11th April 2016 - Topsham
I've been photographing insects on and off for about 12 years. I get into it some years more than others but I think I've probably got pictures of most of the obvious species in my garden; always attracted to anything bright and shiny - as long as it's an insect. When something new turns up there's a good chance it's either a new arrival or something fairly rare. Yesterday I found a couple of red and black beetles on my back door.
There are 14 species of tortoise beetles (Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae) on the British list, most are green and rather similar (
Cassida spp.).
Pilemostoma fastuosa is unmistakeable in red and black. It's not the sort of thing to overlook and does appear to be genuinely uncommon: scarce (Notable A) with only one Devon record (none for South Devon VC 3) according to NBN Gateway. Well it should be unmistakeable in theory, but then I can always find a way to cock it up. It's actually
Cassida murraea, the Fleabane Tortoise Beetle. Still a new one for me but nowhere near as rare; found mainly in the south west. What I should have noticed - and it's blindingly obvious now - is that
P.fastuosa has black markings also on the pronotum and is a deeper darker red. At least I take some consolation in getting my correction in before anyone else spotted it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJgiS_oTF_JY17AasQI7t271DzoT6zvnw4gAl3hyphenhyphen04FShhb9gx7nu-5yEP6vfAOlAzNyY_aY8lgHH8BiDqfCVhSUR1WAqsoS153lzk1kWFFEJ6ugD0x1YvYJ_SCxHDLViyTDjJ3D1b5w/s640/Pilemostoma+fastuosa+2016+04+11+Topsham+01.jpg) |
Cassida murraea by back door - 11/4/2016 Topsham |
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Cassida murraea garden- 11/4/2016 Topsham |
My first garden Harlequin Ladybird
Harmonia axyridis (Coccinelidae) turned up back in 2007 (first recorded in Britain in 2004) and it's now very common. This is my first of the year; I assume it's just emerged from overwintering and will now set off to feed up and breed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintBfERc_AG0iPCeGAuGFODPNWczu9-S8lo037-kKd5ulsOzr1u1bj0QHaJ9Vq6DfwjGR5OjdYaHyH0-qWghRZgxl6zMqgmfhTBGhJp1dgV2OOPl-S26qpLhRFF1Cd1IDwXG26BzRc5eU/s640/Harmonia+axyridis+2016+04+11+Topsham+01.jpg) |
Harmonia axyridis by back door - 11/4/2016 Topsham. Distinctive 'M' on pronotum and brown legs, antennae etc. |
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Harmonia axyridis garden - 11/4/2016 Topsham |