Hairy Shieldbug

I found this colourful bug on the HAHA Wildlife plot today. Sadly it is missing one of its stripey antennae.

They over-Winter as brown adults and emerge in their Spring colour on a mission to mate. As with other shieldbugs the juveniles (nymphs) have a significantly different pattern but they are hairy. Maximum length is only about 13mm. The fabulous British Bugs site has excellent photos of all instars.

Looking closely you can see why it’s known as the hairy shieldbug. It’s also commonly known as the sloe bug, although neither the adults, larvae or nymphs eat sloes. They’re more partial to raspberries and roses. 

Although they eat raspberries we shouldn’t consider them as allotment foe; they’ll happily live in the hedgerow eating blackberries.

Dolycoris baccarum