Hawthorn Shield Bug
Beautiful bugs with an unfortunate Latin name…
Hawthorn Shield bug – Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale
Length – 13mm – 16mm
Common in Britain and Ireland, scarce in Scotland.
As the name suggests, this shield bug’s preferred food source is Hawthorn, but it can also be found on other trees and shrubs.
Adult Hawthorn Shield bug
They are also known as ‘Stink Bugs’, as are other shield bugs, because they can release a noxious fluid when disturbed, which is very effective at deterring predators.
The adult overwinters, emerging in the spring to mate.
After hatching from the eggs, the larvae go through several changes of shape and colouring. These larvae can be seen from May to October, and then change into their last phase as an adult.
These are some of the changes that they go through, not necessarily in the right order, as I am not an expert!
Beautiful Adult Hawthorn Shield bug with the metallic markings visible.
http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/idcards/life_stages.html
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13 Responses to “Hawthorn Shield Bug”
On October 12, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Interesting…lots of bug pics…
On October 12, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Yes but I’m afraid they are the enemies of my garden…
On October 12, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I have quite a few of them in my garden, and I haven’t noticed much damage. Perhaps they are a problem if you have a lot of them..
On October 12, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Gorgeous bugs!! I love ‘em!
On October 12, 2009 at 7:34 pm
The study of bugs have made several people rich! Fan, smile, friend
On October 13, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Aren’t they beautiful, I had one in my kitchen on the dish drainer! we have a photo of it some where. Lovely article.
On October 13, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Interesting latin name Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale someone must have once found a PILE of em
On October 13, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I used to see them when I had a yard and garden. They are stinky.
On October 14, 2009 at 8:26 pm
wow!!! what a close up… they were cute in here unlike when you saw them afar! great shot!!!
On October 17, 2009 at 7:03 am
I haven’t seen these bugs before. I don’t know if we have hem in the UK. A very good and well presented article.
Christine
On October 17, 2009 at 7:56 am
Nice article on a bug. It’s a bug’s world.
On October 17, 2009 at 8:03 pm
I invite you to see bugs (not the computer’s) at my website: http://palawaniana.webnode.com/products/fauna-in-palawan/
On November 4, 2009 at 4:52 am
Really they lost in our gardens,You caught them in front of us!!!
Thanks
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