Blue Shieldbug Zicrona caerulea

The pretty Blue Shieldbug (also Shield Bug), a metallic blue-green bug about the size of the Common Green Shieldbug, has a national status described as "local".

Unlike most shieldbugs which eat plant sap, the Blue Shieldbug eats the larvae of the Altica Flea Beetle; the adult flea beetles resemble a small version of the shieldbug, being shiny, metallic blue-green (see foot of page). The flea beetles, and thus the Blue Shieldbug, live on several low-growing plants including willowherb (where this one was found) and heather.

The nymphs of the Blue Shieldbug are red and black; the first instar pillarbox red with black and the final one more orangey-red.