Ysatis Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Hello. Whilst doing some gardening on a lovely warm day last week I noticed on one of our trees these, [IMG]http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/EMH_03/2009_0220Garden0020.jpg[/IMG]what look like flat ladybirds. Are they? There were many 10's of them crawling around. Some were in the cracks of the house wall. On a much cooler day they were still there but huddled together and less active. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 They look like cabbage shield bugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I thought that they were called gendarme bugs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Yes Gendarme Beetles 'cos they look like old fashioned red uniformed flic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 No they are not from the Ladybird family.They are harmless let them be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ventodue Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Thanks for posting the photos, Ysatis.Looking around, I found this site which shows the difference between Red Cabbage Shield Bug (Punaise rouge du chou), Eurydema ornatum and Gendarme Bug, Pyrrhocoris apterus - which is what yours are, it would seem.http://alisonashwell.blogspot.com/2007/04/red-cabbage-shield-bugs.htmlAnd, apaparently, their diet consists primarily of seeds from lime trees and mallows. So, as Dog said, entirely harmless (unless you happen to be a seed from ...). And, also as Dog said, they're not a beatle - 'Coleoptera' in scientific talk - as Ladybirds are; but a true bug - 'Hemiptera'.More here http://www.cwgsy.net/private/gsybiorec/entomology/files/pyrrhocoris_files/Pyrrhocoris.htmlhttp://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhocoris_apterusAmicalementCraig, always happy to learn something new every day ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ysatis Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 Thanks all for your replies. Not being a garden at all I had no idea what they are, but I'm glad to hear that they are not a pest and quite harmless, so they are more than happy to carry on as they are. After Clair had said what they were, I did a bit of googling and read a couple of your links ventodue. Never having done any gardening before aquiring our sizable french one, I'm sure I will be back with more questions. Hopefully I won't look too much of a dumbo.Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ventodue Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 [quote user="Ysatis "] Hopefully I won't look too much of a dumbo. [/quote]No chance. None of us, not even David Attenborough, came out of the womb knowing any of this stuff! We've all had to learn it, one way or another ...Enjoy your garden [:)]AmicalementCraig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini_man Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Not harmful, they spend most of their lives copulating it seems [:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ysatis Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 Ahh well that's it then. Who am I to spoil one of lifes pleasures. Live and let live seeing as they are not going to be a nuisance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 The French call these bugs Gendarmes, because they are always in twos, We get lots of them on our Hybiscus shrubs they do not seem to do any harm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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