Acrosternum heegeri is a species of shield bug in the family Pentatomidae (order Hemiptera).
Key Characteristics
• Size: Body length ranges from 7 to 14 mm.
• Color: Mostly green, though brown or reddish-brown specimens can occur. A fine yellow border runs along the lateral sides, including the pronotum and connexivum.
• Antennae: The distal (or last three) antennal segments are orange/reddish rather than green.
• Rostrum: Its mouthparts (rostrum) extend well past the coxae of the third pair of legs, which helps distinguish it from the very similar Acrosternum millierei.
Habitat and Distribution
• Native Range: Widely distributed across the Mediterranean region, including the Iberian Peninsula.
• Northern Expansion: It has expanded northward into Central and Eastern Europe, with established populations recorded in places like Budapest, Hungary, and Vojvodina, Serbia.
• Diet: It is a polyphagous herbivore (feeding on various host plants including pistachios, olives, and legumes) and is considered an economically significant pest in Middle Eastern pistachio plantations.
