Rhopalus subrufus

06 Friday Jun 2025

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British bugs, bugs, mating bugs, Rhopalus subrufus

I felt a bit like a voyeur watching these handsome bugs doing their private business but I’d never seen their species before and, with them being preoccupied, it was the perfect opportunity to take a closer look and get some photographs. Rhopalus subrufus is one of four species in the genus Rhopalidae but, fortunately, R. subrufus is relatively easy to identify by the light and dark banding around the edge of its body (that flange is called the connexivum). The location where I found these two is typical of the habitat they favour: on low scrubby vegetation near trees or woodland.

A is for Alder spittlebug

06 Friday Dec 2024

Posted by sconzani in insects

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Alder spittlebug, Aphrophora alni, British bugs, bugs

Today, scary as it may be that another year has seemingly passed by so quickly, we begin the run-up to 2025! As I’ve done a couple of times before, I’m going to review this year’s finds and posts, based on an alphabetical countdown. And so we begin with the letter A and one of my favourites of this year’s bugs, the Alder spittlebug (Aphrophora alni), which I blogged about on 31 August.

241206 a is for Alder spittlebug (1)

I don’t think this one was very impressed that I was taking photos while they were mating.

241206 a is for Alder spittlebug (2)

P is for Parent bug

21 Tuesday Dec 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British bugs, bugs, Elasmucha grisea, Parent bug, Parent bug nymphs

September was the month I saw my first huddle of Parent bug nymphs, and incredibly cute it was too. I’d only seen the adult bug a couple of times before that, so I was rather pleased to spot another in late October (below right). There is really quite a striking difference between the nymphs and their parents.

151/366 Cinnamon bug

30 Saturday May 2020

Posted by sconzani in insects, nature

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Black and red squash bug, British bugs, bugs, Cinnamon bug, Corizus hyoscyami

This is a new bug to me. I saw one in April (but only got a blurry photo) and then found another earlier this week. Meet the Cinnamon bug (Corizus hyoscyami), also known as the Black and red squash bug. Though bugs can be difficult to identify, this one has very distinctive markings so is easier than most. In times past, the Cinnamon bug was only found along the southern coasts of England but it is now spreading north, and west into Wales, obviously. You can read more about this colourful mini-beast on the British bugs website.

200529 Cinnamon bug

A new Cicadellidae

05 Wednesday Jul 2017

Posted by sconzani in insects, nature

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British bugs, bugs, Cicadellidae, Evacanthus interruptus, leafhoppers

I had to chuckle when the British Bugs website described this little bug, which is no more than 6mm long, as ‘large’ but, compared to others in the Cicadellidae family – i.e. the leafhoppers – it’s a giant. The website also says it’s a common species but this was the first I’d seen so I obviously haven’t been looking closely enough.

170705 Evacanthus Interruptus (1)

This is Evacanthus interruptus (a female, I believe, as her wings are shorter than the length of her abdomen). They favour tall herbaceous vegetation in meadows, scrubby areas and woodlands, and can be seen between June and October. I’ll be on the look out for more.