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A Shield bug -Stink Bug Nymph, Acrosternum hilare whose shell looks like a tortoise shell.
Found lots of these bugs on my dead holly hock flower heads.
From the internet:
Shield Bugs are well known for their ability to produce a foul odor secreted from the thoracic glands in adults and from the abdominal glands in nymphs. Some species are brightly colored to warn predators of the foul-smelling, bitter liquid. Other species have muted colors to blend into the environment.
The stink gland secretions are said to contaminate fruit when left on plants where Shield Bugs feed.
Giant Shield Bugs are reported to harm citrus crops.
The family Scutelleridae is reported to be a very serious pest of wheat and barley in West Asia. These Shield Bugs are referred to as “sunn pests” and damage crops by feeding on leaves, stems and grains. During feeding they are said to inject chemicals that harm the quality of flour made from these grains.
The helpful stinkbugs kill other insects that do more harm to plants than they do themselves eg certain types of beetles and caterpillars and even some other stinkbugs..
Featured in
Amazing Wildlife 16th April 2011
DSLR User Group 16th April 2011
Closeups in Nature 23rd April 2011
Top Ten in
Let There Be Light bug me challenge 24th May 2011
Let There Be Light
Nikon D7000
Tamron macro 90mm
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Comments
Beautiful bug and awesome macro!
Thanks for dropping by and your nice comment. I’ve taken more than 20pics but it was so difficult to get it right.These bugs are very shy,kept moving and hiding. The shell seems to be shiny and I get a lot of bright spots. This was taken on a very overcast day.
– patcheah
wow amazing creature!
Thanks for stopping by and your lovely comment : )
– patcheah
Excellent macro
Thanks for taking the time to view my work ,your lovely comment and fave : )
greatly appreciated.
– patcheah
Congratulations! Featured April 16 2011. Great image!!!
Thanks so much for this feature,my first from your lovely group : ) Greatly appreciated.
– patcheah
Many Congratulations Pat From DSLR Users Group
Fantastic Work. I’m so happy to let you know you’ve been Featured in the group for DSLR Users.
Just click the banner picture to take you to the features page.
Your Feature is richly deserved and I hope you have an Amazing Weekend.
All the best and may you get many visits, favs and comments and hopefully SALES:-)
Regards, Don. Host of DSLR Users Group
Thanks for this honour of your feature ,greatly appreciated.Thrilled to get my first feature from your lovely group.Thanks so much for your compliment and congrats and best wishes : )
– patcheah
CONGRATULATIONS on your wonderful feature, great work.
Thanks Andrea for your lovely comment and congrats,much appreciated.
– patcheah
Congrats on your features of this great capture !
Lovely colours, I haven’t seen one with this colouring before.
Thanks for stopping by and your lovely comment and congrats. I was surprised to see them. They seem to like dead flower heads. I spotted a lot of them on my pink daisy heads but all the pics were too dark in the shade.This time they were in another brighter spot .
– patcheah