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Syromastus rhombeus Rhombic Leatherbug
Family: Coreidae

 The only squashbug with such a broad and distinctly diamond-shaped abdomen. Nymphs have very pointed abdominal tergites, each bearing a strong spine.

Adults emerge and mate in the spring; nymphs can be found June-August feeding on sandworts, spurreys and other plants in the Caryophyllaceae. A local species which was previously mainly confined to coastal areas between Suffolk and south Wales, but is now increasingly found inland in a variety of dry grassland habitats.

Adult: All year
Length 9.5-10.5 mm

see illustrated life stages chart		 Syromastus rhombeus
Adult: Surrey (April 2010) ©Tristan Bantock
Syromastus rhombeus Syromastus rhombeus
Adult: Suffolk (August 2007) ©Stuart Read

 Adult: Channel Isles (October 2007) ©Tim Ransom
Syromastus rhombeus Syromastus rhombeus
Adult: east London (April 2009) ©Tristan Bantock
 Adult: east London (August 2008) ©Tristan Bantock
Syromastus rhombeus nymph Syromastus rhombeus nymph
Early instar nymph: west London (June 2009) ©Tristan Bantock

 		Late instar nymph: Essex (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock