Monday 13 July 2020

A few Shieldbugs

Polly M pointed out some interesting little 'beetles' just hatching from their eggs last week, and on closer examination, these seemed to be the 'first instar' (or first life-cycle stage) of the Common Green Shieldbug. There were a quite a number of these little shieldbugs hatching together from their eggs on a Sweet Pea leaf. The following day they had dispersed leaving just the empty eggs.

As often seems to happen when one sees something, Andy M started noticing shieldbugs all over the place. Shortly afterwards he spotted an adult Common Green Shieldbug, and a Red-legged Shieldbug in the garden, and a splendidly-coloured Hairy Shieldbug adult along the ORC.

The excellent 'British Bugs' website was extremely useful in identifying these True Bugs, and a very good source of information about these interesting creatures.
https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/index.html

First instar Common Green Shieldbug - just hatched ..
.. and their empty egg-cases the next morning
Adult Common Green Shieldbug
Adult Common Green Shieldbug
Adult Common Green Shieldbug

Adult Red-legged Shieldbug

Adult Hairy Shieldbug on the flowers of Ladies Bedstraw
Adult Hairy Shieldbug  






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The Aims of Abington Naturewatch

At their meeting on 9 April 2005 the members approved this revised version of the aims of Abington Naturewatch:

  • To monitor and record the wildlife (fauna & flora) within the borders of the Abingtons;
  • To encourage protection of our wildlife, maintain its quality and foster its diversity;
  • To promote awareness of the richness, potential and problems of the natural environment of the Abingtons;
  • To cooperate in improving access to the local natural environment for the benefit of all Abington villagers.

Pat Daunt, Founder

The organisation is informal and communication is by email if possible; members are notified of events from time to time. Contact details are maintained by a small "project team". There is currently no membership fee as costs are covered by voluntary contributions at events.

Members are encouraged to report notable sightings of flora and fauna within the Abingtons to the appropriate sector coordinator and an illustrated record is published annually.

A map of the area covered, with some features noted, is available here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213774935674882866424.00000111dca2be9f06ab8&z=13>

For more information or to join, please contact David Farrant on (01223) 892871.

Contributions to our records should be sent to sector contacts or either of the above. Photographs may also be submitted to Andy Merryweather (amerryweather61@gmail.com)