Blue Shieldbugs, Kingmoor Nature Reserve, 14 April 16 (1 of 3)
Two of six Blue Shieldbugs found in the Kingmoor North Nature Reserve (Area 3), Carlisle, 14 April 16.
I started checking out the Blue Shieldbug hotspots in my local nature reserve well over a month ago but without any luck till today! To be honest, as it was a dull and cloudy afternoon, I only really went out to stretch my legs, and so I was both surprised and delighted to get my first sightings of the year. All six were found in an area of leaf litter no more than a few square metres in extent. A seventh one was found an hour or so later on a boardwalk in Kingmoor Sidings (Area 2), a few kilometres to the south.
The first two shots are of the same specimen feeding on an Altica species beetle - the favoured food item of the Blue Shieldbug according to the textbooks. In fact one of the reasons I kept re-visiting this particular spot, despite repeated disappointments, is the number of Alticas I've seen sunbathing on the leaf litter here over the past few weeks!
As I found over 100 Blue Shieldbugs in the Carlisle area last year and posted numerous photos it's not my intention to focus too heavily on this species this year, and I certainly won't be reporting all of my sightings on Flickr. However, if I'm lucky enough to get a shot of a mating pair then I'll make an exception! Eggs and early-instar nymphs would also be nice!
Blue Shieldbugs, Kingmoor Nature Reserve, 14 April 16 (1 of 3)
Two of six Blue Shieldbugs found in the Kingmoor North Nature Reserve (Area 3), Carlisle, 14 April 16.
I started checking out the Blue Shieldbug hotspots in my local nature reserve well over a month ago but without any luck till today! To be honest, as it was a dull and cloudy afternoon, I only really went out to stretch my legs, and so I was both surprised and delighted to get my first sightings of the year. All six were found in an area of leaf litter no more than a few square metres in extent. A seventh one was found an hour or so later on a boardwalk in Kingmoor Sidings (Area 2), a few kilometres to the south.
The first two shots are of the same specimen feeding on an Altica species beetle - the favoured food item of the Blue Shieldbug according to the textbooks. In fact one of the reasons I kept re-visiting this particular spot, despite repeated disappointments, is the number of Alticas I've seen sunbathing on the leaf litter here over the past few weeks!
As I found over 100 Blue Shieldbugs in the Carlisle area last year and posted numerous photos it's not my intention to focus too heavily on this species this year, and I certainly won't be reporting all of my sightings on Flickr. However, if I'm lucky enough to get a shot of a mating pair then I'll make an exception! Eggs and early-instar nymphs would also be nice!