JUNIPER SHIELDBUG (Cyphostethus tristriatus) adult on 04-05-2022 at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Juniper Shieldbug (Cyphostethus tristriatus) is of the family Acanthosomatidae which is in the genus Cyphostethus . It has two very distinctive purple red boomerang shaped markings on the upperparts as well as rounded "shoulders" which helps to identify from the similar Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus) which has squarish "shoulders".  

It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe. In Britain, it has recently expanded its range northward and has become more common. In Ireland, this appears to be a rare species with has been reported from less than 25 locations. Although this represents the first record for Fingal, in all probably it is under recorded.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON CLOVER SAWFLY (Tenthredo arcuata) at Saint Anne's Park and Rose Gardens, Clontarf East, Raheny, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Common Clover Sawfly (Tenthredo arcuata) is of the family Tenthredinidae which is in the genus Tenthredo. It is on the wing from April to late August over two generations. This pollen eating species is commonly encountered on thistles and umbellifers. The larval food plant is White Clover. 

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ORCHID BEETLE (Dascillus cervinus) at Saint Anne's Park and Rose Gardens, Clontarf East, Raheny, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 The Orchid Beetle (Dascillus cervinus) is of the family Dascillidae which is in the genus Dascillus.

NOON FLY or NOONDAY FLY (Mesembrina meridiana) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana) or Noonday Fly is of the family Muscidae which is in the genus Mesembrina. This is a common and widespread medium sized fly with distinctive golden cheeks and amber wing bases. The female lays a single egg in up to five cow pats or dung and when the lava hatches, it predates the larvae of other species which are feeding within the dung. The flight season is from late April into October.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

GREEN SHIELDBUG (Palomena prasina) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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The Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) or Green Stink Bug is of the family Pentatomidae which is in the genus Palomena. Shieldbugs go through five instar stages before becoming adults. In spring, separate with care from the Gorse Shieldbug (Piezodorus lituratus) which has fully red antennae compared to this species where only the two outer segments of the antennae are red .

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

GORSE SHIELDBUG (Piezodorus lituratus) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Gorse Shieldbug (Piezodorus lituratus) is of the family Pentatomidae which is in the genus Piezodorus.This species is found in most of the temperate regions of North America, Europe, Northern Asia and parts of Africa. It mainly occurs on Common Gorse (ulex europeaus), Common Broom (Sarothamnus scoparius) as well as various legumes (Fabaceae). There are two colour forms, green when it emerges from hibernation in late spring, having overwintered as an adult. The next generation appear in summer and following five instar stages, become green adults with purple red bar markings on the upper parts. In spring, its fully red antennae help separate from the very similar Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) which has partially red antennae.   

 

Patrick J. O;Keeffe / Raw Birds

NOON FLY or NOONDAY FLY (Mesembrina meridiana) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana) or Noonday Fly is of the family Muscidae which is in the genus Mesembrina. This is a common and widespread medium sized fly with distinctive golden cheeks and amber wing bases. The female lays a single egg in up to five cow pats or dung and when the lava hatches, it predates the larvae of other species which are feeding within the dung. The flight season is from late April into October.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

GORSE SHIELDBUG (Piezodorus lituratus) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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  The Gorse Shieldbug (Piezodorus lituratus) is of the family Pentatomidae which is in the genus Piezodorus.This species is found in most of the temperate regions of North America, Europe, Northern Asia and parts of Africa. It mainly occurs on Common Gorse (ulex europeaus), Common Broom (Sarothamnus scoparius) as well as various legumes (Fabaceae). There are two colour forms, green when it emerges from hibernation in late spring, having overwintered as an adult. The next generation appear in summer and following five instar stages, become green adults with purple red bar markings on the upper parts. In spring, its fully red antennae help separate from the very similar Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) which has partially red antennae.   

 

Patrick J. O;Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON FIELD GRASSHOPPER (Chorthippus brunneus) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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 The Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus) is of the family Acrididae which is in the genus Chorthippus.

COMMON FIELD GRASSHOPPER (Chorthippus brunneus) [4th instar nymph] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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 The Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus) is of the family Acrididae which is in the genus Chorthippus. Like all species of grasshopper, it goes through five instar stages before becoming an adult.

COMMON FIELD GRASSHOPPER (Chorthippus brunneus) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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 The Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus) is of the family Acrididae which is in the genus Chorthippus.

HEATHER COLLETES BEE (Colletes succictus) at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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The Heather Colletes Bee (Colletes succictus) is of the family Colletidae which is in the genus Colletes.

YELLOW DUNG FLY (Scathophaga stercoraria) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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The Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) or Golden Dung Fly is of the family Scathophagidae which is in the genus Scathophaga.

MARSH DAMSEL BUG (Nabis limbatus) [Female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Marsh Damsel Bug (Nabis limbatus) is of the family Nabidae which is in the genus Nabis.

GREEN SHIELDBUG (Palomena prasina) 3rd instar Nymph, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) or Green Stink Bug is of the family Pentatomidae which is in the genus Palomena. Shieldbugs go through five instar stages before becoming adults.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON CLOVER SAWFLY (Tenthredo arcuata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Clover Sawfly (Tenthredo arcuata) is of the family Tenthredinidae which is in the genus Tenthredo. It is on the wing from April to late August over two generations. This pollen eating species is commonly encountered on thistles and umbellifers. The larval food plant is White Clover. 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

CHOCOLATE MINING BEE (Andrena scotica) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Chocolate Mining-bee (Andrena scotica) or Hawthorn Bee is of the family Andrenidae which is in the genus Andrena. It occurs in Europe and its range extends from Ireland eastwards to Poland. The flight season is from March to late June, peaking in May. The females are communal nesters with a group of them sharing a common entrance to a burrow in which each female tends her own eggs and larvae within a chamber off the main burrow, constructing brood cells within her tunnel and provisioning the cells with pollen and nectar collected from a wide range of flowers.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrena_scotica

SPECKLED BUSH CRICKET (Leptophyes punctatissima) female on 16th October 2009 at Ballyieragh North, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co.Cork, Ireland

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The Speckled Bush Cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) is of the family Tettigoniidae which is in the genus Leptophyes. This flightless insect occurs across most of Europe as well as parts of the Middle East. 

In Ireland it is very uncommon and apparently has a very restricted range in the southeastern as well as southern regions but in all probability is under recorded. It occurs in a wide variety of vegetative habitats, including hedgerows, parks and gardens where its cryptic colouration help it to avoid predation. In late autumn, eggs are laid on plant stems and on tree bark. They hatch out as nymphs in May the following year. The adult stage is from August to early November. A bat detector set to 40khz can be used to locate calling adults.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SPECKLED BUSH CRICKET (Leptophyes punctatissima) male on 2nd September 2012 at Ireland's Eye, Howth, Fingal,Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Speckled Bush Cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) is of the family Tettigoniidae which is in the genus Leptophyes. This flightless insect occurs across most of Europe as well as parts of the Middle East. 

In Ireland it is very uncommon and apparently has a very restricted range in the southeastern as well as southern regions but in all probability is under recorded. It occurs in a wide variety of vegetative habitats, including hedgerows, parks and gardens where its cryptic colouration help it to avoid predation. In late autumn, eggs are laid on plant stems and on tree bark. They hatch out as nymphs in May the following year. The adult stage is from August to early November. A bat detector set to 40khz can be used to locate calling adults.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

DOCK BUG (Coreus marginatus) Belarus

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The Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) is of the family Coreidae which is in the genus Coreus.