Gorse Shieldbug

This little insect, nearly 1 cm in length, was walking about on the woodbine (if that is what this kind of unruly honeysuckle is called) on Friday. I suspected it was a Shieldbug of some variety since the Dockbugs in the garden tend to be brown. The green on the scutellum was a very vivid shade and I thought the gold rim (which I believe is the connexivum) was rather unusual.

I popped the photo on iSpot and it has been identified as a Gorse Shieldbug. My immediate reaction was 'but our garden doesn't have any gorse'. However, we have sandy soil and live in the vicinity of heathland; and gorse, it seems, is not the only host plant. I wonder what other insects I will see in the days ahead: I guess I may be in the garden rather a lot (though today was bitter with strong winds, hail and snow showers) as I cannot go beyond our boundary at present in my self-isolating regime.  

Ladybird Alert: First Ladybirds (and Gorse Shieldbug) of 2013

*MY FIRST 2013* 7-spot Ladybird, seen on gorse at Minsmere

This is very late for a first sighting. I suspect the cold weather and late Spring has something to do with it! My first 2012 sighting is here for 1 May 2012.

2013: My second 7-Spot

(Coccinella 7-punctata),

seen on the same gorse bush

You can see the proximity of the Ladybird and the Gorse Shieldbug ...

... and here's a close-up of the Gorse Shieldbug.

I spotted a nymph Shieldbug in the same area last year in August; you can see it here. 

I am sending details of the Ladybird sightings to the UK Ladybird Survey. Please do the same if you encounter these insects here in the UK.