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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Sciocoris sideritidis has spread from its known site in Purfleet, Essex, half a mile to the wildlife garden and car park of RSPB Rainham Marshes TQ5478. I found 3 specimens here on 2 October. #Shieldbugs @britishbugs.bsky.social @rockwolf74.bsky.social

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Stiltbug Metatropis rufescens from Enchanters Nightshade in south Essex yesterday. 3 adults and 2 nymphs. #Berytidae #heteroptera

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Sciocoris homalonotus from South Essex TQ607973 on 3rd August (found by R. Legg), awaiting verification on iRecord. @britishbugs.bsky.social @rockwolf74.bsky.social #shieldbugs

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

The heathland specialyst bug Alydus calcaratus from the Heath area of Galleywood Common in Essex on 30 July.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I was surprised to find Beosus maritimus in streamside vegetation in SE Essex on 12 July. #Lygaeidae

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

An interesting Lacehopper, Reptalus quinquecostatus (aka Oliarus panzeri) from Essex yesterday. 5 keels on the scutellum and vertex broader than long. #Cixiidae

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

I was recording at Belhus Woods Country Park, SE Essex, yesterday when I found the Lygaeid bug Oxycarenus modestus and its nymph, and also the Cixiidae Lacehopper Oliarus panzeri (now known as Reptalus quinquecostatus). I have added a photo of the lacehopper's vertex, important for i.d. to species.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Some finds from an excessively hot site in SE Essex yesterday. Rhabdomiris striatellus, Phylus melanocephalus and Dryophilocoris flavoquadrimaculatus. #Miridae #Heteroptera

Rhabdomiris striatellus, a striped bug from Oak

Phylus melanocephalus, a slender bug, pale orange with a black head

Dryophilocoris flavoquadrimaculatus, a slender black and white bug with a very long name

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Reposted by @yvonnecouch.bsky.social

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

A week or so ago we had the amazing privilege of watching a Mottled Shieldbug (Rhaphigaster nebulosa) laying eggs on, of all things, the landing window providing a most unusual view! The eggs are developing nicely and hopefully we will be able to see the 1st instars soon. @rockwolf74.bsky.social

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

The sun brought out the insects at RSPB Rainham Marshes this morning. A Green Hairstreak posed for me. Brassica and Hairy Shieldbugs were mating. #Shieldbugs #butterflies

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

I was in an ancient woodland yesterday (White Posts Wood, Essex, TQ5682) when I found the Hazel Leaf-roller Apoderus coryli and Dendroxena quadrimaculata. Nice beetles I haven't seen in ages.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

A couple of nice finds recently. The nymph of the Reedmace Bug Chilacis typhae, from Rainham Village, Essex, and the intermediate annulata form of the 2-Spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata, from RSPB Rainham Marshes.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

The recent warm sunny weather brought out the insects, and in Rainham Riverside I found a Larch Ladybird, the Lygaeid bug Oxycarenus modestus, dozens of Mottled Shieldbugs, and over ten 2-Spot Ladybirds. #Ladybirds #Lygaeidae #Shieldbugs

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Once again checking under the bark of plane trees, I found Arocatus longiceps, Rhyparochromus vulgaris and Raglius alboacuminatus, plus some ladybirds (bus 103 from Rainham to Romford, Essex, get off whenever spotting a Plane Tree). #Lygaeidae

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Checking under the peeling bark of a Plane tree in Belhus Woods Country Park, SE Essex, today, I found Arocatus longiceps, Cardiastethus fasciiventris and Deraeocoris lutescens passing the winter under cover.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

A 7-Spot and a Harlequin Ladybird huddled together in freezing temperatures in SE Essex today.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

My last finds for 2025. A group of Firebugs Pyrrhocoris apterus on the trunk of a lime tree in SE Essex today.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

A few finds from sieving leaf litter today. A 10 Spot Ladybird, a Brassica Shieldbug and some 16 Spot Ladybirds. I also found some groundbugs that are waiting for identification.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

By checking the antennal colours of the Hairy Shieldbugs Dolycoris baccarum I found at RSPB Rainham Marshes yesterday, I found a Vernal Shieldbug Peribalus strictus. The former has black and white banded antennae, while the latter has obvious orange on antennal segments 1 and 2.

Dolycoris baccarum, with pale tip to scutellum, banded connexivum, and black and white antennae

Periballus strictus, with pale tip to scutellum, banded connexivum, but obviously orange antennal segments 1 and 2

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

I found some super ladybirds recently; the tiny Dot Ladybird Stethorus pusillus from Belhus Woods Country Park TQ5682 on the 16th September, and the Scarce 7-Spot Coccinella magnifica from Little Haven TQ8189 on the 19th.

The tiny black ladybird Stethorus pusillus

Underside of Stethorus pusillus showing pale legs

The Scarce 7-Spot Ladybird; spots are larger than in the common 7-Spot

Underside of Scarce 7-Spot showing 2 pairs of pale "armpits"

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

Two Lygaeid bugs, Arocatus roeselii and Oxycarenus modestus, tapped from Alder in Alphamstone, Essex TL8835 yesterday. Relatively recent arrivals from the continent.

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Reposted by @yvonnecouch.bsky.social

Mel S-W @corvidcrazychap.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Had an amazing day with some amazingly knowledgeable people on my first #EssexFieldClub outing lovely to meet @stuttonsparrows.bsky.social & especially @yvonnecouch.bsky.social who was very kind to me & gave me 16 spot & Angle-spotted ladybird life ✅ plus lots of other knowledge & great location

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

A colleague found this tiny lacebug, Acalypta parvula, in moss during an Essex Field Club trip to Danbury Common, Essex, on 9 August, and passed it to me to identify and record. TL7803.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

The Ant Nest Ladybird Platynaspis luteolubra larva I swept in Essex on 5th July has since pupated and hatched.

A round, flat, hairy larva on a green background. An unusual shape for a ladybird larva.

An orange pupa on a green background. The shed larval slin can be seen on the left.

An oval ladybird with 4 orange spots, and orange patch each side of the pronotum; on a green background.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

A Platynaspis luteolubra (Ant nest Ladybird) larva I swept in Essex on Saturday.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

While in Kent I went to Dungeness to look for Geotomus petiti. I found one which I think has been dead a while and has lost most of its hairs. I also found a bonus Odonotoscelis lineola and Arencoris falleni. TR067199. All will be iRecorded.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

I went to Samphire Ho on 22 June to look for Coptosoma scutellatum and was lucky enough to find one, swept from Restharrow and other vetches, TR29073907.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

A couple of lovely nymphs from Tyler's Wood in Essex on 22 May: Grypocoris stysi (its everywhere at the moment) and Deraeocoris olivaceous.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Some beetles from the last couple of days: Dendroxena quadrimaculata from Belhus Woods Country Park, and Phytoecia cylindrica from RSPB Rainham Marshes.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Some finds from Belhus Woods Country Park this week: the flatbug Aradus depressus, and the Orange and Cream-spot Ladybirds.

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Reposted by @yvonnecouch.bsky.social

Andrew Jewels @andrew-jewels.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Staggering numbers of Lime Seed Bug (Oxycarenus lavaterae) seen clustered on a single lime tree in Shoeburyness, Essex today. Another newly arrived continental species. TQ92838660. Thanks to yvonnecouch.bsky.social for previous post. Reminded me of mussels clinging to rocks.

Two small red and black bugs on tree bark.

A tight cluster of tiny bugs on tree bark.

A large cluster of tiny bugs on tree bark.

A lime tree beside a wide road with grassy field to one side.

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Reposted by @yvonnecouch.bsky.social

Andrew Jewels @andrew-jewels.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

More photos of the Lime Seed Bugs (Oxycarenus lavaeterae) in Shoeburyness, Essex, including a teneral adult and a nymph. #UKBugs #EssexWildlife

Three small red and black bugs on tree bark

A reddish brown nymph of a bug on yellow lichen.

A tight cluster of tiny nymphs on a tree trunk.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

On 6 March Jon Leysell found Oxycarenus lavaterae in Lime Trees in Shoeburyness, Essex TQ92838660 (the 3rd UK and 1st Essex record). I took these photos on 8 March.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I tapped this Oxycarenus modestus from alder at RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex, on 28 February.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Mottled Shieldbug Rhaphigaster nebulosa and 22-Spot Ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata from bramble, and adult European Chinchbug Ischnodemus sabuleti from grass, at RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex on 28 February.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

I found this Issus nymph in Belhus Woods Country Park, Essex, on 23 February.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Mating toads in my Rainham, Essex, garden, 2 days ago.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

The Pine Ladybirds have appeared on the trunks of ash trees in Rainham village, Essex. Yesterday I saw 6 but soon there should be nearly 100.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Two toads and 3 frogs in my pond in SE Essex this evening.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

I found a winter colouration Green Shieldbug in Essex this morning.

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Reposted by @yvonnecouch.bsky.social

Andrew Jewels @andrew-jewels.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Amazed to find two Striped Shieldbugs (Graphosoma italicum) still clinging on to dead Hogweed stems alongside Old Shire Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex today. #UKBugs #EssexWildlife

Striped Shieldbug, a red and black striped insect sheltering amongst dead plant stems.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

A Brassica Shieldbug in the sun on a very cold day at RSPB Rainham Marshes today.

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yvonnecouch.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Here is a Spiked Shieldbug feeding on a Drinker Moth caterpillar at RSPB Rainham Marshes last month.

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