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Graphosoma italicum · juostelinė skydblakė

  • European striped shield bug, red-black shieldbug, striated shield bug, Italian striped bug, minstrel bug
  • Streifenwanze
  • juostelinė skydblakė
  • sarkansvītrainā vairogblakts
  • strojnica włoska

Sequence comparison of mitochondrial gene COI confirms that Graphosoma italicum is a valid and distinct species from Graphosoma lineatum. The distribution of G. lineatum is limited to North Africa and Sicily. G. italicum is present elsewhere in Europe to the Middle East.

Graphosoma italicum can reach a length of 8–12 mm. The body is almost round, with a large shield. The basic color of the upperside of the body is red, with wide black longitudinal stripes. The pronotum has six black bands. The antennae are black. Also the sides of the abdominal segments (connexivum) are red with many small black spots. The legs are mostly black, which distinguishes it from its relative, Graphosoma lineatum.