simondix said:
Harry,
Thanks for that. Chinery actually shows a Green Shield Bug Nymph. It does, however, not look like this one in the picture. Whether that is the painting or it is a different instar. Thanks again for your help.
Simon
Hello Simon,
No problems, i'm always willing to help where I can.
Yes, Shieldbug nymphs do change colour and markings in their different instars, which is handy when identifying them, provided you know what each instar looks like.
As I said in my earlier post Chinery isn't much good for serious identification. I have a copy which I bought when it first came out. After reading it I consigned it to a box in the loft where has remained ever since.
The great problem in getting your hands on a serious book on identification is that once you are past the Butterfly, Moth and Dragonfly books, finding volumes relating to less popular species or groups is more difficult, unless you know where to look. Publishers seldom advertise low production publications as there is little profit in it.
There are several on-line bookshops, one of these specialising in natural history subjects is:-
http://www.nhbs.com
There are several others dealing with new and secondhand books on insects and other wildlife forms. I find eBay a useful way of getting secondhand books on insects but I always check what dealers are charging for the same book before bidding. I have seen some books with a starting price three or four times what you would pay a dealer for the same item. Having said that, I have picked up a lot of bargains. If you are looking for a specific title that is out of print, try:-
http://www/abebooks.com
Just type in the name of the author, surname before initials, and the name of the book and see if there are any hits, there are 13,000 bookshops in the group, you may just get lucky.
Harry