Odontotarsus purpureolineatus (a shield bug)




Scientific Name: Odontotarsus purpureolineatus (Scutelleridae).

English Name: a shield bug (Shield Bug family).

French Name: La Pentatome à raies pourpre (='purple striped shield bug').


5 Key Characters:
  • 'shoulders' do not come to a sharp point. 
  • the dark stripes which extend to the rear are relatively far apart. 
  • 8 - 10 mm long.
  • shaped like an oval with pointed head and rear.
  • colour varies from yellowy brown to reddish brown.

Lookalikes: O. robustus, which has pointy 'shoulders' which extend well beyond the abdomen and dark stripes at the rear which are close together. It is a bit larger than O. purpureolineatus and has a more southerly distribution.

Habitat: Grassland.

Adult Active Period: August-September.

Status: Not uncommon.

Photographed by Loire Valley Nature:

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