Striped Bug (Graphosoma lineatum)
Common names: Striped Shield Bug, Minstrel Bug
Family: Pentatomidae (shield bugs)
The Striped Bug, Graphosoma lineatum, is a visually striking shield bug known for its bold red and black vertical stripes, which make it one of the most easily recognizable true bugs in Europe. Despite its flashy coloration, it is harmless and commonly found on flowering plants in warm, sunny habitats.
🪲 Identification
- Size: 8–12 mm
- Shape: Broad, oval, shield-shaped (typical of stink bugs)
- Color:
- Bright red body with black longitudinal stripes across the back (on the pronotum and elytra)
- Legs and antennae: typically black
- Underside: Usually red with black spots (in G. lineatum lineatum)
Its coloration is aposematic — a warning to predators that it may be distasteful.
🌿 Habitat
- Sunny, dry, and warm locations, such as:
- Meadows
- Roadsides
- Dry hillsides
- Scrubland
- Herbaceous woodland edges
Often seen perched on Umbellifers (plants in the carrot family, Apiaceae), such as:
- Wild carrot
- Fennel
- Cow parsley
🌱 Diet
- Phytophagous (plant-feeding)
- Feeds by piercing plant tissues with its rostrum (mouthpart) to suck sap
- Prefers umbellifers, particularly flower heads and developing seeds
Although it feeds on cultivated plants occasionally, it is not a serious agricultural pest.
🔁 Life Cycle
- One generation per year in temperate regions (univoltine)
- Eggs are laid in clusters on host plants
- Nymphs hatch and undergo multiple molts before becoming adults
- Adults appear in late spring to summer and may persist into early autumn
Overwintering:
- Adults overwinter in leaf litter or under bark and emerge in spring
🧬 Subspecies Note
- In Europe, two subspecies are recognized:
- Graphosoma lineatum lineatum: red underside with black spots (most widespread in central/southern Europe)
- Graphosoma italicum (often treated as a separate species): black-striped red back, but black underside
Some taxonomies now consider G. italicum as a distinct species rather than a subspecies.
🌍 Distribution
- Widespread in Europe, especially:
- Southern and Central Europe
- Parts of Northern Europe (expanding due to climate change)
- Also found in:
- North Africa
- Western Asia
Prefers Mediterranean and warm temperate climates, but expanding northward.
🧬 Interesting Facts
- Despite their flashy colors, striped bugs are not toxic, but their colors deter predators.
- They emit a mild defensive odor when disturbed (typical of shield bugs).
- Sometimes mistaken for beetles, but they are true bugs (Hemiptera), not beetles (Coleoptera).
🛡️ Conservation Status
- IUCN: Not evaluated, but currently common and not threatened
- May benefit from warmer climates and suitable flowering plants
- Conservation of native meadows and diverse plant life supports its population
The Striped Bug (Graphosoma lineatum) is a charismatic insect that adds a splash of color to meadows and wildflower patches across Europe. Its role in natural plant-pollinator and herbivore dynamics — and its unmistakable look — make it a delightful species to observe and photograph.
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