Parent Bug - Elasmucha grisea

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Description

Length 7-9 mm. A medium-sized red/brown shieldbug. There is usually an obvious black patch on the scutellum.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Birch and Alder trees.

When to see it

Adult: All year.

Life History

This species overwinters as an adult, emerging and mating in the spring. The smaller male dies soon after, but the female survives for some time, brooding the eggs and young larvae, which feed on Birch and Alder. New adults may be found from August onwards.

UK Status

Common and widespread across Britain and Ireland.

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

  • David Gould
    The Spearwort Fields
    29 July 2017
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    23 June 2018
    female with newly hatched young
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    01 August 2013
    final instar nymphs on Birch
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    11 August 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote, Land behind Northfield Drive
    28 June 2024
    mating pair
  • Mark Skevington
    Watermead CP North
    11 June 2022
    adult with eggs
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Public Footpath, Leicestershire Golf Club
    17 August 2018
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    01 August 2013
    final instar nymph
  • AJ Cann
    Burbage Common
    28 July 2023

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Parent Bug
Species group:
Bugs
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Acanthosomatidae
Records on NatureSpot:
160
First record:
25/07/2009 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
21/10/2024 (Timms, Sue)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • David Nicholls
    Burbage Common
    16 July 2010
    group of nymphs
  • sue
    Hicks Lodge
    23 April 2024
  • David Nicholls
    Bagworth Heath
    17 September 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Sharnford, Fosse Meadows
    15 July 2021
    nymphs
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    11 August 2013
  • David Gould
    Narborough Bog, Leics
    21 May 2015
  • Melinda Bell
    Donisthorpe Woodland Park
    19 June 2022
    newly hatched nymphs and adult