Striking Bug
I came across this beautiful red and black bug enjoying the early evening sunshine on 30/05/12.
The species name is Corizus hyoscyami, which is a Rhopalid Bug.
Information I have obtained on this bug indicates it is locally distributed in sandy habitats around the coasts of southern Britain. This one however, was found in an urban clay garden in Reading, Berkshire!
This species has recently been found more frequently inland, which may be the reason that I have been luckily enough to see it.
If you can get close enough to this bug, try putting your nose to it and see if it smells of cinnamon, as it is called the Cinnamon Bug in Dutch.