Saturday 31 January 2015

Shield Stripes



Graphosoma italicum
 



 



 



 



 



 



 
The Graphosoma italicum is a shield bug. It's bold colours warn of foul taste, and few birds or other predators are likely to try to eat it. It measures 10mm, and can be seen from June-October, usually feeding on Umbellifer flowers. I took these photos in July last year and as you can see, they had laid their eggs on the flowers. There were dozens of these bugs, mostly mateing pairs, in fact I don't ever remember seeing so many.
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

34 comments:

eileeninmd said...

The flowers and the insects are interesting. I love the colors on this Shield Bug.. Great post and photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post.. Have a happy weekend!

Maude Lynn said...

Very cool shots!

Bas. said...

wat een mooie kleuren hebben ze.

Unknown said...

Fabulous photos! I love the colours on these bugs.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Interesting and well photographed post. Have a lovely weekend.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

The circle of life :) absolutely beautiful!

betty-NZ said...

What colorful little things! Your photos are such great captures.

TexWisGirl said...

wow, really striking beetles! i do love the queen anne's lace, though.

Giga said...

These colors are beautiful insects and charming image. Regards.

Michelle said...

Great color on these bugs and you really captured some great details with these shots.

Joanne Olivieri said...

Phenomenal shots. The bug and flower captures have such wonderful details and coloring. Well done.

Maria said...

So intriguing I couldn't make it out at first. What colors!

Lovable Derek said...

Excellent detailed photos with a fascinating description. Thanks.

These bugs seem rather pretty and almost dignified to me - but they definitely don't look good enough to eat, bright colours or not.

Have a good week.

Susan said...

Fantastic shots of these colorful bugs! I initially thought the bugs were some kind of flower buds, until I saw the tiny legs poking out. Have a wonderful day!

Irma said...

Beautiful pictures of the bugs, beautiful colors they have.
A good Sunday and a good start to the new week.
Best regards, Irma

EG CameraGirl said...

Lovely shots of the beetles on the Queen Anne's lace seedhead!

Ela said...

This is a lovely cauple of beetles !
Great captured the beauty of nature !
Have a nice day !

Bob Bushell said...

Those Shield Bugs are superb, and the flowers, fantastic.

Nick Morgan said...

Lovely. I often come across these when I am searching for butterflies in Portugal and Spain. They always seem to appear in twos and threes. I didn't know what they were called before, so thank you!

karmnik54 said...

Śliczne:)

Russell Jenkins said...

Very cool and beautiful bugs. Your pictures have captured them wonderfully!

hmuxo said...

Nature is amazing....wonderful photos...!

Unknown said...

WOW... Such amazing shots.

Hugs~

Joke (Joke's Camera) said...

A beautiful beetle and a fantastic series, Sonjia. I have seen this beetle once. It's very impressive with its colours. Greetings from the Netherlands, Joke

A Colorful World said...

Just wonderful macros of these interesting insects! Glad you got to see so many.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Sonjia!

Colourful bugs feeding on an unusual flower made for a great set o photos.

Have a nice week
Vitor

Ida said...

Wow these are pretty cool looking bugs. I've never seen s Shield Bug before, I light the bright color and the stripes.

Gail Dixon said...

A beautiful, striking bug! I love the world of insects. Your photos are stellar.

Stuart Price said...

I feel itchy..............

Juliana said...

Дуже кумедні жучки! Цікава знахідка! Дякую, що поділилася з нами цими чудовими фото!

xoxo, Juliana | PJ’ Happies :) | PJ’ Ecoproject

Phil Slade said...

That's a new one on me.What a fabulous Beastie. Now I'm wondering if it occurs in the UK?

Hootin Anni said...

Now this was so very interesting...and new one for me. The colors are extraordinary.

Maria said...

What an interesting close up, of both flower and insects.

Gail said...

Amazing!

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