What is this bug?

[moonwitch]

They seem harmless, but during the fall season they try and get into your house...

Sounds like my ex, after I dumped him

[mainlypostcards]

Are the common in the UK? We have had many in our garden

We get them very regularly, Sarah.
Apparently they like eating hawthorn leaves; so if you have a hedge with hawthorn in it, that would explain it.

[lejoueurdepipeau]

Here's what the Royal Horticultural Society has to say about your little green visitor www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0900/green_shield_bug.asp

I always remember the name because of the "Green Shield" stamps of my youth! They are rather lovely and harmless.

[klj]

Are the common in the UK? We have had many in our garden

We have a lot of them in our garden too. They are native to the UK. Don't believe these are the same as the American stink bugs - they are bright green and don't have that scent. Also they go for the vegetables, but have never bothered with our fruit.

[summerdreams]

Sounds like my ex, after I dumped him

Oooo He sounds like a stinker!

[playtowin]

that bug looks very similar to the one we get- ours is the parent bug
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parent_Bug
apparently thrives on silver birch and we have a row of them across the road