"Tim Challenger" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 2 Sep 2004 10:10:46 +0200, Tim Challenger wrote:

On Thu, 2 Sep 2004 09:04:45 +0100, BAC wrote:

"Tim Challenger" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 01 Sep 2004 18:50:34 GMT, Will wrote:

Hi,

Whilst digging some potatoes this afternoon, I spied a hitherto
unseen (by me!) beetle. I've put a small (15K) picture up on
www.mole-end-cottage.co.uk/beetle/beetle2.jpg anyone any idea? It is
about the size of a large ladybird...
It's definitely a (shield)bug nymph (Hemiptera: heteroptera) and not a
beetle.
Palomena prasina?
http://www.inra.fr/Internet/Produits...ES/7033522.jpg


I agree it's almost certainly a shield bug nymph, resembling a beetle,
and
the markings are similar to the common green shieldbug nymph you
suggest,
but p prasina nymphs are usually green with black markings, and the
specimen
on the photo posted didn't look green to me, although, obviously, the
markings are spot on. I can't suggest a closer match :-)

It's a sort of turquoise colour really, isn't it? I've had quite a few
in
my garden and they are quite variable. I suppose depending on age and
lighting. Will's picture captures the colour I usually see quite well.

There you are then, if you've actually seen some which are similar, that's
good enough for me.

Assuming it *is* a P. prasina of course.

A trip to the local bookshop and browse through the insect
identification
books might be in order.

There's a photo claiming to be a Pied shield bug (Sehirus bicolor) nymph
here (scroll down) : http://www.communigate.co.uk/hants/snhs/page13.phtml
Which looks similar, but seeing other photos I'm not totally convinced.


Pied shield bug nymphs are described as looking like shiny cream coloured
ladybirds with black spots, so I share your doubts. My local bookshop
doesn't stock Land and Water Bugs of the British Isles, by Southwood and
Leston, 1959, still the best guide to identification, apparently. Now if it
were 'Harry Potter and the Hemiptera from Hell', that would be a different
story :-)