Community identification
Tarnish plant bug or Scentless plant bug
Arhyssus lateralis
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Rhopalidae
- Size
- 5 to 8 mm (approximately 0.2 to 0.3 inches)
Natural Habitat
Commonly found in fields, meadows, and gardens on various host plants, especially weeds in the Asteraceae family.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; feeds on the juices of seeds, flowers, and foliage using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Behavior Patterns
Active during the day; they often seek shelter in homes during the fall as temperatures drop to overwinter in cracks and crevices.
Risks & Benefits
They do not bite humans or pets and are not known to transmit diseases. While they can be a minor nuisance indoors, they are generally harmless and do not cause significant structural or plant damage in small numbers.