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Thursday 13 August 2009

Green Shield Bug

Green Shield Bug
(Palomena prasina)
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The name shield bug is due to the shield shape of the adult insects when seen from above.

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Often mistaken for beetles, shield bugs belong to a different group of insects, the Hemiptera. They feed by sucking sap from a wide range of plants but generally cause no noticeable damage to cultivated plants, even when numerous.

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In the last few years I've been noticing more and more of these little bugs, and it seems to have become more abundant and widespread in the UK as a whole. This one landed on the outside table and seemed happy to sit on my finger and swop stares.... ain't it cute.. ;O)

9 comments:

Dina said...

Your bug is cute. But not when one is attracted to my reading light and lands on my bed at night. :)

imac said...

From Land rover man to Bug Man.
Neat post - my friend.

Manchester Lass, Now and Then said...

Sorry Tom but I don't find any bugs cute, except the ladybird or ladybug as Aussies call them. Friendly little chap though! Have a great weekend.

Manchester Lass, Now and Then said...

Forgot to add that your title reminded me of Green Shield Stamps! I'm not sure if you remember them?

Tom said...

Linda...
I remember them well.... I also remember a saying from around here that went something like this:
If they fell off the Co-Op roof they'd land on the Divi..

Manchester Lass, Now and Then said...

Good old Co-Op.

Jane Hards Photography said...

I recall green shield stamps thinking of the title. For a bug it is cute.

Pauline The Yorkshire Rose said...

are they a pest?

Anonymous said...

Nice shots! It's a Birch shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus)
Regards
Rockwolf