Yesterday, an insect was flying around the room. It settled on my desk. Its body was about the size of my thumbnail. I didn't know what it was. This is it.
Today, on twitter, Bug Girl linked to an article in the LA Times (1) about a severe insect problem they have there. Stink bugs, as they call them, are gathering in their millions and destroying crops, filling houses and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Squashing them isn't a good option as they, apparently, release an unpleasant smell.
I googled for stink bug and found that in the UK they are called shield bugs. This particular one is
Pentatoma rufipes, the forest bug or red-legged shield bug.
Habitat & Distribution
At least throughout the UK and Scandinavia in woods, orchards and gardens.
Life Cycle
August: Eggs are laid.
Winter: Larval form.
July-November: Adult.
Note: Sometimes they are found in early spring suggesting a secondary breeding cycle is possible.
Food
The nymphs feed on tree sap, mainly of oak, but also of other deciduous trees such as alder, hazel, apple and cherry.
The adults also eat caterpillars and other insects as well as sucking the juice from fruit leaving the skin damaged and corky brown regions inside.
Sources
- LA times: Stink bug invasion puts entomologist in demand - Richard Simon
- British Bugs: Pentatoma rufipes, forest bug
- UK Safari: Forest Bugs / Red-legged Shieldbugs
- Nature Spot: Forest Bug - Pentatoma rufipes
1 comment:
And today I found out what the stink part of stink bug is about. One landed on my arm and when I shook it off there was a horrible smell which is clinging to my arm. Most unpleasant!
Post a Comment