By checking the antennal colours of the Hairy Shieldbugs Dolycoris baccarum I found at RSPB Rainham Marshes yesterday, I found a Vernal Shieldbug Peribalus strictus. The former has black and white banded antennae, while the latter has obvious orange on antennal segments 1 and 2.

I found some super ladybirds recently; the tiny Dot Ladybird Stethorus pusillus from Belhus Woods Country Park TQ5682 on the 16th September, and the Scarce 7-Spot Coccinella magnifica from Little Haven TQ8189 on the 19th.

Two Lygaeid bugs, Arocatus roeselii and Oxycarenus modestus, tapped from Alder in Alphamstone, Essex TL8835 yesterday. Relatively recent arrivals from the continent.

Had an amazing day with some amazingly knowledgeable people on my first #EssexFieldClub outing lovely to meet @stuttonsparrows.bsky.social & especially @yvonnecouch.bsky.social who was very kind to me & gave me 16 spot & Angle-spotted ladybird life ✅ plus lots of other knowledge & great location

A colleague found this tiny lacebug, Acalypta parvula, in moss during an Essex Field Club trip to Danbury Common, Essex, on 9 August, and passed it to me to identify and record. TL7803.

The Ant Nest Ladybird Platynaspis luteolubra larva I swept in Essex on 5th July has since pupated and hatched.

A Platynaspis luteolubra (Ant nest Ladybird) larva I swept in Essex on Saturday.

While in Kent I went to Dungeness to look for Geotomus petiti. I found one which I think has been dead a while and has lost most of its hairs. I also found a bonus Odonotoscelis lineola and Arencoris falleni. TR067199. All will be iRecorded.

I went to Samphire Ho on 22 June to look for Coptosoma scutellatum and was lucky enough to find one, swept from Restharrow and other vetches, TR29073907.

Rare Forester moth spotted for first time in 50 years.. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A couple of lovely nymphs from Tyler's Wood in Essex on 22 May: Grypocoris stysi (its everywhere at the moment) and Deraeocoris olivaceous.

Some beetles from the last couple of days: Dendroxena quadrimaculata from Belhus Woods Country Park, and Phytoecia cylindrica from RSPB Rainham Marshes.

Some finds from Belhus Woods Country Park this week: the flatbug Aradus depressus, and the Orange and Cream-spot Ladybirds.

Staggering numbers of Lime Seed Bug (Oxycarenus lavaterae) seen clustered on a single lime tree in Shoeburyness, Essex today. Another newly arrived continental species. TQ92838660. Thanks to yvonnecouch.bsky.social for previous post. Reminded me of mussels clinging to rocks.

More photos of the Lime Seed Bugs (Oxycarenus lavaeterae) in Shoeburyness, Essex, including a teneral adult and a nymph. #UKBugs #EssexWildlife

On 6 March Jon Leysell found Oxycarenus lavaterae in Lime Trees in Shoeburyness, Essex TQ92838660 (the 3rd UK and 1st Essex record). I took these photos on 8 March.

I tapped this Oxycarenus modestus from alder at RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex, on 28 February.

Mottled Shieldbug Rhaphigaster nebulosa and 22-Spot Ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata from bramble, and adult European Chinchbug Ischnodemus sabuleti from grass, at RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex on 28 February.

I found this Issus nymph in Belhus Woods Country Park, Essex, on 23 February.

Mating toads in my Rainham, Essex, garden, 2 days ago.

The Pine Ladybirds have appeared on the trunks of ash trees in Rainham village, Essex. Yesterday I saw 6 but soon there should be nearly 100.

Two toads and 3 frogs in my pond in SE Essex this evening.

I found a winter colouration Green Shieldbug in Essex this morning.

Amazed to find two Striped Shieldbugs (Graphosoma italicum) still clinging on to dead Hogweed stems alongside Old Shire Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex today. #UKBugs #EssexWildlife

A Brassica Shieldbug in the sun on a very cold day at RSPB Rainham Marshes today.

Here is a Spiked Shieldbug feeding on a Drinker Moth caterpillar at RSPB Rainham Marshes last month.