Gorse Shieldbug

Name: Gorse Shieldbug

Scientific name: Piezodorus lituratus

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 50

What are nature stars?

About: A rounded shieldbug, about 12mm long. The Gorse Shieldug feeds mainly on gorse, but can also turn up on other members of the pea family, including runner beans in gardens! There are two adult colour forms: in the spring most are green, with a dark patch at the end of the wings and pale yellow sides, but during the late summer adults are richly maroon and green.

How to identify: In the spring, told from the similar Green Shieldbug by the bright yellow sides. In the late summer, told from the other red and green shieldbugs by the combination of the more rounded shape and the plain yellow sides.

Where: Widespread

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 50
• Rarity: 40
• Cute factor: 40
• Traveller: 20

Fantastic fact:

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc