[Eristic]

Does anyone know what these bugs are? They have suddenly appeared on a number of plots at my site and seem to favour runner beans. While they are not hurting the bean plants which are just about due for clearance, they do seem to be proliferating and spreading to other plants, notably on my plot the Mirabilis flowers which are also due for the chop any day now.

The larger specimens are about 10mm long. The last thing I need on my plot next year is half-inch long aphids.

[Gwiz]

are they after aphids? they could be some of those foriegn ladybirds.
( theres a joke there somewhere, if only i could find it.... )

[Oliver]

The larger specimens are about 10mm long. The last thing I need on my plot next year is half-inch long aphids.

Horrors, Eristic - If you don't know what these are there's not much hope for the rest of us! 10mm is huge.

I'll get her to look in her 'foreign' book and report back. - O

[milkman]

Hallo Ertistic they do look like some form of ladybird to me - hopefully not the dreaded american harlequin invader - I've never tried putting a website link in a reply before so apologies if this doesn't work - but I think that on this website you may be able to email a pic of your bugs to someone who might be able to identify them - I'd be interested to find out what they turn out to be.

www.harlequin-survey.org/recording.htm

[muntjac]

as i like me bugs n butterflies i sent a request to the natural history museum in london emptemology dept.
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/departments/entomology/

hope to hear from them soon.it doesnt look like one of the variations of harlequin so it could be interesting

[muntjac]

Hi Karl,
 
Yep, Nezara viridula, the Southern Green Shield Bug.
 
These are the dark form that are found later in the year, to do with the colder weather I believe, they are usually quite green
at the front end at least.
 
This species was first found in the UK 3 years ago, in London and has since exploded in south, east and north London. It has
certainly been a good year this year with unprecedented sightings. In southern Europe and Australia, where it has been introduced,
it is a major pest of commercially grown beans and tomatoes, as it could prove to be here.
 
Regards,
 
Stuart Hine


am awaiting news as to whether to this bug should be killed off seems like it is gonna be on the hit list asap

[Eristic]

Very interesting and somewhat worrying.

Should I report the colonies to any authority?

[muntjac]

Nope, do what you feel is necessary - that said they are at the end of their season with
not a lot of beans left to ravage. Ensuing adults will hibernate to wreak havoc next year
though.
 
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: KTRAYNIERsnr@aol.com [mailto:KTRAYNIERsnr@aol.com]
Sent: 16 October 2006 14:05
To: Insects
Subject: Re: An enquiry from the Insect Identification Service page 2006/854


no kil them quickly afore they go to hibernate is the thinking

[Oliver]

.... to the natural history museum in london emptemology dept.
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/departments/entomology/

We have not been able to come up with anything yet, but you have nothing to lose sending some to the address as requested on muntjac's posting. Let us know how you get on. O

[Gwiz]

are those the ones that are a light green, but look armour plated? if so they look very different with their clothes on..  

[muntjac]

yeh mate them  green ones is like naturists? green until they get a decent tan

[toto691]

Awww. theyre lil babies.....!!!

[Heather_S]

OH! How interesting, I didn't know they looked so different as juveniles. I had one of those (green) shieldbugs in my hair over the weekend.
Also known as stink bugs as they are smelly when squashed or handled, just as a warning.

[Oliver]

yeh mate them  green ones is like naturists? green until they get a decent tan

QUOTE
Q: To Dr Kendall: are these baby shield bugs?
REPLY: Yes, they are shield bug babies+
Nymphs (young stages) of a Shield Bug, also called a Stink Bug, insect order Hemiptera, suborder Heteroptera, family Pentatomidae or Acanthosomatidae. Not sure about the species (hence uncertainty about family). Feed by sucking plant sap (much like aphids), but rarely cause significant damage unless present in very large numbers.
 
Regards,
David Kendall

Dr D A Kendall BSc PhD
Kendall Bioresearch Services
2 Birchdene, Nailsea, Bristol
North Somerset BS48 1QD, UK
Tel/Fax: 01275 854224
Email: kendalluk@aol.com
Web: http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/
UNQUOTE

We have had lots of brown shield bugs on our rhubard and on the raspberries (eat one and you know all about it!!!) but we must confess we have never looked at the rhubarb etc this late in the season, in this detail. Well, thanks Eristic - learn something everyday!
Regards
Olly

[James]

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0900/green_shield_bug.asp