''Crompus opacus'' is a species of seed bug in the family

Lygaeidae The Lygaeidae are a family in the Hemiptera (true bugs), with more than 110 genera in four subfamilies. The family is commonly referred to as seed bugs, and less commonly, milkweed bugs, or ground bugs. However, while many of the species feed on ...

. It is a terrestrial insect found only in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. ''Crompus opacus'' is not currently listed under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 in the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

of Australia.

Description

''Crompus opacus'' is recognizable by the white

vein Veins are blood vessels in humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated b ...

s in the transparent surface of the

forewing Insect wings are adult outgrowths of the insect exoskeleton that enable insects to fly. They are found on the second and third thoracic segments (the mesothorax and metathorax), and the two pairs are often referred to as the forewings and hindwin ...

, and by the elongated head. While the first description of the species by Geoffery Scudder indicated that the first

antenna Antenna ( antennas or antennae) may refer to: Science and engineering * Antenna (radio), also known as an aerial, a transducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic (e.g., TV or radio) waves * Antennae Galaxies, the name of two collid ...

segment is always black, the color can be black, light yellow-brown, and sometimes pale white like the second segment of the antenna. The pronotum occasionally has dark markings, including often a dark stripe down the center and a dark band at the base of the wings.

Biology

This species breeds on various species of myrtles (

Myrtaceae Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All speci ...

), including ''

Taxandria linearifolia ''Taxandria linearifolia'', also known as the swamp peppermint or the coarse teatree, is a small tree or shrub species that grows along south west coastal areas of Western Australia. This plant was previously classified as ''Agonis linearifolia'' ...

'', '' Kunzea recurva'', and species of ''

Leptospermum ''Leptospermum'' is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae commonly known as tea trees, although this name is sometimes also used for some species of ''Melaleuca''. Most species are endemic to Australia, with the greate ...

''. ''Crompus opacus'' is particularly common on the

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s of bush species between 2.5 and 3.5 meters tall growing in damp or moist areas along roads.

References

Lygaeidae Insects described in 1958 Hemiptera of Australia {{Lygaeoidea-stub