Juniper shield bug

Juniper shield bug
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Family: Acanthosomatidae
Genus: Cyphostethus
Species:
C. tristriatus
Binomial name
Cyphostethus tristriatus
(Fieber, 1860)

The juniper shield bug (Cyphostethus tristriatus), (family: Acanthosomatidae), is a large (9–10.5 mm) green shield bug with distinctive pinkish-red markings on the corium.[1]

The bug's traditional foodplant is juniper, with the larvae feeding on juniper berries.[1] It has also adapted to use Lawson cypress[1](Chamaecyparis spp.[2]) as a host. In the United Kingdom it was formerly scarce[2] and restricted largely to southern juniper woodlands but in recent years it has become common across southern and central England as a result of the widespread garden planting of juniper and cypress.[1] Recent discoveries on stands of juniper in northern England and Scotland suggest that the range of the species may be extending.[1]

The juniper shield bug is active for most of the year apart from the coldest months.[1] It overwinters as an adult, emerging to mate in the early spring.[1] New adults may be found from late August onwards.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "(Acanthosomatidae) Cyphostethus tristriatus Juniper Shield Bug". Britishbugs.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-19.
  2. ^ a b "Full text of "British journal of entomology and natural history"". Retrieved 2012-08-19.

Further reading

Wikispecies has information related to Acanthosomatidae.