Wait, do you know what I mean by Garden Safari?
No?
No worries, not a problem... lets start from the beginning
Now we all know what a Safari is don't we. Its usually takes place in Africa, and there is usually big animals involved. From Lions to Elephants, and Hippos to Zebras. I'd love to go on a proper Safari, there would be LOADS of awesome stuff to see, and that means loads of cool stuff for me to try to photograph.
Thing is, lots of people would think the same thing. The idea that you HAVE to travel huge distances to see interesting and impressive wildlife. And I'm here to tell you that is not the case. You don't need to travel a million miles to another country. I can guarantee there is fantastic wildlife to see in your own country, and even in your own backyard. And by 'backyard' I mean literally your own garden.
Most days I will try to spend time in the garden. The fresh air is good for you, but I will usually just sit and watch the flowers and the plants. After a few minutes I start noticing little things. There is a Peacock Butterfly feeding on the Buddleia flowers. And the bees are making the most of the Knapweed flowers that have recently opened. And the more I look, the more I see...
Dolycoris baccarum - Hairy Shieldbug Nymph
How about this little guy I spotted while on 'Safari' last week?
This is a type of Bug. A Shieldbug nymph to be precise.
A nymph is a juvenile form. After emerging from the egg, the young shieldbug sheds it skin much the same way as crabs and other crustaceans do. And with each moult, the bug becomes bigger and more developed until on the 5th moult where it takes the adult form
A quick check via the British Bugs website, reveals it to be a Hairy Shieldbug
Dolycoris baccarum - Hairy Shieldbug - Portrait
Here is an image of an adult I saw earlier this year...
I saw loads of these Hairy Shieldbugs in the garden this year. All the adults appeared on a late Spring day, and they were on the Buddleia plant and they were, um, busy making the next generation!
And evidently they were succesful, as the nymph had emerged soon after the eggs were laid. And this little nymph had made it to the final nymph stage (according to the British Bugs website again).
When I popped out into the garden yesterday for my daily 'Garden Safari' I saw this very striking yellow and pink insect.
It looked so alien, and yet strangely familiar!
Dolycoris baccarum - Hairy Shieldbug Adult
It turns out that this oddly coloured insect is the previously mentioned nymph in his final moult into the adult form. The odd colours are because the event has just taken place...
Dolycoris baccarum - Hairy Shieldbug Adult
...a few hours later, and the change into the correct colours of the Adult form is complete. Its really nice to know that the small population of Shieldbugs are enjoying our garden. And with numbers in the Spring increasing each year they are not just surviving but thriving!
And all this was down to my daily Garden Safari's, taking the time to sit and watch and see some interesting pieces of behaviour such as noticing the life-cycle of this Shieldbug.
I wonder what I will see tomorrow? And perhaps more importantly, will you join in with your own Garden Safari?
Dolycoris baccarum - Hairy Shieldbug Adult
Source:
British Bugs Website
https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Pentatomidae/dolycoris_baccarum.html