Woodlands Historic Park True Bugs

Ground Jewel Bug (<i>Choerocoris paganus</i>) at Woodlands Historic Park
Ground Jewel Bug, mid January.
Ground Jewel Bug, side view at Woodlands Historic Park
Side View (photo Andrew Allen)
Ground Jewel Bug (<i>Choerocoris paganus</i>) at Woodlands Historic Park
The pattern of the adult is quite variable
Ground Jewel Bug (<i>Choerocoris paganus</i>) at Woodlands Historic Park
A mating pair with different patterns. It is not known whether particular patterns are more common in males or females.
Ground Jewel Bug (<i>Choerocoris paganus</i>) at Woodlands Historic Park
A nymph.

Most of the above photos were taken of a colony under a Shiny Hop Bush, where there were at least a hundred adults and nymphs feeding on the fallen seed.

Classification

from Australian Faunal Directory

Order Hemiptera - bugs, hoppers and scale insects
Suborder Heteroptera - true bugs, 2806 named species in Australia
Superfamily PENTATOMOIDEA - Shield Bugs, 572 named species in Australia
Family SCUTELLERIDAE - Jewel Bugs, 28 species in Australia
Genus Choerocoris
Species Choerocoris paganus