And this time it’s just Shieldbugs. If I have any of the identification wrong (especially with the instars) please feel free to correct me.
An final instar Bronze Shieldbug with a caterpillar for lunch. (thanks to AM with correct ID on all of the Shieldbugs)
A Common Flower Bug came to have a look.
The Shieldbug just carried on.
It didn’t take long to suck it dry.
Final instar Bronze Shieldbug.
4th instar Bronze Shieldbug.
Final instar Birch Shieldbug.
Spiked Shieldbug.
Hairy Shieldbug.
5th instar Hairy Shieldbug.
Gorse Shieldbug.
Common Green Shieldbug.
The next few images are Common Green Shieldbugs at various
stages of development.
Great set of images Ron, hope you don't mind but sadly despite lacking the yellow bands on the antennae your Blue Bug nymph is most certainly a Bronze bug final instar, the red and metallic green form is my favourite, a little gem. Am jealous of your sighting though, must have been great to watch it with its prey (though not for the caterpillar). A hint on ID, if the wing buds are prominent down the sides of the abdomen (as shown well in your Birch bug) it's a 5th (final) instar, true of all species, so the pink Bronze nymph is also final and the cream one will be a 4th. By the same feature, the Hairy nymph is also a 5th instar. And just to be a pedant, Spined is the American name for our Spiked bug, not that it makes much difference to the bug. A good haul of shieldbugs there though, I've only seen one Spiked Bug this year and always a treat to get those Bronze nymphs. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the help Alan. I think I look but I don’t always see all the subtle differences.
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