''Dolycoris baccarum'', the sloe bug or hairy shieldbug, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of shield bug in the family Pentatomidae.

Distribution and habitat

This species is widespread in most of Europe and Central Asia. These shield bugs mainly inhabit hedgerows and woodland edges, fields, forests, parks and gardens.

Description

''Dolycoris baccarum'' can reach a length of about .British Bugs
/ref> The basic color of pronotum and elytra is quite variable, but usually it is reddish purple, while scutellum is ocher. During the winter the basic color is dull brown. The whole body is quite hairy. The antennae are made by 4-5 black and white sections and the margins of the abdomen (connexivum) are alternately mottled with whitish and black. The male and female are very similar. A related species encountered in Europe is ''

Dolycoris numidicus ''Dolycoris'' is a genus of shield bug in the family Pentatomidae. Species * ''Dolycoris alobatus'' Hasan & Afzal, 1990 * ''Dolycoris baccarum'' (Linnaeus, 1758) - Sloe Bug * ''Dolycoris bengalensis'' Zaidi, 1995 * ''Dolycoris brachyserratus' ...

''.

Biology

It is univoltine in the northern part of the range and bivoltine in the warmer southern areas. Adults of these shield bugs can be found all year around, as they overwinter. They emerge in the following spring, when they mate and females lay eggs. By the end of summer the new generation of adults appear. Nymphs feed on many plants, especially

Rosaceae Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a medium-sized family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera. The name is derived from the type genus ''Rosa''. Among the most species-rich genera are ''Alchemilla'' (270), ''Sorbus ...

and

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

species, '' Linaria vulgaris'' and ''

Lamium album ''Lamium album'', commonly called white nettle or white dead-nettle, is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native throughout Europe and Asia, growing in a variety of habitats from open grassland to woodland, generally on moist, fert ...

''. Adults can be found frequently on shrubs feeding on berries, especially Honeysuckle and Raspberries.Garden Safari
/ref> Despite the common name ''sloe bug'', neither the larvae nor the adults feed on Sloe ('' Prunus spinosa'').

Gallery

File:Dolycoris.baccarum.1831.jpg, Mating File:Pentatomidae - Dolycoris baccarum.JPG, Mid nymph File:Pentatomidae - Dolycoris baccarum (Late nymph).JPG, Late nymph File:Troilus luridus.jpg, Adult. Red specimen File:Dolycoris baccarum wings.jpg, Mounted specimen showing opened wings File:Dolycoris baccarum.ogv, Clip of ''Dolycoris baccarum'' in copula

References

External links

Nature Spot

{{Taxonbar, from=Q814105 Pentatomidae Bugs described in 1758 Articles containing video clips Hemiptera of Europe Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus sv:Bärfis