Hemiptera

Members of the Pentatomoidea superfamily get their common name from the shield-like shape of the adults. In many areas, particularly North America, they are also known as Stink bugs due to the repulsive-smelling, aldehyde-based, sticky substance which is secreted from paired glands found on the thorax between the first and second pairs of legs of some species when the insect is threatened. Most predators find the taste of stink bugs as unsavoury as its smell.

32 species of shieldbugs reside in the British Isles and contain representatives from 5 different families, the most numerous of which are the Pentatomidae.

Picromerus bidens (Pentatomidae) preparing for take-off - Anglesey, Wales - August 2008

Picromerus bidens is one of the few shieldbugs that is carnivorous. Most of the other members of the Pentatomidae are sap-feeders.

Sloe Bug (Pentatomidae: Dolycoris baccarum) General Toshevo, Bulgaria - June 2007

Sloe Bug (Pentatomidae: Dolycoris baccarum) Cheshire, England - July 2006

Sloe Bug (Pentatomidae: Dolycoris baccarum) - General Toshevo, Bulgaria - June 2007

Sloe Bug (Pentatomidae: Dolycoris baccarum) nymph - General Toshevo, Bulgaria - June 2007

Pentatomidae: Carpocoris fuscispinus Rhodopi Mountains, Bulgaria - June 2007

Pentatomidae: Graphosoma italicum General Toshevo, Bulgaria - June 2007

Graphosoma italicum advertises its noxious taste with its bold colour scheme.

Tambopata, Peru - December 2008

Forest Bug (Pentatomidae: Pentatoma rufipes) County Kerry, Republic of Ireland - July 2008

Manu, Peru - December 2008

Manu, Peru - December 2008

Nymph (probably a Pentatomidae sp.) - Manu, Peru - December 2008

Blue Bug (Pentatomidae: Zicrona caerulea) - Cheshire, England - August 2009

Birch Shieldbug (Acanthosomatidae: Elasmostethus interstinctus) - County Kerry, Republic of Ireland - July 2008

The Birch Shieldbug is a member of the Acanthosomatidae. They differ from the Pentatomidae in having only 2 tarsal segments on each leg compared to the 3 segments found on members of the Pentatomidae. There are 4 species of Acanthosomatidae that occur in the British Isles.