Brown Hairstreak predated by Stink Bug?

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RichardStephens
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2018 7:07 pm
Location: Surrey

Brown Hairstreak predated by Stink Bug?

Post by RichardStephens »

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?
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Brown Hairstreak impaled
Brown Hairstreak impaled
Brown Hairstreak and Stink Bug
Brown Hairstreak and Stink Bug
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bugboy
Posts: 5273
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 6:29 pm
Location: London

Re: Brown Hairstreak predated by Stink Bug?

Post by bugboy »

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.
Some addictions are good for the soul!
RichardStephens
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2018 7:07 pm
Location: Surrey

Re: Brown Hairstreak predated by Stink Bug?

Post by RichardStephens »

Thanks Bugboy, Spiked Shield bug is a new one on me, 4
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