Forest Bug population explosion.

[Gerel]

Hi,

has anyone else noticed a massive increase in the numbers of Forest Bugs, Pentatoma rufipes, in their area?



We always get a few around, but this year they are everywhere. Virtually every branch of every tree I looked at had two or three adults on it.



I was wondering if this is just a local occurrence or if they are having a particularly prolific year elsewhere.

[Fauna]

I have not noticed it this year, but last year they where in large numbers. Especially around the Usk and Pontypool area. There is a local fishery nearby and the Rainbow Trout where stuffed full of them.

[Jason Green]

Morning Steve,

I had my first garden record of one last year (albeit dead in a web!), and have found about three nymphs in two sites locally thius year, so seem to be doing quite well.

Take care,

Jason

[JRsbugs]

I got one last night, it landed on me while I was taking pics of moths. I thought it had gone but it dropped off my shoulder, I think it bit my ankle in the process before it went to the door!

First adult of the season I have seen, I usually only see one at a time though. I did see a nymph earlier in the year.

Janet

[aeshna5]

I've seen quite a few locally, but probably no more than usual.

[Acutipuerilis]

A few weeks ago I was seeing huge numbers of nymphs in Huddersfield - definitely more than normal. The adults don't seem to have materialised though, and I wonder whether they've mostly gone up into the canopy.

[Gerel]

Thanks for the replies, seems (from this small sample) that they might be having a good year but our swarms (slight exageration) of them is a local phenomenon.

Probably no coincidence that I can't go outside at moment without coming across the tachinid Phasia hemiptera which I read is a parasite of P. rufipes.

Steve

[Gerel]

Originally Posted by Acutipuerilis

A few weeks ago I was seeing huge numbers of nymphs in Huddersfield - definitely more than normal. The adults don't seem to have materialised though, and I wonder whether they've mostly gone up into the canopy.

Hi Joe,

also saw quite a lot of nymphs in June but not in the densities that I'm now finding adults. Maybe yours went up into the canopy and mine came down

Steve

[Tanya]

Hi,
we live in london in a small block of flats, we get to see a few a year , but we only have a few trees near to us, we get them in our flat, i have only just found out what thay are as we found one this morning on the side of are tv table, so we looked them up.....would you say this was normal ?

[jezlee]

I was down near Cardiff 10 days ago and there were loads of them about ...