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Rhacognathus punctatus Heather Bug
Family: Pentatomidae

 A dark shieldbug which is mottled metallic bronze-brown over a pale orange/reddish background. The legs are banded pale to orange/red and there is usually a pale midline on the pronotum. A predatory species, feeding mainly on larvae of the Heather Beetle Lochmaea suturalis. The new generation is complete by August.

Confined to heathland and scarce where it occurs, this bug usually prefers damper areas containing Sphagnum moss and mixed vegetation at the margins. It is distributed throughout the UK, although very rare in Ireland.

 Adult: All year
Length 7.0-9.0 mm

see illustrated life stages chart
 Rhacognathus punctatus
Adult: Sussex (April 2010) ©Ashley Wood
Rhacognathus punctatus Rhacognathus punctatus
Adult: (June 2006) ©Steve Gill

 Adult: Lincs (April 2010) ©Adrian Royle
Rhacognathus punctatus Rhacognathus punctatus
Adult: Lincs (July 2007) ©Adrian Royle
Adult: Hants (April 2010) ©Paul Brock