What's this?

[Mike Vogel]

Found crawling up the wall at my daughter's house in Barkingside, NE London. Can anyone identify this insect please?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41486084@N04/4900270863/

[Nature's Babe]

Picture is not that distinct but wondering if it's a shield bug, have seen green ones and brpwn ?

http://www.gardensafari.net/english/shieldbugs.htm

[glallotments]

Was it like this one browsing one of our sunflowers?
I thought at first it was a shield bug but ones I have seen aren't as slender. Once had one crawling on my neck which was a bit of a shock!

[Johnboy]

Hi Mike,
I suspect we are going to find it will be of the Cricket family or allied insects.
It is quite like a Katydid that are native to the USA in a slightly warmer clime than ours.
I really haven't got a clue. Suspect that Glallotments photo is certainly the same creature.
The suspense is killing me. Come on somebody put me out of my misery!
Where is Alan!!!
JB.

[alan refail]

Where is Alan!!!
JB.

Still researching

[alan refail]

I'm no expert on crickets, but I suspect Gl's "bug" could be Conocephalus discolor - Long-winged conehead (or if you want it in Welsh, Criciedyn penfain adain hir)

http://users.skynet.be/fa213618/Conocep ... scolor.htm

[Parsons Jack]

I would say it is pretty definitely an immature bush cricket

[alan refail]

I would say it is pretty definitely an immature bush cricket

Could well be

[Parsons Jack]

I would say it is pretty definitely an immature bush cricket

Could well be

Hi Alan,

In their immature stages, they show no signs of wings. On the 5th stage ( instar ), they reach adulthood

[Mike Vogel]

The legs are similar to the picture of the Conocephalus discolor but the body is smaller and more like a cricket's. I would not be surprised to find it is an imature bush cricket. many thanks for your efforts so far; I thought I was asking a silly question, but yes, the picture is less distinct than I thought at the time.

[glallotments]

I'm no expert on crickets, but I suspect Gl's "bug" could be Conocephalus discolor - Long-winged conehead (or if you want it in Welsh, Criciedyn penfain adain hir)

http://users.skynet.be/fa213618/Conocep ... scolor.htm

It didn't have grasshopper like legs and was a flatter shape - if you know what I mean.

[Parsons Jack]

Was it like this one browsing one of our sunflowers?
I thought at first it was a shield bug but ones I have seen aren't as slender. Once had one crawling on my neck which was a bit of a shock!

Hi GL,

Yours is a Capsid Bug, probably a potato capsid by the looks of it

[Colin_M]

Mike, I'd agree with Alan that it could well be a cricket.

Here's one that was sitting in our garden a few years ago. Your picture isn't so clear, but the shape looks like it could be similar:


You can see a full sized version of this here

[glallotments]

Was it like this one browsing one of our sunflowers?
I thought at first it was a shield bug but ones I have seen aren't as slender. Once had one crawling on my neck which was a bit of a shock!

Hi GL,

Yours is a Capsid Bug, probably a potato capsid by the looks of it

Should I be worried? It did seem to be sipping nectar from the sunflower and incidentally the sunflower had self seeded and was growing amongst potatoes

[Parsons Jack]

Was it like this one browsing one of our sunflowers?
I thought at first it was a shield bug but ones I have seen aren't as slender. Once had one crawling on my neck which was a bit of a shock!

Hi GL,

Yours is a Capsid Bug, probably a potato capsid by the looks of it

Should I be worried? It did seem to be sipping nectar from the sunflower and incidentally the sunflower had self seeded and was growing amongst potatoes

They are pretty common and widespread as far as I know. Not sure how much, if any damage they do though.