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Aelia acuminata Bishop's Mitre Bug
Family: Pentatomidae

 A large and distinctive striped shieldbug with an obviously pointed head and ridged pronotum. 

There is one generation per year, adults mating and laying eggs in spring and early summer. The larvae feed on the ripening seeds of a range of grasses in the Poaceae; new adults may be found from August onwards. Nymphs may be confused with the smaller Neottiglossa pusilla.

Widespread across southern Britain in tall and rank dry grassland habitats, including sand dunes.

Adult: All year
Length 8-9 mm


see illustrated life stages chart		 Aelia acuminata

Adult: north London (May 2008) ©Tristan Bantock
Aelia acuminata Aelia acuminata
Adult: north London (May 2008) ©Tristan Bantock
 Adult: south London (October 2006) ©Toby Barton
Aelia acuminata nymph Aelia acuminata nymph
Nymph: Essex (July 2009) ©Laurence Livermore

 Nymph: north London (August 2008) ©Tristan Bantock