26th February 2026

Juniper Shield bug

This rather attractive little beast was in my living room this morning. It's a Juniper Shield bug (Cyphostethus tristriatus) which traditionally fed on Juniper. It apparently has adapted to feeding on Lawson's Cypress commonly grown in gardens. Because of this, the Juniper Shield bug has expanded its range in recent years, and is now quite widespread in the south and east. It overwinters as an adult and emerges on warm days in early spring.