@yvonnecouch.bsky.social
I'm the Essex county VC18 and VC19 Coccinellidae and Heteroptera recorder. I especially love the juvenile stages.
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.
November 14, 2025 at 11:12 AM
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.
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.
September 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
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.
Two Lygaeid bugs, Arocatus roeselii and Oxycarenus modestus, tapped from Alder in Alphamstone, Essex TL8835 yesterday. Relatively recent arrivals from the continent.
August 22, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Two Lygaeid bugs, Arocatus roeselii and Oxycarenus modestus, tapped from Alder in Alphamstone, Essex TL8835 yesterday. Relatively recent arrivals from the continent.
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.
August 17, 2025 at 2:23 PM
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.
The Ant Nest Ladybird Platynaspis luteolubra larva I swept in Essex on 5th July has since pupated and hatched.
July 21, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The Ant Nest Ladybird Platynaspis luteolubra larva I swept in Essex on 5th July has since pupated and hatched.
A Platynaspis luteolubra (Ant nest Ladybird) larva I swept in Essex on Saturday.
July 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM
A Platynaspis luteolubra (Ant nest Ladybird) larva I swept in Essex on Saturday.
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.
June 27, 2025 at 1:07 PM
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.
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.
June 27, 2025 at 12:59 PM
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.
A couple of lovely nymphs from Tyler's Wood in Essex on 22 May: Grypocoris stysi (its everywhere at the moment) and Deraeocoris olivaceous.
June 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
A couple of lovely nymphs from Tyler's Wood in Essex on 22 May: Grypocoris stysi (its everywhere at the moment) and Deraeocoris olivaceous.
Some beetles from the last couple of days: Dendroxena quadrimaculata from Belhus Woods Country Park, and Phytoecia cylindrica from RSPB Rainham Marshes.
April 21, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Some beetles from the last couple of days: Dendroxena quadrimaculata from Belhus Woods Country Park, and Phytoecia cylindrica from RSPB Rainham Marshes.
Some finds from Belhus Woods Country Park this week: the flatbug Aradus depressus, and the Orange and Cream-spot Ladybirds.
April 6, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Some finds from Belhus Woods Country Park this week: the flatbug Aradus depressus, and the Orange and Cream-spot Ladybirds.
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.
March 10, 2025 at 11:10 AM
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.
I tapped this Oxycarenus modestus from alder at RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex, on 28 February.
March 4, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I tapped this Oxycarenus modestus from alder at RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex, on 28 February.
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.
March 1, 2025 at 3:51 PM
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.
I found this Issus nymph in Belhus Woods Country Park, Essex, on 23 February.
February 25, 2025 at 11:47 AM
I found this Issus nymph in Belhus Woods Country Park, Essex, on 23 February.
Mating toads in my Rainham, Essex, garden, 2 days ago.
February 25, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Mating toads in my Rainham, Essex, garden, 2 days ago.
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.
February 22, 2025 at 10:11 AM
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.
I found a winter colouration Green Shieldbug in Essex this morning.
January 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I found a winter colouration Green Shieldbug in Essex this morning.
A Brassica Shieldbug in the sun on a very cold day at RSPB Rainham Marshes today.
November 29, 2024 at 1:24 PM
A Brassica Shieldbug in the sun on a very cold day at RSPB Rainham Marshes today.
Here is a Spiked Shieldbug feeding on a Drinker Moth caterpillar at RSPB Rainham Marshes last month.
November 23, 2024 at 12:18 PM
Here is a Spiked Shieldbug feeding on a Drinker Moth caterpillar at RSPB Rainham Marshes last month.