldbug which is very convex in shape. The scutellum is very large and covers the entire abdomen, completely concealing the wings (compare Thyreocoris scarabaeoides).

Adults and nymphs feed on a wide range of plants in the Fabaceae, including both herbaceous and woody legumes.

Widespread on the continent but a very recent arrival in Britain, so far found at just a single site in Sussex during 2019, where adults were associated with Dyer's Greenweed Genista tinctoria.


Adult: All year
Length 3.5-4.5 mm


Coptosoma scutellatum
Adult male: Sussex (July 2019) ©Graema Lyons

Coptosoma scutellatum Coptosoma scutellatum
Adult: France (July 2019) ©Maria Justamond
Adult male: Sussex (July 2019) ©Graema Lyons

Coptosoma scutellatum Coptosoma scutellatum
Adult male: France (July 2019) ©Maria Justamond
Adult female: Sussex (July 2019) ©Graema Lyons