Found a beetle highly irridescent mainly green, about 1/2" long and almost
same wide. Humped back like a ladybird. Slow moving. Would I be correct in
thinking this is a 'Jewel Bug'? no pictures, sorry.

Padger wrote:
:: Found a beetle highly irridescent mainly green, about 1/2" long
:: and almost same wide. Humped back like a ladybird. Slow moving.
:: Would I be correct in thinking this is a 'Jewel Bug'? no pictures,
:: sorry.

Was it a shield bug? - there's some pictures he
http://snipurl.com/f7mc

....and they come in many colours and different markings too.

--
If God had intended us to drink beer, He would have given us stomachs.

"Padger" wrote in message
. uk...
Found a beetle highly irridescent mainly green, about 1/2" long and almost
same wide. Humped back like a ladybird. Slow moving. Would I be correct in
thinking this is a 'Jewel Bug'? no pictures, sorry.


Assuming you're in the SE of England, I'd guess the Rose Chafer, which is a
kind of scarab beetle.

"Glen Able" wrote after.
"Padger" wrote in message

Found a beetle highly irridescent mainly green, about 1/2" long and
almost
same wide. Humped back like a ladybird. Slow moving. Would I be correct
in
thinking this is a 'Jewel Bug'? no pictures, sorry.


Assuming you're in the SE of England, I'd guess the Rose Chafer, which is
a
kind of scarab beetle.


Funny enough I found one of those on the allotment today, eating the flower
of one of my irises. Don't mind too much as it's not a special iris (White
City, white with a hint of blue) and the insect is beautiful.

http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/in...ml?size=medium

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London

Glen Able wrote:
"Padger" wrote in message
. uk...
Found a beetle highly irridescent mainly green, about 1/2" long and
almost same wide. Humped back like a ladybird. Slow moving. Would I
be correct in thinking this is a 'Jewel Bug'? no pictures, sorry.


Assuming you're in the SE of England, I'd guess the Rose Chafer,
which is a kind of scarab beetle.

Scarab - really? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that (all) scarabs
were dung beetles.

--
In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

Glen Able wrote:
"Padger" wrote in message
. uk...
Found a beetle highly irridescent mainly green, about 1/2" long and
almost same wide. Humped back like a ladybird. Slow moving. Would I
be correct in thinking this is a 'Jewel Bug'? no pictures, sorry.


Assuming you're in the SE of England, I'd guess the Rose Chafer,
which is a kind of scarab beetle.

According to my book (/The Illustrated Book of Insects/ by John Burton) the
Rose Chafer is a little on the large side as it's nearly 1" (25mm) long.

One question to ask: - did it have a discernable thorax (ladybirds don't)?

To be entymologically correct, beetles aren't bugs; bugs are a distinct
order with piercing mouthparts (the term really shouldn't be used to mean
'insects').

Jewel bugs really /are/ bugs (genus of shieldbug) so, no, you wouldn't.
Also, someone correct me if I'm wrong, there are no species of jewel bug
native to the UK. When I googled for 'jewel bug' about 85% of the hits were
for Australian and New Zealand sites, so I would hazard a guess that the
antipodes are where they are most prevalent.

There are several species of ground beetle (so called because they are poor
fliers) which might fit the bill but, unfortunately, none have common names
(at least according to the book I'm consulting).

Sorry, that's the best I can do. You could try posting to
uk.rec.natural-history see if you have better luck there.

Sarah

--
In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:

Assuming you're in the SE of England, I'd guess the Rose Chafer,
which is a kind of scarab beetle.

Scarab - really? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that (all) scarabs
were dung beetles.

Nope. There are over 19,000 species, mainly tropical, but there are
about 80 indiginous to Britain. Most of them live on roots or rotting
wood in the larval stage. (Cockchafer is a scarab)

The rose chafer larvae live in rotting wood or under decaying vegetation.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:

According to my book (/The Illustrated Book of Insects/ by John Burton) the
Rose Chafer is a little on the large side as it's nearly 1" (25mm) long.

IME they are a bit smaller than that - between say, 15mm - 20mm, and not
very common overall.

One question to ask: - did it have a discernable thorax (ladybirds don't)?

And another, was the wing-case 'waisted'?

w # # w
\ \M/ /
\ ..·.. /
\/_..._\/
( \ / )
/) | (\
// | \\
/ | | | \
m /\__|__/\ m
| \___/ |
| |
| |
m m

A similar scarab is Gnorimus nobilis, and that's a bit smaller.

To be entymologically correct, beetles aren't bugs; bugs are a distinct
order with piercing mouthparts (the term really shouldn't be used to mean
'insects').

Jewel bugs really /are/ bugs (genus of shieldbug) so, no, you wouldn't.
Also, someone correct me if I'm wrong, there are no species of jewel bug
native to the UK. When I googled for 'jewel bug' about 85% of the hits were
for Australian and New Zealand sites, so I would hazard a guess that the
antipodes are where they are most prevalent.

I've never head of a 'jewel bug'.

There are several species of ground beetle (so called because they are poor
fliers) which might fit the bill but, unfortunately, none have common names
(at least according to the book I'm consulting).

Sorry, that's the best I can do. You could try posting to
uk.rec.natural-history see if you have better luck there.

I'd hazard a guess at Phyllobius argentatus - that fits the bill fairly
well. Other possibilities are Spanish fly (yes, that one!)

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Jaques d'Alltrades wrote:
The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:

Assuming you're in the SE of England, I'd guess the Rose Chafer,
which is a kind of scarab beetle.

Scarab - really? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that (all)
scarabs were dung beetles.

Nope. There are over 19,000 species, mainly tropical, but there are
about 80 indiginous to Britain. Most of them live on roots or rotting
wood in the larval stage. (Cockchafer is a scarab)

The rose chafer larvae live in rotting wood or under decaying
vegetation.

Messy buckets, Rusty, for filling in a rather gaping void in my
entymological knowledge.

It's appreciated.

Sarah


--
In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

Jaques d'Alltrades wrote:
The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:

According to my book (/The Illustrated Book of Insects/ by John
Burton) the Rose Chafer is a little on the large side as it's nearly
1" (25mm) long.

IME they are a bit smaller than that - between say, 15mm - 20mm, and
not very common overall.

I only have the one source - I'll have to take some of my grandfather's
entymology books the next time I'm over there - he's always trying to
offload his library on to family members as he has *far* too many (he
reckons that, if you were to include all the ones in the attic - and the
attic is vast - you could house a family of five up there quite
comfortably - he must have pushing 100,000 volumes (he's on his own in a
6-bedroom, six reception room property - and the rooms have been gradually
filling up since my grandmother died - though he always was a hoarder)



One question to ask: - did it have a discernable thorax (ladybirds
don't)?

And another, was the wing-case 'waisted'?

Sort of what I meant, I just didn't express it very well.


w # # w
\ \M/ /
\ ..·.. /
\/_..._\/
( \ / )
/) | (\
// | \\
/ | | | \
m /\__|__/\ m
| \___/ |
| |
| |
m m

A similar scarab is Gnorimus nobilis, and that's a bit smaller.

To be entymologically correct, beetles aren't bugs; bugs are a
distinct order with piercing mouthparts (the term really shouldn't
be used to mean 'insects').

Jewel bugs really /are/ bugs (genus of shieldbug) so, no, you
wouldn't. Also, someone correct me if I'm wrong, there are no
species of jewel bug native to the UK. When I googled for 'jewel
bug' about 85% of the hits were for Australian and New Zealand
sites, so I would hazard a guess that the antipodes are where they
are most prevalent.

I've never head of a 'jewel bug'.

Then I've taught *you* something. I did know of the existence of "jewel
bugs" (so called because they are iridescent and come in various "jewel"
colours - ruby, emerald, sapphire and amethyst) but I had to Google to
learn more; as I stated they seem to be mainly antipodean. One of the
commonest (known to exist in at least half of Australia) is Calliphara
imperialis, but there are other species: - Agnonosoma trilineatum (which is
deemed to be a pest in Aus).

They seem to have been introduced (or at least one species) from South
America (Venezuela) to control something known as the 'Bellyache Bush'
(Jatropha gossypifolia) (which, ironically, was introduced to get rid of
another botanical menace, the rubber vine weed.) /Jatropha/ is so named
because it poisons livestock that eat it (a bit like what ragwort does to
horses - but affecting all ruminants as well) by giving them an extremely
bad stomach ache or, if they are particularly susceptible, or have ingested
enough, killing them slowly and very painfully. Therefore, that species of
jewel bug is to /jatropha/ what the Burnett and Cinnabar moths are to
ragwort.

A photo of /jatropha/ can be found here
(http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/39830/). Apparently, it's a member of
the euphorbia family (something else I did not know). I have to say it does
have very attractive ruby-red flowers and maroon (almost chocolate) leaves
(suppose they could be called 'bronze'.)

/Jatropha/ is single-rootedly (or many-rootedly) responsible for Australia's
agricultural crisis. It cannot be removed (burn it and it appears to
multiply - dig it up and there's always a bit of root left) so they're
pinning their hopes on the jewel bug.

(learnt the above from an Aussie MSN contact).




There are several species of ground beetle (so called because they
are poor fliers) which might fit the bill but, unfortunately, none
have common names (at least according to the book I'm consulting).

Sorry, that's the best I can do. You could try posting to
uk.rec.natural-history see if you have better luck there.

I'd hazard a guess at Phyllobius argentatus - that fits the bill
fairly well. Other possibilities are Spanish fly (yes, that one!)

Technically, /Phyllobius/ is a weevil and I've never been sure if weevils
were still coleoptera (though I suppose they must be) (for the attention of
the OP, an image can be found here http://tinyurl.com/9xml4). If it is
/argentatus/ this could point to him (the OP) being in the north somewhere
as all references (true, Google shouldn't be taken as absolute gospel, but
it does give a fair indication - all sites that referenced it were Cheshire
and northwards).

An excellent PDF with images, and information, may be found here
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/pdf.nsf/pdf/pests__diseases.pdf/$FILE/pests__diseases.pdf.

Thanks again, Rusty...

Sarah
--
In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:

Messy buckets, Rusty, for filling in a rather gaping void in my
entymological knowledge.

It's appreciated.

You never know what you might dig up while urgling...

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Jaques d'Alltrades wrote:
The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:

Messy buckets, Rusty, for filling in a rather gaping void in my
entymological knowledge.

It's appreciated.

You never know what you might dig up while urgling...

Exactly - one often has the urge to urgle.... ;o) I would never have begun
posting here if my father hadn't come back from La Gomera and wanted a plant
identified (which was done - thanks Jane!) glad I did and, after nearly 4
months, am definitely sticking around.

I don't know much (hence my disclaimer) but there are some things I have
learnt from bitter experience and others I have picked up from family and
friends (and, now, other urglers - just thought, damned good thing there
isn't another bit to the hierachy - oh I don't know
botany.uk.rec.gardening - ... ;o))

Warmest wishes,

Sarah


--
In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:

- just thought, damned good thing there
isn't another bit to the hierachy - oh I don't know
botany.uk.rec.gardening - ... ;o))

Wrong hierarchy, then - this is the uk one. Everything starts with 'uk',
and you have just uk, as in uk.misc and you have the extensions such as
uk.adverts, uk business, uk.comp, uk.culture, uk.current-events, uk.rec,
uk.politics, uk.science and a lot more.

Then these get more specific and another (and another) layer is added -
uk.rec.trainspotting.carriages.pullman.guards-vans.anorak etc etc.
(Don't go looking for that group !)

There's probably a uk.science.botany though...

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Anthony Anson wrote:
The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:

- just thought, damned good thing there
isn't another bit to the hierachy - oh I don't know
botany.uk.rec.gardening - ... ;o))

Wrong hierarchy, then - this is the uk one. Everything starts with
'uk', and you have just uk, as in uk.misc and you have the extensions
such as uk.adverts, uk business, uk.comp, uk.culture,
uk.current-events, uk.rec, uk.politics, uk.science and a lot more.

Then these get more specific and another (and another) layer is added
- uk.rec.trainspotting.carriages.pullman.guards-vans.anorak etc etc.
(Don't go looking for that group !)

There's probably a uk.science.botany though...

Tony, Tony, Tony, my pathetic attempt at humour has gone completely over
your head, hasn't it...?

--
In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:
Anthony Anson wrote:
The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:

- just thought, damned good thing there
isn't another bit to the hierachy - oh I don't know
botany.uk.rec.gardening - ... ;o))

Wrong hierarchy, then - this is the uk one. Everything starts with
'uk', and you have just uk, as in uk.misc and you have the extensions
such as uk.adverts, uk business, uk.comp, uk.culture,
uk.current-events, uk.rec, uk.politics, uk.science and a lot more.

Then these get more specific and another (and another) layer is added
- uk.rec.trainspotting.carriages.pullman.guards-vans.anorak etc etc.
(Don't go looking for that group !)

There's probably a uk.science.botany though...

Tony, Tony, Tony, my pathetic attempt at humour has gone completely over
your head, hasn't it...?

No, but in my drive for accuracy I thought I'd organise you so it'd be
funnier *NEXT* time innit.

And in my eagerness to answer, I forgot to change the mailbox.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/