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Zicrona caerulea Blue Bug Family: Pentatomidae A medium-sized dark shieldbug with a deep blue-green metallic sheen and a dark wing membrane. A predatory species, favouring the larvae of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae), Z. caerulea occurs on low vegetation in many habitats, including heathland, grassland and woodland rides. It is widespread throughout Britain, particularly in the north, although absent from Ireland. This bug overwinters as an adult and eggs are laid in the spring. New adults are mainly found from July onwards and there is usually one generation per year. The nymphs can resemble early instars of Troilus luridus, but the legs of Z. caerulea are all dark, rather than mottled and the head and pronotum are distinctly bluish. Adult: All year Length 5-7 mm
	Adult: Suffolk (April 2008) ©Stuart Read
Adult feeding: Suffolk (April 2008) ©Stuart Read	Adult: Sussex (August 2006) ©Brian Valentine
Adult: north London (September 2009) ©Laurence Counter	Early instar nymph: Herts (June 2009) ©Tristan Bantock
Final instar nymph: Herts (June 2009) ©Tristan Bantock	Teneral adult: Suffolk (June 2008) ©Stuart Read