Striped shield bugs, also called Italian striped bug or minstrel bug, have an easily recognizable coloration. Thus, they are among the best-known bugs in everybody’s garden. They are named after their shape, which does remind one of the shields, knights used to defend themselves with in medieval times.
The body of striped shield bugs is almost round and can reach a length of 8-12 mm. The upper side of the body is bright red with wide black longitudinal stripes. The sides of the abdomen are bright red with black spots. The head is small; antennae and legs are black.
The bold red and black warning colors indicate that the insects are not edible. They are foul-tasting, protecting them from predators. The nymphs do not have the red-black stripe pattern; they are mostly brownish or grayish.