Piezodorus lituratus

Varietas

Description

Piezodorus lituratus can reach a length of 10–13 millimetres (0.39–0.51 in). These large shieldbugs occur in two adult colour forms. In the spring when they emerge and mate they are predominantly green, while the new generation that appears in the late summer has purplish-red markings on the pronotum and Corium. In autumn they have much paler color, prior to the hibernation they may become darker, but after the hibernation they are bright green.

In the Piezodorus lituratus var. alliaceus the corium shows a uniform yellow-greenish color.

This species could be confused with the Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina), but Piezodorus lituratus has a different habitat and red antennae.

Biology

Mating takes place from May to July, the females lay 10 to 20 eggs on the stems, leaves and fruits of the host plants. The nymphs occur until September. The adult of the new summer generation can be found from the end of July or beginning of August. Hibernation takes place as imago.

Main host plants are various legumes (Fabaceae), especially common broom (Sarothamnus scoparius) and dyer’s greenweed (Genista tinctoria), but also alfalfa (Medicago sativa), vetches (Vicia species), sweet-clover (Melilotus species), crownvetches (Coronilla species) sainfoins (Onobrychis species), lupin (Lupinus species) and others.

Distribution

This species is present in Africa, in most of Europe, in Northern Asia (excluding China) and in North America.

Habitat

These shield bugs live in many habitats where host plants are present. They prefer dry and warm habitats, especially with sandy soil.