Hawthorn Shieldbug

Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale

A distinctive species with lateral extensions of the pronotum that are marked with red, the scutellum is green and the abdomen is often red-tipped. Adults overwinter and emerge during spring to mate. The larvae mainly feed on hawthorn berries, but are sometimes found on other trees. The new generation is normally completed during autumn and the adults can turn darker prior to hibernation. Length 13-15mm.

Hawthorn Shieldbug

Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale

A distinctive species with lateral extensions of the pronotum that are marked with red, the scutellum is green and the abdomen is often red-tipped. Adults overwinter and emerge during spring to mate. The larvae mainly feed on hawthorn berries, but are sometimes found on other trees. The new generation is normally completed during autumn and the adults can turn darker prior to hibernation. Length 13-15mm.

Birch Shieldbug

Elasmostethus interstinctus

This species is found in birch woodland. It is smaller than the Hawthorn Shieldbug and the lateral extensions of the pronotum are not marked with red. Adults overwinter and emerge in spring to mate. Birch is the main larval foodplant, but sometimes hazel and aspen are used as food sources instead. The new generation is complete by August. Length 8-11.5mm.

Birch Shieldbug

Elasmostethus interstinctus

This species is found in birch woodland. It is smaller than the Hawthorn Shieldbug and the lateral extensions of the pronotum are not marked with red. Adults overwinter and emerge in spring to mate. Birch is the main larval foodplant, but sometimes hazel and aspen are used as food sources instead. The new generation is complete by August. Length 8-11.5mm.

Parent Bug

Elasmucha grisea

This species has a black and white connexivum and there is usually a black patch on the scutellum. Adults overwinter and emerge in spring to mate. Soon after mating the male dies leaving the larger female to tend the eggs and young larvae. Birch and alder are larval foodplants. New adults appear from August onwards. Length 7-9 mm

Parent Bug

(Final instar nymphs)

Elasmucha grisea

Grouped on the underside of an alder leaf.

Tortoise Bug

Eurygaster testudinaria

Markings and ground colour vary on this species. There is a noticeable central depression at the front of the head. There are two types of Tortoise Bug of which this is generally the larger. Between May and August the nymphs feed on various grasses and become adults from July, Length 9-11mm.

Tortoise Bug

Eurygaster testudinaria

Markings and ground colour vary on this species. There is a noticeable central depression at the front of the head. There are two types of Tortoise Bug of which this is generally the larger. Between May and August the nymphs feed on various grasses and become adults from July, Length 9-11mm.

Pied Shieldbug

Tritomegas bicolor

A ground-dwelling species that feeds on White dead-nettle and Black horehound. The females cares for her eggs. Length 5.5-7.5mm.

Bishop's Mitre

Aelia acuminata

Bishop's Mitre shieldbug has a pointed head, striped body and ridged pronotum. It can be found throughout the year in tall dry grassland. Mating and egg-laying occurs during spring and summer. The larvae feed on the ripening grass seed. New adults appear in autumn. Length 8-9mm.

Bishop's Mitre

Aelia acuminata

Bishop's Mitre shieldbug has a pointed head, striped body and ridged pronotum. It can be found throughout the year in tall dry grassland. Mating and egg-laying occurs during spring and summer. The larvae feed on the ripening grass seed. New adults appear in autumn. Length 8-9mm.

Hairy Shieldbug

Dolycoris baccarum

The Hairy Shieldbug is covered in long hairs. It is found throughout the year along woodland rides and on hedgerows. This species overwinters as an adult and emerges during spring to mate. Larval foodplants include Blackthorn and other members of the Roasaceae family. Also known as the Sloe Bug.

Hairy Shieldbug

Dolycoris baccarum

The Hairy Shieldbug is covered in long hairs. It is found throughout the year along woodland rides and on hedgerows. This species overwinters as an adult and emerges during spring to mate. Larval foodplants include Blackthorn and other members of the Roasaceae family. Also known as the Sloe Bug.

Hairy Shieldbug

Dolycoris baccarum

The Hairy Shieldbug is covered in long hairs. It is found throughout the year along woodland rides and on hedgerows. This species overwinters as an adult and emerges during spring to mate. Larval foodplants include Blackthorn and other members of the Roasaceae family. Also known as the Sloe Bug.

Hairy Shieldbug 

(Mid instar nymph)

Dolycoris baccarum

The Hairy Shieldbug is covered in long hairs. It is found throughout the year along woodland rides and on hedgerows. This species overwinters as an adult and emerges during spring to mate. Larval foodplants include Blackthorn and other members of the Roasaceae family. Also known as the Sloe Bug.

Brassica Bug

Eurydema oleracea

Markings on Brassica Bugs (aka Cabbage Bugs) vary in colour and may be red, yellow, white or orange. This species overwinters as adults and emerges in spring to mate. Larvae generally appear from May to July and can be found on Garlic Mustard and other plants in the Cabbage family. Length: 6-7mm.

Common Green Shieldbug

Palomena prasina

During spring and summer adults are bright green, finely punctured with dark spots. The antennae has reddish segments and there is a dark wing membrane. As winter approaches this species turns darker. The nymphs are seen from June until October on a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs on which they feed. Nymphs that appear early in the year are normally lighter than those seen later. Adult length 12-13.5mm.

Common Green Shieldbug

Palomena prasina

During spring and summer adults are bright green, finely punctured with dark spots. The antennae has reddish segments and there is a dark wing membrane. As winter approaches this species turns darker. The nymphs are seen from June until October on a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs on which they feed. Nymphs that appear early in the year are normally lighter than those seen later. Adult length 12-13.5mm.

Common Green Shieldbug

(Final instar nymph)

Palomena prasina

During spring and summer adults are bright green, finely punctured with dark spots. The antennae has reddish segments and there is a dark wing membrane. As winter approaches this species turns darker. The nymphs are seen from June until October on a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs on which they feed. Nymphs that appear early in the year are normally lighter than those seen later. Adult length 12-13.5mm.

Common Green Shieldbug

(Final and fourth instar nymphs)

Palomena prasina

During spring and summer adults are bright green, finely punctured with dark spots. The antennae has reddish segments and there is a dark wing membrane. As winter approaches this species turns darker. The nymphs are seen from June until October on a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs on which they feed. Nymphs that appear early in the year are normally lighter than those seen later. Adult length 12-13.5mm.

Common Green Shieldbug

(Eggs)

Palomena prasina

During spring and summer adults are bright green, finely punctured with dark spots. The antennae has reddish segments and there is a dark wing membrane. As winter approaches this species turns darker. The nymphs are seen from June until October on a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs on which they feed. Nymphs that appear early in the year are normally lighter than those seen later. Adult length 12-13.5mm.

Forest Shieldbug

Pentatoma rufipes

This species has orange legs and slightly hooked projections at the front of the pronotum. The spot at the tip of the scutellum ranges from orange to cream. Adults are omnivorous, feeding on fruits and insects. New adults are generally seen from July until November, with eggs being laid in August. This species overwinters as young nymphs. The nymphs feed mainly on Oak. Also known as the Red-legged Shieldbug. Adult length 11-14 mm.

Forest Shieldbug

Pentatoma rufipes

This species has orange legs and slightly hooked projections at the front of the pronotum. The spot at the tip of the scutellum ranges from orange to cream. Adults are omnivorous, feeding on fruits and insects. New adults are generally seen from July until November, with eggs being laid in August. This species overwinters as young nymphs. The nymphs feed mainly on Oak. Also known as the Red-legged Shieldbug. Adult length 11-14 mm.

Forest Shieldbug

(Final instar nymph)

Pentatoma rufipes

This species has orange legs and slightly hooked projections at the front of the pronotum. The spot at the tip of the scutellum ranges from orange to cream. Adults are omnivorous, feeding on fruits and insects. New adults are generally seen from July until November, with eggs being laid in August. This species overwinters as young nymphs. The nymphs feed mainly on Oak. Also known as the Red-legged Shieldbug. Adult length 11-14 mm.

Gorse Shieldbug

Piezodorus lituratus

Adults emerging and mating in the spring are mainly green, while the new generation appearing late summer are purplish-red markings. They usually become darker before hibernation. Mainly found where European gorse is present. Length 10-13mm.

Gorse Shieldbug

Piezodorus lituratus

Adults emerging and mating in the spring are mainly green, while the new generation appearing late summer are purplish-red markings. They usually become darker before hibernation. Mainly found where European gorse is present. Length 10-13mm.

Bronze Shieldbug

(Mid instar nymph)

Troilus luridus

The nymphs of this woodland species are omivorous feeding on plants and insects, especially caterpillars.

Bronze Shieldbug

(Eggs)

Troilus luridus

The nymphs of this woodland species are omivorous feeding on plants and insects, especially caterpillars.

Turtle Bug

Podops inuncta

A mainly ground-dwelling shieldbug that has a long tongue-like scutellum which reaches the rear of the abdomen and two small projections on the pronotum at each side of the head. Adults mate and lay eggs in spring and early summer. The larvae feed on various grasses. Length 5-6mm.

Dock Bug

Coreus marginatus

Large, mottled, reddish-brown Squashbug with a broad, oval abdomen. Two small projections between the antennae are diagnostic. Adults mate and lay eggs during spring. Often found in large groups on bramble along woodland paths. The nymphs feed on dock and other associated plants.

Dock Bug

(Final instar nymph)

Coreus marginatus

Large, mottled, reddish-brown Squashbug with a broad, oval abdomen. Two small projections between the antennae are diagnostic. Adults mate and lay eggs during spring. Often found in large groups on bramble along woodland paths. The nymphs feed on dock and other associated plants.

Box Bug

Gonocerus acuteangulatus

Once only known in Britain at Box Hill in Surrey where it fed on Box trees. Its range increased when it shifted to other foodplants such as Buckthorn and Hawthorn. They hide under bark and in cracks during winter. Adult length 11-14mm.

Box Bug

(Hibernation)

Gonocerus acuteangulatus

Once only known in Britain at Box Hill in Surrey where it fed on Box trees. Its range increased when it shifted to other foodplants such as Buckthorn and Hawthorn. They hide under bark and in cracks during winter. Adult length 11-14mm.

Box Bug

(Early instar nymph)

Gonocerus acuteangulatus

Newly emerged on a Buckthorn leaf.