A colourful sight but relatively rare insect in the East of England the startling black and red Corizus hyoscyami bug belongs to the family Rhopalidae. Apparently the Dutch common name for this insect is a Cinnamon bug due to its characteristic smell but I haven’t got that close!
I first came across this insect last year in a herb bed at my allotment in Norwich. It appears that it was common only in the south of England until fairly recently, living mostly in sandy coastal areas. It appears to be expanding its range and has been spotted more frequently in the East Anglia.
This year it looks like it will increase in numbers too, judging from what they were up to when I took this photograph of a pair! I shall be carrying out a mini invertebrate survey to look for nymphs later this season.
Michelle Fielden, Ecologist
