Review of 2019 and 2020 - Bugs: Keeled, Burrowing and Typical Shieldbugs and Squashbugs

KEELED SHIELDBUGS (ACANTHOSOMATIDAE)


Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale - One at the Meadows on 21st May 2019 and one at home on 26th July (an early instar found on my car).  The early instar was quite a different-looking beast to the adults I am more used to seeing.  4 adults in 20202, at Hills and Holes on 21st May, at Whitwell Street on 3rd September and in the garden moth trap on 8th and 15th September.

Hawthorn Shieldbug (early instar), North Elmham, 26th July 2019

Hawthorn Shieldbug, Hills and Holes, 21st May 2020

Birch Shieldbug Elasmostethus interstinctus - At least 30 caught in my garden moth trap over 14 dates between 24th June and 9th September 2019 (not counted one night, max 5 on 29th June).  Also 6 at Swanton Novers on 27th August.  Fewer in 2020 when 15 between 5th and 25th August.

Birch Shieldbug, North Elmham, 25th August 2020

Parent Bug Elasmucha grisea - At least 6 on eggs on Downy Birch at the meadows on 6th June 2019 and one on 15th.  Sadly the birches have been chopped down now.  2 in the garden moth trap on 31st July 2020, my first here since 2017, and one at Whitwell Street on 3rd September.

Parent Bug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 6th June 2019

Parent Bugs, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

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SQUASHBUGS (COREIDAE)


Dock Bug Coreus marginatus - 24 seen on 10 dates at the Cathedral Meadows in 2019 inlcuding one late instar nymph.  The majority were on Dock between 20th April and 25th August when there was a peak of 9 on 12th May, but there was one on Ivy on 12th October and one came to light on 1st November.  Also 3 on blackberries at Lyng Easthaugh on 15th September.  Fewer in 2020 with just 7 at the meadows between 2nd May and 11th September (including another late instar nymph) but in 2020 I recorded my first garden records with one on Mint on 10th April and one on Honeysuckle on 12th April.  Continuing the non-Dock theme I also found 8 on Fat Hen at the allotments on 6th September.

Dock Bug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th May 2019

Dock Bug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st June 2020

Dock Bug nymph, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd August 2020

Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus - My first example of this species was at the meadows (strictly speaking just a few inches outside of the recording area, in Church Lane), on 14th September 2019.  It was on Ivy but with Hawthorn and Plums in the immediate vicinity.  I found another along the same lane, this time inside the recording area, on 29th September 2020.

Box Bug, North Elmham (Church Lane), 14th September 2019

Box Bug, North Elmham (Church Lane), 29th September 2020

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BURROWING SHIELDBUGS (CYDNIDAE)


Bordered Shieldbug Legnotus limbosus - Another new species for me, came to light at the meadows on 31st May 2019.

Bordered Shieldbug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 31st May 2019

Pied Shieldbug Tritomegas bicolor - After a frustrating brief view of what was almost certainly one at the meadows on 25th March 2020 (I was looking for the species at the time, but it disappeared into the White Dead Nettle as I clapped eyes on it) I got a proper look at one in a different part of the meadows on 24th April (seen again in the same area in April 2021).

Pied Shieldbug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 24th April 2020

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TYPICAL SHIELDBUGS (PENTATOMIDAE)


Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug Aelia acuminata - One at Brancaster on 2nd July 2020 was my first example of this distinctive species.

Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug, Brancaster, 2nd July 2020

Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum - Recorded at the meadows on 3 dates between 20th April and 25th May 2019 (including 6 on the latter date) and on 6 dates between 25th April and 19th August.  Also recorded in my garden for the first time with one on a dead Buddleia flowerhead on 24th August 2019 and another on 27th.

Hairy Shieldbug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd May 2019

Brassica Shieldbug Eurydema oleracea - A new species for me with 6 (3 mating pairs) on Wintercress at the meadows on 25th May 2019.  Then 10 at Frost's Common on 21st May 2020, again on Wintercress and agin including several mating pairs.

Brassica Shieldbugs, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Brassica Shieldbugs, Frost's Common, 21st May 2020

Woundwort Shieldbug Eysarcoris venustissimus - 3 on Mullein at the meadows on 21st June 2019.  There is Hedge Woundwort growing nearby (and Marsh Woundwort even closer but I'm not sure they go on that).

Woundwort Shieldbugs, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st June 2019

Small Grass Shieldbug Neottiglossa pusilla - I had the good fortune of meeting Steve Lane while looking for dragonflies at Winterton on 19th August 2019 and he showed me one of these that he had swept; a new species for me.

Small Grass Shieldbug, Winterton, 19th August 2019

Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina - Adults in my garden on 19th April and 24th November 2019 and 17th May 2020, 2 of which came to light.  A total of 10 found at the meadows including 7 nymphs: on 11th and 30th September 2019 and between 20th July and 16th September 2020.  These were found during the daytime on a variety of plants including White Willow, Ash (among keys), Currant, Pedunculate Oak, Dog Rose, Hazel and Great Mullein.

Common Green Shieldbug, North Elmham, 19th April 2019

Common Green Shieldbug nymph, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th September 2019

Common Green Shieldbug nymph, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th July 2020

Common Green Shieldbug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th September 2020

Common Green Shieldbug nymphs, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th September 2020

Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes - I still know these by the name given in my old Michael Chinery guide to insects  (Forest Bug) but Red-legged Shieldbug seems to be the more popular name for them nowadays (and is probably more appropriate) so I'll use that here.  Totals of 48 came to my garden moth trap over 16 dates between 23rd July and 12th September 2019 and 58 over 20 dates between 24th July and 8th September 2020.  Peak counts were 11 both years (3rd September 2019 and 14th August 2020).  Much smaller numbers seen at the meadows (mostly adults to light but also a couple of nymphs by torchlight and beating).  Also recorded at Swanton Novers where 100 came to light on 27th August 2019, Row Heath (West Runton) and Whitwell Street.

early instar Red-legged Shieldbug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th October 2019

mid instar Red-legged Shieldbug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2020

Red-legged Shieldbug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2020

Gorse Shieldbug Piezodorus lituratus - A final instar swept from Broom at the meadows on 7th August 2019.  It was taken home to check the ID and moulted to adult on 11th August.

final instar Gorse Shieldbug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2019

the same Gorse Shieldbug, teneral after moulting to adult, 11th August 2019

the same Gorse Shieldbug a day later, 12th August 2019

Next page: Rhopalidae

A new Pigmy moth and some good bugs

92 moths of 30 species on 18th September was good for the time of year.  They included my first Barred Sallow of the year, my fifth Vetch Sober Aproaerema anthyllidella of the year (not a bad tally for a species I'd only ever seen three times before) and also by far my latest ever Clouded Silver.  The latter was worn, so unlikely a new second generation, but over a month past my previous latest (9th August).  I think it might be the latest ever in Norfolk too.

Barred Sallow, North Elmham, 18th September

Clouded Silver, North Elmham, 18th September

There were a few Neuroptera too: 3 Chrysoperla carnea (plus 2 female aggs.), Conwentzia psociformis and 5 Hemerobius lutescens.  Also no shortage of caddisflies with Oxyethira flavicornis, Hydropsyche pellucidula, 2 Mottled Sedges Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Limnephilus affinis, 6 Limnephilus auricula, 2 Limnephilus flavicornis, 16 Limnephilus lunatus, 2 Limnephilus marmoratus, 2 Limnephilus sparsus and Limnephilus vittatus.

A new bug for me was Orthotylus marginalis.  Well, it keyed out to this, but the key recommends you check the male genitalia, and this was a female, so not sure if the ID of females is 100% safe or not.

Orthotylus marginalis, North Elmham, 18th September

Another good bug, new for the garden, was the psyllid Psyllopsis fraxinicola.

Psyllopsis fraxinicola, North Elmham, 18th September

A Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae was new for the year.

Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae, North Elmham, 18th September

Apparently it's normal for Hawthorn Shieldbug to get darker before hibernating, but I don't often see them like this.

Hawthorn Shieldbug, North Elmham, 18th September

Other bugs were Forest Bug, Psallus varians, 2 Empoasca vitis, 2 Kybos betulicola, 2 Kybos strigilifer, 2 other (female) Kybos sp. and a female Edwardsiana sp.  Other things included 2 Ectopsocus sp. (barflies), the beetle Aphodius rufipes and a Hornet.

I don't think Kybos betulicola and Kybos strigilifer can be reliably separated other than by their male genitalia but interesting that both betulicola differed from both strigilifer in their general colouration, the strigilifer being paler and more yellowy-green.

Kybos betulicola (male, gen det), North Elmham, 18th September

Kybos strigilifer (male, gen det), North Elmham, 18th September

The following night there weren't quite so many moths but among them was a Norway-maple Pigmy Ectoedemia sericopeza, a new species for me.  It's a relatively distinctive species among the Nepticulids but although the colour of the collar is a clue it's hard to tell apart from Maple-seed Pigmy Ectoedemia louisella.  The collar colour suggested sericopera but this species was new to Norfolk as recently as 2013 and I'm not sure where my nearest Norway Maple is, it seemed sensible to check its genitalia (well, ok, I would have done anyway even if it was common).  Fortunately there are a couple of very clear differences between the male genitalia of these two species, so the ID was confirmed.  I think it was the first time an adult has been recorded in Norfolk, except where bred out from a mine (but there's been another since).

Norway-maple Pigmy Ectoedemia sericopeza (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th September

The other moths were 2 Garden Midgets Phyllonorycter messaniella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 7 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Maiden's Blush, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Riband Wave, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, 3 Brimstone Moths, 3 Dusky Thorns, Light Emerald, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic, White-point, Common Wainscot, Beaded Chestnut, 10 Lunar Underwings, Straw Dot and 2 Snouts.

A Hemerobius lutescens was the only lacewing and there were fewer caddisflies: Grammotaulius nigropunctatus, 10 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis, 11 Limnephilus lunatus, Limnephilus marmoratus, Limnephilus sparsus and Halesus radiatus.

There were a few leafhoppers though, including Edwardsiana lethierryi, a new species for the garden.

Edwardsiana lethierryi (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th September

The other leafhoppers were 2 Empoasca vitis, Kybos sp. and 4 Fagocyba cruenta. Other bugs were Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae and Lygus pratensis.  The barkfly Valenzuela flavidus was new for the year for the garden.

Valenzuela flavodus, North Elmham, 19th September

The only other things I recorded were 2 Hornets and 2 Common Frogs.

The following night was much quieter with just 17 moths: Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Dusky Thorn, Light Emerald, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, 4 Lunar Underwings, Vine's Rustic and Snout.

Other things were 2 Chrysoperla carnea (green lacewings), Hemerobius lutescens (brown lacewing), Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, 5 Limnephilus auricula and 3 Limnephilus lunatus (caddisflies), Birch Shieldbug, Forest Bug, Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae, Ectopsocus petersi (barkfly) and 2 more Ectopscous sp.

Small Purple Flat-body (Agonopterix purpurea)

Best moth on 11th September was an early Large Wainscot.  Thought it would turn out to be a plain-looking Bulrush Wainscot given the date but (a) they don't seem to ever be this plain, (b) it looks ok for Large and (c) apparently it's not too early for Large, although by far my earliest ever.

Large Wainscot, North Elmham, 11th September

Otherwise it was pretty quiet: 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 6 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, 4 Common Marbled Carpets, 2 Brimstone Moths, Willow Beauty, 2 Light Emeralds, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 8 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, 2 Frosted Oranges, 3 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass and 7 Snouts.

Things picked up dramatically the next evening.  Even before starting on what was inside the trap I'd found 52 moths of 15 species round the outside.  Two moths were new for the garden: the wonderful Pied Smudge Ypsolopha sequella and Winter Groundling Scrobipalpa costella.

Pied Smudge Yposolopha sequella, North Elmham, 12th September

Winter Groundling Scrobipalpa costella, North Elmham, 12th September

Common Birch Bell Epinotia immundana and Lunar Underwing were also new for the year.

Common Birch Bell Epinotia immundana, North Elmham, 12th September

There are a small number of moths that I used to get at the old house at Bawdeswell in much greater numbers than I do here at North Elmham.  Small Dusty Wave is one with, for example 177 recorded on 59 dates in 2013, compared to just singles recorded on 8 dates at North Elmham in 2015.  I've done fractionally better this year but a count of 5 Small Dusty Waves on 11th was quite unexpected here.  A count of 20 Common Marbled Carpets was equally unexpected, more than doubling my previous best.  Another count that came close to double my previous best was 16 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana.

The remainder consisted of Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, White-shouldered Smudge Ypsolopha parenthesella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 6 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 7 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 8 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Grey Pine Carpet, 3 Green Carpets, 11 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn, 9 Light Emeralds, Turnip Moth, 15 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Flounced Rustics, 2 Rosy Rustics, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, 2 Straw Dots and 27 Snouts.

Other things in the trap included 2 Hemerobius lutescens (a Brown Lacewing), 2 Birch Shieldbugs, Forest Bug and my first Orange Ladybird here this year.

 Orange Ladybird, North Elmham, 12th September

Two moths were new for the year the following night: Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana and Sallow.

Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana, North Elmham, 13th September

Sallow, North Elmham, 13th September

The rest were Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, 6 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 9 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 13 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, Small Blood-vein, 5 Common Marbled Carpets, 2 Green Carpets, 5 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 5 Light Emeralds, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, 5 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Common Wainscots, Copper Underwing, 2 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, 3 Straw Dots and 17 Snouts.

Birch Shieldbug, Forest Bug, Hornet and Common Wasp were among the other inhabitants of my trap while a Small Tortoiseshell had flown into my study earlier in the day.

A trip to the local patch on 14th September produced lots of occupied mines of Nut Leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli.  Also Southern Hawker, Common Darters, the Brown Lacewing Hemerobius lutescens, 2 Speckled Woods, 30 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana and the hoverfly Eristalis tenax.

Eristalis tenax, Bittering, 14th September

Although there weren't many moths that night one of them was a welcome lifer, Small Purple Flat-body Agonopterix purpurea.

Small Purple Flat-body Agonopterix purpurea, North Elmham, 14th September

The others were Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 9 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 24 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Wax Moth Galleria mellonella, Small Blood-vein, 3 Common Marbled Carpets, Green Carpet, Brimstone Moth, 2 Light Emeralds, 8 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic, 3 Common Wainscots, 2 Lunar Underwings, 3 Flounced Rustics, 2 Rosy Rustics, Frosted Orange, 3 Straw Dots and 6 Snouts.

A visit to Burnham Overy on 15th was mainly for birds rather than insects, which is lucky as the dank conditions weren't good for the latter.  I did manage 3 Carnation Tortrixes Cacoecimorpha pronubana though.  Also a Pine Hawk-moth caterpillar in Holkham Pines rolling around manically and looking pretty ugly for a hawk-moth.

Pine Hawk-moth caterpillar, Holkham Pines, 15th September

I think this has to be Crab Brittlegill but please correct me if I'm wrong.  (*Edit* Thanks to James for pointing out that while this is probably correct it could be something else, e.g. Bloody Brittlegill - see his comment below.  At least it was a Brittlegill... I must be improving!)

probable Crab Brittlegill, Holkham Pines, 15th September

That night the moth trap contained Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 18 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Single-dotted Wave, Flame Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Brimstone Moth, Dusky Thorn, Willow Beauty, 8 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Square-spot Rustic, 5 Lunar Underwings, Flounced Rustic, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, Silver Y, Straw Dot and 5 Snouts.

Flame Carpet, North Elmham, 15th September

I used to see lots coming to light at my last house but this Hawthorn Shieldbug in the trap was my first in over 2 years at North Elmham.  Also 2 Birch Shieldbugs and 2 Hornets.

Hawthorn Shieldbug, North Elmham, 15th September