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Tritomegas sexmaculatus
Rambur's Pied Shieldbug
Family: Cydnidae

 This species was first found in Britain during 2011 at two sites in Kent, following range expansion on the continent. The bug has since spread rapidly across much of Kent, south Essex and the London area.
 
It is superficially very similar to T. bicolor and adults are best separated by:

- More extensively white margins of the pronotum
- A much darker (black) wing membrane

Final instar nymphs are much darker on the forebody than those of T. bicolor.

All British records have been of bugs associated with Black Horehound Ballota nigra, the most frequent foodplant on the continent.

 Adult: All year
Length 5.5-7.5 mm


 Tritomegas sexmaculatus
Adult: Kent (August 2011) ©Tristan Bantock
Tritomegas sexmaculatus Tritomegas species
Adult: Kent (August 2011) ©Jason Elmore

 Adult T. bicolor (top) and T. sexmaculatus (below)
Tritomegas sexmaculatus Tritomegas sexmaculatus
Late instar nymph: Kent (August  2011) ©Tristan Bantock

 Late instar nymph: Kent (August 2011) ©Jason Elmore