Editing Parent bug (section)

==Description==
''Elasmucha grisea'' can reach a length of {{convert|6.5|-|8.8|mm}}. Males are smaller than females. These medium-sized shield bugs are usually brown-reddish, but there are also gray (hence the Latin species name ''grisea'') and green-brown specimens. The connexiva are black and white. The upper side is covered with several dark dots. The scutellum usually shows an evident black patch.<ref name=BB>[http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Acanthosomatidae/elasmucha_grisea.html British Bugs]</ref> The ventral face is largely punctuated with black. The lateral corners of the pronotum are simply beveled. The front corners of the pronotum show a more pronounced tooth. Antennae are blackish in the male, dark brown in the female.<ref name=Cle>François Dusoulier, Claire Mouquet [http://www.gretia.org/phocadownload/cahiers_gretia/IA01/Invertebres_Armoricains_N1_7-13.pdf Clé de détermination des Acanthosomatidae Signoret, 1864 du Massif armoricain (Hemiptera, Heteroptera).]</ref>

This species, like other parent bugs, possesses [[Metathorax|metathoracic]] and abdominal glands, which discharge a foul smelling [[secretion]].<ref name="roth">Roth S, Adaschkiewitz, Fischer C (2006) Notes on the bionomics of ''Elasmucha grisea'' (LINNAEUS 1758) (Heteroptera, Acanthosomatidae) with special regard to joint brood guarding. zugleich Kataloge der OÖ, Landesmuseen Neue Serie 50:1153–1167</ref><ref name="hanelova">Hanelova J, Vilimova J (2013) Behaviour of the central European Acanthosomatidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea) during oviposition and parental care Acta Musei Moraviae, Scientiae biologicae 98:433-457</ref> This secretion is used to deter potential enemies and is sometimes released when the bug is disturbed.