Thyreocoris fulvipennis – new to the British Isles.
In the recent settled weather in early April I set off to Les Blanches Banques SSI on the west coast (aka the sand dunes) looking especially for beetles and bugs within the dune blow-outs and was fortunate enough to find the scarab shield bug Thyreocoris fulvipennis and this small 5mm long black and red bug has been confirmed as a first record for the British Isles.
So our sand dunes are the only place within the British Isles where this particular bug has been found and helps show the vital importance of this area for insects.
This species does not yet have a common name but we will now be looking to give it such.
Thyreocoris fulvipennis does occasionally occur in France but is very uncommon and, also, it is rare, or absent, across large parts of Europe so hopefully the Jersey population will thrive on the dunes.
Tim Ransom
Chairman, Société Jersiaise Entomology Section
