Hawthorn shield bug
Despite being one of the larger shield bugs, it survives the colder months hidden in leaf litter or under loose bark until spring.
| Where | Hedgerows and woodland edges |
|---|---|
| Size | 13 to 16 mm long |
| When | April to November |
This is one of the larger shield bugs, with a shield-shaped body that is mostly green with reddish-brown wingtips and pointed, angular shoulders on the pronotum. The tip of the abdomen often shows a reddish tinge, which is reflected in its scientific name.
Adults overwinter tucked into leaf litter, under loose bark or sometimes indoors, then emerge in spring to feed and breed on hawthorn and related shrubs. Both nymphs and adults feed on the berries, leaves and shoots of hawthorn and blackthorn.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Green, Red, Brown
Active
Day
To people
Harmless; does not bite or sting
Activity through the year
Often confused with
The birch shieldbug is smaller, at about 8 to 11.5 mm long, with a shorter, less elongated body and smaller pointed shoulders than the hawthorn shield bug.
Questions
Is the Hawthorn shield bug dangerous to people?
Harmless; does not bite or sting.
When can you see the Hawthorn shield bug?
The Hawthorn shield bug can be seen from April to November, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by 5snake5, CC0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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True bugs›Parent bugs›Acanthosoma
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.