Shield bug (?) ID please

[CFB]

Not a butterfly of course, but I would like to know the name of this smart shield bug (?) seen a month or so ago in the Alpes-Maritimes:

--
Colin

[Nigel P]

Hi Colin,

Having done a quick search the closest I can find is this:

http://macroid.ru/showphoto.php?photo=7 ... ig&cat=587

I'm not very good on this group so I'm not 100% sure.

N

[CFB]

Thanks Nigel, it certainly looks like that. When I do a Google Images search for Carpocoris purpureipennis, I see that there many other colours and designs for this species. And perhaps this photo of mine is also Carpocoris purpureipennis:

Perhaps I should read a bit about the life of shield bugs.
--
Colin

[Nigel P]

Hi Colin, they go through different instars which can vary quite considerably. Here's a link to a page on the excellent British Bugs site which shows how some of our native species change as they grow:

http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteropte ... tages.html

N