Troilus luridus

Troilus luridus, also known as the bronze shieldbug, is a species of shield bug found in Europe. It was first described by the Danish zoologist, Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. Shieldbugs are generally phytophagous (i.e. feeding on plant sap) and some, including Troilus luridus are also carnivorous and will eat the larvae of beetles, lepidoptera and sawflys[2]

Troilus luridus
Adult Troilus luridus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hemiptera
Suborder:
Heteroptera
Superfamily:
Pentatomoidea
Family:
Pentatomidae
Genus:
Troilus
Species:
T. luridus
Binomial name
Troilus luridus
(Fabricius, 1775) [1]
Synonyms
  • Cimex luridus Fabricius, 1775

Description

Troilus luridus is a large predatory bronze-brown shieldbug in the family Pentatomidae. It measures about 10 to 12 mm in length and has a distinctive, orange band on the penultimate antennal segment. The legs are brown and the scutellum lacks an orange tip. Live prey is essential to developement and adults walk slowly about in search of their prey usually larvae, but sometimes the adults of beetles, butterflies and moths. They hold the prey at the tip of its rostrum using their mandibular and maxillary stylets which spread out within the prey cutting away at tissues.[3][4]

The bugs overwinter as adults and, depending on temperature, emerge in April. Eggs are laid in May and June and are laid in batches, initially around 21, with the number reducing with each batch, until they are only laid in ones and twos. At temperatures of 19 to 20° Celsius develop in 10 to 12 days. First instar larvae are phytophagous and gregarious, and there are five instars altold. New adults can be found from July onwards, depending on temperature, humidity and available prey.[3]

Distribution

The bronze shieldbug is found in most of Europe and is one of four carnivorous species found in Great Britain.[1][5] Although never seen in great numbers, it is probably very common as it inhabits trees and those seen in the lower branches are a small fraction of the population.[3]

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References
  1. "Troilus luridus (Fabricius, 1775)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. "The Shield Bugs". Earthlife.net. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  3. Southwood, T R E; Leston, Dennis (1959). Land and Water Bugs of the British Isles. London & New York: Frederick Warne & Co Ltd. p. 50.
  4. Bantock, Tristan; Botting, Joseph. "Troilus luridus Bronze Shieldbug". British Bugs. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  5. "Troilus luridus (Fabricius, 1775)". NBN atlas. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
Final instar nymph
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