Tortoise shieldbug © Frank Porch
Tortoise shieldbug © Frank Porch
Tortoise shieldbug © Vaughn Matthews
Tortoise bug
A fairly large, variable shieldbug found in grassy areas across England and Wales.
Enw gwyddonol
Eurygaster testudinariaPryd i'w gweld
All year, though mostly spring to autumnSpecies information
Ynghylch
The tortoise bug was once an uncommon species found in southern Britain. However, like many other bugs, it is expanding its range northwards and is now much more widespread. It can be found in both damp and dry grassy habitats, where it feeds on the seedheads of tall grasses. It can often be seen climbing grass stems, or clinging to the tips. Like most shieldbugs, it spends the winter as an adult.Sut i'w hadnabod
A fairly large, rounded shieldbug. The scutellum (a hard plate on the back of bugs) is large and extends to the end of the body, completely covering the back. The colour is highly variable, from plain brown to dark red with olive-green markings.It can be difficult to separate the tortoise shieldbug from the very similar scarce tortoise shieldbug (Eurygaster maura). This rare species is found mainly in southeast England. The tortoise shieldbug has a slight depression at the front of the head, and the second segment of each antenna is less than twice as long as the third segment. In scarce tortoise shieldbug, the front of the head is more rounded, and the second segment of each antenna is approximately twice as long as the third.