What is this beetle on my Rosemary plant?

Keeks · 2015-09-24 11_15_31-20150924_104936 - Windows Photo Viewer.jpg

Found this guy this morning and curious as to what it is....doesn't look like a rosemary beetle

Keeks · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 10:24 am Post subject:

Could this be it?

http://www.animalphotos.me/insect4/shbg-for.htm

http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Pentatomidae/pentotoma_rufipes.html

Good guy · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:10 am Post subject:

That looks like it, doesn't it. Shield bugs don't do harm, as a rule and like this one is definitely one of the good guys.

Keeks · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:38 am Post subject:

My ignorance didn't save this guy on this occasion, but will know for the future

Good guy · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:45 am Post subject:

General rule of thumb for creepy crawlies: slow-moving bad, quick-moving good! Sounds a bit like Animal Farm! But predators usually move fairly quickly, quicker than their prey, anyway.
Mind you, I've never raced a shield bug against a vine weevil (definitely a bad guy) so one's interpretation of relative speed will need to be flexible. I've never raced an earthworm against a New Zealand flat worm either, but I know which one to grind to a pulp with my shoe!

Keeks · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:53 am Post subject:

good tip that........what I am trying to educate myself so that I can spot the trouble makers rather then just think everyone is the enemy

Good guy · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:16 pm Post subject:

That's the way to go. No point subjecting your allies to friendly fire!

tagwex · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:21 pm Post subject:

Is that the book or the film you speak of good guy?

Good guy · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:33 pm Post subject:

Huh?? Wassat?

tagwex · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:15 pm Post subject:

Google it.