Box Bug - Gonocerus acuteangulatus

Length 11 to 14 mm. A relatively large reddish-brown squashbug, distinguished from the commoner Coreus marginatus by the narrower abdomen and more pointed lateral extremities of the pronotum. Nymphs have a green abdomen which can become dull red late in the season.

The more common Dock Bug has a more rounded abdomen.

It is exploiting different foodplants, and has been found on hawthorn, buckthorn, yew and plum trees.

Adult: All year

Historically very rare (RBD1) and known only from Box Hill in Surrey, where it feeds on Box trees, this bug is expanding its range and now occurs widely in the south-east of England and beyond.

First found in Leicestershire and Rutland in 2014 at County Hall, Glenfield it has now become much more widespread and reasonably common.