On Sat, 30 Jun 2007 16:25:39 +0100, "Bertie Doe"
wrote:

Is this the insect that leaves a 'cuckoo spit' on lavender plants?

Why do you say that? Surely cookoo spit has been in the UK since time
immemorial, but certainly way before 2003. The RHS says it's caused by
froghoppers ("Philaenus spumarius") and does little harm:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0601/cuckoo_spit.asp

Peter

Thanks for the link Peter. Obviously the beetle I see in the garden (bright
green and about 1 cm long) is neither the froghopper or the SGS bug.

BD

Plenty of bright green shield bugs around here in west Cornwall, and
have been for years, but probably not the Southern Green (possibly the
Hawthorn shield bug). Aka stink bugs, due to the rather pungent smell
some species produce. A menace when picking blackberries, as they
always seem to spray on that big fat juicy berry you're straining at
arm's length to pick!


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net