Cyphostethus tristriatus Juniper Shieldbug
Family: Acanthosomatidae |
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A fairly large green shieldbug with curved and distinctive pinkish-red markings on the corium.
This species spends the winter as an adult, emerging and mating early
in the
spring. The traditional foodplant is juniper, larvae feeding on the
berries, but in recent years the bug has begun to use Lawson's
cypress. New adults may be found from late August onwards.
Previously local and confined
to southern juniper woodlands (although recently discovered on stands of juniper
in northern England and Scotland), this species is now common across
southern and central England at least, due to the widespread planting of juniper
and particularly cypress in gardens. It is probably expanding its range.
Adult: All year; active in all but the coldest months
Length 9-10.5 mm
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Adult: north London (October 2008) ©Tristan Bantock
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Adult: (October 2006) ©David Dupplaw
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Adult: Sussex (March 2007) ©Brian Valentine
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Adult: Surrey (June 2009) ©Tristan Bantock
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Eggs on Lawson's cypress: Kent (June 2007) ©Brian Valentine |
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Early instar nymph: Surrey (June 2009) ©Tristan Bantock
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Final instar nymph: north London (October 2008) ©Tristan Bantock |
