Cassida rubiginosa - Thistle Tortoise Beetle adult size approx 6 - 8mm Like most tortoise beetles, the larvae cover themselves with poo to hide from & deter predators. Favourite feed plants include thistles, knapweed & burdock. The larvae cover themselves with poo to hide from & deter predators.
Cassida vibex - Tortoise Beetle adult size approx 6 - 8mm These beautiful little beetles overwinter in leaf litter but will wander out to feed in mild weather. They like to feed mainly on thistles, knapweed & burdock and sometimes nibble at artichoke. The larvae cover themselves with poo to hide from & deter predators.
Dolychoris baccarum - Hairy Shieldbug adult size approx 10 - 12mm Usually a pretty reddish purple in colour, they like to feed on white deadnettle, rose, aster and common toadflax although the adults will also eat the berries from honeysuckle & soft fruits.
Eurydema oleracea - Brassica Shieldbug adult size approx 7mm Adults have red, white or yellow markings. Feeds on Brassicas, Garlic Mustard, Horseradish & Nasturtiums.
Lepisma saccarinum - silverfish adult size approx 2cm ideal feeders for other inverts, currently feeding on bran, cereals & toast crumbs
Otiorhynchus sulcatus - Black Vine Weevil adult size approx 1cm The grubs can be a major plant pest as the larvae will eat & damage plant roots, but the adults do minimal damage as they nibble at the edges of leaves and move on. They make ideal feeders for frogs, toads & newts, not only are the small grubs a tasty treat but the adult weevils cannot fly and make easy prey.
Palomena Pasina - Green Shieldbug adult size approx 12mm Food plants include white dead nettle,
Polydesmus sp. adult size approx 20 - 30mm Feeding mainly on leaf litter & rotted wood with additional cucumber, carrot, soft fruits etc.
Stagonomus venustissimus - Woundwort Shieldbug adult size approx 5mm Feeds on Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica) and White Dead Nettle
Tachypodoiulus niger - White Legged Millipede adult size approx 50 - 60mm Feeding mainly on leaf litter & rotted wood with additional cucumber, carrot, soft fruits etc.
Tritomegas Bicolour - Pied Shieldbug adult size approx 6 - 7mm One of our ground dwelling species that likes to feed mainly on the leaves, flowers & seeds of white deadnettle, black horehound.
Basic Care Guide...
All of our Shieldbugs, Weevils & Tortoise beetles are kept at room temperature in a small cubed insect mesh cage and need lots of natural light (not so much for the Black Vine Weevils as they are nocturnal) I place the cages in a sheltered position outside from Autumn to Spring to allow for natural hibernation - not only will this stimulate breeding in the spring but most of the food plants die off in the winter. They will need leaf litter to get under for hibernation.
Shieldbugs We give most of them fresh plant stems in a 'safe water pot' but we do have to check for any eggs before changing the food plants, although most of our species tend to stick the eggs to the sides of the cage. Any leaves with eggs on them are just left in the cage as the babies will find the food. The Woundwort Shield Bug is so small & prefers to lay eggs on the leaves so we grow Hedge Woundwort in pots to grow in the cage instead of plant stems.
Tortoise Beetles We give them plant pots with live thistle & Burdock growing in them as they lay their very tiny eggs on the leaves, this way I do not throw any away by accident.
Black Vine Weevils A shallow plastic tub approx 3" deep (we use a Tesco mushroom tub) with sedge peat & a length of Bergenia root for them to nibble at, with a light spray of water once a week to stop the substrate from drying out seems to work fine. When we bring them indoors in the spring I add a 'safe pot' with plant stems for the adults to nibble at the edges of the leaves & replace when needed. We mainly use Bergenia & Strawberry as this is what we have in the garden but they eat lots of other plants too.