Wildlife mid 2009

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Anthony, are there different forms of Shield Bugs? I have always had one or two in my garden but haven't noticed the markings on them shown in the pic?

I don't think you need worry about them David - by now they must all have drowned in your neck of the woods... 

[Stephenb]

At the weekend, I recorded 8 species of butterfly on my Buddleias: Admiral 9, Painted Lady 2, Comma 1, Peacock 2, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Large White 1, Small White 2 and only my second Brimstone (at the far north of its range here and moving north).

Here's an admiral on Silphium perfoliatum:

[Anthony Darby]

I wish the effort to plant Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus) and Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) throughout central Scotland hadn't foundered! Its absence from Scotland is the reason the Brimstone (the original 'butter coloured fly') cannot colonise Scotland. I have one of each in my hedge, but there would need to be one in every 50 yard stretch of hedge from here to the Lake District to have any effect!

[mark smyth]

What's the link, Anthony?

[mark smyth]

Going back to the sheild bug shown by Arykana 

From this month's RHS Garden magazine "New sheild bug gets a firm footing in Britain". The southern green sheild bug was first seen in 2003 feeding on tomatoes. Experts thought it wouldnt survive the winter but young ones have been seen every year. It feeds on soft fruits, potatoes and beans
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profiles0900/green_shield_bug.asp

[Maggi Young]

Going back to the sheild bug shown by Arykana  

From this month's RHS Garden magazine "New shield bug gets a firm footing in Britain". The southern green sheild bug was first seen in 2003 feeding on tomatoes. Experts thought it wouldnt survive the winter but young ones have been seen every year. It feeds on soft fruits, potatoes and beans
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profiles0900/green_shield_bug.asp

Picture this scene from a radio station.... somewhere in the UK a few weeks ago.......... letter from listener..."I've got funny shaped green ladybirds in my greenhouse" ....Bulb Despot:"oh, dear, you've got Shield Bugs"...... two TV gardening celebrities... "we think these bugs are a new form of ladybird...."

  Give me strength!

[David Nicholson]

Anthony, are there different forms of Shield Bugs? I have always had one or two in my garden but haven't noticed the markings on them shown in the pic?

I don't think you need worry about them David - by now they must all have drowned in your neck of the woods... 

Very true Luc, very true indeed!

[Stephenb]

I wish the effort to plant Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus and Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) throughout central Scotland hadn't foundered! Its absence from Scotland is the reason the Brimstone (the original 'butter coloured fly') cannot colonise Scotland. I have one of each in my hedge, but there would need to be one in every 50 yard stretch of hedge from here to the Lake District to have any effect!

I have one of each in my hedge too! This hedge was planted about 20-years ago with a multitude of species found in old hedges in Southern England (as a little reminder of the old country) - inspired by reading the Collins book on Hedges and how you can age a hedge by counting  the number of species I instantly created a 1,000 year old hedge    Elsewhere in this area, Rhamnus catharticus has naturalised in a few areas. I had forgotten that Rhamnus was its food plant. The species' fortunes will depend then on whether Rhamnus expands its distribution further.

[Anthony Darby]

What's the link, Anthony?

I don't think there is a link. It was when Martin Feather was manager of the Butterfly House at Dobbies Garden Centre in Edinburgh 20 odd years ago and was meant to be for publicity. They had dozens of both species of buckthorn in 6" pots, which is where mine came from, and I know some were planted at the top of the hill at Embra Zoo (no doubt the area has long since been ripped up and redeveloped ). It all came to nought!

[Maggi Young]

One of the Beechgrove Potting Shed Team, Donald McBean from Forres, is involved in a project to use sea buckthorn in large scale plantings to harvest the berries for medicinal and cosmetic purposes....  ironic  that, since in many places there are projects to eradicate the plants as being pests! 

[Lesley Cox]

The fire bug is wonderfully handsome.

[Anthony Darby]

One of the Beechgrove Potting Shed Team, Donald McBean from Forres, is involved in a project to use sea buckthorn in large scale plantings to harvest the berries for medicinal and cosmetic purposes....  ironic  that, since in many places there are projects to eradicate the plants as being pests! 

The exotically named Wanaka Lodge (used to be a steading at Dykedale Farm, now converted to a dwelling) half a mile up the hill from me has some very vigorous sea buckthorn bushes. Not sure of the species (perhaps Hippophae salicifolia?), as along from my house there is poor specimen of the British Hippophae rhamnoides and it struggles.

[Lesley Cox]

Where does the name derive from Anthony? Lake Wanaka is in Central Otago, New Zealand, and is the habitat of sometime Forumist Doreen Mear.

[mark smyth]

Is the Sea Buckthorn planted for Brimstones? I thought they needed ivy?

[Kees Green]

Poor bugs, always getting a bad name  , could be why you guys have so little cicadas over there in Great Britain  .
I love bugs, It looked to me that there was infact an adult in that picture on the right hand side, the all green one.
This year I will post some pics of the fascinating cicadas I find on my travels, just remember that cicadas are also bugs and how could summer be summer without the chorus of the cicada.