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Ceraleptus lividus Slender-horned Leatherbug
Family: Coreidae

A large and distinctive squashbug; the dark eyestripe and pale edges to the base of the corium are useful and consistent identification features.

Following adult emergence and mating in the spring, larvae can be found June-August feeding on various herbaceous legumes such as clovers, vetches and trefoils in dry open habitats such as grasslands, sand dunes and gravel pits.

A local species which is rarely common; largely confined to southern and central England as far north as Yorkshire, although rare in the west and absent from Wales.

Adult: All year
Length 9-11 mm

see illustrated life stages chart
Ceraleptus lividus
Adult: east London (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock

Ceraleptus lividus Ceraleptus lividus
Adult: east London (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock

Adult: Norfolk (June 2008) ©Elizabeth Grimes

Ceraleptus lividus Ceraleptus lividus
Adult: east London (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock

Adult: east London (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock

Ceraleptus lividus Ceraleptus lividus
Late instar nymph: east London (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock

Late instar nymph: Dorset (July 2010) ©Mark Dunkling