Readers' observations on nature.
I found an insect and, using an American website, found that it is a green stink bug. The site says that it is harmful to some crops, and is native to North America. Is it unusual to find one in Ireland and should it be reported?
David Kane, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon
It was more likely that you saw the common green shield bug which resembles the American stink bug and is found abundantly on trees and shrubs here in autumn.
For the last couple of months I've watched a small jumping spider on our balcony. It's just a few millimetres across and has the classic wedge-shaped profile (low rump, raised front), with large eyes. It's a brownish grey colour. I didn't know we had these spiders in Ireland. Are they immigrants or native?
Frank Walsh, Grenville Street, D1
There are 13 jumping spiders recorded in Ireland. The zebra spider is the most common one but, from your limited description, yours could be a female Heliophanus flavipes, which has no common name.
Send observations to Michael Viney, Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo; e-mail: viney@anu.ie (include a postal address)