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.

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.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland. The specimens found at County Hall, Glenfield on 27h August 2014 are the first record for VC55.