Family: Pentatomidae

Adult Size:  Length: ca. 11.0 to14.0 mm.

Identifying features: A large brown shieldbug with orange legs, slightly hooked projections at the front of the pronotum and an orange or yellow tip to the triangular scutellum. The pale spot at the tip of the scutellum varies from orange to cream. The pronotum has raised and rounded lateral extensions. The antennae are approximately the same length as the body

Habitat: Mostly in oak woods, but also in orchards and gardens.

Months seen:

Adult: July to November but have occasionally been recorded in April and May suggesting that a secondary breeding cycle may occur. The adults are partly predatory, feeding on caterpillars and other insects as well as fruits.

Eggs are laid in August.

Larvae: August until July. The larvae feed on which feed mainly on oak, alder, hazel and other decidous trees including apple and cherry. The larvae overwinter.

Distribution: Widespread and common across Britain in wooded areas, orchards and gardens.

Similar species

Troilus luridus  has a yellow band on the last but one segment of the antennae. It also lacks the orange tip to the scutellum and the orange legs.

Picromerus bidens has thorn-like projections on the pronotum.

• Bantock (2018)
• Bantock & Botting (2018)
• Bradley (2017)
• Evans  & Edmondson (2005)
• Judd (2009 & 2010)
• Pendleton & Pendleton (1997—2018)
• Wikiwand (2018)
• Wikimedia Commons (2018)