Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum)

Thought I'd have a change from the mass of pretty colourful butterflies around at the moment and focus on this little bug. It's about 11mm long and feeds on plant sap - thistle in this case. You can also see a nymph on the right.

[Dianna Coile]

Wonderful detail!

[Hazel]

Nice capture of his interesting and intricate little body - well done!

[Peter Day]

Great photography

[Janiskay]

Fantastic cuter! Fav

[The Intermittent Photographer aka Blue Rose]

You captured amazing detail

[Christopher Cox]

It looks like a fish!

[Susan]

Christopher is right, it does look like an underwater shot!

[ShirleyB]

Amazing detail. Awesome shot.

[Bep]

Love all the details.

[Joan Morvinson]

Bugs can be beautiful. Does it's feeding eventually kill the plant

[Cdmclean]

What lens are you using on the bugs? Telephoto or macro? Great detail!

[Deborah McGavock]

What a lot of pattern on its body shell.

[Julienne Jones]

@christophercox @susanalena - I thought the same! I think the thistle petals do look ad if they are moving in a water current which adds to the illusion

[Julienne Jones]

@jomo - I don't know whether there are enough of them to cause too much damage. Though I have seen far more of them than usual this year.

[Julienne Jones]

@cdmclean - I'm just using a bridge camera with the macro setting. Seems to work pretty well

[Julienne Jones]

@dmcoile @quietpurplehaze @peterday @janiskay @bluerose15 @shirleybankfarm @gijsje @woofandweft1 - thanks! I'd never looked closely at these bugs before and I was surprised at the detail I'd not noticed. It pays to look up close :)

[GaryW]

Great colors!

[Rick]

Great details and colors on this one.

[Lee-Ann]

Awesome capture...nice colours.

[Sgt. Pepper]

Great macro.