Species: Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)
Family: Stink Bugs (PENTATOMIDAE)
Category: Insects (Other)
Location: Widespread
A. Insects (Other)
More extensive information on insects can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Stink Bugs (PENTATOMIDAE)
Most members of this family are plant feeders, and the cemetery is therefore very good habitat for them. The family name comes from the appearance of a five-sided body.
C. Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)
These shield bugs are common and widespread, adults bugs being adapted to eating the haws of Hawthorn trees. They are small bugs, approaching 1.5 centimetres in length. They overwinter as adults and mate in the spring. As with all bugs, they develop in stages, starting as nymphs, developing through a series of 'instar' stages, each time growing in size until they appear in their final adult form.
Immature hawthorn shieldbugs don't show the pointed shoulders and triangular-patterned red-brown wings that are notable features of adult Hawthorn Shieldbugs.
Images
Hawthorn Shieldbug
This adult Hawthorn Shieldbug was found overwintering in February 2024.
Hawthorn Shieldbug
This photograph shows a mid-instar nymph of the Hawthorn Shieldbug. Adults are larger, longer and darker, with fully-developed wings.
