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Legnotus picipes Heath Shieldbug
Family: Cydnidae

A small black shieldbug with a pale edge to the corium which extends only half way down the edges of the wings. The much commoner L. limbosus is similar, although the entire edge of the corium is pale and the central lobe of the head is clearly shorter than the outer two (the same length in L. picipes).

Associated with bedstraws (Galium sp) but found in much drier and sandier situations than L. limbosus; frequently in coastal dunes, also in breckland and at the edges of heaths.


A scarce species in Britain, confined mainly to southern and eastern England, although there is a single record from Wales.

Adult: All year
Length 3.0-4.0 mm

see illustrated life stages chart
Legnotus picipes
Adult: Kent (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock

Legnotus picipes Legnotus picipes
Adult: Kent (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock

Adult: Kent (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock

Legnotus picipes Legnotus picipes
Nymph: Suffolk (September 2014) ©Tristan Bantock

Nymph: Suffolk (September 2014) ©Rob Coleman