Colorful leaf bug
| Colorful leaf bug | ||||||||||
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Variegated leaf bug ( Elasmostethus interstinctus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Elasmostethus interstinctus | ||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The variegated leaf bug ( Elasmostethus interstinctus ) is a conspicuous bug (Heteroptera) from the family of spiky bugs (Acanthosomatidae) with a vivid green-red color.
Distribution and way of life
The colorful leaf bug is widespread from Europe to Siberia and is relatively common. It lives mainly on sunlit bushes and deciduous trees, especially on birch ( Betula ), alder ( Alnus ) and hawthorn ( Crataegus ), where it sucks on the flowers and leaves. Sometimes it is also found on herbs close to the ground. Wintering takes place in the adult stage . Their larvae can be found from June to August.
features
The relatively flat animals reach body lengths between 9 and 12 millimeters. The basic color of the early summer animals is usually very intense. The insects are bright green with deep red shares on the neck plate (pronotum), the tag (scutellum), the forewings (Hemielytren) and part of the top of the abdomen. The upper side of the body has numerous darker, mostly black point pits. The yellowish green feet (tarsi) are two-part. The third link of the five-link antenna is a quarter shorter than the fourth when viewed from the inside.
The keel-like extension of the mid-chest does not reach the front edge of the head. The variegated leaf bug differs from the very similar tree bug ( Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale ). Your abdominal keel is significantly longer and protrudes over the rear edge of the head, to the rear it reaches the middle hips. In addition, the treetop sting bug is significantly larger.
literature
- Ekkehard Wachmann : watch bugs - get to know . J. Neumann - Neudamm, Melsungen 1989, ISBN 3-7888-0554-4 .
