| Key to the list at the end of each section: | |
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Black - Bio Blitz 2015 not photographed |
Blue - Bio Blitz 2015 photographed |
Red - photographed & identified by Volunteers |
Green - from NatureSpot |
All pictures are taken on the reserve. |
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Hover over the following pictures to enlarge |
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Bugs
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Bugs, also known as insects, can often be seen as an annoyance to humans, but they play a huge part in our world and 90% of all living things are insects, so they’re very important. |
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Dock Leaf Bug - Coreus marginatus John F - Oct 2016 nymph below Sept 2016 The Dock Leaf Bug is a very common species in the British Isles and parts of Northern America reaching a length of 12-15mm (0.5-0.6in). Found on many flowers both in the garden and open grassy areas, often in small groups of both adults and larvae. It does not have the side stripes seen in other Shield Bug species and it's shoulders are more rounded. It has two small distinctive pointers in the front of the head between the antennae which have dark tips. The Dock Leaf Bug is a large and mottled red brown squash bug with a broad oval abdomen, in the UK it it regarded as a member of the Shield Bug family. There is one generation per year, adults mating and laying eggs in spring. The larvae feed on dock, sorrel and other related plants in the Polygonaceae, new adults may be found from August onwards. Common and widespread in southern Britain, including Ireland, where it may be found in a variety of dry and damp habitats. Length 13-15mm. (0.5-0.7in) Coreidae are a large family of predominantly herbivorous insects of which there are more than 1,800 species in over 250 genera. They vary in size from 7-45mm (0.25-1.7in)). Variable body shape, with some species broadly oval while others are slender. In North America they are colloquially called "Squash Bugs" as some of the species are a pest of squashes. Some exhibit parental care by carrying their eggs. Their general features are an oval-shaped body, four segment antennae, a numerously veined fore wing membrane. There is one generation per year, adults mating and laying eggs in spring. The nymphs feed on dock and other related plants in the Polygonaceae; new adults may be found from August onwards. |
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Green Shield Bug - Palomena prasina Sue & Roy 20140610 In Europe, the bright green shield bugs appear in May, having hibernated as imagos during the winter. They fatten for a month and then mate in June. Copulation is back-to-back in typical Heteropteran mating position, as they are not flexible enough for both to face forward. The female lays her eggs in hexagonal batches of 25 to 30, and a single female will lay three to four batches. The imago's colouration changes over the summer from green to a greenish brown almost a bronze, before death. 3rd instar nymph below John F Oct 2016 |
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Lilly Bug - Lilioceris lilii Sue H The adult lily beetle is about 6 to 9 mm (¼–⅜ in) in length, with relatively long legs and antennae. Its elytra (harder forewings) are bright scarlet and shiny. Its underside, legs, eyes, antennae and head are all black. It has large eyes, a slim thorax, and a wide abdomen. Each antenna is made up of 11 segments. The eyes are notched and there are two grooves on the thorax. It may be confused with the cardinal beetle, which also has red elytra and a black underside. The wing cases of the lily leaf beetle are dimpled and are shinier and more rounded than those of the cardinal beetle, which are relatively dull, and narrower, flatter, and more elongated. |
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Pond Skater - Gerris lacustris John F July 2017 Also known as water striders, these bugs can skate, jump, and fly. Three pairs of long legs and water-repellent feet allow pond skaters to spread their, already light, weight and skate over the surface of water. Pond skaters are carnivorous and eat other insects. |
| Bio Blitz ------ 26-06-2015 blue & black Alder Spittlebug - Aphrophora alni Birch Shieldbug - Elasmostethus interstinctus Common Flower Bug - Anthocoris nemorum Common Froghopper - Philaenus spumarius Common Pondskater - Gerris lacustris Dock Leaf Bug - Coreus Marginatus Green Shieldbug - Palomena prasina Lesser Water Boatman - Corixa punctata Lilly Bug - Lilioceris lilii Pond Skater - Gerris lacustris Potato Leafhopper - Eupteryx aurata |
Sedate Shieldbug - Troilus luridus Spear Thistle Lacebug - Tingis cardui Tarnished Plant Bug - Lygus rugulipennis Anthocoris nemoralis Corizus hyoscyami Deraeocoris flavilinea Heterotoma planicornis Leptopterna dolabrata Stenodema laevigata |