I’m sure I’ve mentioned more than once that we are still ‘shielding’ from Covid-19. Yesterday, shielding took on a whole new meaning when I came across only the second ever shieldbug we’ve found in the garden… perhaps my insect, wood and trimmings heaps in the garden’s hidden corners are paying off and encouraging diversity! Bear in mind the bug is well less than one centimetre long.
Sloe Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum
The second picture shows why its alternative common name is Hairy Shieldbug
The last day of September and a few insects were still about yesterday, Honey bees, a Common Carder Bumblebee, a nice Batman Hoverfly and at least two Droneflies, both Eristalis tenax I think, although one was completely black.
Drone Fly Eristalis tenax
Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea
Common Carder Bombus pascuorum
