Bean Plataspid

Description:

This is Coptosoma obtusiceps Stal, 1871. I originally mistook it for Megacopta cribraria and even now, having been directed to the Swedish Museum of Natural History website, where there are beautiful images, I am unable to see any differences, but relieved to have the I.D. correct at last. The main identifiers for me are the greatly extended scutellum (covering the wings and much of the thorax and abdomen) and the colouring of the entire dorsal surface being green to greenish brown with dark speckles. The large, forward pointing, deep red eyes are also very significant.

Habitat:

The bugs shown here were spotted (as were all the others I have ever seen) on Lablab Bean (Lablab purpureus) in our garden. In fact I should mention that I asked my wife to plant it for me to try and attract some specimens of these bugs which I had previously spotted in her mother's garden just about 50 metres away.