Stagonomus venustissimus, common name woundwort shieldbug, is a species of shieldbug belonging to the family Pentatomidae, subfamily Pentatominae.
The species was first named by Fabricius as Cimex melanocephalus.[1] However this name had already been used by Linnaeus for the mirid bug now known as Phylus melanocephalus - at the time, the genus Cimex encompassed the entirety of the Heteroptera.
The replacement name Eysarcoris fabricii given by Kirkaldy in 1904 was used for many years, but Rider (1998)[2] pointed out the seniority of the name venustissimus, given by Schrank in 1776 (Schönste Wanze, most beautiful bug).[3]
This species has been recently transferred to the genus Stagonomus, so the correct name is Stagonomus venustissimus (Schrank, 1776).[4]
This species can be found in most of Europe.[5] [6]
Stagonomus venustissimus can reach a length of 5-. These small bugs have a greenish-grey body. The head and the pronotum are copper coloured. They have a bronze-purple triangular stain at the base of the scutellum. The connexivum has black and white markings. The legs are whitish with black spots[7]
Stagonomus venustissimus is a univoltine species. The larvae are visible from late June to October, while the new generation of adults appear from August through the following July.[8]
The nymphs feed on hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica), particularly the seeds, and on Lamiaceae species, especially on white dead-nettle (Lamium album).[7]