What was this beastie?

[mbj]

Last year I grew runner beans and towards the end of August/early September I found strange green beasties on there that I've never seen before nor been able to find in any books. It was a green beetle type thing (the same green as an aphid), about as big as a fingernail, it had a flatish hard body but it was shaped towards the back and it had two big feelers at the front. I couldn't see it initially, it was only when I was foraging towards the back that I noticed this large beastie and promptly withdrew my hand and sent my two young girls foraging in there instead. I pulled off what I saw and asked a few fellow gardners but none of us had ever seen it before. It didn't seem to do any damage so I wasn't too concerned but I have no idea what it was. I found one or two in the border after I'd pulled the beans down so I suspect I'll get them again this year. Have you any idea?

[Nicos]

Not a vine weevil?? not heard of them on beans though..try googleing it to check!

[mbj]

No they're brown aren't they? Plus this had a wider body than pictures I've seen of weevils, this had a really funny shaped body, almost like a shield shape if that makes sense, really quite wide. I've never seen anything like it before.

[Shortie]

Hi MJB, I know the ones you mean, but I don't know what they're called. I've got them on my rhubarb but mine are a light brown colour

[nick the grief]

I'm Guessing it was a sheild bug MJB

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile...shield_bug.asp

Is this the beastie?

[Shortie]

Oo.. that's mine but the wrong colour... Guess mine would be called brown sheild bugs instead

[mbj]

THAT'S IT!! Thank you, I'll read up on it now. Not the most attractive of specimens, hey? Thanks for your help!
MBJ

[Jaxom]

Thanks for educating me. I now know the name of another bug in my garden.