Red-legged Shieldbug/Forest Bug Pentatoma rufipes

The Red-legged Shieldbug, also called the Forest Bug, the Red-legged Forest Bug and the Forest Shieldbug, has a distinctive orange spot at the tip of the shield, from very pale to dark orange.

The bug is brown at all times of year with orange-brown or reddish-brown legs as its name indicates. It also usually has slightly hook-like tips to its "shoulders."

This unfortunate bug, above left, has had a wing damaged, showing that the body under the wings is black. Above right shows the red legs and a surplus of red pigment. Forest Bugs feed on many types of tree and, unusually for shieldbugs, also feed on larvae of other insects (particularly caterpillars and sawflies).

Forest Bug nymphs, above, - late/final instars with their wing cases developing.

Another variation of Forest Bug nymph, above left, - late/final instar, and the underside (of the nymph above it), above centre. Above right is thought to be an earlier instar.