Species: Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus)
Family: Shield bug (ACANTHOSOMATIDAE)
Category: Insects (Other)
Location: Widespread
A. Insects (Other)
More extensive information on insects can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Shield bug (ACANTHOSOMATIDAE)
The Acanthosomatidae is a family of shieldbugs that consists of perhaps 200 species. Each species has its own preferred habitat, usually a specific tree or family of trees.
C. Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus)
These shieldbugs live in Birch trees, overwintering as adults, and mating in the spring. Adults are between 8 and 11 millimetres in length. When the larvae emerge, they feed on the Birch tree leaves. They are common and widespread in Britain.
Images
Birch Shieldbug
This Birch Shieldbug nymph was photographed on a Silver Birch tree. The lack of red markings on its pronotum (the section of the thorax immediately behind the head) distinguishes it from the similar Hawthorn Shieldbug (although the photograph of that insect's nymph shows a mid-instar nymph that lacks this red colouring).
(Photo credit: Stuart MA Ball.)
Birch Shieldbug
These shieldbugs live in Birch trees, overwintering as adults, and mating in the spring. Adults are between 8 and 11 millimetres in length. When the larvae emerge, they feed on the Birch tree leaves.
This photograph shows a final instar nymph.
(Photo credit: Stuart MA Ball.)
