Rhopalus subrufus. Length 7 to 7.5 mm. This genus of bug closely associated with shield bugs comprises four species in the UK; all are rather hairy bugs with largely membranous forewings. It is usually found in association with St John’s-worts in rough grassland, brownfield land and woodland clearings.
Seven spot ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata. Probably the most well known beetle in the UK. The red body with black spots acts as a warning to predators that they taste awful. They feed both on aphids and scale insects and vegetation matter and fungi. There are 6,000 known species of Ladybird. The UK seven spot is becoming vastly outnumbered by another […]
Speckled Bush Cricket, Leptophyes Punctatissima. Eggs are laid in late summer into tree bark or plant stems where they remain over winter. The nymphs emerge in May and June and mature as adult speckled bush crickets by mid August. They are most active at dusk and at night.
Sun Jumping Spider, Heliophanus Cupreus. Jumping spiders have some of the best vision among arthropods and use it in courtship, hunting, and navigation. Most species are capable of very agile jumps. All jumping spiders have four pairs of eyes. Occasionally seen active on the surface but commonly within litter.
Thick legged hoverfly, Syritta pipiens. Adults are critical pollinators for a variety of flowering plants and the species supports parasitism by various parasitic wasp species. Thus, they play an important role in environmental functionality, and can serve as bio-indicators, in which their abundance can reflect the health of the environment. The eyes of Syritta pipiens span over almost the entirety […]
Vestal Cuckoo Bee, Bombus vestalis. It is a brood parasite that takes over the nests of other bee species. Its primary host is Bombus terrestris (the buff-tailed bumblebee). A key characteristic is the lack of a pollen basket on the hind. This is because it does not make its own nests or collect its own resources. With its larger body […]
Wasp beetle, Clytus arietis, The wasp beetle, is a wasp-mimicking longhorn beetle. It is harmless but is protected by its wasp-like colours and movements. The larvae live in dead wood. It also emanates a wasp buzz-like noise when threatened. They are not to be confused with another wasp-mimicking longhorn beetle, Rutpela maculata.
