# Black-shouldered Shieldbug

*Carpocoris purpureipennis*

Their bold, purplish-red and black coloration acts as an aposematic warning, advertising their terrible taste to potential predators like birds.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Hemiptera › Pentatomidae › Carpocoris
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Meadows, grasslands, forest edges, roadside verges, and gardens.
- **Diet:** Herbivorous; feeds on plant saps, especially from Apiaceae (umbellifers) and Asteraceae (thistles).
- **Range:** Europe, Central Asia, Siberia, Mongolia, China
- **Size:** 11 to 14 mm in length
- **Lifespan:** Approximately 1 year
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Widespread pesticide use in agriculture and loss of meadow habitats due to intensive mowing.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless to humans as they do not bite or sting. However, they are defensive and will release a highly pungent, foul-smelling liquid from their thoracic glands if handled roughly. Observe them from a close distance without touching. If handled and they spray, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to remove the odor.

## About

Carpocoris purpureipennis is a species of shield bug belonging to the family Pentatomidae, subfamily Pentatominae....

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/796c103c-5a3e-4f07-88ac-c3465a9ac716
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/147332
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpocoris purpureipennis
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/51433133/medium.jpg (Roman, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.