Bug FAQBlack-shouldered Shieldbug
Carpocoris purpureipennis · Order: Hemiptera · Family: Pentatomidae
The black-shouldered shieldbug is 11 to 13 mm long and shows a purple-to-yellowish body with black-angled pronotum and orange legs. It lives in meadows, roadsides, forest edges and gardens across most of Europe and central Asia, and it feeds on many garden and field crops, making it an agricultural pest.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure about 11 to 13 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in meadows, along roadsides, at forest edges and in gardens.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Both adults and nymphs eat a wide range of plant juices; adults especially like the sap of creeping thistle and the nectar of oxeye daisy. Because they feed on many crops, they are regarded as agricultural pests.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In late May to early June they lay eggs on herbaceous plants such as cereals, legumes, crucifers and composites.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Egg-laying occurs in late May and early June.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species occurs throughout most of Europe and into central Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It can be confused with Carpocoris pudicus, C. fuscispinus or C. mediterraneus.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
When does this bug lay its eggs?
Eggs are laid in late May to early June on various herbaceous plants.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell this bug apart from similar species?
Look for the black-angled pronotum with short black stripes and orange legs; other Carpocoris species have different patterns.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the black-shouldered shieldbug found?
It lives in meadows, roadsides, forest edges and gardens across most of Europe and central Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pentatomidae)
Brown Marmorated Stink BugHalyomorpha halysDamages trees, gardens or crops
Green Stink BugChinavia hilarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Harlequin BugMurgantia histrionicaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown Stink BugEuschistus servusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Green Shield BugPalomena prasina
European Striped Shield BugGraphosoma italicumSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpocoris_purpureipennis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.