''Solenosthedium bilunatum'' is a species of jewel bug in the subfamily

Elvisurinae Scutelleridae is a family of true bugs. They are commonly known as jewel (stink) bugs or metallic shield bugs due to their often brilliant coloration. With the name based on the Asian genus '' Scutellera'', they are also known as shield-backed b ...

. It is the only species of its subfamily found in Europe, and, measuring , they are somewhat big for their group.

Description

The scutellum completely covers the abdomen of these jewel bugs, having two oval-shaped, yellow-colored, and big spots on it, and, the body of ''S. bilunatum'' can be anywhere from light to reddish-brown.

Diet

''S. bilunatum'' is known to feed on ''

Schinus molle ''Schinus'' is a genus of flowering trees and tall shrubs in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as pepper trees. The Peruvian pepper tree ('' Schinus molle'') is the source of the spice known as pink pep ...

'', ''

Arbutus unedo ''Arbutus unedo'', commonly known as strawberry tree, also called madrone, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean Basin and Western Europe. The tree is well known for its fruits, the arbutus berr ...

'', ''

Cydonia oblonga The quince (; ''Cydonia oblonga'') is the sole member of the genus ''Cydonia'' in the Malinae subtribe (which contains apples, pears, and other fruits) of the Rosaceae family. It is a deciduous tree that bears hard, aromatic bright golden-yell ...

'' and species of the genus ''

Pistacia ''Pistacia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. It contains 10 to 20 species that are native to Africa and Eurasia from the Canary Islands, all of Africa, and southern Europe, warm and semidesert areas across Asia ...

''.

Distribution

Having a Mediterranean distribution, you can commonly find ''S. bilunatum'' in North Africa and

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

. It is also found in various other locations such as Greece, Lebanon and Croatia.

References

External links

Images at iNaturalist
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q50724174 Scutelleridae Hemiptera of Europe Insects described in 1827