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| Eurygaster
testudinaria Family: Scutelleridae
Fairly large shieldbugs, the
two Eurygaster species
are often known as Tortoise Bugs. The ground colour and intensity of
the markings are variable. This species is distinguished from the
slightly smaller and rarer E. maura
by the slight central depression at the front of the head and the slightly more protruding hind corners ('shoulders') of the pronotum. These characters are not always reliable; genitalic examination may be necessary. Females show a gap between the genital plate and the previous segment (often visible in the field with a hand lens), while the male aedaegus has 4 internal spines (requires dissection). Nymphs feed on grasses between May-August, becoming adult from July. Previously uncommon, it is now widespread in southern Britain and Ireland in dry and damp grasslands and is expanding its range northwards. Adult: All year Length 9-11 mm  |
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| Adult:
Dorset (September 2007) ©David
Longshaw |
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| Adult
detail: Berks
(May 2008) ©Darren
Bradley |
Adult
detail: Glamorgan
(June 2009) ©Barry
Stewart |
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| Adult:
Berks (May 2008) ©Darren
Bradley |
Adult:
north London (May 2007) ©Tristan
Bantock |
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| Adult:
Berks (May 2010) ©Jonathan
Michaelson |
Adult: Surrey
(August 2007) ©Stuart
Read |
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| Adult: Surrey
(August 2007) ©Stuart
Read |
Early instar
nymph: Surrey (June 2009) ©Tristan
Bantock |
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| Mid instar nymph:
Surrey (July 2009) ©Tristan
Bantock |
Final instar nymph: south London
(August 2007) ©Joe
Botting |
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| Final instar
nymph: Berks (August 2009) ©Jonathan
Michaelson |
Final instar
nymph: north London (August 2008) ©Tristan
Bantock |
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| Underside of
female abdomen showing genital plates ©Tristan
Bantock |
Male genital
capsule showing aedaegus with 4 spines ©Tristan
Bantock |