Codophila varia

Codophila varia is a species of shield bug belonging to the subfamily Pentatominae in the family Pentatomidae.

Codophila varia
Adult of Codophila varia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Heteroptera
Family:	Pentatomidae
Genus:	Codophila
Species:	C. varia
Binomial name
Codophila varia Fabricius, 1787
Synonyms
Cimex varius Fabricius, 1787 Codophila varia longicornis Fuente, 1971 Codophila varia varia (Fabricius, 1787)

Distribution

This species is present around most of Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Spain, Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Hungary and Italy).^[1][2]

Description

The adults reach a body length of 8.7–14 millimetres (0.34–0.55 in). It is a rather variable species in size and colour. Coloration of body may be pale yellow, greyish or also blood-red.^[3] These bugs have three bright longitudinal stripes on the head. Scutellum is brightly colored with a striking black drawing. The connexivum is bright with black spots. The first three segments of the antennae are usually red, the two outer ones are black.^[4] This species is very similar to Carpocoris pudicus.

Biology

These bugs can mainly be encountered from June through August. They are polyphagous, but they mainly feed on Asteraceae (especially on Echinops spinosus) ^[5] and Apiaceae species.