Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 55

The Pentatoma rufipes is a large, flat shield bug that can reach a length of 11-14 mm. It has a dark brown body in autumn and lighter in summer, typically bronze-colored. It feeds on several species of oak trees, as well as alder, hazel, apple, and cherry trees. Its larvae are dark but become lighter with age. The bug is also a pest to agricultural and garden areas, as it feeds on fruit and nut trees.