Vernal Shieldbug, Peribalus strictus
This species has been appearing in Britain for the last couple of decades, almost entirely on the south coast and mostly around the Boscombe area of Dorset.
Last week, two friends made a journey to a nature reserve in Buckinghamshire. Whilst there, they chanced upon this shieldbug. Uncertain of what it was, they brought it back home, alive, for identification! It was duly confirmed as a Vernal Shieldbug, some distance from any other known records. Today, they have driven back down to Bucks to release it from whence it came! in the meantime, I looked after it and used the opportunity to take these photos.
Vernal Shieldbug, Peribalus strictus
This species has been appearing in Britain for the last couple of decades, almost entirely on the south coast and mostly around the Boscombe area of Dorset.
Last week, two friends made a journey to a nature reserve in Buckinghamshire. Whilst there, they chanced upon this shieldbug. Uncertain of what it was, they brought it back home, alive, for identification! It was duly confirmed as a Vernal Shieldbug, some distance from any other known records. Today, they have driven back down to Bucks to release it from whence it came! in the meantime, I looked after it and used the opportunity to take these photos.