David Element's Wildlife Web Page Bugs 22

David Element

Wildlife Photography

and Digital Video Images

_______________________ Bugs 22 - Rhopalid Bugs 2

RHOPALID BUG Corizus hyoscyami

The RHOPALID BUG Corizus hyoscyami closely resembles several similarly marked GROUND BUGS (Lygaeidae) and the bright warning colours advertise that it would be distasteful to predators. The photographer does not know whether is actually is unpleasant to eat, or if it is simply hiding behind a disguise used by other species that are - and he certainly had no intention of performing any practical experiments to find out! This photograph was taken in Brittany on a bright sunny day using digital equipment (and a high ISO setting in order to obtain a reasonable depth of field). Unfortunately it is impossible to see the details of the forewing venation which might be used to differentiate this insect from the aforementioned ground bugs (these details would probably have been more visible in a flash photograph). However, the striking markings should enable an accurate identification to species level. This insect may be found in some coastal locations in the UK. Further illustrations of Ground Bugs and Rhopalid Bugs may be found on Bugs 5.