With the mild wet weather insects seem to carry on later than usual....global warming, climate change?
The photos above shows a Western Conifer Seed Bug nymph Leptoglossus occidentalis.
It was first detected in Britain in 2007, when a single adult was found in a classroom at Weymouth College, Dorset. In the late summer of 2008 there were more than 45 reported sightings of this insect. Since July 2009, Fera and Forest Research have received details of more than 100 sightings, predominantly from along the south coast, but also inland from across much of England (Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, East and West Sussex, East Yorkshire, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Leicestershire, London, Merseyside, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Yorkshire, Worcestershire), in south Wales (Swansea) and the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey). Nymphs have been found at a number of locations, which suggests that a breeding population has established.
Here we seem a long way from the south of England, but like Harlequin Ladybird it is becoming an unwanted feature to our countryside.
Adult above, with the various instars, easily overlooked as on of our native Squash Bug, or assassin bug.
In Europe, there have been no reports so far of severe damage to conifer seed orchards or in forests.
However, most records of L. occidentalis in Europe have come from parks, gardens and buildings in
towns and cities and it is too early to say, at the moment, what impact L. occidentalis might eventually
have on its host plants in the UK.
The next little chap is a Empicoris vagabundus.
Empicoris species are known as thread-legged bugs; although similar to the stilt bugs, they are easily distinguished by the curved rostrum. The rostrum is a straw like mouth piece that sucks its insect prey dry. The two adapted front legs are much like a preying mantis, they are for grabbing and holding its prey while it feeds.
E. vagabundus is the commonest of the three species, and best identified by its larger size and the pale sides of the connexivum.
Adult: All year
Length 6-7 mm
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