Bug FAQWoundwort Shield Bug
Stagonomus venustissimus · Order: Hemiptera · Family: Pentatomidae
Also called: Woundwort Shieldbug
The woundwort shield bug is a tiny green-grey true bug about half a centimetre long (5 to 7 mm). Its copper-coloured head and pronotum, bronze-purple mark on the scutellum, black-white patterned connexivum and whitish legs with black spots help tell it apart from similar bugs.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The body is green-grey, the head and pronotum are copper coloured. A bronze-purple triangular stain sits at the base of the scutellum. The edge of the abdomen (connexivum) shows alternating black and white markings. Legs are whitish with black spots.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure 5 to 7 mm in length (about 0.20 to 0.28 in).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs in most European countries.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Nymphs feed on the seeds of hedge woundwort and on other Lamiaceae, especially white dead-nettle.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species has one generation per year (univoltine).
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are present from August to the next July, while larvae are seen June-October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers most of Europe.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It was originally named Cimex melanocephalus, a name later used for a different mirid bug; the later name Eysarcoris fabricii was replaced by the senior name venustissimus.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I identify a woundwort shield bug?
Look for a small (5 to 7 mm) green-grey bug with a copper head and pronotum, a bronze-purple triangle on the scutellum, black-white patterned side of the abdomen, and whitish legs with black spots.
Source: Wikipedia
When are woundwort shield bugs active?
Larvae appear from late June to October and adults are present from August through the following July.
Source: Wikipedia
What do woundwort shield bug nymphs eat?
They feed on hedge woundwort seeds and on other Lamiaceae, especially white dead-nettle.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pentatomidae)
Brown Marmorated Stink BugHalyomorpha halysDamages trees, gardens or crops
Green Stink BugChinavia hilarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Harlequin BugMurgantia histrionicaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown Stink BugEuschistus servusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Green Shield BugPalomena prasina
European Striped Shield BugGraphosoma italicumSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stagonomus_venustissimus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.