Insect Found Near Cromford is New To Derbyshire
In early August during an invertebrate training event, at Rose End Meadows near Cromford, a participant captured an unusual looking shieldbug nymph which was provisionally identified by Kieron Huston, from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, as a tortoise shieldbug, Eurygaster testudinaria.
This species is typically found further south and has never before been recorded in Derbyshire so was quite a surprise. Identification was later confirmed by Jim Flanagan a national expert for this group. The nymph was kept in captivity and fed a mix of grasses, sedges and rushes (a preference for rushes was noted!). After 12 days the nymph became an adult and was released back into Rose End Meadows. Another great find for Derbyshire.
Is it also unusual to have seen Hornets Vespa crabro this summer along the river at Belper? don’t remember seeing them this far north before
Observations 3
A brown frog
turns to rock
lodged like a dried leaf
suspending disbelief.
Small spherical
spider
turns yellow
black-seeded
on a leaf
hides
fruit-disguised.
Young heron
like the side
of the brow
of a boat
on the ride
of the weir
stands near
driftwood
and is hid.
Jo Kirk