David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bugs
9 – Mottled Shieldbugs
MOTTLED SHIELDBUG Raphigaster
nebulosa
·
The
Mottled Shieldbug Raphigaster
nebulosa is a common European insect
that has recently managed to establish a toehold in South London. As is often
the case with recent introductions, importation of the early stages on poorly
regulated plants may have been the route of entry and the warmer microclimate associated
with the ‘heat island’ effect produced by the inordinately large number of
heated and lit buildings in the City probably suits it. This bug is a woodland
species that is often to be found employing its camouflage very effectively
against tree-bark. The above photograph of a Mottled Shieldbug
sitting on an artificial light (and one that contributed rather effectively to
the flash output) was taken in the South of France. The striated antennae and
the surface pitting may be seen very clearly in this image.
-> Bugs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50
-> Species Index, Common Names
-> Species Index, Scientific Names
-> Site Index
-> Home