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Elasmucha grisea Parent Bug
Family: Acanthosomatidae

A medium-sized reddish shieldbug with a black and white connexivum. There is usually an obvious black patch on the scutellum. 

This species overwinters as an adult, emerging and mating in the spring. The smaller male dies soon after, but the female surives for some time, brooding the eggs and young larvae, which feed on birch and alder. New adults may be found from August onwards. Common and widespread across Britain and Ireland.

 Adult: All year
Length 7-9 mm

see illustrated life stages chart		 Elasmucha grisea Parent Bug
Adult: north London (May 2007) ©Tristan Bantock
Elasmucha grisea Parent Bug Elasmucha grisea Parent Bug
Adult male (L) and female (R): Suffolk (May 2006) ©Stuart Read

 Female brooding eggs: N London (June 2009) ©Laurence Counter
Elasmucha grisea Parent Bug Elasmucha grisea Parent Bug
Adult: west London (April 2008) ©Julian Oliver

 Adult: Yorks (May 2008) ©Joe Botting
Elasmucha grisea Parent Bug nymphs Elasmucha grisea Parent Bug nymphs
Adults and early instar nymphs: Surrey (August 2009) ©Ashley Wood

 Early instar nymphs: London (July 2007) ©Toby Barton
Elasmucha grisea Parent Bug nymphs Elasmucha grisea nymph
Final instar nymphs: Shrops (July 2006) ©Nigel Jones

 Final instar nymph: London (October 2008) ©Laurence Counter
Elasmucha grisea adult and nymphs Elasmucha grisea Parent Bug
Teneral adult & final instar nymphs: Surrey (Aug 2008) ©Ashley Wood Teneral adult: London (October 2008) ©Laurence Counter