Carpocoris mediterraneus ssp. atlanticus is a subspecies of shield bug (stink bug) in the family Pentatomidae, commonly found across the Iberian Peninsula, the Maghreb, and southern France.
Key Characteristics
• Size: Approximately 11 to 13 mm in length with a shield-like body.
• Coloration: Variable yellow, orange, or pale reddish tones marked with dark spots and stripes.
• Pronotum: Wider than the nominal subspecies (Carpocoris mediterraneus mediterraneus), featuring prominent, sharp, dark-tipped side angles (giving a "broad-shouldered" appearance).
• Antennae: 5-segmented, with the first segment often reddish.
Habitat and Diet
• Diet: Polyphagous plant-feeder (herbivore) that feeds on plant sap, particularly favoring umbellifers (Apiaceae like parsley and wild carrot) and Asteraceae.
• Behavior: Frequently seen during summer resting or feeding on the upper parts, flowers, and seeds of herbaceous plants.
• Distribution: Prevalent in Spain and Portugal, the Maghreb region, and parts of southern France, whereas the other subspecies (C. m. mediterraneus) populates the eastern and central Mediterranean basin.
