Gorse Shieldbug

Piezodorus lituratus

Description

Body length 10 - 13mm. Green, with blue-edged wing-cases in spring or with reddish markings on the wing-cases and pronotum in summer. The connexivum, the lip that goes all the way around the outer-edge of the abdomen, is bright yellow. The spring generation are sexually mature, the ones with red markings are the new generation that will overwinter as adults.

Habitat

Scrub and rough land where the food plants, gorse or broom grow.

Status and distribution

Common and widespread throughout Britain. Common in Nottinghamshire and at Netherfield Lagoons.

Best time to see

All year.