Graphosoma lineatum

Graphosoma lineatum is a species of shield bug in the family Pentatomidae. It is also known as the Striped bug and Minstrel bug. Graphosoma italicum had been regarded as either a subspecies, or a mere synonym to G. lineatum. The validity of G. italicum has since been reestablished ; the closest species to G. lineatum is the spotted bug Graphosoma semipunctatum.- G. lineatum can reach a length of 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in). The body is almost round, with a large shield. The basic color of the upperside of the body is orange yellow, with wide black longitudinal stripes. The pronotum has six black bands. The antennae are black. Also the sides of the abdominal segments (connexivum) are yellow with many small black spots. The legs are mostly reddish orange, which distinguishes it from its relative, G. italicum. The orange and black warning colours (aposematism) indicate that the insects are foul-tasting, protecting them from predators. The nymphs do not have the orange-black stripe pattern, instead they are mostly brownish. These shield bugs are frequently found on the umbels of Apiaceae (Daucus, Heracleum, Anthriscus, Foeniculum, etc.). G. lineatum is distributed across the Western Palearctic and occurs in the entire Mediterranean area, with the northern limit of distribution fluctuating strongly. In recent decades, the northern border in western and central Europe has expanded strongly to the north, so that the species now occurs as far as the North Sea and Baltic Sea (Jutland and southern Sweden). In Germany, the type occurs everywhere with exception of the northwest and is not rare regionally. In Austria, it is widespread, but only locally frequent. The insects populate open to half-shady areas in dry to more humid habitats. The subspecies G. l. siciliencis occurs only in Sicily. G. lineatum is an insect of warm and sunny areas. It prefers warm slopes and meadows located on south-facing slopes.