What is going on here? (1 Viewer)

[midlandsbirder]

Hi all, took this today while out birding at Upton Warren Worcestershire.
there were loads of these catarpillars on nettles, I think they might be Peacock Butterfly ? the insect at the top of the pic. seems to be eating it!!

 

[steve_nova]

Hi,

It certainly looks like it is sucking up the juices (I can just hear the sound of a straw sucking up the last of the juice from a carton).

Its certainly some sort of (True) Bug nymph though as to which?

I would guess either some sort of Assasin Bug or possible an opportunistic Shield Bug just taking advantage of a free nettle soup drink?

The nymph certainly has the rounded characteristics of the plant feeding/sucking Shield.

Steve.

 

[harry eales]

It is a Shieldbug nymph, although I'm by no means certain of which species. The larva is of a Peacock butterfly.

Harry

 

[midlandsbirder]

Thanks for that guys. . .. (nature can be a bit gruesome!!)
John