Hawthorn Shield Bug

[gillsnewgroove]

Hi all,

I'm curious about the Hawthorn Shield Bug. One of these beautiful beasties flew into my living room a few weeks ago. I'd never seen a Hawthorn Shield Bug before so went on the net to find out what it was. The thing I found strange was that all the web pages said there aren't any in Scotland! All the books I've looked at also say this. Bit strange, either this one was lost or they've started living here, I don't know, but this one was definitely in my living room in East Kilbride, Scotland.

Does anyone know about this lovely wee bug? I'd love to know why it was here.

Thanks, Gill

[StuartDH]

Hi Gill,

Despite what the books say, it's certainly not impossible, however it may have been a Birch shieldbug. They look very similar to the Hawthorn and they're found almost anywhere that you find birch trees.

There's also the green shieldbug and pied shieldbug, but they're not too common in the north

It may be worth speaking to your local biological records officer to see if it's an isolated case.

If he returns, be sure to get a photo of him and post it in the Gallery

[Eileen]

Hi Gill,

I've seen a couple of Hawthorn Shield bugs over the last couple of years. The latest sighting was in my sons hair at his Grandads funeral!! I think they are few and far between.

[gillsnewgroove]

Thanks for the replies guys. Sounds like I'm a lucky girl to have seen him!!!

[BigAl]

Just to say Ithat at exceptionally beatifful shield bug landed on my arm yesterday, (3rd September) and stayed for about 30 minutes. It was an iridescent emerald green colour, with coppery bronze markings.

I would describe the markings as 3-lobed, radiating from the centre, rather like a back view of Harold Hare, sitting erect, with the 'ears' pointing to the head of the shield bug. Then there was a curved copper-bronze marking joining the tips of the ears.

My Observers Book of Insects showed that thius was very similar to the Birch shield bug, except that this seems to have a 4-lobed marking.

I've decided that it was probably the hawthorn shield bug. I was pruning shrubs which included buddleia and deutzia at the time it landed on me.

Any comments.

Also, while I'm here, I've noticed a total absence of cinnabar moth caterpillars on ragwort this year and last year. Also, ladybirds have been rare the last few years, but I'be seen a few more this year. Has anyone else noticed this?

[wildone]

Originally Posted by BigAl

Also, while I'm here, I've noticed a total absence of cinnabar moth caterpillars on ragwort this year and last year. Also, ladybirds have been rare the last few years, but I'be seen a few more this year. Has anyone else noticed this?

Welcome aboard BigAl. I'm sure you will find plenty to interest you on all things about Wildlife in Britain.
All the images that I have posted of cinnabar caterpillars were taken this year. In fact I have seen many more cinnabar moth caterpillars this and last year on Ragwort than for many years. Maybe they have all migrated to the east! I saw quite a few Ladybirds in the earlier part of the summer this year, but then they disappeared.
Incidently I don't think I have ever seen so much Ragwort as I have this year. There was a field near me which looked to be just Ragwort having been totally over-grazed by the farmed deer. The roadsides for miles around have also been full of it.
Ciao

[BigAl]

Well, I was discussing ragwort with a colleague of mine this week, and he has also noticed a lot more ragwort. He thinks this is due to the lack of cinnabar moth caterpillars ,preying, on it.

[fbcpmike]

Originally Posted by BigAl

Well, I was discussing ragwort with a colleague of mine this week, and he has also noticed a lot more ragwort. He thinks this is due to the lack of cinnabar moth caterpillars ,preying, on it.

The same with us this year, lots of ragwort not many moth caterpillars. Last year the opposite, tons of caterpillars but not much Ragwort. However Ragwort supposedly grows in a 2 year cycle, the first year as a ground hugging rosette of leaves, the second year as the tall yellow headed flower stalk.

[BigAl]

Ref ragwort, I've only just recently become aware that ragwort is toxic (vby skin contact) to humans, and so one must werar appropriate protective clothing (i.e. gloves) when pulling them.

However, some farming friends of ours say that they are also toxic by inhalation and that one must wear a face mask .

I've been to a number of websites, including an answer to a Parliamentary Q. in Hansard, but have found nothing on this .

Does anyone here know anything about this?

[fbcpmike]

Defra have a code of practice for Ragwort here. Paragraphs 36-7 lists the Risk to human health (repeated below). We use gloves when pulling but I must admit we had mot heard about the possible inhalation problem.

The comment about possible contamination of honey is a bit alarming given the amount of Ragwort currently in circulation.

>>>>>>>>>>>>
Risk to Human Health
36 The principal route of exposure to PAs in food is via contaminated staple foods i.e. grain, milk, eggs and honey. Where staple foods have been contaminated it is largely confined to economically disadvantaged countries. The risk to human health in the UK from ragwort contamination of staple foods is generally considered to be insignificant.
37 There is concern about the risk to human health associated with hand pulling of ragwort plants as a means of population control. It is not known if PAs can be absorbed through the skin, although anecdotal evidence indicates that they can. It is therefore advised that suitably protective gloves and trousers be worn when hand pulling and handling ragwort plants.
<<<<<<<<<<

Hansard text here for a bill to control Ragwort quotes various statistics for Ragwort and it's distribution.