A Backyard Symphony in 52 Movements
Bug of the Week is a series of 52 short (30-second) electronic movements inspired by tiny creatures found in our garden. A new bug will be presented for each week of 2021.
In the field of entomology the term bug (or true bug) refers to a specific suborder of insects known as Heteroptera, which consists of many families, each containing a sizable number of different species.
My wife, Elisabeth, is an amateur macro photographer and entomology buff. She finds and photographs insects without harming them, mostly in our garden in Malling or near our cabin in Virksund, Denmark. She uses books and online resources to determine the precise species whenever possible.
I am ever amazed that she finds such a variety of tiny, wonderful and beautiful creatures year-round literally in our own backyard. I decided to create 52 very short pieces of music inspired by photos of 52 different bug species: one for each week of the year. I have limited myself to photos of bugs that Elisabeth took at approximately the same time of year that it is shared here.
We hope you will enjoy these short videos and feel free to share them with others.
BUG OF THE WEEK (01)
Cyphostethus tristriatus (Juniper Shieldbug)
Family: Acanthosomatidae, Length: ~9-11 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (02)
Elasmostethus interstinctus (Birch Shieldbug)
Family: Acanthosomatidae, Length: ~9-12 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (03)
Deraeocoris lutescens
Family: Miridae, Length: ~4 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (04)
Lygus rugulipennis (Tarnished Plant Bug)
Family: Miridae, Length: ~5-6 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (05)
Nabis ferus (Field Damsel Bug)
Family: Nabidae, Length: ~ 8-9 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (06)
Drymus sylvaticus
Family: Lygaeidae, Length: 3-5 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (07)
Cymus claviculus
Family: Lygaeidae, Length: 3-4 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (08)
Scolopostethus affinis
Family: Lygaeidae, Length: 3-4 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (09)
Trapezonotus sp.
Family: Lygaeidae, Length: 4-5 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (10)
Anthocoris nemorum (Common Flower Bug) – couple mating
Family: Anthocoridae, Length: 3-4 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (11)
Kleidocerys resedae (Birch Catkin Bug)
Family: Lygaeidae, Length ~5 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (12)
Gastrodes grossipes
Family: Lygaeidae, Length: 6-7 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (13)
Drymus ryeii
Family: Lygaeidae, Length: 3.6 – 4.7 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (14)
Anthocoris nemoralis
Family: Anthocoridae, Length: 3.5 – 4 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (15)
Monalocoris filicis
Family: Miridae, Length: 2-3 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (16)
Dolycoris baccarum (Hairy Shieldbug)
Family: Pentatomidae, Length: 10-12 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (17)
Drymus brunneus
Family: Lygaeidae, Length: 3.6 – 5.4 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (18)
Corizus hyoscyami, couple mating
Family: Rhopalidae, Length: 9-12 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (19)
Elasmucha grisea (Parent Bug)
Family: Acanthosomatidae, Length: 6-9 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (20)
Liocoris tripustulatus
Family: Miridae, Length: 4-5 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (21)
Cyllecoris histrionius
Family: Miridae, Length: 6-8 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (22)
Phylus melanocephalus
Family: Miridae, Length: 4.6 – 6 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (23)
Closterotomus biclavatus
Family: Miridae, Length: 5.9 – 7.7 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (24)
Phytocoris ulmi (nymph)
Family: Miridae, Length: adult 6-8 mm, nymphs significantly smaller
BUG OF THE WEEK (25)
Rhabdomiris striatellus
Family: Miridae, Length: 7-8 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (26)
Closterotomus fulvomaculatus
Family: Miridae, Length: 6-7 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (27)
Campyloneura virgula
Family: Miridae, Length: 4-5 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (28)
Stephanitis oberti
Family: Tingidae, Length: ~ 4 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (29)
Tupiocoris rhododendri
Family: Miridae, Length: 4-5 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (30)
Phytocoris tiliae (nymph)
Family: Miridae, Length: adult 6-7 mm, nymphs may be smaller
BUG OF THE WEEK (31)
Asciodema obsoleta
Family: Miridae, Length: 3.6 – 5 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (32)
Phytocoris tiliae
Family: Miridae, Length: 6-7 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (33)
Psallus haematodes
Family: Miridae, Length: 3-4 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (34)
Orthotylus virescens
Family: Miridae, Length: ~ 4.5 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (35)
Rhopalus subrufus (young nymph)
Family: Rhopalidae, Length: adults 7-7.5 mm, young nymphs smaller, this one ~2-3 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (36)
Rhopalus subrufus (young adult)
Family: Rhopalidae, Length: 7-7.5 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (37)
Stenodema laevigata
Family: Miridae, Length: 8-9 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (38)
Dicyphus errans
Family: Miridae, Length: 4.5 – 5 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (39)
Stenodema holsata
Family: Miridae, Length: 5.4 – 7.6 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (40)
Leptoglossus Occidentalis (Western Conifer Seed Bug)
Family: Coreidae, Length: 16-20 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (41)
Nabis limbatus (Marsh Damsel Bug)
Family: Nabidae, Length: 7.5 – 9 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (42)
Lygus pratensis
Family: Miridae, Length: 6-7 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (43)
Palomena prasina (young nymph) (Common Green Shieldbug)
Family: Pentatomidae, Length: adults 11-14 mm, young nymphs smaller, this one 3-4 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (44)
Pinalitus cervinus
Family: Miridae, Length: ~ 4 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (45)
Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale (Hawthorn Shieldbug)
Family: Acanthosomatidae, Length: 13-15 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (46)
Megalocoleus tanaceti
Family: Miridae, Length: 4.3 – 5.2 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (47)
Phytocoris varipes
Family: Miridae, Length: 6-7 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (48)
Calocoris alpestris
Family: Miridae, Length: 9-11 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (49)
Stenodema Calcarata
Family: Miridae, Length: 6.8 – 7.9 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (50)
Dicyphus epilobii
Family: Miridae, Length: 4.5 – 5.4 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (51)
Atractotomus mali
Family: Miridae, Length: ~ 3.5 mm
BUG OF THE WEEK (52)
Compsidolon salicellum
Family: Miridae, Length: 3.4 – 4 mm