| A common
group of insects are Shieldbugs, named after their
heraldic shield-like shape and belonging to the
order Hemiptera. They frequent
most types of vegetation and although most feed on their
foliage and berries etc, some species are carnivorous.
Shieldbugs go through several stages of growth called
nymphs, which are as frequently found as the adults and a
few species exhibit brood care. Shieldbugs are also
fairly regular visitors to MV moth traps. The Spiked
Shieldbug (Picromerus bidens) is
not a species we find until late in the Summer and
throughout the Autumn, although it is probably fairly
widespread across Nottinghamshire. This one was
photographed at Clipstone Old Quarter in September 2010. |
