''Graphosoma italicum'' 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. It is also known as the Striped bug (or Italian striped bug) and Minstrel bug.

Description

''G. italicum'' can reach a length of . The body is almost round, with a large shield. The basic color of the upperside of the body is red, with wide black longitudinal stripes. The pronotum has six black bands. The antennae are black. Also the sides of the abdominal segments (connexivum) are red with many small black spots. The legs are mostly black, which distinguishes it from its relative, '' G. lineatum''.

Taxonomy

''Graphosoma italicum'' had been regarded as either a subspecies, or a synonym, of ''G. lineatum'' for over 100 years, so nearly all of the existing literature prior to 2007 referred to this species under the name ''lineatum''. The validity of ''G. italicum'' was reestablished via DNA analysis, which demonstrated that the sister species to ''G. italicum'' is '' G. rubrolineatum'', while ''G. lineatum'' is more closely related to '' G. semipunctatum''.R. Lupoli & F. Dusoulier (2006) ''Les Punaises Pentatomoidea de France.'' Ancyrosoma R. Lupoli
''Graphosoma lineatum'' (L., 1758) and ''G. italicum'' (O.F. Müller, 1766), two valid and distinct species, probably derived from the Zanclean mediterranean transgression (Hemiptera Pentatomidae)
L'Entomologiste T73 n°1 (2017) pp. 19-33.

Subspecies

* ''G. i. italicum'' (Müller, 1766) - nominate subspecies * ''G. i. sardiniensis'' Lupoli, 2017 - with reddish legs, similar to ''G. lineatum'', and

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

Sardinia Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label=Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc