Tag: Shieldbugs

Pied Shieldbug

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Tritomegas bicolor

Pied Shieldbug (Tritomegas bicolor)

This is a distinctive black and white shieldbug. Length 7mm.

It feeds on the seeds of White Dead-nettle and Black Horehound.

The adults can be seen all year round, but especially in the spring when they emerge in fair numbers from hibernation. Found on nettles and similar plants, in hedgerows and woodland margins. Common and widespread in southern England and much rarer further north, and absent from Scotland and Ireland.

May 2012, local canal, Staffordshire. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38. © Pete Hillman 2012.

Hawthorn Shieldbug #2

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Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)

Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)

Photographs of Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale), taken September 2016, rear garden , Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens

Hawthorn Shield Bug

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Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale

Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)

I find I get a lot of these bugs visiting my garden. Typically, like all shield bugs, this bug is shield-shaped, which is generally green in colour with a triangle of reddish-brown on its back with a green centre. The wings are red-tipped, and the antennae are long with few segments. It can grow up to 15mm long.

Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)

It releases a pungent odour when attacked or alarmed. It feed on fruits and leaves of various trees and shrubs, especially Hawthorn.

Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)

Seen all year round, although usually dormant during the winter months. It favours hedgerows and woods, but maybe seen in gardens. A common and widespread species, but mainly in the south.

Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)

Photographs of Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale), taken August 2016, rear garden , Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens with softbox flash diffuser.

Young Bug

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Hawthorn Shield Bug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) mid instar

This is the young or mid instar of the Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale). Eventually this nymph will grow into a fully winged adult with its familiar markings. To learn more about the adult please visit my Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) post.

Photograph of Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) mid instar, taken August 2016, rear garden , Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens with softbox flash diffuser.

Hairy Shieldbug

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Dolycoris baccarum

Also called the ‘Sloe Bug’, it is a medium-sized bug with narrow shoulders which do not project beyond the width of the abdomen. It is very hairy, and it is normally brownish to reddish in colouration. The scutellum is greenish with a yellow tip. It is a about 12mm long.

They feed on a wide range of plant material, including fruits and seeds.

Found in woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens. It is common and widespread throughout Britain except the far north.

Photographs taken May 2014, local woodland margin, Staffordshire.