Staria lunata

Staria lunata is a species of shield bug belonging to the family Pentatomidae. It is the only species of the genus Staria.

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in most of Europe. It is widespread in the Mediterranean, but rather rare in Central Europe. They often occur in rainfed fields not far from a river.

Description

Staria lunata can reach a length of. These shield bugs are mainly brown. Head, thorax, lateral tergites and abdomen have light erect hair. They have three bright calluses at the base of a rather rounded the scutellum, that shows at the lower end a whitish sickle shape marking.

Biology

Staria lunata is polyphagous. Adults can be found from March to December. These bugs are often found on herbaceous plants, especially on wild oat, Astrodaucus orientalis, noble yarrow, Iberian knapweed, garden yellowrocket, Cistus species, ground ivy, Nepeta italica subsp. troodi, woodland germander, Thymus species, Galium species, Scrophularia scopolii, Verbascum species.