We do like the weird and wonderful-looking creatures that turn up in the Garden from time to time. On the 28th of April, we were visited for the first time in 2025 by Coreus marginatus, otherwise known as the Dock Bug. Nothing weird-sounding about that. But take a look at this little guy.
If you live in the south of England as we do, you’ve probably seen these guys before. They are common enough. They are a type of Shield Bug, perhaps not as common as the Green Shield Bugs we see frequently, but nonetheless an regular visitor.
It’s supposed to be a dead leaf mimic, which looks about right to us. As its name would suggest, it generally deposits its eggs on species in the Dock Family, but like the author of the book Shieldbugs suggests (see: Jones, Richard (2023). Shieldbugs. New Naturalist. HarperCollins Publishers, London), he more regularly sees them on bramble, which, as you can see, is where we found this little fella. Turns out they don’t mind the taste of those blackberries, although he will have to wait for some time yet as the brambles are still very much in flower.
Our first Garden record for this species was in July 2021 when we saved the guy pictured here from drowning in a bucket. We’ve had a soft spot for them ever since and it’s always nice to see the first one of the year.
DC: 16.05.2025
Wildlife Garden 