Sunday 28 April 2013

Juniper jumpers


Here is another bug that has taken to garden cypresses.  This is Orsillus depressus, a Mediterranean species first found in Britain in Surrey in 1987.  Trying to work out whether bugs like this have been brought here or arrived of their own accord is difficult, but it seems that Orsillus depressus has been colonising northern Europe by both means.  There were plenty on the cypress at the end of the garden today, as well as a good number of the pretty and native Juniper Shield-bug Cyphostethus tristriatus.  Jumping host to garden cypresses has helped these species spread from their restricted ranges.  This is good for Cyphostethus and any other native juniper feeders, which would otherwise be in trouble in England, but how will they cope with the arrival of new competitors?


Two other shield-bugs were out today: this Green Shield-bug Palomena prasina attractively posed on the Rosemary, and a Hawthorn Shield-bug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale hiding in the Ivy.



It was a good morning for ladybirds.  The apple tree yielded Kidney-spot Chilocorus renipustulatus, Fourteen-spot Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, Two-spot Adalia bipunctata, and Pine Exochomus quadripustulatus.


And finally, a quick thwack of the buddleja revealed last week's Garlic Mustard drillerCeutorhynchus pallidactylus.











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