Today's Guardian Country Diary is about this delightful family of birch shield bugs that I found feeding on birch seed catkins, beside a footpath along the river Tyne at Wylam.
This is a nymph, two moults away from becoming an adult, with the most amazing 'smiley face' markings on its abdomen - an insect emoticon.
And here it is feeding alongside its mother, on a birch seed catkin.
These are very special.
ReplyDeleteCute, aren't they!?
ReplyDeleteBrings a smile on the face of the onlooker:)
ReplyDeleteMost cheerful insect I've ever seen!
DeleteIsn't that just lovely?
ReplyDeleteLovely little insects!
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