Shieldbug nymphs

[JRsbugs]

Hello all,

I'm not sure about these, they don't quite look right for the Green Shieldbug. I was wondering if they could be the Woundwort Shieldbug.

They were on a Clematis next to my west/south corner wall. I have the Woundwort shieldbug which I find often on Fuchsias by a south wall not far from these, including nymphs so they must feed on either the Fuchsias or something else there but there's really only geraniums and violas. None of those are mentioned as their food, but I have Hedge Woundwort on the other side of a drain where I saw a few mating earlier. However, that seems to be relatively new (noticed only last year as a small patch) but is increasing well and I have had Woundwort Shieldbugs for much longer.

This little bunch was a very small mass of what at first appeared to be a bird dropping, I noticed a couple of individuals which had ventured a short distance away before I saw the group! They were no more than 2mm.

Taken on 3rd July, they had completely disappeared when I checked the next day.

Janet

[aeshna5]

I pretty sure they are Woundwort Bugs. I've previously found them feeding on a Buddleja which isn't a listed food plant.

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I pretty sure they are Woundwort Bugs. I've previously found them feeding on a Buddleja which isn't a listed food plant.

Thanks aeshna, there isn't many (or any which show the details!) photos about showing them this young. I found some which looked the same but they were being called Green Shieldbugs, I think not... I can't find the site again though.

The pitted pronotum and antennae shape seem to fit the Woundwort well.

[Anzu]

I have previously found an excellent illustrated guide to the different instars of shield bug nymphs

http://www.xexexexexexexexexexexe.or...fe_stages.html

but my links keep being turned into this

can I send links via messages?

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by Anzu

I have previously found an excellent illustrated guide to the different instars of shield bug nymphs

http://www.xexexexexexexexexexexe.or...fe_stages.html

but my links keep being turned into this

can I send links via messages?

Lol, so you've found that Britishy Bugsy is not allowed here! I use the site, but there isn't any good nymph photos at this stage. The only one is a side view which shows little.

[Jason Claxton]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Lol, so you've found that Britishy Bugsy is not allowed here! I use the site, but there isn't any good nymph photos at this stage. The only one is a side view which shows little.

Britishy Bugsy ,ah Janet you mean B r i t i s h B u g s

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by Jason Claxton

Britishy Bugsy ,ah Janet you mean B r i t i s h B u g s

Yes Jason, I mean B R I T I S H B U G S

[tristanba]

I'm sure these are Palomena nymphs (Common Green Shieldbug) - the margins of the pronotum are broadly pale along their entire length which is always a good identification character. In addition you would always expect E. venustissimus (Woundwort Shieldbug) on labiates such as woundwort and black horehound

[JRsbugs]

I was about to agree with you Tristan, I can see they might be somewhere between the 1st and 2nd instar nymph.

I have just read your post about the new shieldbug in the UK so I checked my Pied Shieldbugs, while doing so I came across some photos I have of a 5th instar nymph of a Woundwort shieldbug not on a labiate, and with white margins all the way down the pronotum edges but maybe they can have that at a later stage?

As I mentioned above I have Woundwort shieldbugs on Fuchsia plants, last year there was several of them and they are not far from where these nymphs were.

I also have a photo of a second instar Green Shieldbug nymph which looks just like the green one in the drawings, and also resembles these in question other than the colour.