Birch shield bug
This shield bug spends most of the year as an adult, overwintering hidden in leaf litter before emerging in spring to mate on birch trees.
| Where | Birch woodland, hedgerows and gardens |
|---|---|
| Size | 8 to 11.5 mm body length |
| When | April to November |
The birch shield bug is a green shield bug with reddish markings across the rear of its wing cases and a shield shaped body typical of the group. It is smaller and less elongated than the similar hawthorn shield bug, with smaller, unmarked projections at the corners of its pronotum.
Adults overwinter hidden among leaf litter and emerge in spring to mate, and the next generation of nymphs develops mainly on birch leaves, though hazel and aspen are also used. Adults can be found through most of the year, with a break only in the coldest winter weeks.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Green, Red
Active
Day
To people
Occasionally found on garden birch trees or windows in the evening; not known to bite or sting people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Larger at about 13 to 17 mm, with a more elongated body and red edged pronotum corners, unlike the smaller, plainer cornered birch shield bug.
Questions
Is the Birch shield bug dangerous to people?
Occasionally found on garden birch trees or windows in the evening; not known to bite or sting people.
When can you see the Birch shield bug?
The Birch shield bug can be seen from April to November, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.