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Forest Bug

Forest bugs (15mm in length), also known as Red-legged Shield Bugs, can be distinguished from other Shield Bugs by their square shoulders because they look like they are wearing American football player padding. Their bodies are a dark bronze-brown colour with orange legs and antennae. The antennae are about the same length as the body. The forest bug's main food source is any of several species of oak, alder, hazel and other deciduous trees, including apple and cherry. As it is a sap-feeder, it uses it’s piercing mouthparts to withdraw the liquid. The forest bug is also an agricultural and garden pest, as it will not hesitate to feed on fruit and nut trees. Adults lay eggs during the summer in the cracks of tree bark, and the larvae hatch the following spring. Adults are partly predatory, feeding on caterpillars and other insects. This species overwinters as a nymph, the adults are present from July to November and the eggs are laid in August. The adults live for one year.

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Filename
Brown Shield Bug-1.jpg
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 Chris Connolly - All Right Reserved.
Image Size
5616x3744 / 2.5MB
Contained in galleries
Macro : Wildlife
Forest bugs (15mm in length), also known as Red-legged Shield Bugs, can be distinguished from other Shield Bugs by their square shoulders because they look like they are wearing American football player padding. Their bodies are a dark bronze-brown colour with orange legs and antennae. The antennae are about the same length as the body. The forest bug's main food source is any of several species of oak, alder, hazel and other deciduous trees, including apple and cherry. As it is a sap-feeder, it uses it’s piercing mouthparts to withdraw the liquid. The forest bug is also an agricultural and garden pest, as it will not hesitate to feed on fruit and nut trees. Adults lay eggs during the summer in the cracks of tree bark, and the larvae hatch the following spring. Adults are partly predatory, feeding on caterpillars and other insects. This species overwinters as a nymph, the adults are present from July to November and the eggs are laid in August. The adults live for one year.