Common
pond skater(Gerris
lacustris) This species has many names: water
striders,water bugs, magic bugs, skaters, skimmers, water scooters, water skaters,
water skeeters, water skimmers or water skippers.
They
mainly feed on insects, which have fallen into the water but also of
insectslarvae, which live in
water. Just like the other bugs, it has a (short and sharp) rostrum. (sucking
mouthparts).
They are heavier than water, but they
have tiny hairs on their feet which repel water and allow them to walk (skate)
on the surface film.
The first short legs are used for grasping prey, the middle are used to
row or jump and the hind are used as “rudders”.
They can also fly.
Females lay eggs in May. The eggs take around 12-14 days to develop. The
larvae (nymphs) are similar, but smaller. The adults hibernate.
German: Gemeine Wasserläufer
Hydrometra
stagnorurn
They stand much higher on their legs, thena skater. They walk not so fast over the water film and stay
near the edgeof the pond.As a child I thought
they were family of my stick insects.
It feed on insects like the pond skaters.
The adults hibernate. The female lays the 1 mm large eggs on plants above
the water (some times a year)
Backswimmers,
(Notonecta
glauca and Notonecta viridis are the common species)photo begin April 2007.
Backswimmers, because they swim upside down. They use their long, hair-fringed hind legs as paddles. Backswimmers
maintain an air supply by trapping air in pockets at the tip of the
abdomen. After six hours they need to return to the surface. In contrast
of walking, it is a good flier
It is a real predator. It is feeding by piercing the prey (larvae, frog
tadpole) and sucking out body fluids. But backswimmers must watch out for toads and
frogs.
The eggs are laid singly attached to the stems of plants.
German: Rückenschwimmer French:
Notonectes
Backswimmers
(Notonecta)
Here
on the dry terrace. So far I had only seen backswimmers it in the pond.
I
was on that moment not in my best mood. That night there was triedto burgle. They had run away, when my womanwas nothing suspecting gone downstairs. Nothing has been
stolen, but I had to replace the damaged lock.
Then this backswimmer landed before my feet on the flags. I stopped
repairing and took my camera. After some photos it flew away. That was
also a good for a photo.
The day ended better, than it began.
German: Rückenschwimmer
French: Notonectes
Bugs (Hemiptera) in the garden
Except
in and on water you find also bugs (Hemiptera) in the garden. They have
also a sucking mouthpartsknown as a rostrum. But instead of
sucking animals, many bugs suck plant juices. There are species as aphids
and cicadasand true bugs.
Shield bugs are generally
flattish oval or shield shaped bugs. The antennae have five segments. This
is the family True Shieldbugs (Pentatomidae). Other similar
families are the family Acanthosomatidae,Burrower Bugs (Cydnidae),Shield-backed
Bugs (Scutelleridae), Squash Bugs, Leaffooted Bugs (Coreidae)
The true bugs have forewings that are hardened at the base and membranous
at the tips. They sit flat over the abdomen hiding the membranous hind
wings. Hemiptera
means “half wing.They
are held flat on the back, with the ends overlapping. (Hardened
forewings like the beetles have, but the forewings of beetles meet
together in a straight line on their back)
The larva (nymph) resemblesa miniature wingless adult, although their colour and markings may be very
different. The nymphsprogress
through a series of moults (known as instars) .
The wings are developed in the last instar. ( incomplete metamorphosis, there is not a pupal
stage)
Family True Shieldbugs (Pentatomidae). The bugs of thies family have a their scutellum
GreenStinkbug (Palomena
prasina)
I was working on the
computer, when I was feeling something. It was a greenstinkbug (Palomena
prasina). (14-4-2007) Outside I ‘ve taken some photos. The name it
got, because it has a green colour and sometimes
it releases a foul
smelling liquid if it is handled carelessly. (fortunately
not at me)
The other three photos of the green stinkbug have been made in September.
As a nymph I saw it for two weeks on the same plant (a Solanum). Because I had already
enough photos, I have waited with photos, until it had changed in an
adult.
Length: 12-14 mm
Photo 24-4-2010.
These
are nymphs of the green stinkbug. I saw them in July on a seed
capsule of
a poppy. A week
later I have taken a photo of the nymph on the same seed capsule.
The young nymphs
have dark spots. This little nymph of the green stinkbug walked on
my leg. (July 2008) The last nymphs are very young.
The first two photos of
the green stinkbug (Palomena prasina) I have made 20 October.
The clear green colour is disappearing. The second two photos on 10
November. When they hibernate (also the nymphs) they become brown. In
spring they become green again.
Sloe Bug (Dolycoris baccarum). Family
True Shieldbugs (Pentatomidae).
This is also really a stink bug. It is leaving behind a stinking substance
on the berries. So that birds don't eat this bug for a second time.
It feeds on berries (like berries from honeysuckle and blackberry bush)
The hairy larvae (nymph) is often found on plants of the rose family.
The antennae have alternate dark and pale bands.
Length: 12-14 mm
A nymph of a Sloe bug
German: Beerenwanze French: Punaise
des baies, pentatome des baies
Striped Shield Bug(Graphosoma lineatum). Family
True Shieldbugs (Pentatomidae).
A shield bug with
black and red stripes.
It was in the Netherlands a rather rare wants, but it is seen now more and
more. They frequently sit on umbels.
In this photo on a celery flower. This bug smellslike
apples.But
the birds don’t like it. Length: 8-12 mm. The adults
hibernate.
Forest bug (Pentatoma rufipes) Family
Pentatomidae. Family True Shieldbugs (Pentatomidae).
A large shiny brown shieldbug. It has orange legs and a yellow / orange
spot on the scutellum.
Characteristic are the square shoulders.
They
are found in wooded areas.
They are feeding on fruits. But they are also predatory. (insects, even garden chafer)
Length 13 - 15 mm.
July - December.
The larvae hibernate.
German: Rotbeinige Baumwanze French:
Punaise à pattes rousses, Punaise des bois
Cabbage bug, Brassica Bug (Eurydema
oleracea)
Family True Shieldbugs (Pentatomidae).
The bug feeds on crucifers and may be harmful to cabbage. Here it is on
Garlic mustard.
You have them with red, white, pale yellow or pale blue spots.
Length 6, 7 mm. They
overwinter as an adult.
German: Kohlwanze French: Punaise potagère
Family Acanthosomatidae.
Parent
Bug, Motherly Shield Bug(Elasmucha grisea) Family
Acanthosomatidae.
The colours differ. There are two colour variations, red brown and grey.
The females take care for their eggs and larvae. They guard and protect
them.. They live in birches. The eggs are on birch leaves.
Length: 6 mm-8 mm
Nymphs of a parent bug
German: Fleckige Brutwanze
Birch
Shield Bug, Birch Bug
(Elasmostethus interstinctus) Family
Acanthosomatidae.
This bug and its larvae are like the parent bug found in birches. Adults
love also low bushes, preferably in the sun shine. Especially in the sun
the colours are beautiful. (See the difference between the two photos of
the same bug) In the winter they are a little darker.
They live also in the northern of Europe, Asia and America.The adults
hibernate. It is remarkable, that the adults survive
harsh winter conditions by super cooling. (substance to remain fluid below
its normal freezing point)
Length 9-11 mm.
In
July 2008 I saw this nymph of a Birch
Shield Bug. The photo to the right is taken in October.
German: Bunte Blattwanze
Hawthorn shieldbug
(Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)
Family: Acanthosomatidae
It looks similar to
the Birch
Shield Bug, Birch Bug (Elasmostethus interstinctus),
but it is much lager.
The
lateral extensions of the pronotum are also larger It
is shiny green with black spots and deep red markings
It can be seen in
hedgerows, on the edges of woodlands. It is feeding mainly on hawthorn
berries. It will feed on leaves other deciduous trees, including oak, hazel and
birch.
Length: 13 - 15 mm.
I did not find it in my garden. A child found in the classroom. (I am
teacher....thanks victor) But that day I had taken branches for Christmas
from my garden. So maybe....
This
bug also is similar to the bugs above.Yet it is recognizable by the curved
and distinctive pinkish-red markings on the back.
Especialy in the Juniper (foodplant) Hence its
name.
The adults hibernate.
On the other photos the bug is visible very well. But on this photo you
can see, it has a good camouflage.
German: Buntrock
Family Burrower Bugs (Cydnidae)
Legnotus limbosus Family
Burrower Bugs (Cydnidae)
Familie: Negro bugs, burrowing bugs, burrower
bugs. (Cydnidae) A family of shieldbugs.
Legnotus limbosus is a small black bug with a metallic sheen. Along the shield
it has a pale edge.
It is similar to the Legnotus picipes. A difference is the square notch at the front of the head, which only has Legnotus
limbosus. Associated with bedstraws (Galium)
Adult: All year
Length 4 to 5 mm
Foto's
29-4-2010
Family: Squash Bugs, Leaffooted Bugs (Coreidae)
Dock leaf bug, brown squash bug (Coreus
marginatus) Family: Squash bugs, Leaffooted bugs (Coreidae)
A striking brown bug with a broad oval abdomen. It looks like the Arma
custos. But it is easily recognized by the dark tips of the antennae.
The dock leaf bug is a plant eater. He sucks the juices from plants and
fruit. The picture was taken on May 5, 2010. It is sitting on the leaf of
a berry bush. It seems to prefer to dock and knotweed.
It can defend it selves by spreading a smelly brown liquid. Both nymphs and adults overwinter.
Length 12 to 15 mm.
Europe, North America.
German: Lederwanze, Große
Randwanze, Saumwanze French: punaise
brune, corée
marginée
Other true bugs
Birch
Catkin Bug
(Kleidocerys
resedae)
Family: Seed Bugs or Ground Bugs (Lygaeidae)
It is a large family. Groudbugs often
live on the ground and have dark colours. The birch catkin bug is not dark, but reddish-brown with clear wing tips
extending beyond the abdomen. They also don't live on the ground. They occur
on birches, but
theydo not cause damage Length: 4-6 mm. I ‘ve seen this bug many times in
the garden. They hibernate as adult.
Nymph Kleidocerys resedae,
different stadium.
In autumn they often sit together. German: Birkenwanze
Drymus
sylvaticus or Drymus ryeii. Family: Seed Bugs or Ground Bugs
(Lygaeidae)
There are a number of species. They are very similar.
I
found it in October between the chestnut leaves, which I was weeping. It
tried to walk away, however, it did not fly away immediately, as the birch
catkin bug.
This bug
is certainly a Drymus ryeii. The nymph, I found is a Drymus. (Drymus spec.)
Scolopostethus pictus
Family: Seed Bugs or Ground Bugs
(Lygaeidae)
In the Netherlands there are a number of species,
which are similar. The differences are small. (colour of antennae, legs
and wing length.) This species always has long wings. The antennae
and legs are light brown. The thighs of the legs are very thick.
They often are found in damp places, between the leaves and moss on the
ground.
The adults hibernate. (Photo 2-11-09) They reproduce in the spring. In
July, August, the next generation appears. Length 4 to 5 mm
It is found throughout Europe.
Similar species: S.
affinis, S. decoratus, S. grandis, S. pilosus, S. puberulus, S. thomsoni.
Common
Nettle Capsid(Liocoris tripustulatus) Family: Plant BugsMiridae
I have seen them oft, but it was difficult to take a photo. (small and
moving)
It is
the largest family of true bugs They are small. They have the small, simple eyes that appear on many insects and have 2
closed cells in the membranous portion of their hemielytra.
They occur of course on the nettle, but also on other plants. I have read
the bug can be a pest
of agriculture and in greenhouses. For plants as blackberry bushes, raspberry, cucumber, paprika, gerbera, Chrysanthemums.
Still it is a beautiful little plant bug.
Length
3,5-5 mm. The adults hibernate.
German: Gepunktete Nesselwanze
Nymph Common
Nettle Capsid (Liocoris
tripustulatus) 5th stadium
The spickled legs of the nymph are similar to
the legs of an adult Common
Nettle Capsid, but they are
entirely green. It is said, the larvae live on nettle only. They like the
juices of the flowers. This nymph, however, I found on a Ragwort (Jacobaea
vulgaris) with no nettle in the nabourhood
Campyloneura virgula
Family: Plant BugsMiridae
I had already photographed this bug as
a nymph. See
photo
It's a 4 mm predator bug. It
feeds on insekts like aphids, red mites. It's a swift runner.
The adults overwinter.
A common species in Europe.It is usually
found in deciduous trees and shrubs. Here I
have photographed one on a birch and one on a Redflower
currant.
German: Rotbeinige Baumwanze French:
Punaise à pattes rousses,
I saw an Article,
where is told these bugs are a pest. They damage the vegetables in Italy.
They hibernate as adults.
Lygus
rugulipennis with an other colour:
German: Rotbeinige Baumwanze French:
Punaise à pattes rousses,
Lygus pratensis Family: Plant BugsMiridae
They are variable in color. From green to brown
In late summer you'll find the adult bugs,
which overwinter.
The bugs suck plant sap, but also the nectar of
flowers.
Lygus pratensis is wide spread all over Europe, North Africa and a part of
Asia.
Length: 6 - 7 mm.
Nymph Lygus.
According to Berend Aukema the nymphs of five Lygus species are similar. I
have photographed it early October. At the end of October I found
the Lygus pratensisin on the same Common Ragwort .
So maybe..................
Pantilius tunicatus Family: Plant BugsMiridae
Augustus - October
Length: 9 -10 mm
The first antennal segments are thick.
Color: green to reddish brown.
The photo shows also a Kleidocerys resedae.
You find them in alder, but also in hazel and birch.
One bug on a feverfew, one on a Green
Alkanet and one on a Common
Evening
primrose.
The light coloured bug is a female.
There is not much to find about this bug.They
seem to prefer nettles. But they also sit on other plants. The colour is
variable.
The thighs have above and below a black
stripe.
Length: 3,5-5 mm
Europe.
Heterotoma planicornis Family: Plant BugsMiridae
A slim little bug with strange shaped antennae.
In June, I photographed the nymphs.
The adult bugs are
found from July to September. The eggs overwinter.
It is similar to the Heterotoma merioptera. But this is a rare wants in the Netherlands.
The bug feeds on aphids and other small insects, but sucks pant juice as
well.
Length: 5 mm
Europe.
German: Breitfühler-Weichwanze
Common Green Capsid (Lygocoris
pabulinus)
Family: Plant BugsMiridae
This bright green bugs can be a pest. It sucks on apples, but also on some
berries and potatoes.
I see them everywhere in the garden. So far, in my garden I can't
find much damage in the apple trees.
In the autumn it lay the eggs on fruit trees. In the spring the larvae
feed on the young leaves and buds.
On this photo however, the nymph is on a purple loosestrife together with
some snout beetles (Nanophyes
marmoratus), described on page "beetles"
.
May - October.
Length: 5, 6 mm.
The photos were taken in June. Although this little bug was quite common in
the garden at that time, I was unable to take a sharp photo.
It is green, but lighter than the Common Green Capsid. The wings
are just a bit darker. Characteristic, I think, are the two dark spots on
the back.
The eyes are bright green.
In the Netherlands, there are the Neolygus
viridis(dark
top antenna, darker around scutellum) andNeolygus
populi.(shorter
antennas)
It is common on birch.
Adults: June-September Length: 5, 6 mm.
Pilophorus perplexus
Family: Plant Bugs (Miridae)
First I thought is was a nymph. But it is an
adult. Nymps are similar.
It has a characteristic band of yellowish hairs across the wing covers.
It's an ant-like bug.
Pilophorus perplexus
is
found on deciduous trees like oak.
It is a predatory bug, but it sucks pant juice as
well
Adults: July - Ocober
It overwinters as an egg
Length 4, 5 mm.
Miris striatus
Family: Plant Bugs (Miridae)
In April 2009 I found these nymphs on the leaves of a currant bush. They
are ant-like nymphs like the nymphs of the Himacerus mirmicoides. But
with
yellow markings.
They are predatory bugs. Especially lice, larvae of moths and
beetles.
The eggs hibernate.
More photos are available on waarneming.
An older nymph
adult
German: Prachtwanze, Gestreifte Weichwanze
Harpocera thoracica Family: Plant Bugs (Miridae) They don't look alike, but both
are Harpocera thoracica. The left wants on my watch is the female. The
right one is the male. The male has a distinctive inflated second antennal
segment.
These photos were taken in May. They are common in May. They live about a
month. Then you have to wait another year, before you see them again. The
larvae develop in about two weeks.
They live in oaks. They suck juices of the oak, but they also feed on
aphids.
Length: 6 mm
A bug with a long, small body. You can confuse him with Notostira elongata.
Difference: There is a notch in the underside of the hind
femora, near the apex.
It is also very similar to the Stenodema calcarata and Stenodema trispinosa. But they have two spines inside of the rear thigh.
(femoral spurs)
It hunts in the grass. By its body shape and colour it is difficult to
find.
Length 8 - 10 mm.
The adult bug overwinters. Then its colour is brown. In spring it turn
green.
Psallus perrisi / Psallus wagneri familie
blindwantsen (Miridae) mannetje
They
are very similar (Difference genitals.) Both species occur on oak.
It is a brown-black bug. The males are darker than females. The upper
surface is covered with golden hairs. The thighs are dark.
May - August
Length to 4 mm.
Rhopalus subrufus
Family: Scentless Plant Bugs (Rhopalidae)
A little bug sitting on the watering-can (June 2008)
Other photos 2008, 2009. It is a rather hairy bug.
Some are brightly colored, others drab or dark.
Rhopalus subrufusis often found on low vegetation in scrubby
areas. (on many plants)
The adults hibernate.
Length: 7 mm
Nymph Rhopalus subrufus (August)
In love (May)
Common flower bug(Anthocoris Nemorum) Family: Anthocoridae (pirate bugs).
It's a predator bug.
It
feeds on aphids, mites, insect eggs and other insects. It can
also suck plant sap, but cannot live without insects.
I found it in a currant shrub
This predator bug is similar to the Common flower bug but much smaller.
I find both species on Common Ragwort.
Fower bugs are also used as biological pest
control. Especially thrips. They also feed on spider mites and aphids,
insect eggs and some times pollen..
Length: 2-3 mm
The adults hibernate.
Himacerus mirmicoides.
The adult bug is similar to a Himacerus apterus. But
this bug has long antennae. The Himacerus mirmicoides its feelers are
shorter or as long as the body. Usually they have short wings, but
sometimes the wings are fully developed.
They are predatory bugs. On the photo the nymph is looking for a prey. (all
kinds of insects)
They hibernate as adults. In July, August, you can find the larvae.
Photos adult bug (female) May 24 2009.
German: Ameisensichelwanze
Field Damsel Bug (Nabis Ferus)Family Nabidae.
Very similar to the Nabis pseudoferus. Difference: The genitals and the
hairs at the apex of the corium.
They are both gray-brown in color and the pronotum is wider than
long.
Length 8.9 mm.
They are predatory bugs. They feed on all kinds of insects.
They overwinter as adult wants between the fallen leaves. I found this
Nabis on March 3 in a shell of a horse chestnut. On the first photo
there is also a rove beetle (stenus).
Eggs in May, June in the grass.
German: Rotbeinige Baumwanze
I want to thank Berend Aukema for the determination of many of my bugs.
Cicadas
When
I think of cicadas, think I especially of the insect of the Mediterranean
area, which makes such a noise. But there are found species in the
Netherlands too. These are not only smaller, but also much quieter.
The
antennae are very short. The wings are be
held "roofwise" over the body.
Just like true bugs they suck
the juice of plants with the sucking mouthparts.
They can fly and jump very well. There are three families. Froghoppers (Cercopidae) The nymph produces a cover of frothed-up plant sap resembling spit.
They give less damage than the plant lice. That spit has been made from
own body juices. For this reason there are few animals, which eat it. Family planthoppers (Delphacidae) They are separated from other "hoppers" by the prominent spur on
the the hindleg.I
have no species on this site. Family leafhoppers (Cicadellidae).The forewings are
relative soft.One or more rows of
small spines on the hind leg.
Froghopper (Cercopidae) A cover of frothed-up plant sap resembling spit.
Issus
coleoptratus Family
froghoppers (cercopidae) Length 6-7 mm, Juni-Augustus
Widely built. The forewings have a network of small veins.
If they see you, they move to the back of the stem. Although they can fly,
they generally jump away if they want escape.
I sawthem, when I was
pruning the holly. This one sat on the honeysuckle, which grows near the
holly. It was funny, I did not notice the nymph of the bug Campyloneura
virgula (family Miridae) on the branch.
German: Echte Käferzikade
Alder
Spittlebug (Aphrophora
alni)
Family froghoppers (cercopidae)
Length 5-8 mm, July-September
He
looks less firm as the issus coloptratus.
In my garden it can be found especially on the goldenrod.
German: Erlenschaumzikade French:
Cercope de l'aulne, Cicadelle écumeuse
Meadow Spittlebug
(Philaenus spumarius)
Length 7 mm, June-September (Photo October)
The
pattern and colour are very variable. They can be also entirely dark. It
is likely the meadow spittlebug, but I am not certain
Rhododendron
Leafhopper
(Graphocephala fennahi) family Cicadellidae
Length 8-9 mm, July-November
You
find them on the rhododendrons. Those shrubs I have had since a number of years
no longer in the garden. Apparently the spindlesis a good
substitute, because I can find them in July only in these shrubs. In the
months afterwards they are also to be seen on other plants.
It jumps and flies and is faster, then the froghoppers. Ithas a less good protective
coloration. It originates from Northern America. Around
1930 he has been introduced to Great Britain. Afterwards it has spreadin thirty years widely
throughout
Europe.
German: Rhododendronzikade French:
Cicadelle du rhododendron
Empoasca
leafhoppers (Empoasca spec) family Cicadellidae Photo
October
These grasshoppers are still much smaller. (1 - 4 mm) I have added
spec (specie), because I cannot say, which species it is. For they are too
small to examine. In the Netherlands there seems to be five species, but
there are much more in the world. They can occur in large numbers and can be a pest.
In October I see them most on the leaves of the Japanse Cherry (Prunus
serrulata). Almost under each leave, but I can’t find damage.
On the photo you also can find a psocoptera nymph
German: Rotbeinige Baumwanze French:
Punaise à pattes rousses