David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
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Bugs
7 – Box Bugs
BOX BUG Gonocerus
acuteangulatus
BOX BUG Gonocerus
acuteangulatus
BOX BUG Gonocerus
acuteangulatus
BOX BUG Gonocerus
acuteangulatus
BOX BUG Gonocerus
acuteangulatus (nymph) BOX BUG Gonocerus
acuteangulatus (nymph)
·
The Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus has recently begun to spread its
geographical range in the UK in response to anthropogenic global warming, having
formerly been restricted to a small area of the North Downs in Surrey (hence
the vernacular name). This squashbug (or leatherbug) bears a superficial resemblance to the Dock
Bug Coreus marginatus
but the body is narrower and the projections on the pronotum are pointed and as
inferred by the specific name acutely angled. The impact on this bug of the
recent arrival of the invasive Asian Box-tree Moth Cydalima
perspectalis, a large Pyralid
(micro) moth with two distinct colour forms, the larvae of which feed
voraciously on Box Buxus spp. hedges remains to be seen. As
the bug has broadened its range of food-plants recently it may not be as badly
impacted as might otherwise have been the case. On the Continent the larvae of
the moth have been causing major damage to ornamental gardens and much the same
has been happening recently in the UK. There is some natural predation – but
simply not enough to counter the deleterious effect of this pest species. The
final two photographs illustrate the green and brown final instar nymph of the
Box Bug.
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