[Coreidae] Tracking-down the Box Bug!

[Jason Green]

Afternoon all,

Last night I was going through my photographs of various Hemipterans I'd seen over the last four years. I got to Gonocerus acuteangulatus, just the one photo of a poor-conditioned adult pre-hibernation in 2007. I decided to go back that way and see if I could find any...

Upon arrival I found the same Yew bush still there - about 7ft tall and very neatly trimmed. I wondered if there would be any of them there - the hedge is regularly cut by the look of it, and I only saw the one adult back then. Was there enough of a population in existance to breed sufficiently to remain? I started searching (must've looked odd, slowly walking sideways alongside a tall flat bush about 6ins away from it...) and then after five minutes I reached the end of the first section of it and went into reverse - and as I reached the start again I just caught sight of a pinky-orange, medium-sized bug about an inch within! A quick look at the posterior profile and I ruled-out Coreus marginatus - I'd found one!

31/08/2010

Box Bug - Gonocerus acuteangulatus

I love that - setting a goal, researching the subject, spending a while searching - and then clapping eyes on it! I think the photos are an improvement on what I had got of it.

Nice to see it still there; a bug still in the process of expanding it's range from that one part of Surrey and yet surviving for four years at least in a moderate-sized hedge - a nice story of survival if the conditions suit?

I only saw one adult, again - have I missed the slot for seeing juveniles, if these aren't just one-off specimens finding this hedge?

Thanks for reading!

Take care,

Jason

[Deb London]

Brilliant Jason! I enjoyed reading your post, your enthusiasm comes across very well.

[aeshna5]

A smart bug. They are not that uncommon now; we managed to beat one from a Hawthorn in Richmond Park on Saturday (also one from the same area last year too).

Certainly worth checking the berries of rosaceous shrubs, native + ornamental, including Sorbus, Pyracantha + Cotoneaster.

[loripo]

You may recall the thread from June where I asked about some eggs found (on box) and the tiny instar that emerged. So maybe earlier in the year next time?
I was looking a week of so ago in an area where I'd seen a Lime Hawk moth caterpillar last year - and there on was! I wondered if it was related to last years one. Still haven't seen the moth though...

[Jason Green]

Just going back quickly to the juveniles, a nice site about a mile away hosted a few early-instars on a Hawthorn about two/three months ago or so. Last week I beat the bush plus others nearby. Any sign of them maturing? Nope! They were all Coreid-less. Very strange.

[asheleaf]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Just going back quickly to the juveniles, a nice site about a mile away hosted a few early-instars on a Hawthorn about two/three months ago or so. Last week I beat the bush plus others nearby. Any sign of them maturing? Nope! They were all Coreid-less. Very strange.

i think they move from deciduous to evergreen for hibernation so are probably near by. I've never heard of nymphs on yew but someone else may have.

South east facing side of a box revealed mating in April and nymphs in May (in Sussex)
Flickr: Search Ashley _Wood's photostream

ashe

[loripo]

One particular Box tree in Battersea Park had a dozen pairs mating last April. THey see to favour this one tree and not the surrounding ones - this one faces South West.

But although I have been checking I haven't seen eggs again or nymphs.

[tristanba]

I think Yew has been reported as a foodplant but I've never found them on this tree

[tristanba]

I think Yew has been reported as a foodplant but I've never found them on this tree. I only tend to check Yews for overwintering stuff