Variable Shield Bug
Yellow Adult, profile
Ellura
Variable Shield Bug
Yellow Adult, ventral
 
                      
Variable Shield Bug (Choerocoris variegatus)Class: Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta)
Order: True Bugs (Hemiptera)
Family: Shield Backed Bug (Pentatomoidea, Scutelleridae)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Variable Shield Bug (Choerocoris variegatus)
This Photo:     Yellow Adult, anterior

Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA) and elsewhere
Similar in shape to the Dodonaea bug above, but very different colours and patterns. While still shiny, doesn't have the metallic lustre.
The instars of these are similar to the adults.
As the name suggests they are very variable; ranging from off-white under, to yellow to reddish (examples elsewhere show bright orange). Primarily coloured with black patches. The back is also covered in dimples.
The face of our specimens have 3 strong pale longitudinal stripes (which is atypical), topped off by the 2 typical red Ocelli.
While they are listed as eating Beyeria lechenaultii, here they are on Beyeria opaca (not listed as a food source). We also found one on Pearl Bluebush; perhaps it was lost.
Also notice how the varying thickness of black makes a large difference to the patterns made (and how the specimens look)

Copyright © 2013-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 19-Nov-2013
This species is an Australian Native Species, not listed in the SA Murray Mallee Survey of 2010.