10 Oct 2013

the entomologist: part four (moving into Autumn).

Things are starting to slow down on the insect front now as Autumn rapidly approaches but there are still a few showing their little antennas! 

IMG_0211 IMG_0213 IMG_0212

Rose Chafer beetle Cetonia aurata 

Apparently these beetles are usually seen on sunny days feeding on the petals of flowers (especially roses) but I found him on the pavement whilst walking home.  I actually thought he was a shiny button and had a small heart attack when my magpie instincts lead me to investigate and the shiny button moved.
Apparently the larvae are the insect equivalent of earthworms and make awesome compost if found in large numbers - but the flower-munching adults are obviously seen as a bit of a pest.

The pictures aren't as clear as I would like them; I carried him the last stretch to the front door to put my bags down and tried to take a couple snaps.  Between him crawling all over my fingers and our new neighbours picking that moment to introduce themselves (hence the blue jacket in the background) the pictures ended up being a little fuzzy round the edges.  As first impressions go I think being red in the face, huffing and puffing, gawping at an insect, was at least an honest representation!

IMG_0400 IMG_0398

Hawthorne Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale

This chap was chilling in the garden, he is a common shieldbug that eats primarily haws, the fruit of the hawthorn tree.  I don't know what he was eating in our garden but he is going to have to get a move on - not long till he needs to think about hibernating.

2 comments:

  1. i caught a shield bug in my museum! he must have got in somehow. we put him in a cage and fed him from our nature area. he was an office pet for a little while!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awwh! As office pets go, a shield bug is a pretty neat option! x

      Delete