Bishop's mitre shieldbug

A bishop's mitre shieldbug clinging to a grass seedhead. It's an oval-shaped bug with a pointed face. It is golden brown with darker stripes along the back.

Bishop's mitre shieldbug © Tom Hibbert

Bishop's mitre shieldbug

This Womble-like shieldbug can often be seen clinging to grass stems.

Enw gwyddonol

Aelia acuminata

Pryd i'w gweld

Mainly May to September

Gwybodaeth am rywogaethau

Ystadegau

Length: 8-10 mm

Statws cadwraethol

Common

Cynefinoedd

Ynghylch

The bishop's mitre shieldbug is common across southern Britain. It lives in a variety of grassy habitats, from woodland clearings to road verges, sand dunes and grasslands. It can often be found clinging to the stems of tall grasses and feeds on their seeds. Adults lay eggs in spring and early summer, with nymphs developing over the summer months and becoming new adults by August. They spend the winter tucked away in a sheltered spot, such as in a grass tuft or beneath leaf litter.

Sut i'w hadnabod

This distinctive bug looks a bit like a Womble, thanks to its pointed face. It is a medium-sized shieldbug with a narrow, oval shape. It's a pale, straw colour with darker brown stripes.

Dosbarthiad

Found widely across southern Britain north to Yorkshire, though more patchily distributed in Wales and southwest England. A few scattered records in more northerly parts of England. Also found on Alderney.

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

A mitre is a traditional hat worn by bishops, which is tall and pointed – a vaguely similar shape to this shieldbug's head!