On the Surrey Butterfly walk on Denbies hillside yesterday we found a fresh female Brown Hairstreak in the Blackthorn.
On closer examination it was impaled through the abdomen by a spike from what we think is a Stink Bug, similar to a shield bug.
Has anyone else seen this before and can you identify the mystery bug?
Brown Hairstreak predated by Stink Bug?
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2018 7:07 pm
- Location: Surrey
Re: Brown Hairstreak predated by Stink Bug?
It's a Spiked Shieldbug
http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteropte ... idens.html
Known to be predatory, mostly on slow moving prey like larvae. I suspect this female was nabbed whilst egg laying, she has a chunk out of one of her hindwings so she's certainly been around long enough to have been mated.
http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteropte ... idens.html
Known to be predatory, mostly on slow moving prey like larvae. I suspect this female was nabbed whilst egg laying, she has a chunk out of one of her hindwings so she's certainly been around long enough to have been mated.
Some addictions are good for the soul!
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2018 7:07 pm
- Location: Surrey
Re: Brown Hairstreak predated by Stink Bug?
Thanks Bugboy, Spiked Shield bug is a new one on me, 4