Schellenberg's Soldier Bug

Appearance

The adults are 8-12 mm long; the males are slightly smaller than the females. The body and forewings have a pale background covered with dark punctures. The most striking feature are the pointed ‘shoulders’. The tip the scutellum is narrow and pale. The antennae are dark brown and the legs are pale brown. On the underside there is a long rostrum that holds the stylets used for feeding. Also on the underside is a forward pointing spine extending between the last two pairs of legs.

Naming

Common Names:
Schellenberg's soldier bug, Spined Predatory Shield Bug, Predatory Shield Bug

Synonyms:
Pentatoma schellenbergii Guérin, 1831
Arma schellembergi (Guérin, 1831)
Pentatoma consociale Boisduval, 1835
Oechalia consocialis (Boisduval, 1835)
Rhaphigaster perfectus Walker, 1867

Distribution

New Zealand and Australia

Food

It is a predator that feeds on free living insects, such as caterpillars and beetle larvae.