Horvaths knight bug

Appearance

The horvaths knight bug has a black head, a black shield (scutellum), black antennae and black legs. On the red neck shield are two big round black spots. The hemilytrum (the partially hardened forewing) is red with a round black spot in the middle, while the membrane (transparent part of the front wing) is black in the middle and at the end of a round white spot. The connexivum (on the side visible part abdomen) is red with black spots. Compared to other red knight bugs it is rather small. The length of 4 - 5.3 mm.

Distribution

The horvaths knight bug occurs in the southern part of Central Europe and the Mediterranean; to the east it spread to China. In the Netherlands it is very rare. He observed with Spa in Limburg since 2000. He has a preference for warm, dry, stony habitats with sparse vegetation.

Food

The horvaths knight bug is phytophagous and main host plants are foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and engbloem (Vincetoxicum) mentioned, but they can also develop on Sedum anglicum and really bitter herb (Picris hieracioides). In 2004, the nymphs in Limburg were observed on the fruits of male speedwell (Veronica officinalis). The image's overwinter in leaf litter and under leaf rosettes, such as foxglove. Mating takes place from late May to July. New generations appear in September.