Eurygaster maura
| Eurygaster maura | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Eurygaster maura, adult | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Family: | Scutelleridae |
| Genus: | Eurygaster |
| Species: | E. maura |
| Binomial name | |
| Eurygaster maura (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
Eurygaster maura is a species of true bugs or shield-backed bugs belonging to the family Scutelleridae.
Description
Eurygaster maura can reach a length of 8–11 millimetres (0.31–0.43 in). The body is oval and slightly convex and the head is triangular and smoothly rounded, with a small pair of compound eyes. The pronotum has slightly protruding hind corners. The scutellum covers the wings and the whole abdomen. The ground color is mostly brown, but can be light gray or also black.
They can be found from May to August, becoming adult from July. The females lay their eggs in the spring in small packages on the underside of the leaves surface. After a few weeks the eggs hatch the young nymphs. After five molts, they are fully developed and ready to overwinter in leaf litter.
These shield-backed bugs feed on various grasses and grain plants (wheat, rye, barley and sometimes oats, corn and millet). Both the adults and their larvae are very harmful to crops.
Distribution
This species is widespread in Europe, but also in large parts of Asia and North America.
Habitat
Their habitats are calcareous grasslands with wild grasses.