Rhacognathus punctatus
| Rhacognathus punctatus | |
|---|---|
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| Rhacognathus punctatus, imago | |
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| Rhacognathus punctatus, nymph | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Family: | Pentatomidae |
| Subfamily: | Asopinae |
| Genus: | Rhacognatus |
| Species: | R. punctatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhacognathus punctatus (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Rhacognathus punctatus, the Heather Bug, is a species of stink bugs (family Pentatomidae).
Description
Rhacognathus punctatus can reach a length of 7–9 millimetres (0.28–0.35 in). This predatory stink bug has a mottled metallic bronze-brown shieldbug, extended shoulders, a pale longitudinal line on the pronotum and dark brown legs with a whitish band on the tibia. Females lay their eggs in May and June, while the adults are present throughout the year. Adults of these bugs predate on the larvae of leaf beetles and Chrysomelidae species, especially on the larvae of Lochmaea caprea and Lochmaea suturalis.
Distribution
This species is present in most of Europe.
Habitat
This stink bug prefers the edges of heaths, moors and lowland mires.