Sloe bugs on stinking helibore at Brockadale

A walk round Brockadale today produced lots of early purple orchids and cowslips as well as spring migrants and butterflies. Up near the open beech woodland we found the stinking helibore that Colin sent in a record of earlier this year. Although the flowering is over, what was very interesting is that the plant was covered in brightly coloured shield bugs mating and fighting. I have identified these as sloe bug but I have no idea why they were so attracted to that single plant but there must have been 50-60 insects on it. Here are a few photos, more from my Brockodale trip over on my website – Wildscenes

sloe bug (Dolycoris baccarum)

sloe bug (Dolycoris baccarum) also known as hairy bug

loe bug (Dolycoris baccarum)

sloe bug (Dolycoris baccarum) also known as hairy bug

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