Anyone know what this freaky looking beetle dude is?

[northwind]

Not the best picture but you can sort of see what's going on. I can tell it's not a moth, because it doesn't completely freak me out :D He's about the size of a 5p. Ide

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i264/Northwindlowlander/beetle.gif

Ideally, I'd like for him not to be either a) destructive to housing or b) man-eating.

[Aiki]

apparently it's a shield bug
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shield_bug

[northwind]

Thanks, that looks like him. So unless he mistakes me for a plant, I'm safe :cool:

[Ceri JC]

Yes, definately a shield bug.

[Warthog]

Now just get a sword bug and you can do LARP :)

[anna]

he looks very cool though!!

[northwind]

Now just get a sword bug and you can do LARP :)

A foam bug :D

Cheers folks. He's gone now, off to wherever it is shield bugs go when they're not being photographed and discussed on the internet. Bloody paparazzi!

[chazzyb]

Some nasty-looking microbes and ameoba Mr. Shield bug's fighting off there!

[northwind]

Oy you, that's my lovely 70s wallpaper. Future classic!

[Alpinestarhero]

We (me and maria) found one of them, with orange dots on it

Nice wallpaper northy, perhaps Mr (Mrs? Miss? Ms?) Bug mistooke it for a tree?

:D

Matt

[kwak zzr]

thats them bugs that go "CRACK" when you tread on them.

[dizzyblonde]

for gods sake never stand on one of those...if its anything like the ones in France...............they stink

[Law]

for gods sake never stand on one of those...if its anything like the ones in France...............they stink

Do they really smell of Laundry that has been left in the washer for weeks without drying? according to the article Aiki linked to.

[dizzyblonde]

they're disgusting, got em in France, my mate warned us never to squish em, especially with your shoe cause then you'll stink of em....and when they fly its like a whole squadron of B-52's flying overhead