Q Tell me more about shieldbugs.

A Shieldbugs are about the size of a fingernail or approx 1-1.5cm, shield or oval-shaped, often with broad, pronounced shoulders. They are usually green, often with spots and dots on their back, and superficially resemble beetles. Several species occur in gardens, living on trees and other woody plants. These can be positively helpful include green shieldbug (Palomena prasina), hawthorn shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale), birch shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus) and dock shieldbug (Coreus marginatus).

Caption: Shieldbugs don't harm your plants so don't need to be controlled

Q When will I see them?

A Shieldbugs are most numerous in late summer and early autumn and can be seen sunning themselves on plant leaves. They overwinter as adults and lay eggs in mid-spring or early summer. The immature nymphs are smaller, with a more rounded body shape.