David Element's Wildlife Web Page Bugs 1

David Element

Wildlife Photography

and Digital Video Images

________________________ Bugs 1 - Shieldbugs 1

TORTOISE BUG Eurygaster testudinaria

PARTIAL LIFE HISTORY

GREEN SHIELDBUG Palomena prasina

COMPLETE LIFE HISTORY

*With thanks to Roger Hawkins for providing the Tortoise Bug nymph portrayed in the first two photographs.

RECOMMENDED REFERENCES:

'THE HEMIPTERA', W. R. DOLLING, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1991. ISBN 0-19-854016-7

'SHIELDBUGS OF SURREY', ROGER D. HAWKINS, SURREY WILDLIFE TRUST, 2003. ISBN 0 9526065 77. This well received atlas, written by the author of 'Ladybirds of Surrey' in his usual inimitable style, contains 24 full colour plates including over 100 photographs of nymphs and adults. The book includes expertly illustrated identification keys (by Graham Collins) and these are very easy to use, even by non-entomologists. The species accounts describe the biology of a total of 46 British Shieldbugs, Squash Bugs and allied insects. The atlas should therefore prove to be an invaluable reference work for anyone with an interest in the Hemiptera of Britain or northern Europe. In addition there are accurate and up to date distribution maps for these insects in the Vice-County of Surrey. Orders for 'Shieldbugs of Surrey' are being taken by the Surrey Wildlife Trust - see: http://www.surreywildlifetrust.co.uk/ for further information about the Surrey Wildlife Atlas series.

'BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE' June, 2004 contains an informative article by Richard Jones entitled 'Pick of the bugs'. Check the BBC Animals Website: www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/ for further information about this article and about a new Biological Records Centre Shieldbug Recording Scheme with a downloadable recording sheet.

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES:

Paul Mabbott's Website is currently under construction at: http://www.ladybird-survey.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

Hetnews.org.uk: http://www.hetnews.org.uk/index.php is a website for those with a specific interest in the British Heteroptera. Several very useful book reviews have been provided at: http://www.hetnews.org.uk/book_reviews.php.