Bug FAQMeadow Plant Bug
Leptopterna dolabrata · Order: Hemiptera · Family: Miridae
Also called: Plant Bug
Source: Wikipedia
The meadow plant bug is a black insect with long antennae that lives in grassy areas across Europe, the Mediterranean, and into Asia Minor, and it has also been introduced to North America. It feeds on developing grass seeds, causing the seed heads to shrivel, turn white, and reducing seed yield.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The bug is black and has long antennae.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is commonly found in grassy areas throughout most of Europe, the northern Mediterranean, and east to the Caspian Sea region. It has also become established in North America as an introduced species.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
It feeds on developing grass seeds, causing the seed heads to shrivel and turn white prematurely.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes grassy habitats across Europe, the northern Mediterranean, and eastward to the Caspian Sea region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 37 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I tell if I have a meadow plant bug infestation?
Look for black insects with long antennae on grass, especially if seed heads are shriveling and turning white.
Source: Wikipedia
What damage does this bug cause?
It damages grass seed crops by feeding on developing seeds, causing seed heads to shrivel and lose viability.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a problem in North America?
Yes, it is an introduced species in North America and can become a pest where grass is cultivated for seed.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Miridae)
North American Tarnished Plant BugLygus lineolarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Red-spotted Plant BugDeraeocoris ruber
Alfalfa Plant BugAdelphocoris lineolatusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Four-lined Plant BugPoecilocapsus lineatusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Lygus pratensisLygus pratensisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Three Spotted Nettle BugLiocoris tripustulatusSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptopterna_dolabrata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.