Hobbies And Interests
Striped Shield Bug (Graphosoma italicum)
This beetle is characterized by numerous vertical red and black bands which serve as a warning to predators that it's inedible. Indeed, most shield bugs are highly distasteful and give off a noxious smell which has given them their nickname: stink bugs. The shape of the beetle, and the pattern of its colors, resemble a Masai warrior's arm shield from Kenya or Tanzania.
Black and Red Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata)
Like the striped shield bug, this froghopper has developed its color as a deterrent to predators because of its distastefulness. The larvae develops underground on plant roots, while adults are usually seen on grass and other low vegetation. It feeds on many types of vegetation such as grasses and nettles but is partial to Bladder campion, a medium-sized semi-sprawling grassland perennial with waxy greenish-grey foliage.
Red Lily Beetle (Lilioceris lilii)
This striking red beetle with black underparts is the nemesis of lily growers in the U.K. and elsewhere. It's doubly damaging to lilies because adults (which grow to about 8mm in size) and larvae eat the plants. The beetle has only become widespread as recently as 2010, expanding to Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and even the Republic of Ireland. In Europe, the lily beetle is prevented from becoming too numerous by four species of parasitic wasp that attack the larval stage.
Crucifix Ground Beetle (Panagaeus cruxmajor)
This rare beetle has extraordinary markings. At about 9mm in length, it has large red spots on its wing cases which look uncannily like a black cross on a red background. It's a nocturnal predatory species which is said to eat semi-aquatic snails, and which ejects acrid fluid when alarmed. It has a very similar relative which is slightly smaller, and is known scientifically as Panagaeus bipustulatus.
Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)
Native to eastern Asia, this beetle--which in pattern resembles the shield of a Zulu warrior in the 19th century--was introduced to North America and Europe to control aphids and other insects, and has spread rapidly. It's known in North America as the Japanese ladybug, the Asian lady beetle, or as the Halloween lady beetle, and unfortunately has attracted adverse attention because of the threat it poses to native species of ladybirds.