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Unknown beetle
Dirty Diggin
Posts: 39
This had even the most experienced of horticulturalists stumped and we still have no clue as to what these little guys are. They were discovered on the leaf of a Magnolia. Tiny white eggs are very neatly packed together and each are around 1mm. The beetles are around 2mm in length but are almost completely round. They have a black head and a brown back with black marks (See sketch). They have 6 legs and 2 antennas. They are staying in very tight groups but to not disperse as a family of young spiders would, however if separated they seem to find each other soon afterward. Any ideas would be appreciated.
0
Posts
No idea
Why not contact the Natural History Museum Identification Service and see what they say
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/british-natural-history/uk-biodiversity-portal/identification-enquiries/
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Nope, unfortunately not them.. Lets hope there one of the good guys!
not stink bugs they're way too small, but to what they are, I haven't the foggiest
That looks incredibly similar. I think there backs may be slightly darker brown but the egg layout and there habit look the same. Thanks very much!
I love the little drawing
They look like baby shield bugs to me. I have some at the moment hatching on a oak tree leaf. Not a pest as far as I know.
Stink bugs are what shield bugs are called in the US this is why they look similar. We have many different species of shield bug in the UK and they are difficult it identify at larvae stage. I just didn't want wildlife to be squished, when it might in fact not be a pest. Unfortunately this does happen often.
Dirty Diggin if you look at this link and scroll down you will see there are lots of different shield bugs it could be. Many are brown with those little marks on them. Have a gander and see what you think. http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/gallery/heteroptera/Pentatomoidea/pentatomoidea.html
I'll go and see if our Works has got one Mike.
Richard Mabey's Flora Britannica is excellent
In the sticks near Peterborough