Green Shield Bug (Palomena prasina) second instar |
So you can see how small it is - here it is on Dad's big hairy finger! |
It puzzled me for a while though trying to identify it as I couldn't find any small half green half black beetles. Took me a while to find out it wasn't a beetle but an early stage of the life cycle of a Green Shield Bug. I don't have any pictures of the adults but I found a lovely Youtube video which I've added below that shows the adults.
Well, I did my research and here's what I found:
- They are most common England and Wales, hardly at all in Scotland, about 3 records, there has been more records in Ireland than in Scotland.
Working its way up the plant |
- They are found from Spring to Autumn or more specifically, from May to November, so they can still be seen now.
- They will start of as eggs, as in all bugs, and will then hatch into the first form, from what I've seen will then become a bit bigger for three stages of growth.
- They will them take their next form, which is starting to take the shape of the end bug, it then enlarges and grows a shield. It is then the Shield Bug.
- All of these stages, apart from egg and the adult, are called instars. I don't know why but they just are. My pictures are of the Green Shield bug in its second instar.
Up to the top |
- They are usually about 12mm - 13.5 mm long, which is quite small and they could easily get trodden on.
- They can also be called 'Stink bugs' as they will release a smell designed to repel predators away.
- It eats plant sap, leaves of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. So, they have quite a varied diet.
Here's the lovely video of the adult bugs
Here are a few links to some more information:
Here are a few links to some more information:
Hope you enjoyed,
Z.
Lovely little bugs, great shots Zach! - Tasha
ReplyDelete