Unknown insect

Wendy17_10 · #1 (**permalink**) 19-08-2010, 11:51 AM

Hi everyone. Am new to this site so excuse me if I make any errors. I have recently returned from my holidays and only a few minutes after leaving home I was bitten, possibly stung. The pain was horrendous and I felt like I had a ret hot needle in my leg for most of the journey. When we stopped for a rest during the drive we saw the insect, it was dead on my pracel shelf in the car! I've checked various books and online images and really don't know what it is and would be very grateful for any help. I have seen on this site that we can't post external images but is there a way i could send the photo we took to anyone for identification. If I can't not to worry, and will keep looking. many thanks.

Action_Man · #2 (**permalink**) 19-08-2010, 12:08 PM

Hi and welcome to the WAB forums.

Can you try and follow the instructions in he link below ?.
How do I upload images? | Wild About Britain

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 19-08-2010, 12:10 PM

Afternoon Wendy, and welcome to WAB!

Upload here: Login - Wild About Britain Pics

Take care,

Jason

Wendy17_10 · #4 (**permalink**) 19-08-2010, 04:06 PM

Hi, Thanks for the swift reply. We have uploaded a photo of the insect and "hopefully" sent it to appear under my library images. We thought it might be a deer fly but we weren't sure. We got a photo of the underneath of the insect, which was very distinctive. The top of it was a light leaf green colour. Hope you can help solve this mystery!!!

Tiggrx · #5 (**permalink**) 19-08-2010, 04:08 PM

Think this is Wendy's picture. Seems to be a shield-bug of some sort.

Wendy17_10 · #6 (**permalink**) 19-08-2010, 04:20 PM

Hi. Yes that's my picture, apologies for how blurred my image is. I was so surprised to see it I just started snapping away. My other half is very keen on wildlife and he had never seen one and we came across this site today. We can't believe we've had posts already - what a friendly bunch you are!!!

GuyF · #7 (**permalink**) 19-08-2010, 04:42 PM

Hi Wendy, welcome to the site!
The insect is a Hawthorn Shieldbug. The mouthparts of these are modified into a rostrum which is used to pierce food, however this species is a herbivore so if it's any consolation it probably didn't really mean to do it! I know some of the smaller bugs (true Bugs - order Hemiptera) occasionally have an experimental 'bite' when they land on people, although I'm not sure why they do this, I would guess that this Shieldbug was doing the same, and I can imagine that it would be painful!
Guy

Wendy17_10 · #8 (**permalink**) 19-08-2010, 05:20 PM

Hi Guy, thank you so much for your reply. Am so glad I posted my question and photo now. It was painful but feel happier know it didn't intentionally set out to take a chunk out of my leg!!!