Here’s a complete overview and description of the striking Italian Striped-bug (Graphosoma lineatum), one of Europe’s most recognizable true bugs thanks to its bold red-and-black stripes.

🐞 **Italian Striped-bug (Graphosoma lineatum)**

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Pentatomidae (Shieldbugs)
Genus: Graphosoma
Species: G. lineatum

Scientific name: Graphosoma lineatum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common names: Italian Striped-bug, Minstrel Bug, Striped Shieldbug

Identification

The Italian Striped-bug is a medium-sized shieldbug easily recognized by its striking red or orange body with black longitudinal stripes. It is one of the most colorful true bugs found in Europe.

Size: 8–12 mm in length
Coloration:
- Bright red or orange background with six black stripes running lengthwise on the upper body (including the pronotum and scutellum).
- The underside is mostly black with small red or orange spots.
Shape:
- Typical shield-shaped body, rounded and slightly convex.
- Antennae black, with five segments.

The coloration serves as aposematic warning — signaling that the insect may taste unpleasant to predators.

Distribution and Range

Graphosoma lineatum is widely distributed across the Palearctic region, especially in southern and central Europe.

Found in:

Southern and central Europe (especially around the Mediterranean)
North Africa
Middle East
Western Asia

In recent decades, its range has expanded northwards due to warmer climates.

Habitat

Prefers sunny, dry, and warm habitats such as:

Meadows and grasslands
Roadsides and field margins
Hillsides and scrublands
Open woodland edges

It is often seen on umbelliferous plants (Apiaceae) such as wild carrot, fennel, or hogweed, where it feeds and mates.

Behavior

Diurnal and slow-moving: Often seen basking in sunlight on flowers.
Social tendency: Frequently found in groups, especially during mating or feeding.
Flight: Can fly, but generally moves slowly and relies on its coloration for defense.
Defense: Emits a strong-smelling secretion from thoracic glands when disturbed, deterring predators.

Diet

A sap-feeding herbivore, the Italian Striped-bug uses its piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on:

Stems, seeds, and fruits of Apiaceae plants (carrot family)
Occasionally other meadow plants

Common host plants include:

Daucus carota (Wild carrot)
Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel)
Pastinaca sativa (Wild parsnip)
Heracleum sphondylium (Hogweed)

Life Cycle

1. Mating:
Occurs during spring and summer; pairs can often be seen connected tail-to-tail for extended periods.

2. Eggs:
Females lay clusters of barrel-shaped eggs on host plants.

3. Nymphs:

Wingless and more rounded than adults.
Initially orange-brown with dark markings.
Go through five instar stages, gradually developing adult colors and wings.

4. Adults:
Emerge in summer, overwinter in leaf litter, and reappear the following spring.

Generations: Usually one per year in cooler regions, two in warmer Mediterranean climates.

Similar Species

Species	Key Difference
Graphosoma italicum	Some taxonomists now consider G. italicum the Mediterranean subspecies of G. lineatum.
Graphosoma semipunctatum	Has black dots instead of stripes on the pronotum.
Graphosoma rubrolineatum	Paler red coloration, smaller range in Asia.

Note: Many sources now treat Graphosoma lineatum italicum as the main European form — the Italian Striped-bug seen across southern and central Europe.

Conservation Status

IUCN Status: Not threatened / Least Concern
Population trend: Stable and locally abundant.
Threats: Habitat loss due to intensive agriculture and pesticide use may affect local populations.

Ecological Role

Pollination: Though mainly sap-feeding, its movement among flowers helps in pollination.
Prey: Serves as food for birds, predatory bugs, and spiders.
Indicator species: Presence indicates healthy meadow ecosystems rich in flowering plants.

Key Identification Points

Feature	Description
Scientific Name	Graphosoma lineatum
Common Name	Italian Striped-bug / Minstrel Bug
Family	Pentatomidae
Size	8–12 mm
Coloration	Red/orange with black longitudinal stripes
Habitat	Sunny meadows, dry grasslands, roadside vegetation
Host Plants	Umbellifers (Apiaceae)
Behavior	Gregarious, slow-moving, emits odor when threatened
Conservation Status	Least Concern

Interesting Facts

The red-and-black striped pattern is an example of aposematism, warning predators of its foul taste.
The Latin name lineatum means “lined” or “striped,” describing its distinct body markings.
The species is highly photogenic, often seen perched atop flower heads in summer.

Summary

The Italian Striped-bug (Graphosoma lineatum) is a boldly colored shieldbug found throughout sunny meadows and fields of southern and central Europe. Its vivid red-and-black stripes serve as both a warning and a beautiful feature, making it one of the most easily recognizable true bugs in the region. Often found resting or feeding on wild carrots and fennel, this harmless insect adds a splash of Mediterranean color to Europe’s summer landscapes.