Issue 31 November 2011
2011 – The Dragonfly Year
Mike Averill
After the very cold weather at the end of 2010, the New Year brought mild weather with few cold nights and by March temperatures were well above average. This brought insect emergences forward and our first Large Red Damselflies Pyrrhosoma nymphula were seen in mid-April. The Common Club-tail dragonfly Gomphus vulgatissimus was also early to emerge being seen on the 4th May at Bewdley. The previous winter was certainly one of the coldest we have had for many years with the River Severn freezing over for the first time since 1981 and there is always the question about what effect that has on insect numbers. There may be a clue to this in that the Common Club-tail numbers emerging this year were the lowest in four years.
By mid April, unbeknown to us, many dragonflies had gathered in Africa and had moved ready to fly in to the UK should good weather prevail. So with a continuation of the above average temperatures in April, the situation was set to allow unprecedented numbers of the Vagrant Emperor Hemianax ephippiger to fly in (Fig. 1.). Prior to this there had been no records for this species in the UK since 2008. In the end more Vagrant Emperors were seen in the country in 2011 than the total seen before that. I mention all this because a medium sized hawker was seen at Croome Park on the 29th April which could have been this dragonfly, and would have been a first for the county, however there is a chance that it might have been the Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense. The Hairy Dragonfly was obviously on the move at this time because one was seen at Upton Warren on the 5th May, but fortunately it was spotted by an experienced observer, as this species had only previously been recorded in Worcs twice before in 1977 & 1980. The Vagrant Emperor, being strongly migrant (it is the only species recorded in Iceland), can be seen at just about any time in the UK as they start to disperse from Africa in the autumn and an individual was actually seen in Warwickshire at the end of November this year. They can also appear very early in the year when there is little else on the wing which makes confirmation easy but as April approaches other dragonflies such as the Hairy Dragonfly start to emerge adding to the confusion. A bit like the lesser Emperor Anax parthenope, the Vagrant Emperor has the blue markings at the top of the abdomen but is slightly smaller, has brown not green eyes and a brown abdomen. Two Lesser Emperors were seen this year, one at Upton Warren and one at Pirton Pool which is again a sign of movement with these migrant species. The Small red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum which suddenly established itself at Croome Park last year was seen again in high numbers with a slight range increase to nearby ponds.
Migrant dragonflies are very much to be expected in the UK with the unseasonal warm winds associated with climate change and the latest one to keep an eye out for is the Southern Migrant Hawker Aeshna affinis (Fig. 2.) As the name suggests it is like our Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta but most of the colour markings are sky blue. There have only been a handful of records so far and not all along the south coast as you might expect.
Next year (2012) will be the last one in the survey period for the new Dragonfly Atlas and so complete distribution maps will be available by the next flight season.
Apart from surprise visitors the year (2011) appeared to be fairly quiet and it could be said that after a good start the season was soon over with lower numbers showing. These sort of impressions can be very subjective without real counts being made and it is with this need in mind that transects are being used now. Rather like the butterfly walks these are specifically aimed at dragonflies and attempt to quantify dragonfly counts in a 100 metre section, at a site, year by year. In Worcestershire a survey has been running at Eckington for three years and now there further sites at Smite and new ones at Feckenham and Croome Park.
The results of the Eckington transect is attached and in the graph (fig. 3.). 15 species were recorded over the three years of which only the Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens and White legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes have sufficient numbers to effectively follow trends. A count is the total number of adults seen along a measured 100 metre section, as a walk past, imagining that you observe along a five metre tunnel. It appears the Banded Demoiselle had a very good year in 2009 but in 2010 and 2011 numbers were lower. The other noticeable trend was how short the season was in 2011 for all species with counts already trailing off in July. Only the White legged Damselfly and Common Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum had a slightly higher peak count in 2011.
Images
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Fig. 1. Vagrant Emperor Hemianax ephippiger. Mike Averill
Fig. 2. Southern Migrant Hawker Aeshna affinis. Neil Phillips
Fig. 3. Dragonfly counts River Avon Eckington 2008-11. Mike Averill
Asilus crabroniformis (Diptera: Asilidae) Hornet Robber-fly at the Devil’s Spittleful NR, Kidderminster
John Bingham
On 25 August 2011 whilst looking for invertebrates on the Devil’s Spitleful my attention was drawn to a loud distinctive buzzing and I immediately realised it must be Asilus crabroniformis. Within seconds a large orange fly was spotted setting down onto some fresh cattle dung and the identification was confirmed. As far as I am aware this is the first record of A. craboniformis from this location. For many years (over 50?) the site has not been grazed so the availability of dung (and associated dung invertebrates) would have been restricted to wild animals such as rabbits. At least two flies were noted both actively searching around the fresh cattle dung, one individual flew up in an arcing flight to take insect prey in mid-air, which was later identified as an Onthophagus spp. Beetle (Fig. 1.).
In Worcestershire the adult fly was first found by Brett Westwood during 1995 (Westwood1997) inhabiting a pony pasture on the edge of Kidderminster. Despite searching this year I found none at the former Kidderminster sites but Mike Averill has reported seeing one. (Averill pers.comm.) The species is of considerable local importance and listed as nationally notable (scarce) on the priority list of the national Biodiversity Action Plan (UK Steering Group 1995) and well documented locally by David Green in the Worcestershire Record. (Green 1998 & 1999).
It is pleasing to see this species on a protected site and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Reserve Manager Andy Harris is aware of the species presence. Thankfully the grazing animals (Shetland cattle) are part of the Wyre Forest Grazing Animals Project and ivermectins used as antiparasitic digestion treatments are not used on site (only used in winter back on the owner’s farm) (Harris. pers. comm.). This means the dung can be utilised by beetles and other invertebrates so providing food for the adults and larvae of Asilus. Now that Asilus has been noted here it is hoped that the grazing of cattle can be established as a regular late summer activity as part of the management of this heathland site. Part of the same herd of cattle graze Wilden Marsh NR, Near Kidderminster, but so far despite searching Asilus crabroniformis has not been seen at this location, possibly the habitat is unsuitable.
References
Westwood, B. 1997. Pats and Robbers. Worcestershire Record, 3:7
Green, D.M. 1998. Asilus crabroniformis L. Hornet Robber Fly. Worcestershire Record, 5:10
Green, D.M. 1999. Asilus crabroniformis (Diptera – Asilidae) in Worcestershire, Kidderminster Area, 1999. Worcestershire Record, 7:12.
Image
Fig. 1. Asilus crabroniformis, Hornet Robber-fly, with Onthophagus beetle. John Bingham
Hoof Fungus Fomes fomentarius at the Devil’s Spittleful NR
John Bingham
In August 2011 some members of the Wyre Forest Study Group were looking for nocturnal beetles on the Devil’s Spittleful with Alan Brown. On our wanderings Alan pointed out some fungi on birch tree that he had found but uncertain as to which species they were. At night they were difficult to identify but clearly they were not the usual birch polypore Polyporus betulinus.
I returned in daylight a few days later to check and discovered them to be young specimens of Fomes fomentarius (Hoof Bracket Fungus) . The lower fruiting brackets were zoned in shades of light brown, somewhat atypical, but higher on the tree a typical grey coloured bracket was noted. In total three trees were found with Fomes present. All the trees were moribund with no top branches and were dead or dying. Several trees had the Birch Bracken Fungus also present with the Fomes.
Hoof Fungus is a common species in Scotland growing on mature birch but becomes very rare further south into England. possibly with no more than three or four records for Worcestershire in recent years. I have seen the species in Shropshire a couple of times on large a fallen birches within secondary woodland.
It may be an overlooked species but possibly the sandy soils typical of the Kidderminster area are suitable for it. It does not appear to be an ancient woodland species but found in mature secondary woodland. Other areas of secondary birch woodland may support this species: perhaps naturalists tend to ignore the bracket fungi on birch thinking it will always be the common birch polypore.
The few decayed birches and other suitable trees at the Devil’s Spittleful are to retained when the next phase of heathland restoration begins, so hopefully Fomes will remain and colonise other trees.
Image
Fig. 1. Fomes fomentarius, Devil’s Spittleful. John Bingham
Observations of Wood Ant Formica rufa activities in Wyre Forest
John Bingham
Wyre Forest is notably famous for the huge numbers of Wood Ants Formica rufa that it supports. It is impossible not to be intrigued by their activities and recent years have seen records of associated species such as the Scarce 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella magnifica and shinning guest ant Formicoxenus nitidulus.
Ants are often seen carrying prey items but I was fascinated to see one lone ant carrying away a freshly dead grasshopper many times its body size (Fig. 1.). The ant appeared almost excited by its find and I was surprised at the speed it made off with the prey. At one point during my attempts at photography I moved the grasshopper with the ant attached to a clear area. The ant lost its grip and was separated from the grasshopper. It started a random search pattern to relocate the prey and within seconds appeared to detect it, by scent first and then touch. It repeated this search every time it became separated, clearly putting effort into relocating the prey item. The extent of Wood Ants taking other invertebrates must have an impact on the forest invertebrate fauna, yet Wyre appears to be species rich. One wonders what it might be like if Wood Ants were rare, or do they actually enhance the forest fauna?
Normally Wood Ants are scavengers not predators but I observed Wood Ant killing Yellow Meadow Ants Lasius flavus along a ride in the forest. The dry weather had opened up cracks in the soil allowing Wood Ants access below ground. One Wood Ant trail crossed the ride and ants were descending into the cracks and reappearing in a searching frenzy. Occasionally a Wood Ant would emerge with a Meadow Ant attached to its leg or antenna, clearly annoyed by this the Wood Ant would try to remove the yellow ant and even arched its body to spray formic acid onto the Meadow Ant (Fig. 2.). At first I thought this activity was more coincidence but on closer study realised the Wood Ants were hunting Meadow Ants and apparently eating them, or at least killing them. Wood Ants would descend again and again into the cracked soil and sometimes flush out the Meadow Ant that would be hunted on the surface by other Wood Ants. On one occasion two Wood Ants were seen pulling apart a Meadow Ant (Fig. 3.). I can only assume that normally Meadow Ants are subterranean and not readily accessible to Wood Ants but the cracked ground had exposed the Meadow Ants underground passageways. Possibly the Wood Ants were lacking their usual prey items due to the dry weather. The match was one sided although the Meadow Ants were clearly fighting back and causing some distress or at least annoyance to the Wood Ant.
Images
Fig. 1. Wood Ant with grasshopper prey. ©John Bingham
Fig. 2. Wood Ant preying on Yellow Meadow ant. ©John Bingham.
Fig. 3. Wood Ant preying on Yellow Meadow ant. ©John Bingham
Tritoma bipustulata Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) in Wyre Forest. Status: National Scarce A
John Bingham
On 2nd September 2011 at Pound Green Common, Worcestershire (VC Staffordshire) I discovered a small ladybird-like beetle with red elytra marking in a decayed birch stump c.30cm diameter (Fig. 1.). The beetle was within the rot layer beneath several decayed Trametes spp. fruitbodies. Several beetle larvae were also noted in the decayed wood and frass layer, probably Pyrochroa species. The ladybird-like specimen was collected and later determined as Tritoma bipustulata, an uncommon fungus beetle. A search on the internet provided further information and it became clear it was a somewhat unusual find.
Rather amazingly Alan Brown had also found four of the same beetles earlier in the year at the Devil’ Spittleful on 18th April 2011, also in a decaying birch. This being the only other Worcestershire record. (John Meiklejohn pers. comm). Of interest it had apparently not been recorded by Paul Whitehead in his extensive list for Bredon Hill (Keith Alexander pers. comm. 2011)
The IUNC Red List of Threatened Species webpage quotes:
‘Listed as Least Concern in Europe. An obligate saproxylic species. The Population trend is stable. In the UK it has the conservation status, Nationally Scarce (Hyman and Parsons 1992). In the UK it has a very fragmented distribution, with about 30 small isolated populations known, plus one or maybe two larger concentrations (K.N.A. Alexander pers. comm. 2009). The larvae develop in fruiting bodies of wood-decay fungi, and it is best known in the UK from Trametes versicolor, especially on beech Fagus; ancient wood pastures and woodlands, old fen, and historic parklands (Alexander 2002).’
The Pound Green Common site was on the boundary with the restored heathland common. The birch tree was cut down c5 years ago as part of the restoration works. It is located within mature secondary woodland that merges into ancient wood pasture with the associated ancient woodland ground flora. The site is contiguous with the rest of the Wyre Forest. Despite the coppice history of Wyre a strong saproxylic fauna is still present within the forest and I believe that with more recording Wyre will prove to be an important site in the Midlands for saproxylic species.
Thanks to Harry Green for supplying information on the records.
References
Hymans, P. S. & Parsons, M. S. 1992. A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain 1. JNCC
Alexander, K. N. A. 2002. The invertebrates of living and decaying timber in Britain & Ireland . A provisional annotated checklist. English Nature Research Reports No 467. Natural England, Peterborough.
Image
Fig. 1. Tritoma bipustulata at Pound Green. ©John.Bingham
Urocerus gigas Sircicae Giant Horntail at Trench Wood NR
John Bingham
I visited Trench Wood on 11th July 2011 to photograph the aspen roller weevil (which was found in some abundance) but an unexpected addition was a sighting of Urocerus gigas flying around a cut Scots pine, mostly just consisting of just lop and top branches. This large impressive insect (Fig. 1.) made several circuits around an open glade before landing. I rarely ever see this insect in Worcestershire and Harry Green reported that there are only occasional records from the county, one every several years or so. In fact one appeared at Elmley Castle at nearly the same time as my Trench Wood record (H Green pers.comm. 2011).
Image
Fig. 1 Urocerus gigas at Trench Wood. ©John Bingham
Notable Coleoptera found in the Kidderminster area 2008-2011
Alan Brown
While night-hunting for Carabidae for the past two years, it hadn’t escaped my notice that there were a lot of other Coleoptera species active at night. I had already stumbled across two important Red Data Book (RDB) species by accident during my Carabid survey, so at the beginning of 2011 I began to look for other species full time.
However, no technique is without flaws. Many species of Cerambycidae, Elateridae, Buprestidae, Cryptocephalus, and others are all diurnal, so my chances of coming across these were pretty slim, but I was nonetheless still optimistic. Kidderminster has some unusual habitats: heathland, wet woodland, marsh and open parkland, with the River Severn and Wyre Forest in close proximity, so I figured my prospects of finding some important species were excellent. This year (2011) the weather was also good: night time temperatures were above average and the dry spells were long, especially during the Spring.
Having covered a lot of ground during my Carabid survey I also knew certain areas where there were plenty of dead wood, stumps, log piles, sap-runs, fungi, moulds and tree species. Memorising where I had come across beetle galleries in decaying wood was also to prove rewarding for tracking down some unusual predatory species. The rest was down to some hard foot slogging and my own enthusiasm. The vast majority of species recorded at night were found on the surface of the bark and therefore bark-stripping was unnecessary except for one species, Uleiota planata, which hardly ever seems to surface. Pit fall traps and beating techniques were not used. A good headband torch can usually pick out the smallest beetles if they are visible. My notable finds are listed below, with pictures for most, but there were many more that are not covered in this article.
Meloe rugosus (Meloidae: RDB3):27.9.2009.
I stumbled across this species while looking for Carabids at night on a heathland site. Then on 25.10.09 I found two large gravid females. In 2010 I found three more on 21st September. This species is surprisingly active at night and quite sensitive to torch light. One of its host bees, Adrena haemorrhoa has been recorded at the same site. There is some speculation at the moment as to whether this species is increasing its range, but I think perhaps this beetle may have been overlooked for a long time. A nocturnal species, appearing late in the year in very low numbers could have been missed. Identification confirmed by Paul Whitehead.
Corticeus unicolor (Tenebrionidae: RDB3): 4.9.2010.
A darkling beetle. This is an important find as it is the first modern record outside of its Nottinghamshire stronghold. I have found two sites for it, one at Kidderminster and one at Stourport, the habitat being identical in both cases. Found in shady woodland on dead standing birch trees associated with bracket fungus. They are visible on the bark at night and there are two colour forms. The first form is an all orange colour and the second form has a dark head and pronotum with a chestnut coloured elytra. I have been monitoring them from April to October, and they seem to be more common in September when they can be seen in small clusters. They apparently feed on the mycelium of the bracket fungus and are adept at boring holes in the wood. Being nocturnal they are very sensitive to light. The secret to their success at the Kidderminster site seems to be a high rate of birch die-off in the coniferous section of the wood. Their future at the Stourport site is far more precarious as it is in purely deciduous woodland with the only dead standing Birch being the one the beetles currently occupy.
Colydium elongatum (Colydiidae: RDB3): 10.05.2011.
Mostly restricted to the extreme south of the country this record is the most northerly site for this species. Due to its apparent reluctance to come out of hiding, this was by far the most difficult species to find. Thought to be a predatory species, I’ve only found it at one site so far, in woodland on a dead standing Birch tree infested with two weevil species, Xyloterus lineatusand Xyloterus domesticus. Very occasionally, at night it appears fleetingly on the bark for a few seconds before disappearing into another bore hole or tree fissure. Interestingly Corticeus unicolor beetles have moved in recently in the last couple of weeks, even though there is no evidence of bracket funghi on this tree, so perhaps providing another food source for Colydium. I’ve seen two separate individuals of this species in May and June, and although elusive, it is well worth the wait to see as it is the most elongate species I have yet seen.
Synchita undata (Colydiidae:RDB1): 15.05.2011
I found the first two specimens at night on a Sycamore stump in woodland alongside the Devil’s Spittleful Nature Reserve (NR) but I have found no more there since. A nocturnal species, this one also has a specific habitat namely decaying Sycamore trees with black wood mould. In 1982 this species was only found at one site, Windsor Forest in Berkshire, but since then it seems to be extending its range. On the 30th June I found a small colony at another woodland site, this time on a decaying bough of Sycamore with the black wood mould present and counted twelve beetles there altogether. Nearby, on some recently cut Sycamore logs I found four more investigating the bark, which were in the first stages of decay. A small species, only about 3.5mm long, they are very active beetles but when still they blend in well with the background showing a rather flattened appearance. Identification confirmed by Paul Whitehead.
Prionus coriarius (Cerambycidae: Na):24.07.2008
Otherwise known as the Sawyer or Tanner beetle, this is our largest Longhorn species. I’ve only seen this one on two occasions, once when I saw one fly across a woodland clearing, and the second when I was lucky enough to see exiting a decaying Oak tree. Both sightings were made at night in woodlands alongside the Devil’s Spittleful NR. The largest measured 45mm in length. A rarely seen species, this one is reputed to be attracted to moth lights occasionally.
Tetropium gabrieli (Cerambycidae: local):26.06.2010.
The Larch Longhorn. Another nocturnal species. I have found a small colony of these at Chaddersley wood on a pile of Larch logs. It has also been recorded at the Wyre Forest. This species can be heavily parasitized by ichneuman wasps. The size of the beetle varies from 8mm to 18mm and they begin to appear in late April through till late July.
Arhopalus rusticus (Cerambycidae: local):26.06.2010.
The Dusky Longhorn. This species is well established around Kidderminster and found just about anywhere where there are pine trees but as it is nocturnal it is also rarely seen. This one was recorded at Chaddersley wood, but I have also seen it at the Devil’s Spittleful NR and Trimpley reservoir. It lives on living as well as decaying trees and size varies from 10mm to 30mm. I normally see the first ones in late June until early September.
Diplocoelus fagi (Biphyllidae: Nb): 29.04.2011
Another species doing well around Kidderminster. I found them at just about every woodland site, but especially in beech woodland. Mainly linked to black wood mould in beech I also found smaller numbers on decaying Sycamore logs, birch and sometimes on conifer stumps.
Tritoma bipustulata (Erotylidae: Na):18.04.2011.
A fungus beetle. I found these in woodland at one site, the Devil’s Spittleful NR. A nocturnal species. I found four on decaying Birch with bracket fungus and only saw them in April. Somewhat similar to a small ladybird in appearance.
Cryptarcha strigata (Nitidulidae: Nb): 18.04.2011.
A sap beetle. I found a number of these on open heathland, on freshly cut Birch stumps oozing sap and also on nearby Oak sap runs. A small beetle, mainly nocturnal, this species can often immerse itself in sap without getting stuck.
Cryptarcha undata (Nitidulidae: Nb): 14.05.2011.
A sap beetle. This one is much scarcer than strigata and smaller, only 2 mm long. I have only seen one to date, at night on a freshly cut Birch stump oozing sap. It seemed to be quite happy living in a fissure with a group of Soronia grisea and is a very active beetle.
Hallomenus binotatus (Melandryidae: Nb) :14.05.2011
A false darkling beetle. I’ve only come across these at one place, in a patch of shady woodland on a damp, mouldy Birch log with plenty of fungus. Only seen on a few occasions and they can be fast movers.
Enicmus brevicornis (Latridiidae: Nb):28.06.2011.
A small scavenger beetle, this species also seems to like decaying Sycamore logs with black wood mould. Sometimes I found these in large numbers at night and also a few on decaying Beech logs.
Scaphidema metallicum (Tenebrionidae: Nb) :18.06.2011.
A darkling beetle. I would occasionally find these on decaying oak stumps and once also on a decaying beech bough.
Eledona agricola (Tenebrionidae: Nb):30.06.2011.
A fungus beetle. I found these attached to a very large Chicken-of-the-woods fungus on the trunk of a Viburnum tree alongside a busy road. They appear on the surface occasionally, and resemble a bark beetle rather than a fungus beetle.
Lissodema denticolle (Salpingidae: Nb):12.07.2011.
I found four of these narrow-waisted bark beetles at night on a rotting chestnut bough in woodlands.
Silvanus bidentatus (Silvanidae: local) :16.07.2011.
I found these in Eyemore wood at night where a small number were busy searching the nooks and crannies on a large pile of pine logs. A predatory species that feed on various bark beetle larvae, this species is small, about 4mm long. Identification confirmed by Paul Whitehead.
Uleiota planata (Silvanidae: Na ):29.07.2011.
This species has to be looked for under the bark. I found three underneath the bark of a decaying beech tree at Springfield Park. Rather flat and small, about 5mm long, I have also found this predatory species underneath willow bark.
Rhizophagus picipes (Monotomidae: Na):10.05.2011.
A rare predatory species, I found this one at night on a fallen Pine log infested with bark beetle larvae.
Rhizophagus depressus (Monotomidae:local) :29.04.2011.
A more widespread species, introduced to help combat the problem of bark beetles, this species is usually always found on pine and is very small, 2.5 to 3.5 mm long. An active nocturnal predatory species.
Agrilus pannonicus (Buprestidae: Na) :21.05.2011.
Sometimes I bump into diurnal species like this jewel beetle. I found this one inactive at night on a recently cut oak stump at the Devil’s Spittleful NR.
Agrilus laticornis (Buprestidae: Nb):19.05.2011.
Another diurnal species, I found this one taking cover under a Sycamore bough during the rainy spell at night. Found at Springfield Park.
Gonioctena decemnotata (Chrysomelidae: local) :15.05.2011.
Recently delisted from Nb status, this leaf beetle is still rare in Worcestershire. Last recorded in 1982, I found four of these on Aspen, its only known food plant, at the Devil’s Spittleful NR. This species seems to prefer young saplings to mature trees.
Polydrusus splendidus (Circulionidae:Na):22.04.2011.
A small, metallic green weevil associated with various trees including apple and oak, I found this one active at night crossing a pathway on the Devil’s Spittleful NR. This species seems to be increasing its range. Identification confirmed by Paul Whitehead. [No picture of this species].
Opilo mollis (Cleridae: Nb):10.07.2011.
A chequered beetle. I found a single specimen of this predatory species investigating a beetle gallery on a decaying ash stump at night. I have also recorded Tillus elongatus, another predatory species on the same stump.
Hylecoetes dermestoides (Lymexylidae: Nb):05.06.2010.
I found eight of these timber beetles apparently inactive at night clustered round the base of a newly cut oak stump at the Devil’s Spittleful NR. There is good supply of oak stumps for this species on the edge of the heath.
Hedobia imperialis (Anobiidae: Nb):12.05.2011.
I found this one active at night in woodland alongside the Devil’s Spittleful NR, on a decaying lime bough, but I have also seen one on decaying birch.
Acknowledgements
A big thankyou to two people: John Meiklejohn who has helped throughout my survey and also Paul Whitehead for lending his expertise on some of the more difficult identifications.
Images
Fig. 01. Meloe rugosus. Alan Brown.
Fig. 02. Corticeus unicolor. Alan Brown
Fig. 03. Colydium elongatum. Alan Brown
Fig. 04. Synchita undata. Alan Brown
Fig. 05. Prionus coriarius. Alan Brown
Fig. 06. Tetropium gabrieli. Alan Brown
Fig. 07. Arhopalus rusticus. Alan Brown
Fig. 08. Diplocoelus fagi. Alan Brown
Fig. 09. Tritoma bipustulata. Alan Brown
Fig. 10. Cryptarcha strigata. Alan Brown
Fig. 11. Cryptarcha undata. Alan Brown
Fig. 12. Hallomenus binotatus. Alan Brown
Fig. 13. Enicmus brevicornis. Alan Brown
Fig. 14. Scaphidema metallicum. Alan Brown
Fig. 15. Eledona Agricola. Alan Brown
Fig. 16. Lissodema dentecolle. Alan Brown
Fig. 17. Silvanus bidentatus. Alan Brown.
Fig. 18. Uleiota planata. Alan Brown.
Fig. 19. Rhizophagus picipes. Alan Brown.
Fig. 20. Rhizophagus depressus. Alan Brown.
Fig. 21. Agrilus pannonicus. Alan Brown.
Fig. 22. Agrilus laticornis. Alan Brown.
Fig. 23. Gonioctena decemnotata. Alan Brown.
Fig. 24. Opilo mollis. Alan Brown.
Fig. 25. Hylecoetes dermestoides. Alan Brown.
Fig. 26. Hedobia imperialis. Alan Brown.
Great-crested Grebe nest goes sailing
John Clarke
26th May 2011 (Fig. 1.) (Clarke 2011).
I was down at Kemerton Lake Nature Reserve the other day during a gale when I noticed that a Great-crested Grebe’s nest floating across the lake, accompanied by the two adults. The branch supporting the nest (left of nest in picture) had broken free and the whole thing had set off across the lake. It got about two thirds of the way across when the branch caught in some Potamogeton or other floating plant that stopped its progress. The nest was accompanied all the way by both birds – she tried several times to get onto the nest but it was no longer supported by the branch and partially sank so she had to get off. He swam around, sometimes alert, at other times preening or occasionally diving. It was a pathetic sight and I wished that I could have seen the outcome. They had less than 100m. to go to reach the reeds where maybe they could have done some repairs. I guess that the outcome was disastrous but I will try to locate the nest at a later date.
13th June 2011 (Fig. 2.).
Three weeks on and they’re still there out in the middle of the lake, completely exposed to predators, of which there are hundreds. It appears to me they have improved and stabilised the nest after it snagged on the water weed. You can see where they have dragged up surrounding plants, some of which are draped over the nest. My guess is that during their ‘Kon Tiki’ journey across the lake the eggs got soaked and chilled so we wait to see if they hatch. If they do it will be this week.
Finally
They successfully hatched two young. I can’t believe that with all the gulls around they succeeded out in the middle of the lake! An extraordinary story.
Reference
Clarke, J. 2011. Nest sailing. Worcestershire Record 30:30.
Images
Fig. 1. Great-crested grebe nest sailing before the wind May 2011. Mark Gulliford
Fig. 2. Great crested grebe nest 10 June 2011. Alan Marsh
Buzzard stories
Harry Green (compiler); Gary Farmer; Brett Westwood; Craig Wright; Richard Medley
Buzzards and badgers
Email from Gary Farmer 22nd July 2011:
Someone asked me today why dead Badgers don’t attract scavenging Magpies etc. Thinking about it I’ve never seen anything eating a dead Badger. Why would this be?
Response from Brett Westwood 24th July 2011:
It’s a good point … you don’t see much eating dead badgers. In spring 2010 a badger, presumably hit by a car, crawled into a cornfield near where I live and died. I saw a buzzard feeding on the carcase which reduced quite quickly over the next week or so. Presumably something was eating it and quite fast. Why more things don’t eat badgers is a mystery … maybe there’s too much fat to get through. There’s a guy near Bristol who eats road-kill including badgers, but I suspect he’s in a very small human minority.
Reply from Gary Farmer 26th July 2011:
I’m sure there must be some money for a crazy PhD project studying Badger Scavengers (sounds the name of a rock band). Anyway, if nothing else, the question has brought out another snippet for “what do Buzzards eat?”
Buzzards and crows
Email from Craig Wright, Pershore 19th August 2011:
I have four very large Leylandii trees in my garden which are host to Goldcrests and provide a roost for Collared Doves. However in 2010 two Carrion Crows decided to nest in one of them. Visually, because the tree is so high, I couldn’t see into the nest but from the noise I could tell that there were one if not two or more chicks in there. The crow pair would often call to each other as one or other of them arrived back at the nest with food but one day an altogether different noise brought me running out of the house. It was a tremendous noise of screeching and cawing. As I looked up toward the origin of the noise I could see the parent crows flapping and diving at something near the nest. Suddenly a Buzzard flew up clutching what I assumed to be one of the young crows in its talons, hotly pursued by the very agitated crows. It flew off in the direction of Tiddesley Wood which is about a couple of miles away as the Crow flies (no pun intended) from my house. Eventually the Crows gave up the pursuit. They did manage to fledge one young crow as I saw them feeding it later on in the month, so at least one escaped the Buzzards dinner table.
This year (2011) I saw the crows checking out the tree again but I never saw them with any young so I guess they decided against a repeat of the previous year’s experience. I often see Buzzards soaring above my garden and the surrounding area and I assume they probably nest in Tiddesley Wood. From my garden I have seen up to five at any one time circling overhead this past spring and summer.
Buzzard eats Pigeon
From Richard Medley, Upper Colwall, 3rd January 2012.
About 1p.m. yesterday a pigeon flew across field behind the house with a buzzard some 40ft behind it. Both vanished into trees out of sight but I did notice a couple of pigeon feathers drifting in the wind. We were then distracted by visitors and it was almost half an hour later when I looked out across the field and saw the buzzard standing on the remains of a pigeon, most of the breast having been eaten. This is not the first time we have seen a buzzard pursue a flying pigeon but it is the first time we have seen what would appear to be a successful hunt.
Image
Fig.1. Buzzard drawing. Ray Bishop
Leucistic lapwing in South-east Worcestershire
Harry Green (Compiler)
From notes supplied by Rob Prudden and John Hodson
All the records below relate to very similar looking birds, perhaps the same individual, seen over a nine year period, or perhaps of several different birds from the same gene pool. There is no definite information on the average life span of Lapwings but the oldest recorded bird lived 21 years, 1 month and 15 days see BTO Bird Facts at http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob4930.htm. Many bird species occasionally produce leucistic forms which lack proper feather pigmentation and are usually partially or wholly pale buff in colour.
Records
Kemerton Lake Nature Reserve (NR) on 15th 21st, 24th, 26th and 27thSeptember 2002.
Gwen Finch NR at Nafford on 1st August 2005.
Gwen Finch NR on 25th and 28th July 2008 then 11.8.08.
Wick on SE side of Pershore on 19th February 2009.
Gwen Finch NR on 1st and 3rd March 2009.
Gwen Finch NR 4th June 2009
Gwen Finch NR on 21st June 2010, 22nd July 2010 then 2nd, 22nd, 24th and 31st August 2010, then 8th September 2010 and 15th September 2010.
Lower Moor on 21st and 24th January 2011 with wintering flock of about 500 Lapwings.
Wick on SE side of Pershore – bird displaying over farmland with normal plumaged individual on 2nd April 2011.
Gwen Finch NR on 13th, 19th 26th and 28th May 2011.
Gwen Finch NR 21st June 2011.
John Bennett Reserve near Nafford, close to Gwen Finch NR, 12th July 2011.
Reference
BTO Bird Facts. http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob4930.htm. Accessed 31st December 2011.
Image
Fig. 1. Leucistic Lapwing at Gwen Finch reserve. ©John Hodson.
Bumblebee Bombus terrestris apparently infected with Deformed Wing Virus (DWV)
Jacqueline Hartwright
[compiled from emails and other information by the Editor]On 05/08/2011 Jacqueline Hartwright wrote:
‘I wonder if you can help me? I first spotted the wingless bumblebee Bombus terrestris on the lavender bush in my front garden on Monday. Despite the rain yesterday, the bee is alive and on the lavender today. I think the lavender will be over in a few days, so I don’t hold out any hope of its survival. It seems that it can see, as I moved it to a flower that wasn’t dying and it later scrambled across other stems to another flower head. Chris Betts thought it could be Deformed Wing Virus. Have you any suggestions?’ This note was accompanied by pictures (Figs. 1, 2, &3.).
To which I replied:
I have to admit this is a new one on me and I am not a bee-keeper! However, an internet search quickly revealed a great deal of information on Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) as it is a serious disease of Honey Bees associated with Varroa mites. For instance Genersch et al. 2006 state in the summary of their paper:
‘Honey bees Apis mellifera infected with Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) through Varroa destructor during pupal stages develop into adults showing wing and other morphological deformities. Here, we report for the first time the occurrence of bumble bees Bombus terrestris, Bombus pascuorumexhibiting wing deformities resembling those seen in clinically DWV-infected honey bees.. Since such deformed bumble bees are not viable DWV infection may pose a serious threat to bumble bee populations’.
Furthermore the virus has also been found to affect bumblebees in many parts of the world, see for example Jilian Li et al. (2011) who state:
‘The Deformed Wing Virus (family Iflaviridae, genus Iflavirus, DWV), one of the most prevalent and common viruses in honey bees, Apis mellifera L., is present in both laboratory-reared and wild populations of bumble bees, Bombus huntii Greene’.
Request for records and information.
A great deal of other information is available in worldwide bee-keeping and scientific literature. The main purpose of this note is to encourage readers to look out for bumblebees with deformed wings in Worcestershire. If possible take pictures and send them to Harry Green zen130501@zen.co.uk. From a conservation point of view the virus could reduce bumblebee populations, already under threat because of habitat loss. If any reader has more knowledge and experience of DWV I should be pleased to hear from them and to receive information for a later Worcestershire Record.
References
Genersch, E., Yue, C., Ingemar, F. and de Miranda, J. B. 2006. Detection of deformed wing virus, a honey bee viral pathogen, in bumble bees (Bombus terrestris and Bombus pascuorum) with wing deformities. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 91:61–63.
Jilian Li, Wenjun Peng, Jie Wu, James P. Strange, Humberto Boncristiani, and Yanping Chen. 2011. Cross-Species Infection of Deformed Wing Virus Poses a New Threat to Pollinator Conservation. Journal of Economic Entomology104(3):732-739. http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EC10355
Images
Fig. 1. Bumblebee probably afflicted by Deformed Wing Virus. Jacqueline Hartwright
Fig. 2. Bumblebee probably afflicted by Deformed Wing Virus. Jacqueline Hartwright
Fig. 3. Bumblebee probably afflicted by Deformed Wing Virus. Jacqueline Hartwright
Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria at Grimley Old Workings 16th October 2011
Fergus Henderson
The 16th October 2011 was to our first ‘winter’ ringing session at Grimley Old Workings. Our main target species were Redwings Turdus iliacus and Lesser Redpolls Carduelis cabaret, both of which had recently appeared in appreciable numbers. Six people were present that morning: Fergus Henderson, John Hodson, George Henderson, Shaun Micklewright, Claire Dovey and James Hitchcock. As the morning progressed it was clear that a lot of birds were on the move, particularly thrushes, finches, pipits and Skylarks Alauda arvensis overhead.
We were catching steadily, aided by some very effective tape lures. Six mist-nets were in use and one net, set in some bramble scrub, on a bank, above the main reed bed, was particularly successful, accounting for over 50% of the total catch of 120 birds of 18 species. At about 11am, the catches started to dwindle, so it was decided to take down the nets and call it a day. The lower nets, in the willow scrub, were taken down and the small catch of birds carried to the ringing base to be processed. At this point, two of the ringers, John Hodson and Shaun Micklewright left, leaving myself, George and Claire to finish the session. James had already departed earlier in the morning, after the main rush of birds was over. I went to take down the top net, leaving George and Claire to process the catch. It was 11.45am. When I got to the net I could see that it was ‘dripping’ (a ringer’s term for lots of birds) with birds; mainly Greenfinches Carduelis chloris. I set about the task of extracting the birds as quickly as possible.
As I worked down the net, my eye was caught by a rather chunky bird in the middle shelf, which I immediately recognised as a Sylvia warbler. We had already caught a Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla earlier that morning so I wasn’t entirely surprised to see another in the net. However, my initial impression was that this bird was much bigger and longer than a Blackcap and, that the head lacked a ‘cap’. My next thought was of Garden Warbler S. borin which would have been surprising given that it was the middle of October. I was intrigued. I extracted the bird I was working on and went to the mystery warbler. By this time it had moved in the net and presented its underside to my view. When I saw the heavily marked undertail coverts I immediately knew the bird I was looking at was a Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria. A few heart-thumping moments later, the bird was safely extracted from the net and placed in a bag. I hastily took down the net and returned to the ringing base to break the news to George and Claire.
At that point, I decided to ring a few people as I knew it would probably attract a fair bit of attention and interest from local bird watching experts. Whilst we waited for people to arrive we decided to ring and process the bird quickly to reduce any stress on the bird. I aged it as a hatchling of the year (Euring code 3) based on its drab plumage and lack of bright eye. Interestingly, it was carrying a lot of fat, which suggested to me that it may have been present on site for quite a while.
Eventually, people arrived to see and photograph the bird (Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4.) and it was eventually released at about 13.15p.m., approximately an hour and a half after its capture. Unfortunately for the watchers it flew off strongly over a high line of trees and was never relocated.
This record constitutes the first record for Worcestershire and is only the second Barred Warbler to be found in the central midlands; the first being a bird ringed at Brandon Marsh in 1979.
[Note. The Barred Warbler is annual but scarce passage migrant in England. It breeds in Italy, Germany and Sweden, east to Mongolia, and winters in NE Africa and Arabia. Spring records in England are rare. In autumn they are more frequent, occurring mainly in coastal areas and rarely inland. Ed]Images
Fig. 1. Barred Warbler juvenile Grimley Old Workings 16 October 2011. Andy Warr
Fig. 2. Barred Warbler juvenile Grimley Old Workings 16 October 2011. Andy Warr
Fig. 3. Barred Warbler juvenile Grimley Old Workings 16 October 2011. Andy Warr
Fig. 4. Barred Warbler juvenile Grimley Old Workings 16 October 2011. Andy Warr
Worcestershire Bryophyte Group field meetings
Dr Ann Hill
Contact Ann Hill if you are interested in attending these meetings.
Telephone: 01905 35955 email ann @ gaehill.f9.co.uk
30 August 2011
.
Saturday 18th February 2012 at 10:00 The Knapp and Papermill (Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Reserve) SO751521.
27 ha of mixed habitat including apple orchard, Leigh Brook, meadows, and woodland. Park in the lay-by on the right before Bridge’s Stone bridge. We plan to walk to the far south end of the reserve and then record walking north back to the cars.
Sunday 11th March 2012 at 10:30 am. A joint outing to Northwick Lido (known locally as The Slip) with the Border Bryologists.
Habitats: amenity grassland, river bank, unimproved wet grassland, marsh. According to national bryophyte records SO85 is an unrecorded area of the county. There is ample public parking at the end of an un-surfaced track down to the River Severn (approximately SO837578). The un-surfaced track is accessed via the end of Old Northwick Lane, Bevere, Worcester. Height barrier on entrance track 6ft.6ins., 1.98 m.
Western Conifer Seed Bug Leptoglossus occidentalis in Droitwich
John Holder
On the 4th December 2011 I was asked if I would like to collect “a large bug” from my mother’s apartment in the centre of Droitwich, close to the Lido Park. The bug had entered her apartment the previous day and had been collected in a jam jar and then forgotten. Late that night she remembered that the bug was still in the jar and feeling sorry for its incarceration released it from her kitchen window only to find it back inside on the following morning. It was lucky to have selected mother’s apartment. Choosing any of the other window in the building would have resulted in instant “squash” bug! I duly collected the bug later on the 4th and could see that it was certainly some form of squash bug but much larger than any of the species in my guide to Shieldbugs and Squashbugs of the British Isles (Evans & Edmondson 2005). During the past year I have seen and heard many references to iSpot … so this was a chance to sign up and give it a go. I duly photographed the subject and uploaded it later that evening (Fig. 1.). I was delighted to see an identification and several others in agreement on iSpot the following morning. The bug was named Western Conifer Seed Bug Leptoglossus occidentalis. I then sent a photograph to Harry Green who subsequently mailed it to various other county experts with everyone responding positively. So I guess we now have a new record to add to the Worcestershire Biological Records Centre database. (also Fig. 2.).
References
Evans, M. & Edmondson, R. 2005. A photographic guide to the Shieldbugs and Squashbugs of the British Isles. WGUK in association with WildGuideUK.
Editor’s note: The British Bugs website http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Coreidae/leptoglossus_occidentalis.htmlstates ‘Native to the USA and introduced into Europe in 1999, it has since spread rapidly and during 2008-2010 influxes of immigrants were reported from the coast of southern England, with a wide scatter of records inland. The bug feeds on pines and is likely to become established here; nymphs have been found at several locations. It is attracted to light and may enter buildings in search of hibernation sites in the autumn’. http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Coreidae/Leptoglossus_occidentalis.pdfa fact sheet from Forest Research gives more information.
Images
Fig. 1. Western Conifer Seed Bug Leptoglossus occidentalis
Fig. 2. Western Conifer Seed Bug Leptoglossus occidentalis. Harry Green
The Aspen Leaf-rolling Weevil Byctiscus populi. An Update on its status, with particular reference to the Worcestershire Population
Steve Lane
Introduction
The leaf-rolling weevil Byctiscus populi is a striking green or coppery-metallic beetle around 5mm in length. It feeds on aspen Populus tremula in open woodland and scrub habitats and has a highly localised distribution in the UK.
Adults overwinter to emerge in early spring and to set about rolling the leaves of young aspen saplings, a process which is achieved in several stages. Firstly, the weevil nips the petiole of the leaf causing it to soften and darken. Once the leaf has wilted the female, sometimes assisted by other individuals, rolls the leaf into a thin cigar-shaped tube and deposits several eggs into this structure.
The leaf then naturally dies and falls off the plant to the ground. The larvae which have hatched from the eggs, feed on the decaying leaf tissue and then probably pupate in the ground to emerge as adults some weeks later.
It is likely that there are several generations throughout the year, adults being recorded in most months between May and October inclusive. However, late June is thought to be the season when activity peaks with both leaf rolls and adults at their most numerous.
Distribution
The aspen leaf rolling weevil is relatively common in central Europe (Harde, 1998), in contrast to its distribution in the UK. Hyman (1992) states that it used to be found throughout southern England with scattered records up into Norfolk, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, however, in more recent times, it has declined dramatically and it is now known to survive at very few sites.
Outside of Worcestershire, since the 1990s, its presence has been confirmed from the Broxbourne Woods complex and Brickets Wood, in Hertfordshire, from Ham Street Woods and Orlestone Woods in Kent, from Ruislip Common in Middlesex, Backwardens Reserve at Danbury Common in Essex, Bookham and Wisley Commons in Surrey and from Oversley Wood in Warwickshire. The Surrey populations may have disappeared as there are no records since the early 1990s.
Because the species is known from so few localities in the UK and because of the overall population decline, it was awarded Red Data Book National Status (‘Rare’ – RDB3). It is also a National BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) species for which a programme of conservation priorities exists.
Populations are vulnerable to habitat destruction and to changes in habitat that might occur as a consequence of insensitive woodland management or lack of management.
Surveying – What to Look For
Byctiscus populi may have been chosen as a National BAP species due to the ease with which its presence can be assessed and its population strength measured at a site.
Most people would assume that the most obvious way to determine whether the weevil is present would be to find adults. These are very distinctive and cannot be confused with any other British beetle species (Fig. 01.). They can be collected by sweeping or by beating aspens, but they are probably more easily found by searching leaves of suitable young plants. The weevil, although small, is usually quite easy to spot because of its bright metallic reflection.
If a population is highly localised or small, a much more reliable method is to search for leaf rolls. These usually take the form of narrow, tightly-rolled tubes which are often clustered towards the top of suitable aspen saplings and suckers (Fig. 02.).
At this point, you might feel that armed with this knowledge about leaf roll identification, you are ready to set out and find Byctiscus, but beware! To confuse the unwary beginner, another insect also rolls aspen leaves. This insect is a Gelechiid moth Anacampsis populella.
Fortunately, with a little practise, it is fairly easy to differentiate leaf rolls of the two species. The moth rolls usually remain green and they invariably sit at an angle that is more-or-less perpendicular to the main stem (Fig. 03.). These characteristics are due to the fact that the moth does not kill the leaf at any time before, during, or after the rolling process and the larvae develop in situ. On close examination of these leaf rolls, you can usually make out a number of silk strands that bind the external leaf edge to the main body of the roll. Additional pointers are that moth rolls are most often solitary and are relatively loosely rolled, particularly so at the junction of the leaf and its stem.
In comparison, weevil rolls are tightly rolled, hang vertically downwards, are usually dark brown in colour and are often in clusters. There are no obvious silk strand bindings either.
The least reliable indicator of Byctiscus is feeding damage. The weevil creates characteristic damage within the leaf tissue which has the appearance of elongate mottled scorch marks on the leaf surface (Fig. 04.). The width of the mark corresponds to the width of the weevil’s rostrum because the insect’s jaws are positioned at the very tip of this structure.
It is possible that other insects create similar feeding patterns on aspen leaves, but in the absence of other more immediate factors, feeding damage alone can act as a tentative indicator to the presence of the weevil at a site and merit future visits.
The 2011 Survey of Byctiscus populi in Warwickshire
In 2010, Butterfly Conservation, in partnership with Forest Enterprise, secured funding from the SITA Trust, to carry out an invertebrate habitat enhancement project at Oversley Wood.
This wood, situated close to Alcester, in south-west Warwickshire, occupies around 94 hectares, half of which is classified as plantation on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) and the other half as ancient semi-natural woodland. The wood was designated as a Wildlife Site in 2011.
Up until July 2011, I worked for an Ecological Consultancy and it was in this capacity that I and a colleague, Brian Laney, were contracted by Forest Enterprise to undertake a survey of Oversley Wood. This survey would assess the distribution and strength of the weevil population and propose a management regime to secure the species’ future survival at the site.
To put the Oversley population into a broader geographical context, further sites within a 10km radius of the locality that contained aspen, were surveyed to look for evidence of the weevil. In addition, Worcestershire sites that had previously been visited by Jon Mellings (MSc. Thesis unpublished) were also visited by the team. The purpose of these visits was to compare the populations there with that at Oversley and by reference to the management carried out at these sites, to inform future management proposals at the Warwickshire site.
The 2011 survey at Oversley revealed a localised but viable population, with 132 leaf rolls and nine adults counted over a two day survey period. Although this is the highest count ever made at the site, it is believed that the population is in steady decline because the amount of suitable habitat is decreasing through conversion of habitat to high forest.
In common with Jon Melling’s observations in 2003, the weevil was found almost exclusively in the south-eastern section of the wood. Here, it is found on aspen saplings that are two years old or younger.
The south-east sector of the wood has a gentle south-east facing gradient and is sheltered from prevailing westerly winds by the conifer plantation on the plateau above. Woodland management here has produced scrub growth with varied age structure and aspen regeneration has been encouraged. The weevil evidently favours sunny, sheltered sites.
Visits to other sites in Warwickshire to search for the weevil were largely unproductive although one small area of woodland close to Oversley Wood contained some unprocessed leaf rolls (i.e. a number of leaves at the tips of the plants had been killed but not rolled) and possible signs of feeding damage. Similar observations were made at another site further north. These woods need to be revisited in 2012.
Byctiscus in Worcestershire
As far as Worcestershire is concerned, Mellings (MSc thesis, unpublished) referenced Trench Wood and Monk Wood in his investigation of Byctiscus in the UK. Both woods are owned and managed by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust in conjunction with Butterfly Conservation.
Trench Wood was cleared in the 1960s by Harris Brush, who replanted it to grow trees for broom heads. The wood was later purchased by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust financially assisted by Butterfly Conservation and is now managed to provide habitat diversity. Management aims to create open glades and clearings for invertebrates and plants.
James Hitchcock at the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust provided a great deal of information about management practices at this site. The main ride was widened in winter 2010/11 to promote regeneration of aspen (Fig. 07.), whilst scalloping of ride edge habitat is carried out on a four-year rotational basis. This localised, selective clearance creates a diversity of age structures in the tree canopy. The central woodland area is very open in aspect, with around a quarter of the area cut each year to maintain scrub habitat and large clearings (Fig. 08.).
On 19th May 2011, along with Brian Laney, I visited Monk Wood and Trench Wood in Worcestershire to look for the weevil and to assess the overall suitability of these woodland sites for the species.
That day will forever be etched in my memory as one of the most memorable fieldwork forays of my life. We first visited Trench Wood and we had hardly stepped out of the car when we came upon numerous leaf rolls and feeding damage in a small scalloped area off a subsidiary ride. When we reached the central open area of the wood, there were literally thousands of leaf rolls and an abundance of adult weevils. It seemed that the species had occupied every available aspen sapling and sucker. Absolutely astonishing!
In comparison with Oversley Wood, Trench Wood has an incredibly strong population of Byctiscus, due undoubtedly to the management regime implemented by the Wildlife Trust.
Monkwood has a similar history to Trench Wood. It was also owned by Harris Brush who cleared large areas from the 1950s onwards, to grow wood for broom handles. In 1986, the wood was purchased by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation working in partnership and like Trench Wood, management is focussed on maximising habitat diversity and by creating open areas for invertebrates. Management here involves clearance at the rate of two half-acre coppice plots annually, on an 8-year rotation cycle.
The survey in 2011 found this wood to contain much less aspen than Trench Wood and our immediate impression was that it would not be suitable for Byctiscus. However, we did find the weevil in good numbers around the ponds, where recent management had significantly opened up the habitat (Fig. 11.). The weevil was also found in a small number of other locations. Its distribution at Monkwood is probably best described as highly localised but not threatened.
Compared to Trench Wood, Monkwood has a more mature canopy and greater shading of narrower rides. Oaks are a more dominant feature of this wood and they have to be maintained because of their importance in conserving the dormouse population. Willow and hazel also proliferate in recently coppiced areas whereas in Trench Wood, aspen would often dominate in a similar situation.
Where Jon Mellings located strong populations of Byctiscus at Monkwood in 2003, these areas have since deteriorated through maturation, becoming too heavily shaded.
Worcestershire must surely be the National stronghold for this weevil, both in terms of the number of localities where it is present and the strength of the populations at these sites. Byctiscus has long been known from Trench Wood NR and Monk Wood NR, but in the last decade, thanks to diligent searching by local enthusiasts, two further localities have emerged for this species in the form of Grafton and Roundhill Woods. The Grafton Wood population appears to be fairly well-established since it was first recorded about ten years ago. At Roundhill Wood, the picture is less clear and further survey work is required here to provide better information about the current status of the weevil.
One wonders just how many more sites there are in Worcestershire for this species.
Insect Ley-Lines? The Mystery Deepens [the editor take no responsibility for this diversion!]
Had John Michell, the author of The View Over Atlantis (1969) been alive today, he might have been interested in the Worcestershire/Warwickshire alignment of Byctiscus populi. Michell encouraged the belief that ancient sites were aligned and that these alignments, called “Ley Lines”, had some greater spiritual significance.
Well, perhaps I need to get out more, but I did happen to notice that the localities for Byctiscus populi (well, four of them at least) are aligned exactly on a straight line drawn through them from west to east (Fig. 13. – unlucky for some?). Grafton Wood unfortunately spoils the hypothesis by being a fraction too southerly – perhaps it previously occupied a much greater area to the north.
Maybe it would pay to look at other sites along this line between Aberystwyth and Ipswich just in case there are greater forces at work here than the force of nature. For the time being though, I think it best to pass this off as a coincidence. Besides, if you joined the dots on all of the UK sites, it would no longer be a straight line – but then again, how strange would it be if it perfectly described the outline of a suckering aspen leaf?
Conclusions
Trench Wood and to a lesser degree, Monkwood both provide ideal habitat for Byctiscus populi through rotational coppicing and clear-felling management strategies. At Trench Wood, where these practices have been more intensively and recently administered, the response of the leaf-rolling weevil has been dramatic. It is highly unlikely that any other site in the UK has such a prolific population.
A core concern for Worcestershire Wildlife Trust working in conjunction with Butterfly Conservation is habitat enhancement for Lepidoptera in these woods. However, it is a happy surprise that management to benefit butterflies also creates ideal conditions for Byctiscus populi to prosper, and no doubt countless other invertebrates. Not a bad outcome at all and one that Worcestershire Wildlife Trust should be understandably proud of!
Further Reading
Evans, L. 2001. A study on Byctiscus populi (L. 1758) (Attelabidae) in Latvia and implications for conservation management in the UK. Unpublished MSc. Project, University of Leeds.
Harde, K.W. and Severa, F. 1998. A Field Guide in Colour to Beetles. Leicester: Blitz Editions.
Hyman, P.S. and Parsons, M.S. 1992. A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain, Part 1. Peterborough: JNCC.
Mellings, Jon. 2002, Byctiscus populi:The status and biology of a rare species action plan (SAP) weevil in Worcestershire. Worcestershire Record13:25-27.
Mellings, Jon. Habitat Preferences and Distribution In the Aspen Leaf-Rolling Weevil Byctiscus populi (L. 1758). MSc Project.
Mellings, J. and Compton, S. 2001 Byctiscus populi, a leaf rolling weevil dependent on Aspen. The Biodiversity and Management of Aspen woodlands: Proceedings of a one-day conference held in Kingussie, Scotland, on 25th May 2001 (transcript)
Morris, M.G. 1990. Handbooks for the identification of British insects volume 5, part 16. Orthocerus weevils, Coleoptera Curculionoidea (Nemonychidae, Anthribidae, Urodontidae, Attelabidae and Apionidae) 1st ed., London: Royal Entomological Society.
Morris, M.G. 1999. Byctiscus populi (a leaf-rolling weevil) Action plan. In UK Biodiveristy Group Tranche 2 Action Plans, Vol 5: Invertebrates (March 1999). Peterborough: JNCC.
Oversley Wood Forest Design Plan. 2003-2013. West Midlands Forest District, Forest Enterprise (CD-Rom)
McGee, K. 2001. Records of note 2001. Worcestershire Record 11:27-11. (Reported Byctiscus populi from Monkwood in 2001).
Images
Fig. 01. Adult Byctiscus populi. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 02. Byctiscus populi leaf rolls on aspen sapling. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 03. Leaf roll of Gelechiid moth Anacampsis populella on aspen. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 04. Byctiscus populi feeding damage on aspen leaf. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 05. Adult Byctiscus populi nipping petiole to kill leaves above. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 06. Byctiscus populi adults in copulation. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 07. Widened main ride at Trench Wood. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 08. Open central glade at Trench Wood. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 09. Byctiscus populi adult feeding. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 10. Leaf rolls on suckering aspen at Trench Wood. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 11. Cleared area near ponds at Monkwood. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 12. Two adult Byctiscus populi rolling aspen leaf at Monkwood. ©Steve Lane
Fig. 13. Map to show the Bytiscus populi east-west alignment of sites. Steve Lan
Nyjer Guizotia abyssinica flowering in December
Graham Martin
Harry Green (2007) listed 10 plant species which he called “Bird Food Aliens” that had been recorded growing in his garden in Worcestershire. He speculated that “climate change may encourage some of these aliens to produce seeds and become regular residents”. That possibility has become a little more likely after finding a Nyjer plant flowering in my own garden (Aston Somerville, SP04723817) this (2011) autumn. Nyjer is one of the 10 species listed in the 2007 report. I have been providing Nyjer as bird food for a number of years but last year I set up a new feeding station in a more open area. Maybe the change of position increased the opportunity for germination and growth or perhaps the warm autumn also played its part. At the end of November the plant (80 cm tall) was in full flower (Figs. 1 & 2). The Met Office have recently confirmed that this has been the warmest autumn on record. Nyjer is native to Ethiopia but is grown commercially in many parts of the world.
Reference
Green, G.H. 2007. Bird Food Aliens. Worcestershire Record 21:47-48
Images
Fig. 1. Nyjer flower photographed 18th November 2011.
Fig. 2. Nyjer plant in full flower photographed December 1st 2011.
Birds in Worcestershire – May to October 2011
Gavin Peplow
Either side of a very dry but not exceptionally hot or sunny summer, we’ve witnessed some exceptional spring and autumn passage records in the County, with two new species being found. This now takes the overall total of birds recorded in Worcestershire to over 300 species!
Following a very sunny April, May was a lot cloudier but still delivered several significant highlights. Primary amongst these was the first County record of Spotted Sandpiper, an American species and close relative of our familiar Common Sandpiper. This particular individual was resplendent in its full ‘spotty’ summer plumage making it very distinctive as it paraded along the dam wall at Westwood Pool at the beginning of the month.
This spring proved to be better than for several years in terms of the number of passage waders seen. Continuing from the end of April, the strong movement of Bar-tailed Godwits included a flock of 18 over Wassell Grove with singles also at Grimley and Upton Warren. Counts of three and four Wood Sandpipers at this last locality and Lower Moor respectively were significant, whilst Turnstone were recorded at Grimley and Ripple and a scattering of Sanderling included a County record flock of seven, again at Ripple.
Grey Plovers are quite scarce these days, so one at Bredon’s Hardwick was appreciated, but more unexpected was a Pectoral Sandpiper that spent a couple of days at Grimley in the third week. This was the first spring record for Worcestershire, though over 20 have been seen in autumn.
Towards the end of the month, a bright female Red-necked Phalarope graced the flashes at Upton Warren, only to be joined by a second female a couple of days later – the first time two individuals of this species have been found together. The first bird lingered into June, though as it disappeared for days at a time, which led to some speculation that up to four birds may have been involved!?
Garganey were unusually scarce with single drakes at Bittell and Ryall. Sandwich Terns were noted at Upton Warren and Ripple whilst a party of seven and then three Little Terns passing through Bittell on the same day was unprecedented. A longer-staying Osprey visited Bittell spasmodically during the month, whilst a Black-necked Grebe also dropped by for a couple of days. This was followed by a typically short-staying Spoonbill at Upton Warren. A Black Redstart was also reported briefly at this last locality and Marsh Harriers were seen there and at Crossway Green.
One or two Quail appeared towards the end of the month but far more unexpected was a report of a singing male Common Rosefinch for just a few minutes at Upton Warren. Despite extensive searching from soon after the report, there was no further sign, but if accepted this would provide yet another first for Worcestershire!
An excellent total of 16 juvenile Avocets fledged at Upton Warren during June. Other waders of note during the month (in addition to the superb female Red-necked Phalarope !) included two Turnstone at Bittell and a count of seven Black-tailed Godwits at Upton Warren.
Elsewhere a Marsh Harrier hunted over fields near Shenstone during the second week, a Common Crane was reported drifting over Rous Lench and evidence of the start of a small influx of Crossbills was seen with a party of seven heading south over Abberton.
Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Clifton Gravel Pits and Upton Warren, a Kittiwake passed through Bittell and Quail were heard on Bredon Hill, at Nafford, Rous Lench and Strensham.
The highlight in July was a Hoopoe seen near Kidderminster, with what was presumed to be the same bird appearing a couple of days later – though even more fleetingly – at Upper Bittell. As the water levels continued to drop at this last locality there were some good passage wader records with three Knot, a Turnstone, Wood Sandpiper and two Sanderling recorded.
Becoming more widespread, two Red Kites feeding over a freshly mown hayfield near Cutnall Green were perhaps now to be expected, but a Hen Harrier reported near Harvington mid-month was certainly unusual for the time of year. A few more Crossbills were seen with parties of 12 at Clent and eight over Egdon, whilst a Garganey was found at Longdon Marsh towards the end of the month.
August was quiet with the highlights being a Black Tern and then a Marsh Harrier through Clifton Gravel Pits, an Osprey over Upton upon Severn and a Quail near Hagley. As has been the case in recent years, Upton Warren attracted several Mediterranean Gulls during the month as well as a Spotted Redshank that fed on a dwindling area of mud as the dry weather continued.
Another strong wader passage continued through September with the most notable records including two Curlew Sandpipers at Bittell, Little Stint and Spotted Redshank at Bredon’s Hardwick and both this last species and a Grey Plover at Grimley. The highlight though was a very obliging (and photogenic) Grey Phalarope that spent a couple of days at Holt mid month. A few Black and Arctic Terns passed through during stormier weather, with counts of ten and seven at Upton Warren. A Honey Buzzard was also reported briefly at this reserve. A long staying Black Redstart was enjoyed by many at Shenstone, particularly as it has been a relatively poor year for this species and remained for much of the month.
October started with a smart male Hen Harrier flying through Grimley and this site continued to attract some good birds over the next few weeks. A Rock Pipit was expected, but perhaps the surprise of the year occurred when an immature Barred Warbler was caught unexpectedly in a mist net on the edge of Old Grimley reedbeds mid month! Whilst this is a regular though always very scarce passage migrant around our coasts and islands, inland records are exceptional, probably not least because it always seems to be a skulking species at the best of times. A lucky few local birders managed to see this individual when it was released, but unfortunately (for the birders!) it flew off strongly over a tall row of trees once it regained its freedom and could not be relocated. Needless to say, another ‘first for Worcestershire’ and only the second ever found in the West Midlands region.
Further interesting sightings over the remainder of the month included a party of four Whooper Swans at Upton Warren, two White-fronted Geese at Bittell, a Black-necked Grebe at Westwood and a Short-eared Owl at Throckmorton, with anticipation that more of this last species would follow as a result of a big influx that occurred on the east coast during the month …
Records compiled from reports received by Birdline Midlands. For all the latest information on birds currently within Worcestershire and the Midlands Region, call 09068-700247 (calls charged at 60p per minute).
Water-primrose – an unwelcome arrival
Bert Reid
I was recently doing some plant recording near Bishampton when I noticed a plant that I did not recognise growing on the edge of a large pool (Fig. 1.). It was a large patch of a creeping, yellow flowered plant on the marginal mud of the pond with long trailing non-flowering stems reaching into the water (Fig. 2.). The structure of the flower (Fig. 3.) showed it to be in the Onagraceae, the Willowherb family, and the genus keyed out to Ludwigia (Hampshire-purslanes). The only plant with obvious yellow flowers and alternate leaves mentioned in the most recent British flora (Stace 2010) is Ludwigia grandiflora, the Water-primrose. This is recorded as an established aquarists’ throw-out in ponds in Surrey and South. Hampshire.
Further information from the internet raised both concerns and questions. The concerns appeared from DEFRA’s Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS), where Water-primrose is included as a red alert species where they ask for all sighting in the UK to be reported. The plant has become a serious pest in parts of Europe, especially France, where it has spread rapidly, choking waterways, increasing flood risk and crowding out native species. The Environment Agency is attempting to eradicate the plant in all known sites. I have reported my sighting, the first from Worcestershire and about the 18th in the UK since the first record in 1999.
The questions concern the exact identity of the plant. It appears that France has more than one species, and the Water-primrose site on the NNSS website includes Ludwigia grandiflora, L. peploides and L. hexapetala. A very recent reprint of Stace (2010) 3rd edition changes L. grandiflora to L. hexapetala. The botany section of the Smithsonia Institute website has a section on Ludwigia with about 90 taxa fully described including 14 in section Oligospermum. The three species noted in Europe are all in this section, but seem to mainly differ from each other in chromosome numbers. Not for certain field identification!
So we may find that our only Worcestershire record for this attractive and interesting water plant may be quickly eradicated without even being definitively identified!
Reference
Stace, C. 2010. New Flora of the British Isles. Third edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Images
Fig. 1. Bishampton pool with Water-primrose. Bert Reid.
Fig. 2. Water-primrose trailing stems. Bert Reid.
Fig. 3. Water-primrose flowers. Bert Reid
Vascular Plant Records 2010 and 2011
Bert Reid
General Comments
Plant recording has changed in the last couple of years. The Worcestershire Flora Project has stopped gathering data in the field for the forthcoming publication, so there is now little organised work on tetrad bashing or following up specific questions. Many of the stalwart botanists from the project have drifted away from consistent recording. Some have moved away from the county, some have become too old or infirm, some have changed their focus to other groups, and some have simply lost interest after such a long project. We no longer have the focus provided by the project to direct and enthuse new recorders.
We need help if we are to avoid local botanical recording declining to a very low level. I report below on just a few of the activities where this help is needed. It may be best if we form a group of recorders connected via e-mail where we can share details of finds, organise field meetings concentrating on botany, give mutual assistance on identification, co-ordinate liaison with Worcestershire Recorders, WBRC and BSBI, and any other aspects that develop. If you want to join in this, please e-mail me at bert_reid@talk21.com. If enough people are interested we may consider a more formal structure for the future.
This report is in two main sections. The first section deals with the Botanical Society of the British Isles, looking at the major projects that they organise and Worcestershire’s role and progress in these projects. The second section gives details of some of the most interesting records in 2010 and 2011.
The BSBI (Botanical Society of the British Isles)
The BSBI is the major national society for the study of vascular plants. It organises plant recording by vice-county, with our area (VC 37) looked after by joint recorders John Day and Bert Reid. The Worcester Flora Project covers a slightly different area with all of VC 37 plus the small areas of modern Worcestershire within neighbouring vice-counties. The BSBI runs many projects and details of these can be seen on their website (http://www.bsbi.org.uk/). I have selected 2 projects where we need help to improve our coverage.
1. Maps Scheme.
The maps scheme tries to plot the distribution of all taxa at hectad and/or tetrad level. The maps generated show different date classes with the recent class being 2010 to 2019, so we now nearly 2 years in to the class. It is vital that we get as much information as possible in for the creation of Atlas 2020 at the end of the date class. We would like to receive any records for VC 37, ideally at 1km square level or closer. As always we need information of taxon, site, grid, date, recorder name, and comment where appropriate.
The table below shows the progress so far at hectad level for date class 2010-2019. It is incomplete, since not all records have yet been entered up, but gives a reasonable overall picture.
| Hectad | Taxa | Hectad | Taxa | |
| SO56 | 216 | SO93 | 336 | |
| SO64 | 19 | SO94 | 903 | |
| SO65 | 70 | SO95 | 789 | |
| SO66 | 374 | SO96 | 951 | |
| SO67 | 110 | SO97 | 345 | |
| SO72 | 0 | SO98 | 200 | |
| SO73 | 430 | SO99 | 0 | |
| SO74 | 572 | SP03 | 137 | |
| SO75 | 256 | SP04 | 376 | |
| SO76 | 171 | SP05 | 203 | |
| SO77 | 400 | SP06 | 391 | |
| SO78 | 95 | SP07 | 194 | |
| SO82 | 2 | SP08 | 167 | |
| SO83 | 379 | SP13 | 1 | |
| SO84 | 576 | SP14 | 1 | |
| SO85 | 525 | SP15 | 0 | |
| SO86 | 399 | SP16 | 149 | |
| SO87 | 536 | SP17 | 174 | |
| SO88 | 319 | SP18 | 207 | |
| TOTAL | 10973 |
The total of 10973 compares with the previous date class (2000-2009) total of 21823. We are therefore nearly half way towards a reasonable total. SO94, SO95 and SO96 have been fairly well covered with special concentration here by Bert Reid & John Day. SO73, SO74, SO83 & SO84 have been partially covered by Keith Barnett, while other significant hectad totals have been from more occasional visits to few sites such as the Worcestershire Recorders field meetings.
Most of the very low totals are from small areas of edge hectads mainly outside VC 37. Much remains to be done, with even some common plants showing obvious gaps. The second half will be harder to find, with scarcer or more critical plants remaining.
Anything like full tetrad coverage is not practical in the ten years without greatly increased help, but even partial coverage is valuable.
2. Threatened Plants Project
The other project of most urgent importance is the threatened plants project. Each year BSBI selects a small group of species of conservation concern where recent declines or inadequate ecological information leads them to be considered threatened. Of the ten plants selected for 2011, only three have any recent local records, Juncus compressus, Silene conica and Torilis arvensis. The selected plants for 2012 are better represented in Worcestershire: Bupleurum tenuissimum, Hypochaeris glabra, Anacamptis morio (Orchis morio), Persicaria minor, Ranunculus arvensis and Vicia parviflora. Also included are Orchis anthropophora (Aceras anthropophorum) that has one known in Worcestershire but in vc33. This is a much more challenging list, although we do not yet know which specific sites will be selected as the priority for full checking.
Recording for the project is rather complicated and is best done by experienced botanists. The form requests full grids for the colony, ideally a 10m grid for each part of the population, aspect, slope, and altitude for the site, full details of population size, density and extent, broad habitat, NVC, soil type etc where possible, and associated species lists. Forms and instructions can be downloaded from the BSBI website.
For those who find the task too taxing, please e-mail me as early as possible with as much detail as you are comfortable with. For braver souls confident with completing the forms themselves, let me know which site you have covered and pass the completed form to me by e-mail or post. I don’t want to waste people’s time surveying sites already covered.
This project is an excellent opportunity for plant recorders to visit some of our best local sites, to see some of our most interesting plants, to hone their botanical skills and to carry out more standard recording at the same time. I may be able to join people on site if they wish for help with more difficult aspects of the recording.
Important & Interesting Records
It might be thought that after 23 years of detailed recording since the start of the flora project, there would be very few plants left to find. Experience in 2010 & 2011 has shown that this thought is far from correct. Just looking at the totals of new post-1987 records for each hectad we see that in 2010 there were no less than 262 such records spread over 220 species in 31 hectads. SO94 and SO96 had 52 and 45 additions respectively, with 10+ additions in a further 6 hectads. 2011 was even more impressive 276 additions spread over 223 species and 27 hectads. SO95 and SO96 accounted for 48 and 27 additions with 10+ in another 12 hectads.
Many of the additions are of course non-native casuals and garden escapes, or are critical plants such as dandelions where even comon species have been easily missed earlier. There are also important finds, such as nationally threatened plants in new sites, which are not new hectad records. There are missing records where they have not been entered up yet or are awaiting confirmation. Therefore the records listed below are just a limited selection of records that I know about and that I consider most interesting. Other people would have chosen differently.
In the record details below, “county” refers to the combined area of modern Worcestershire. The symbol * designates first published county records and # first post 1987 hectad records. A + against the species indicates that the taxon is not a native or archeophyte where recorded.
2010 records
* Achillea filipendulina – Fern-leaf Yarrow +
Lower Moor: SO9746: Bert Reid: Good patch by footpath hedge in arable; also in garden 50m away on other side of footpath. First county record.
Westmancote: SO9142: Bert Reid: Small patch by footpath. 2nd record.
# Alopecurus aequalis – Orange Foxtail
Abbey Park Ponds Evesham: SP0343: John Day: Locally frequent
# Amaranthus hybridus – Green Amaranth +
Martley: SO7559: Roger Maskew: Allotments, common
Grimley Gravel Pits: SO8360/SO8361: Roger Maskew
* Amaranthus hypochondriacus – Prince’s-feather +
Abbey Road Great Malvern: SO7745: Keith Barnett: 1, pavement, in flower. First county record.
# Artemisia verlotiorum – Chinese Mugwort +
Broadway Lane Fladbury: SO9945: Bert Reid: Large non-flowering patch, at least 10m long, on verge between road and arable, smaller patch (c. 3m.) at SO9845. 2nd county site.
Spring Hill Farm, Fladbury: SO9946: Bert Reid: Good patch by footpath at edge of potato field
# Asplenium ceterach – Rustyback
St.John the Baptist Church Feckenham: SP0061: John Day: Single plant.
# Atriplex littoralis – Grass-leaved Orache
A491 Hagley: SO9181: Brett Westwood: Central reservation about 30 plants
# Avena strigosa – Bristle Oat
South of Hill Farm Finstall: SO9868: John Day: Edge of arable – cereal stubble. First record since 1950s
# Bassia scoparia – Summer-cypress +
M5 SO84: SO8646/ SO8745: John Day: Central reservation and verge, several. Spreading on M5.
* Betula utilis var. jacquemontii – Jacquemont’s Birch +
Pershore Bridges area: SO9544: Bert Reid: 1 tree planted in picnic area. First county record but clearly planted.
* Brassica “Mizuna” – Japanese Greens +
B4624 near Evesham: SP0246: Bert Reid conf. Tim Rich: 5 plants on dumped soil bank between old and new road. Tim Rich unable to give a definitive Latin name but is “inclined towards rapa as the ‘species’ but I really don’t know”
# Buddleja x weyeriana – Weyer’s Butterfy-bush +
Worcester and Birmingham Canal: SO9567: John Day: Single bush possibly planted by bridge. 4th county record
* Calystegia sepium ssp. sepium f. colorata – Hedge Bindweed +
Hill Court Farm Longdon Marsh: SO8235: Roger Maskew conf. R.K.Brummitt: First county record for this forma
# Carex vesicaria – Bladder-sedge
Eastern margin, Tardebigge Reservoir: SO9868: John Day: 2 small marginal stands. Anglers report that these were transplanted from overgrown woodland close by in 2008
* Chaenorhinum origanifolium – Malling Toadflax +
Alvechurch Parish: SP0272: Brian Laney conf. J.P.Poland & M.W.Rand: Specimen collected from Alvechurch in cleared ground in rubble. The site is now (2011) under housing development. First county record.
# Chara hispida – Bristly Stonewort
Footpath round Throckmorton Tip: SO9748: Bert Reid: A few plants in wet ruts near pool. 3rd site.
# Colutea arborescens x orientalis – Orange Bladder-senna +
Farleigh Road Pershore: SO9445: Bert Reid: One flowering shrub on pavement edge by tall larch-lap fence. Assumed to have spread from garden. 3rd county record
# Cosmos bipinnatus – Mexican Aster +
Holt Rough: SO8262: John Day: 1 in flower. 3rd county record
* Cynodon dactylon – Bermuda-grass +
S.E. canalside bank to Lock No.22, Worcester and Birmingham Canal: SO9465: John Day: Well established colony abundant over area c15x5m. First county record.
# Dactylorhiza fuchsii x praetermissa – a hybrid orchid
Feckenham Wylde Moor: SP0160: Roger Maskew: 5 plants, 2 obviously backcrossed and close to D.praetermissa
# Deutzia scabra – Deutzia +
Langdale Wood: SO7942: Keith Barnett conf. E.J.Clement: 1 flore pleno shrub in flower. An obvious relic probably dating from the time when there was a military establishment there decades ago. 3rd county record
# Eleocharis acicularis – Needle Spike-rush
Tardebigge Reservoir: SO9868: John Day: Frequent as uprooted plants along water margin
# Epipactis phyllanthes – Green-flowered Helleborine
Highwood Eastham: SO6567: Roger Maskew: 2 plants
# Euphorbia oblongata – Balkan Spurge +
Christ Church Road, Barnards Green: SO7845: Keith Barnett conf. Roger Maskew: 1, foot of garden wall / pavement, in flower / fruit. 2nd county record.
# Festuca filiformis – Fine-leaved Sheep’s-fescue
Pipers Hill: SO9565: John Day: Bank north of pool, locally frequent
Filago minima – Small Cudweed
Devils Spittleful & Rifle Range N.R.: SO8074/SO8174: Bert Reid: Good populations, first records for site
# Fumaria bastardii – Tall Ramping-fumitory
Malvern Link: SO7847: Peter Garner conf. R.J.Murphy: 2nd county site.
* Ipomoea purpurea – Common Morning-glory +
Wykewane, Barnards Green area: SO7945: Keith Barnett: 3, clearly bird seed alien in pavement outside garden. First county record.
Juncus compressus – Round-fruited Rush
Avon Meadows Pershore: SO9546: Bert Reid: 1 large clump at edge of pool, new site, last hectad record in 1989.
* Lupinus albus – White Lupin +
Cooks Hill (lane) Wick: SO9646: Bert Reid: Patchily abundant in weedy fallow field on east side of lane, mostly in full fruit. Clearly planted (as green manure?) but not previously noted in county.
* Matthiola incana – Hoary Stock +
Junction of Tibberton Road & Imperial Road, Barnards Green: SO7845: Keith Barnett: One sturdy plant at foot of garden wall. Present for at least 2 years. First county record.
# Misopates orontium – Weasel’s-snout
Coppice House, Lane to Bannalls Farm Kyre: SO6463: Roger Maskew: In vegetable and flower beds of recorder’s garden since 2007
Grimley Gravel Pits: SO8360: Roger Maskew: 1 plant
Astley Parish: SO8169: Roger Maskew: 6 plants
# Molinia caerulea – Purple Moor-grass
Eades Meadow: SO9864: John Day: Single small tussock.
* Narcissus minor – Lesser Daffodil +
Lane from Allesborough to Ladywood: SO9346: Bert Reid: 1 with a few N. pseudonarcissus cultivars in lay-by. Clear match with descriptions in Stace and Sell & Murrell. First county record.
Near A44, B4624 Worcester Road: SP0245/SP0246: Bert Reid: 4, earth bank between new and old roads
* Nassella tenuissima – Argentine Needle-grass +
New Street, Upton upon Severn: SO8540: Keith Barnett det. E.J.Clement: 6 clumps spaced out at foot of walls along street – evident escape from nearby garden. First county record.
* Pennisetum macrourum – African Feather-grass +
Fruitlands, Malvern Wells: SO7743:: Keith Barnett det. E.J.Clement: About 12, gutter, in flower. First county record.
# Rudbeckia hirta – Black-eyed-Susan +
Pinvin Parish: SO9548: Bert Reid: Several in waste ground opposite bean field by footpath. 4th county record
# Securigera varia – Crown Vetch +
East of Duckswich: SO8339: Keith Barnett conf. Roger Maskew: 1, disturbed soil near newly created pool, in flower / fruit. Reported as seen by P.G. Garner in August 2010
# Solidago virgaurea – Goldenrod
Pipers Hill: SO9565: John Day: 2, valley east side
# Taraxacum exsertiforme – Erect-bracted Dandelion +
B4093 Studley Road, Redditch in VC38: SP0664: John Day det. Bert Reid conf. A.J.Richards: East side grass verge to footway – 2 specimens. 2ndcounty record.
# Taraxacum fagerstroemii – Fagerstrom’s Dandelion +
Church Lane, Mamble: SO6871: John Day det. Bert Reid conf. A.J.Richards: Grass verge below churchyard wall. 3rd County record
Taraxacum ostenfeldii – Ostenfeld’s Dandelion
Stonehall Common: SO8849: Bert Reid conf. A.J.Richards: Damp grassland. 2nd county record.
# Taraxacum porteri – Porter’s Dandelion
Bockleton Road: SO5961: John Day det. Bert Reid conf. A.J.Richards: North side grass verge. 2nd county record
# Trifolium ornithopodioide – Bird’s-foot Clover
Stepway down sandy bank to pool, Upton Warren Gravel Pit: SO9367: John Day: Small colonies on several steps and bank. First record beyond Malvern Hills area.
# Veronica scutellata – Marsh Speedwell
Avon Meadows Pershore: SO9546: Bert Reid: 5 tiny plants in gaps in lattice concrete base of car park (winter flooded)
2011 records
# Abies alba – European Silver-fir +
Grafton Wood: SO9756: Bert Reid: Recently felled conifer plot. 2nd county record.
# Acanthus spinosus – Spiny Bear’s-breech +
Lane by Kington: SO9855: Bert Reid: Two plants, one in flower, on grassy roadside bank, not seen in nearest gardens. 2nd record, first since 1974.
# Agrostemma githago – Corncockle +
Footpath to Mucknell Farm, Stoulton Parish: SO9051: Bert Reid: Frequent over about 50m of footpath edge, mainly under newly planted hedge.
# Amelanchier lamarckii – Juneberry +
A422 in SO95: SO9555: Bert Reid: Single medium shrub in small roadside woodbelt. 5th county record.
# Arenaria leptoclados – Small Thyme-leaved Sandwort
St Stephans Chapel Bordesley: SP0468: John Day:
# Atriplex littoralis – Grass-leaved Orache
M5 SO84: SO8645/SO8646: Brett Westwood: Central reservation, about 15 plants.
* Bolboschoeus laticarpus – a Club-rush
Holt Castle: SO8362: Roger Maskew conf. F.Rumsey: Small stand on edge of pool below castle. First county record. What had been thought to be B. maritimus known here since at least 1977.
# Callitriche platycarpa – Various-leaved Water-starwort
Pond at SO98576048 Bradley Green: SO9860: John Day: Occasional
# Carduus crispus x nutans (C. x stangii) – a hybrid thistle
Cherry Orchard Tip: SO8553: Brett Westwood: 7th county record.
# Cephalaria gigantea – Giant Scabious +
Lower Court Kemerton: SO9436: John Day: Established in MG1 rough grassland on west side of stream nr gate into orchard. 8th county record.
# Clinopodium ascendens – Common Calamint
Thrift Wood: SO9155: Bert Reid: A few plants on road verge by wood.
# Corydalis cheilanthifolia – Fern-leaved Corydalis +
Lower Smite Farm: SO8859: Bert Reid: Several well-spread plants at base of walls around farm courtyard. 4th county record.
# Corylus maxima – Filbert +
Broad Lane Bishampton: SO9951: Bert Reid: One large multi-stemmed fruiting bush in roadside garden hedge of “Nut Tree House”, Bishampton. Also several bushes in roadside hedge on other side of road. 4th county record.
# Crataegus succulenta – Round-fruited Cockspur-thorn +
St Peters Park, Droitwich: SO9062: John Day: Occasional all probably planted – surviving. 2nd county record.
# Crocosmia paniculata – Aunt-Eliza +
Poolbrook, Malvern Common: SO7744: Keith Barnett: Substantial clump, in flower. 5th county record.
# Echium vulgare – Viper’s Bugloss
Swan Pool , Hanley Swan: SO8142: Keith Barnett: About 10, unkempt grassy area near pool.
# Epilobium lanceolatum – Spear-leaved Willowherb
Canalside wall, Worcester and Birmingham Canal: SO9466: John Day: 5-10 plts.
The Ridgeway east side, Droitwich: SO9063: John Day: Bank by pavement.
* Erica vagans – Cornish Heath +
Town Coppice, Wyre Forest: SO7676: Brett Westwood: Old cottage site previously garden – established. First county record.
# Euphorbia characias – Mediterranean Spurge +
Tibberton Road, Great Malvern: SO7845: Keith Barnett: 8 young plants growing in and at foot of garden wall. One removed and grown on.
# Euphorbia oblongata – Balkan Spurge +
A4538 Pershore Lane SO85: SO8957: John Day conf. Bert Reid: Established – several colonies on both sides of road (more on east) extending over 200m. 3rd county record.
Verge east side, Lane to Bredons Norton: SO9238: John Day & Adrian Darby: 4th county record.
# Filago minima – Small Cudweed
Upton Warren Gravel Pit: SO9367: John Day: About 30 plts in rabbit grazed Cladonia/grass heath
# Filago vulgaris – Common Cudweed
Near Tibberton, Worcester and Birmingham Canal: SO9058: Bert Reid: Single plant on bare edge of towpath by mooring sites along canal. Not previously known here.
# Frangula alnus – Alder Buckthorn
Wood east of River Cole, Scribers Lane SINC: SP1079: John Day: Appeared native.
# Fumaria capreolata ssp. babingtonii – Ramping Fumitory
Near Peartrees, Egdon, A44 SO95: SO9151: Bert Reid: Small patch with F. officinalis, roadside hedge.
# Galanthus nivalis x plicatus – a hybrid snowdrop +
In woodland by car park, Herefordshire Beacon, Malvern Hills: SO7640: John Day: Large clump c10 flowers. Intermediate in floral parts & dimensions, leaf morphology and size. 2nd county record.
# Galium parisiense – Wall Bedstraw
Kemerton Estate vc33: SO9336: John Day & Adrian Darby: About 10 plts scattered over a few sq metres in open vegetation on sandy soil.
# Galium uliginosum – Fen Bedstraw
West side of ditch, Upper Bentley Meadows: SO9966: John Day: Small clump
# Geranium versicolor – Pencilled Crane’s-bill +
By walkway east from Newton Road, Aston Fields: SO9668: John Day: Established in rough grassland. 5th county record.
# Hydrangea macrophylla – Hydrangea +
Dormston Parish: SO9757: Bert Reid: 1 large bush on edge of footpath opposite house, presumed originally planted. 2nd county record.
# Jasminum nudiflorum – Winter Jasmine +
On Haha wall, Madresfield Court: SO8047: John Day: Established. 3rdcounty record.
# Lepidium sativum – Garden Cress +
Lane by Kington: SO9955: Bert Reid det. Tim Rich: 5 plants on disturbed road verge opposite farn entrance. Photograph taken next day, when farmer said that soil from ditch clearance had been dumped on verge and that some “wild flower” seed had been sown. 6th county record.
# Linaria maroccana – Annual Toadflax +
Abbey Park Community Orchard, Pershore Town: SO9445: Bert Reid: Many plants around edge of newly created orchard from seed mix sown to create pollen source around fruit trees. 6th county record.
# Linum grandiflorum – Scarlet Flax +
Abbey Park Community Orchard, Pershore Town: SO9445: Bert Reid: A few plants around edge of newly created orchard from seed mix sown to create pollen source around fruit trees. 2nd county record.
# Lonicera tatarica – Tartarian Honeysuckle +
Kingfisher Country Park in VC37: SP1587: John Day: Large bush in native vegetation, close to housing – surviving, 3rd county record.
# Lotus tenuis – Narrow-leaved Bird’s-foot-trefoil
North bank, Droitwich Junction Canal: SO9063: John Day: Single large clump.
* Ludwigia hexapetala – Water-primrose +
Just south of Broad Lane, Bishampton Parish: SO9951: Bert Reid: Very locally dominant on draw-down zone of recently created ?fishing pool. Record and photos reported to Non-native Species Secretariat who confirmed the record (as L. grandiflora). Stace now treats L. grandiflora as L. hexapetala. First county record.
# Malcolmia maritima – Virginia Stock +
By path to footbridge, Cherry Orchard Tip: SO8453: John Day, Bert Reid & Brett Westwood: 1, with other garden escapes / throw-outs. 4th county record.
# Matthiola longipetala – Night-scented Stock +
By path to footbridge, Cherry Orchard Tip: SO8453: John Day, Bert Reid & Brett Westwood: 1, with other garden escapes / throw-outs. 2nd county record.
# Mentha aquatica x arvensis (M. x verticillata) – Whorled Mint
Malvern Common: SO7744: Keith Barnett conf. Roger Maskew: Large patch, damp wooded area, grown on until flowering Sept 2011.
# Nardus stricta – Mat-grass
Bentley Moat Meadow: SO9866: John Day:
# Oenanthe lachenalii – Parsley Water-dropwort
Pinvin Roughs: SO9449: Roger Maskew: First hectad record since 1984.
# Ononis spinosa – Spiny Restharrow
Dean Brook Valley Meadows: SO9460: John Day: Neglected grassland, Meadow adj Goosehill Lane.
Orobanche rapum-genistae – Greater Broomrape
East of pool below & south of gate, Birchfields Rochford: SO6666: John Day, Bert Reid & Brett Westwood: Under broom – 3 flowering spikes plus 16 dead spikes from 2010. New site for this rare & declining plant.
# Phytolacca acinosa – Indian Pokeweed +
Walks Piece Wood, Eastern Plantations Kinsham Gravel Pit: SO9436: John Day conf. E J.Clement: 1 in fruit, southern edge by track. 3rd county record.
# Poa infirma – Early Meadow-grass
By Hanley Swan Green, B4209 Hanley Road: SO8142: Keith Barnett det. Roger Maskew: Locally frequent on about 70m stretch of road verge, in flower.
Barnards Green to Guarlford road: SO8045: Keith Barnett conf. Roger Maskew: Several patches on road verge, in flower / fruit.
# Potamogeton berchtoldii – Small Pondweed
Meadow adj east side of The Shadow: SO9866: John Day: Pond, locally frequent. Rolled stipules.
# Potentilla norvegica – Ternate-leaved Cinquefoil +
Near SW corner of Diglis Dock: SO8453: John Day & Brett Westwood: 1 plant in disturbed ground – casual. First Worcestershire record since before 1950.
# Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans – a stream water-crowfoot
Bow Brook near Peopleton: SO9350/SO9351: Bert Reid: Frequent by Mill House and Barrel Bridge.
* Sagina subulata – Heath Pearlwort
Car Boot field adj east side of Stanklyn Lane, Stanklyn: SO8574: John Day: 1, first confirmed record for vc37.
# Salix acutifolia – Siberian Violet-willow +
Carr Wood St Peters Fields Droitwich: SO9062: John Day: Surviving in native vegetation. 4th county record.
# Salvia verbenaca – Wild Clary
Birts Street Bank: SO7836: Mike Liley: 150 plants.
# Salvia viridis – Annual Clary +
Field at Blakeshall: SO8381: Brett Westwood: 1 plant, 3rd county record.
# Scabiosa columbaria – Small Scabious
Redditch Cemetery: SP0367: John Day: Small group c5 plts growing on bare edge to grassland.
# Scilla siberica – Siberian Squill +
St Michaels Church, Stourport: SO8171: John Day: 1 in rough grassland near canal.
# Sedum kamtschaticum – Kamchatka Stonecrop +
Egdon opposite Berkley Arms pub, A44: SO9151: Bert Reid: Small patch on edge of old lay-by blocked with rubble. 2nd county record.
* Senecio squalidus x viscosus (S. x subnedbrodensis) – a hybrid Ragwort +
B.S.C. Foley Park: SO8274: Roger Maskew conf. V.Alexander: 1 plant, apparently 1 or 2 others nearby. First county record.
# Silene uniflora – Sea Campion +
Severn Drive, Upton upon Severn Town: SO8540: Keith Barnett: Spreading out of garden and seeding into pavement / foot of wall, in flower. 2nd county record.
* Solanum chenopodioides – Tall Nightshade+
Off Hall Green (road) Malvern: SO8045: Keith Barnett conf. Roger Maskew & T.D. Dines: About 10 plants in flower & fruit, disturbed area beside footpath. First county record.
# Sorbus domestica – Service-tree +
Verge by old orchard, High Street Broadway: SP1037: Bert Reid: One large tree on verge by old orchard at east edge of village (by end of tarmac road). Fruits +/- pyriform. Initially drawn to recorder’s attention by Martin Jones, North Cotswolds National Trust Warden, following guided walk with Broadway Natural History Society.
# Stellaria pallida – Lesser Chickweed
By recreation ground, Kingfisher Country Park: SP1488: John Day: Disturbed gravelly ground.
# Taraxacum amplum – Toothed Dandelion +
Stanklyn Lane RVNR: SO8574: John Day det. A.J.Richards: Grass verge. 2ndcounty record.
# Taraxacum adiantifrons – Pretty-leaved Dandelion +
Spetchley crossroads: SO9053: Bert Reid conf. A.J.Richards: Grass verge of roundabout. 3rd county record.
Chadwick Lane Hartlebury: SO8370: John Day det. Bert Reid & A.J.Richards: Grass verge. 4th county record.
# Taraxacum edmondsonianum – Edmondson’s Dandelion
Sandy Lane: SO8877: John Day det. A.J.Richards: Grass bank. 3rd county record.
Stanklyn Lane RVNR: SO8574: John Day det. Bert Reid & A.J.Richards: Grass verge. 4th county record.
# Taraxacum fagerstroemii – Fagerstrom’s Dandelion +
Brockhill Lane: SP0771: John Day det. Bert Reid & A.J.Richards: Disturbed grass verge. 4th county record.
# Taraxacum hexhamense – Hexham Dandelion
Lea End Lane: SP0275: John Day det. Bert Reid & A.J.Richards: Disturbed verge. 2nd county record.
# Taraxacum planum – Diverse-leaved Dandelion +
Abbey Park Golf Course near Dagnell Brook: SP0569: John Day det. Bert Reid & A.J.Richards: Unmown grassland. 5th county record.
# Taraxacum porrigens – Hump-lobed Dandelion +
Heightington Church: SO7671: John Day & Bert Reid conf. A.J.Richards: Churchyard grassland. 3rd county record.
# Taraxacum porteri – Porter’s Dandelion
Lane Oldberrow to Morton Bagot: SP1165: John Day det. Bert Reid & A.J.Richards: Hedgebank. 3rd county record.
* Taraxacum pruinatum – Pruinose Dandelion +
Lane Grafton Flyford to Himbleton: SO9656: John Day det. Bert Reid & A.J.Richards: Grass verge. First county record.
* Taraxacum remanentilobum – Falcate-lobed Dandelion
Haws Hill Wood: SO6064: John Day det. A.J.Richards: Woodland ride. First county record.
# Taraxacum subxanthostigma – Purple-stalked Dadelion +
Slade Road Yardley Wood: SP1079: John Day det. Bert Reid & A.J.Richards: Grass verge. 3rd county record.
* Telekia speciosa – Yellow Oxeye +
Lilley Green Lane, Beoley: SP0671: Roger Maskew: Road verge. First county record.
# Tilia tomentosa – Silver-lime +
St Peters Park, Droitwich: SO9062: John Day: Planted tree supporting native gall causers. 3rd county record.
# Torilis arvensis – Spreading Hedge-parsley
Astwood Road Cemetery, Worcester: SO8556: John Day: c5 plts on old grave. New site for threatened plant.
Footpath to Mucknell Farm, Stoulton Parish: SO9051: Bert Reid: 12 clumps on edge of footpath by bean field.
New site for threatened plant.
Arable field north of A422 and east of village, Broughton Hackett Parish: SO9254: Bert Reid: Bean field edge, at least 9 plants. New site for threatened plant.
* Verbascum phlomoides x thaspus (V. x kerneri) a hybrid Mullein +
Severn Valley Railway, Sandbourne: SO7974: Roger Maskew conf. V.Johnstone: Railway sidings, 1 with c.30 V.phlomoides. First county record.
Observations on solitary bees in a garden at Astley Burf
Jane Scott
On the evening of 8th August 2011 I noticed several clusters of solitary bees apparently ‘roosting’ on flower heads of one of the lavenders growing alongside the path leading to my front door. They were still in the same position the next morning and only flew off after the sun reached the particular bush. They returned almost to the same flower heads that evening and continued to do so for a number of weeks thereafter. A quick count revealed 90–100 individuals, most of which were tightly packed together on 5-6 flower heads, with a few on one or two other stems but always on the same bush.
I mentioned this to Geoff Trevis on 13th August and he kindly offered to identify them for me. I provided him with two individuals from the same flower head and surprisingly these turned out to be two separate species, Lasioglossum albipes and Lasioglossum calceatum, both determinations being based on the genital capsules. He confirmed that both were males and that only the males were known to cluster in this way.
Seeing them regularly enabled me to make some interesting observations of their behaviour. They spent a considerable amount of time self grooming, both prior to flying off, which they did as soon as the sun struck them and they warmed up, and also on returning to roost in late afternoon or evening, depending on weather conditions. On dull cool days they remained all day and didn’t even move when torrential rain (13mm) fell on 25thAugust. A quick count the next morning revealed about 80 individuals, 10 of these having moved to an adjacent lavender.
On 29th August I counted approximately 76 but then I noticed a cluster of 14 on a lavender further around the house but still facing south. Numbers fluctuated slightly and by 6th September had dropped to 50 on the original plant and 15 at the new site. On 12th, numbers had dropped to 35 and 8 respectively and despite the sun; many remained all day as the wind was quite strong and gusty.
At 6.30pm on 14th September, after a warm day with sunny spells, only seven returned to the original bush with four on the other. On 16th I was unable to find any bees and despite checking for the next few days, no further individuals were seen.
Although I was not able to prove where the bees spent their time when away from the ‘roost’, I did notice that there were similar looking bees nectaring on various flowers in the garden, particularly Rudbeckia and also on the small daisy, Erigeron karvinskianus. No obvious nest colony was found in the garden but I do regularly notice small holes within the cultivated garden and in the wilder areas on bare sandy places, which are likely to be solitary bee or wasp holes. It will be very interesting to see if this behaviour is repeated next year or whether this was a ‘one off’ event.
Images
Fig. 1. Lasioglossum roost on lavender at Astley Burf. ©Jane Scott
Fig. 2. Lasioglossum roost on lavender at Astley Burf. ©Jane Scott
Fig. 3. Lasioglossum roost on lavender at Astley Burf. ©Jane Scott
Fig. 4. Lasioglossum roost on lavender at Astley Burf. ©Jane Scott
Volucella zonaria at Astley Burf
Jane Scott
On 9th September 2011 I noticed, from my kitchen window, what I thought was a hornet flying around a Buddleia growing at the edge of my patio. On taking a closer look I realised that it was a very large hoverfly which I thought might be Volucella inanis as I had recorded that species a few weeks earlier on the same shrub. The individual before me was, however, even more impressive and I realised it was Volucella zonaria, the first I’d ever recorded in my garden.
I rushed to get my camera and to my relief it was still feeding on the buddleia flowers and I was able to get one or two good photographs. Interestingly it remained around the Buddleia all day, occasionally flying off, always in the same direction, but returning in a few minutes to continue feeding. It returned quite early in the morning on the following day and again remained feeding all day, with the odd excursion elsewhere. I left the house quite early the next day and never saw it again.
I was pleased my pruning regime with Buddleia worked very well this year. This involves hard pruning of some parts, which gives much later flowering times; whilst others are lightly cut to give earlier blooms. The late flowers were very popular this dry year, attracting a good variety of insects of all groups.
Images
Fig. 1. Volucella zonaria at Astley Burf September 2011. ©Jane Scott
Fig. 2. Volucella zonaria at Astley Burf September 2011. ©Jane Scott
Fig. 3. Volucella zonaria at Astley Burf September 2011. ©Jane Scott
Lozotaenia forsterana in Malvern
Frank Screen
Lozotaenia forsterana is the largest of the Tortricoid moths.
On Wednesday 2nd March 2011 I found a 7mm long larva crawling up the inside of the glass window in our kitchen door. I decided to attempt to rear the larva and tried it with buddleia leaves. One of these was pulled together and from the frass that fell out I knew it was feeding. I continued to clean out the container and change the leaves on a regular basis. By 21st March the larva had grown to 25mm long. On 27th March it had stopped eating and by the 31st the change into a pupa had been completed. From the eating habits I assumed it was a Tortricoid moth larva. On 16th April the moth emerged to reveal a 15mm long Lozotaenia forsterana.
David Grundy identified it for me when I attended a moth day on 3rd July.
Images
Fig. 1. Lozotaenia forsterana larva. ©Frank Screen.
Fig. 2. Lozotaenia forsterana pupal case. ©Frank Screen.
Fig. 3. Lozotaenia forsterana moth. ©Frank Screen
Vapourer Moth Orgyia antiqua
Frank Screen
On 26th June 2011 I found a 6mm long larva on mistletoe and immediately recognised is as that of a Vapourer Moth Orgyia antiqua (Fig. 1.). I removed it and put it into a large plastic container with the intention of rearing it to an adult moth. By the next day it had shed its skin and was eating the mistletoe leaves. It shed its skin again on 1st July and now had the characteristic hair tufts. I therefore assumed it was the third moult (Brooks 1991). Four days later it shed its skin again. However, now that it had grown to 16mm long, it was taking longer to go through this process. Six days later the larva became inactive again and this time it took approximately 36 hours to finally shed its skin. It was interesting to note that at each moult the skin was shed in two halves, the front end and the tail end. After four more days the larva had grown to 30mm long and at this stage I decided to move it to a half-sized propagator and I introduced a small log for it to pupate on. By 21st July it had decided to ignore the log and climbed to the underside of the propagator top and begun to spin its cocoon. This was completed in approximated two days. I understood from my book (Brooks 1991) that both the male and female pupae were shiny and black but this pupa was not and remained yellowish in colour.
At 8a.m. on Saturday 20th July I was both surprised and delighted to find that the adult moth had emerged and it was a wingless female. It was already ‘calling’ to attract a male. I had to go out on that morning and it was not until 12.35p.m. that I was able to put the female outside. Within approximately six minutes a male had arrived and mating commenced (Fig. 2.). By 1p.m. the male had left and the female had started to lay eggs. I had inverted the propagator top for the male to gain access to the female. This meant that the female was sitting on top of the cocoon and not clinging on to it. No doubt the enabled the female to continue laying eggs for longer than would have otherwise been the case. No more eggs were laid after 7.30a.m on the 2nd August and by this time the number of eggs exceeded 300. The moth continued to move its position on the batch of eggs and did not cease moving until 10th August (Fig. 3. & Fig. 4.).
The Vapourer Moth is one of the eleven Lymantriidae (Tussock moths). The moth has the advantage of its larvae being able to feed on almost any kind of bush, shrub, tree or plant and during 2011 was found on two other kinds of foliage in my garden. In late April I found a small larva feeding on a wild South African Pelargonium Pelargonium lateripes in my greenhouse and in late May I found a 17 mm long larva feeding on my bonsai hazel.
Reference
Brooks, Margaret. 1991. A complete guide to British moths. Jonathan Cape, London.
Images
Fig. 1. Vapourer moth larva. ©Frank Screen.
Fig. 2. Vapourer moth mating pair. ©Frank Screen.
Fig. 3. Vapourer moth female commencing egg laying. ©Frank Screen.
Fig. 4. Vapourer moth female laying nearly complete. ©Frank Screen.
First Moth Survey on the Avon Meadows Community Wetland, Pershore, June 2011
Richard D E Stott
richarddestott@gmail.com
Summary
The Avon Meadows Community Wetland is a recently developed area of water meadows bordered by a housing estate in Pershore. This survey is one of a series of surveys to establish base-line lists of species occurring within the area.
This first survey trapped 1317 insects from 140 species. Among these species several had only been recorded a handful of times in Worcestershire previously or are restricted to wetland habitats with reedbeds. These were; Gynnidomorpha alismana (Fig. 1.), Eana osseana (Fig. 2.), Endothenia quadrimaculana, Grapholita lobarzewskii, Mythimna stramine and Mythimna obsoleta.
Background
Avon Meadows Community Wetland is a 24 hectare site alongside the River Avon in Pershore. It was the brainchild of Wychavon District Council and the Environment Agency and was created in 2007/8. Scrapes and reedbeds have been created to a design prepared by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and cover approximately one third of the total site area. It was in this part of the Wetland that the traps were set. In environmental respects it is an unexceptional site, bounded by houses and gardens to the west and the River Avon to the east. The Management Plan for the Wetland is aimed at maintaining the historical land management pattern for the area, specifically low intensity grazing and hay mowing.
A series of surveys of particular species groups are being undertaken on the Wetland and this survey was one such, intended to provide a baseline for future survey work.
Methods
Date and Location
The survey was carried out on the night of Monday 27 June 2011 between 22h00 and 03h30 the following day. Five light traps were set out within the triangle bounded by the coordinates SO95095 46562, SO95054 46439, SO95189 46484. The site elevation is 17m aod.
Five Skinner light traps were deployed within the area defined above using 125W mercury vapour lamps. The lamps were turned on at 10h15 and off at 03h30. A number of voucher samples were taken, mainly of micro moths.
Most of the traps were set out along a path which had a scrape surrounded by aquatic vegetation on one side and on the other side scrub and mature trees backing onto private gardens. Shortly before the lights were turned off, all insects trapped were counted, and this data forms the basis for the trapped numbers referred to below.
Weather
The night was overcast with occasional thunder and a light SSW wind Force 1 backing after about 01h00 to NW Force 3. The temperature was comparatively mild at 20ºC falling to 14ºC later.
Participants
The survey was led by Patrick Clement to whom, together with Alan Prior and Oliver Wadsworth, I am greatly indebted for technical support in preparing this report. However any errors that remain in the text are mine and mine alone. Jim Preston, Dave Jeynes and myself were the support team.
Results
In addition to the 140 species listed below there were three indeterminate records. The numbers used are those assigned to each species in the Bradley & Fletcher List of British lepidoptera. Where the appellation Worcestershire is used in the text it specifically refers to the Watsonian vice-county VC37.
Indeterminate Records
Some small groups of species cannot be separated from each other without dissection but where it is believed that all species caught or within the group are common, individuals may be recorded as aggregates to avoid unnecessary killing of moths. The following are examples of this.
1020 Cnephasia sp. (two trapped): Four species within this genus have been recorded in Worcestershire. The examples trapped in this survey were not identified to species level.
2283/4 Acronicta sp. Dark/Grey Dagger (one trapped): These species are notoriously difficult to separate in the field and no specimen was taken for dissection and therefore can only be identified to genus level. Both species occur in Worcestershire.
2337 Oligia strigilis Marbled Minor type (36 trapped): Three similar Oligiaspecies occur in Worcestershire of which O. strigilis is the most common. However this species cannot be separated from O. versicolor and O. latruncula without resorting to dissection.
Unusual Micro Moths
Four species of micro moths which are uncommon in Worcestershire recorded all of which had their identity confirmed where necessary.
930 Gynnidomorpha alismana (17 trapped) Fairly common. Possibly the 5thsite in Worcestershire. Described as an uncommon local resident of pools and marshes.
1029 Eana osseana (one trapped) Uncommon. Possibly only the 3rd Worcestershire site. Described as rare and declining in Worcestershire.
1104 Endothenia quadrimaculana (two trapped) Uncommon. Possibly only the 5th Worcestershire site. Described as a rare resident in damp grassland in Worcestershire.
1249 Grapholita lobarzewskii (one trapped) Uncommon. Possibly only the 4th Worcestershire site (Fig. 3.).
Unusual Macro Moths
Two species of macro moths which are uncommonly recorded in Worcestershire as they are reedbed and wetland specialists and as such are probably under recorded.
2197 Southern Wainscot Mythimna straminea (three trapped) Uncommon. Known from 11 other sites in Worcestershire.
2204 Obscure Wainscot Mythimna obsoleta (13 trapped) Fairly Common. It inhabits reedbeds and has been recorded previously from 9 other sites in Worcestershire. Nationally regarded as local although possibly under recorded.
Species of General Interest
Finally a few very attractive and large species which included four species of hawk-moth, none of which is particularly uncommon. The status assignation below is deduced from the number trapped on the night.
2057 Garden Tiger Arctia caja (two trapped: Uncommon). Examples of this locally declining species were found in a trap as I was leaving just after 3.00am (Fig. 4.).
1980 Eyed Hawk-moth Smerinthus ocellata (one trapped: Uncommon).
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi (five trapped: Uncommon).
1991 Elephant Hawk-month Deiliphila elpenor (13 trapped: Common) (Fig. 5.).
1992 Small Elephant Hawk-moth Deiliphila porcella (three trapped: Uncommon).
Discussion
This is a survey of the moths to be found in an unremarkable area of water meadow in the Avon Valley. Three years ago, scrapes were created and reeds planted so that now there are permanent bodies of water. This is the first moth survey for this area and it is intended to repeat the survey, at least annually, at differing times of year.
For the most part the species recorded are common in Worcestershire. However a number of species are reedbed specialists and it is interesting to note how rapidly they have colonised this new area. At present 11 of the species recorded may be regarded as reed/wetland dependent, Mythimna straminea, Mythimna obsoleta, Plusia festucae, Coleophora glaucicolella, Coleophora alticolella, Elachista maculicerusella, Limnaecia phragmitella, Gynnidomorpha alismana, Hedya salicella, Calamotropha paludella andCataclysta lemnata.
From the data gathered a preliminary assessment may be made of the degree of abundance of the species occurring in the area. Taking the abundance criteria set out in Harper & Simpson (undated) of the 140 species recorded, two species are very common; Apamea monoglypha andChrysoteuchia culmella. A further eight species are common and 15 fairly common. The remaining 115 being uncommon, at least as far as the present data set allows.
It is interesting to note that using these abundance criteria four of the wetland specialists rate as fairly common; Mythimna obsoleta, Gynnidomorpha alismana, Hedya salicella and Calamotropha paludella.
Systematic list
Figures in brackets following the names refer to the total number trapped in all 5 traps.
14 Hepialus humulae Ghost Moth (2)
125 Emmetia marginea (1)
421 Argyresthia bonnetella (1)
424 Yponomeuta evonymella Bird-cherry Ermine (7)
450 Scythropia crataegella Hawthorn Moth (1)
504 Coleophora lusciniaepenella (1)
582 Coleophora glaucicolella (3)
583 Coleophora tamesis (2)
584 Coleophora alticolella (2)
607 Elachista canapennella (4)
609 Elachista maculicerusella (3)
758 Recurvaria leucatella (1)
773 Pseudotelphusa paripunctella (1)
844 Syncopacma larseneliella (1)
862 Dichomeris marginella Juniper Webber (1)
870 Oegoconia quadripuncta (1)
874 Blastobasis lacticolella (4)
886 Mompha ochraceella (13)
898 Limnaecia phragmitella (2)
930 Gynnidomorpha alismana (17)
937 Agapeta hamana (34)
981 Arcips rosana Rose Tortrix (2)
993 Clepsis spectrana Cyclamen Tortrix (37)
994 Clepsis consimilana (2)
1020 Cnephasia stephensiana Grey Tortrix (1)
1029 Eana osseana (1)
1036 Acleris forsskaleana (2)
1063 Celypha striana (2)
1076 Celypha lacunana (29)
1086 Hedya salicella (19)
1104 Endothenia quadrimaculana (2)
1108 Lobesia abscisana (15)
1115 Ancylis achatana (1)
1150 Epinotia abbreviana (1)
1169 Gypsonoma dealbana (1)
1175 Epiblema uddmanniana Bramble Shoot Moth (11)
1201 Eucosma cana (20)
1205 Spilonota ocellana Bud Moth (2)
1249 Grapholita lobarzewskii (1)
1257 Cydia nigricana Pea Moth (1)
1261 Cydia pomonella Codling Moth (2)
1288 Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-plume Moth (1)
1292 Calamotropha paludella (20)
1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella (246)
1294 Crambus pascuella (1)
1302 Crambus perlella (3)
1331 Acentria ephemerella Water Veneer (1)
1334 Scoparia ambigualis (2)
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata (3)
1344 Eudonia mercurella (1)
1354 Cataclysta lemnata Small China-mark (8)
1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble (1)
1362 Pyrausta purpuralis (2)
1376 Eurrhypara hortulata Small Magpie (4)
1378 Phlyctaenia coronata Spotted Magpie (3)
1390 Udea prunalis (1)
1392 Udea olivalis (3)
1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl (3)
1428 Aphomia sociella Bee Moth (3)
1445 Pempelia formosa (2)
1452 Phycita roborella (2)
1458 Myelois circumvoluta Thistle Ermine (1)
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (1)
1513 Pterophorus pentadactyla White Plume Moth (1)
1640 Euthrix potatoria The Drinker (1)
1653 Habrosyne pyritoides Buff Arches (4)
1669 Hermithea aestivaria Common Emerald (15)
1682 Timandra comae Blood-vein (2)
1690 Scopula imitaria Small Blood-vein (2)
1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave (1)
1708 Idaea dimidiata Single-dotted Wave (1)
1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave (13)
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet (1)
1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell (2)
1803 Perizoma alchemillata Small Rivulet (1)
1817 Eupithecia pulchellata Foxglove Pug (2)
1858 Chloroclystis v-ata V-Pug (2)
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug (1)
1887 Lomopsilis marginata Clouded Border (1)
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth (2)
1907 Epione repandaria Bordered Beauty (7)
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn (1)
1921 Crocallis elinquaria Scalloped Oak (29)
1922 Ourapteryx sambucaria Swallow-tailed Moth (14)
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth (7)
1941 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty (2)
1947 Ectropis bistortata Engrailed (2)
1955 Cabera pusaria Common White Wave (4)
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver (1)
1980 Smerinthus ocellata Eyed Hawk-moth (1)
1981 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth (5)
1991 Deiliphila elpenor Elephant Hawk-moth (13)
1992 Deiliphila porcella Small Elephant Hawk-moth (3)
1994 Phalera bucephala Buff-tip (2)
2050 Eilema lurideola Common Footman (6)
2057 Arctia caja Garden Tiger (2)
2061 Spilosoma lutea Buff Ermine (2)
2064 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger (1)
2077 Nola cucullatella Short-cloaked Moth (3)
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart & Dart (62)
2098 Axylia putris The Flame (17)
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder (13)
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing (22)
2110 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (1)
2118 Lycophotia porphyrea True Lover’s Knot (1)
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character (3)
2128 Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot (2)
2155 Melanchra persocaroae Dot Moth (4)
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye (42)
2173 Hadena bicruris Lychnis (1)
2197 Mythimna straminea Southern Wainscot (3)
2198 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot (50)
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot (8)
2204 Mythimna obsoleta Obscure Wainscot (13)
2278 Acronicta megacephala Poplar Grey (4)
2280 Acronicta leporina The Miller (6)
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades (2)
2314 Parastichtis ypsillon Dingy Shears (7)
2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-Bar (3)
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches (115)
2322 Apamea lithoxylaea Light Arches (31)
2327 Apamea epomidion Clouded Brindle (1)
2330 Apamea remissa Dusky Brocade (8)
2333 Apamea anceps Large Nutmeg (1)
2336 Apamea phogramma Double Lobed (9)
2340 Oligia fasciuncula Middle-barred Minor (1)
2345 Photedes minima Small Dotted Buff (3)
2381 Hoplodrina alsines The Uncertain (51)
2382 Hoplodrina blanda Rustic (2)
2387 Caradrina morpheus Mottled Rustic (5)
2389 Caradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow (1)
2434 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass (5)
2439 Plusia festucae Gold Spot (1)
2442 Autographa pulchrina Beautiful Golden Y (1)
2450 Abrostola tripartita The Spectacle (3)
2466 Lygephila pastinum The Blackneck (1)
2473 Laspeyria flexula Beautiful Hooktip (1)
2477 Hyperia proboscidalis The Snout (1)
2489 Pechipogo strigolata Fan-foot (9)
2492 Herminia grisealis Small Fan-foot (2)
References
Bradley, J.D. & Fletcher, D.S. A Recorder’s Log Book or Label List of British Butterflies and Moths. (http://ukmoths.org.uk/systematic.php)
Harper, M. & Simpson, T. (undated) The Larger Moths and Butterflies of Herefordshire and Worcestershire: An Atlas. West Midlands Branch of Butterfly Conservation.
Harper, M. & Simpson, T. 2003. The Smaller Moths and Butterflies of Herefordshire and Worcestershire: An Atlas. Part 1: Micropterigidae to Scythrididae. West Midlands Branch of Butterfly Conservation.
Harper, M. & Simpson, T. 2004. The Smaller Moths and Butterflies of Herefordshire and Worcestershire: An Atlas. Part 2: Tortricidae to Pterophoridae. West Midlands Branch of Butterfly Conservation.
Waring, P. & Townsend, M. 2003. Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing.
Images
Fig. 1. 0930 Gynnidomorpha alismana. ©P Clement
Fig. 2. 1029 Eana osseana. ©P Clement
Fig. 3. 1249 Grapholita lobarzewskii. ©P Clement
Fig. 4. 2057 Garden Tiger. ©A Prior
Fig. 5. 1991 Elephant Hawk-moth. ©R D E Stott
Monitoring deer damage at Grafton Wood
John Tilt
Grafton Wood is a 56 hectare ancient woodland purchased by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation in 1997. A management plan drawn up shortly after acquisition required 12 hectares of coppice in the centre of the wood (Fig. 1.). This was to be cut at one hectare per year on a 12 year rotation. We are now in year two of the second cycle – 14 years of coppicing.
From an early stage coppice stools showed considerable damage caused by animal browsing. As a result several methods to protect the stools were tried and a method of monitoring the damage was developed. This paper describes the development of both fencing methods, deer control, and monitoring methods.
Protection:
We are now fencing a section of each coppice plot with a 150 metre circle of metal thin gauge netting five feet high. This encloses 1800 square metres of coppice, 36% of each plot.
It was found that deer preferred browsing ash and field maple, so in addition large ash stools are fenced separately and smaller stools covered with coppiced brash. Both fencing and protection must be carried out immediately after the coppicing operation.
Deer Culling:
In winter the deer are culled by a deer control organisation called the Deer Initiative. The cull takes place two days per month until a pre-set target number of deer is reached. Both Muntjac and Roe Deer are shot and the wood is closed to visitors during the cull. The decision to cull is reviewed each year after reviewing the monitoring results.
Monitoring
Method of Animal Damage monitoring in coppice plots.
Each coppice plot is surveyed each autumn for three years after cutting.
In each plot a transect is walked along a straight line diagonally through the plot in such a way that the line passes through the animal exclusion enclosure.
The transect is between 70 and 100 metres long and one metre wide. The ends of the transect are marked on trees at the start and end of the line, so that the same route can be repeated.
Recording:
While walking the transect, the following information is recorded for each coppice stool or tree stump encountered.
Species.
Maximum re-growth height (metres).
Stump or Stool?
% of twigs damaged on each stump or stool.
Is the stool of stump inside or outside the enclosure?
Comments.
For each coppice coupe the following information is recorded:
Coupe Number.
Date of cutting.
Type, height and length of enclosure fence.
Length of transect.
The data will then be keyed into a spread sheet and analysed using the Excel pivot table to give the attached information (see table 1).
A map is also prepared to show coppice numbers and dates of cutting. The results of the survey are presented at the spring Grafton Wood Management Committee meeting and decisions made about future actions regarding enclosure fences (type and length) and the amount of deer culling. (Note. Proposals for culling are always considered by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation and have to be approved or not before action).
Development of the System
During the 13 years we have been coppicing and observing deer damage we have tried various ways of solving this problem.
Fencing
In 2002 we experimented with plastic deer fencing a 25mx25m square in Section named 4S. A method of measuring the effectiveness of this was developed by Cyril and Wendy Johnson which measured the volume of regrowth inside and outside the plot. The growth inside the plot was almost double that of the unprotected area. However in was observed that the plastic fence could be penetrated so some damage inside the plot was recorded. This survey was continued for some years and it showed that regeneration was satisfactory inside and after a number of years also outside the fence. However, observation showed that the area behind the fencing away from the ride was extremely heavily grazed – the deer were using the fencing and good re-growth within the fenced area as cover. (Johnson et al., 2005; Johnson, 2008 and Tilt 2008).
The plastic fencing method was continued until 2006 (plots 9N, 9S) when the Forestry Commission became involved. Their staff considered the problem to be aggravated by rabbit grazing and as rabbits were able to penetrate the plastic fence we should use metal mesh fencing. They suggested the use of three foot high metal wire netting fencing rather than the plastic.
So sections 13, 9S, 9N, 10S, 10N were fenced with three foot metal fencing. In section 8N five foot high plastic fence was used.
Using the new transect monitoring method of simply measuring % damage and height of re-growth on stools and stumps the new metal fencing method was tested and compared with the five foot plastic fencing. Table 1 shows the results.
| Grafton Wood Deer Damage | 10/09/2007 | |||
| Fence | Wire | |||
| Years | (All) | |||
| Plot | N13 | |||
| Enclose | ||||
| Species | Data | Inside | Outside | Grand Total |
| Ash | Average of Height | 1.05 | 0.60 | 0.90 |
| Average of Damage | 50.00 | 100.00 | 66.67 | |
| Count of Species | 2.00 | 1.00 | 3.00 | |
| Hawthorn | Average of Height | 0.60 | 0.25 | 0.32 |
| Average of Damage | 20.00 | 97.50 | 82.00 | |
| Count of Species | 1.00 | 4.00 | 5.00 | |
| Hazel | Average of Height | 1.60 | 1.11 | 1.16 |
| Average of Damage | 100.00 | 22.14 | 31.88 | |
| Count of Species | 2.00 | 16.00 | 18.00 | |
| Oak | Average of Height | 0.15 | 0.05 | 0.10 |
| Average of Damage | 100.00 | 0.00 | 50.00 | |
| Count of Species | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 | |
| Total Average of Height | 0.81 | 0.69 | 0.71 | |
| Total Average of Damage | 74.29 | 55.56 | 59.41 | |
| Total Count of Species | 8.00 | 30.00 | 38.00 | |
| Fence | Plastic | |||
| Years | (All) | |||
| Plot | N8 | |||
| Enclose | ||||
| Species | Data | Inside | Outside | Grand Total |
| Birch | Average of Height | 1.43 | 1.00 | 1.33 |
| Average of Damage | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Count of Species | 3.00 | 1.00 | 4.00 | |
| Hawthorn | Average of Height | 1.07 | 0.97 | 1.02 |
| Average of Damage | 0.00 | 66.67 | 33.33 | |
| Count of Species | 3.00 | 3.00 | 6.00 | |
| Hazel | Average of Height | 1.57 | 1.49 | 1.51 |
| Average of Damage | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Count of Species | 3.00 | 11.00 | 14.00 | |
| Oak | Average of Height | 3.00 | 3.00 | |
| Average of Damage | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Count of Species | 1.00 | 1.00 | ||
| Salix | Average of Height | 2.23 | 2.23 | |
| Average of Damage | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Count of Species | 7.00 | 7.00 | ||
| Total Average of Height | 1.81 | 1.33 | 1.57 | |
| Total Average of Damage | 0.00 | 17.65 | 8.82 | |
| Total Count of Species | 17.00 | 17.00 | 34.00 | |
Table 1. Results recorded by transect monitoring of stump and stool re-growth inside and outside areas fenced with wire netting and plastic netting fences.
The results show the plastic mesh fencing to be 100% successful and that the three foot metal fenced areas showed 74% Damage. In fact the damage inside the enclosure was higher that the unprotected areas. Section 9S adjacent to the main entrance and on the public right-of-way showed no damage inside the three foot fence probably because deer were disturbed so preventing browsing. However analysis of all the coupes using three foot fencing showed slightly better regeneration inside the enclosure: 39.13% Damage and height of 1.15m inside and 52.09% damage and 0.95m regrowth outside. As the deer tend to browse on the edge of the plot this was not significant.
After 2008 a five foot metal fence was used on section11 and the diameter of the enclosure was increased to 48 metres. Using the transect method the re-growth was monitored. In December 2008 deer culling also started.
Analysis of the data shows that the damage inside the five foot enclosures is negligible apart from coupe 12 where the fencing was not installed until the autumn after the coppice had been cut. (The delay was caused by waiting for grants).
In 2010/11 the second cycle of the coppice began with stools being cut 12 years after the initial coppicing. The effect of wire netting fencing on re-growth was remarkable. Deer damage inside the enclosures was zero and outside 33% but the overall regrowth height was 1.6m. Brashing larger stools was also shown to be effective in preventing deer damage.
Tree Species
Analysis of all the years shows that deer have definite preferences for browsing certain tree species.
Ash and Field Maple are by far the most popular – followed by Hawthorn, Oak, Birch.
Hazel and Willow was not heavily browsed and Aspen was left untouched.
It was found that only Ash could be killed by continuous browsing, regeneration on other species was slowed down but usually succeeded by the third year after coppicing.
Discussion
Why not fence the whole plot? Providing stools are not killed, a slowing down of regrowth can extend the ground flora stage of the coppice cycle which has a positive effect on insects and in turn on the insect predators. In addition to that I am quite sure that with no easily available food that deer would penetrate the five foot fencing.
It can be seen from the above that a simple and easy to understand monitoring system is necessary to measure the effects of the different forms of management. The existing system has the disadvantage that each stool is recorded as equal taking no account of its size, whereas the system developed by the Johnsons did take that into account. However the newer method does measure a transect band through all coppice coupes both inside and outside enclosures. It is quick and easy to do and can be done for three years after which time the coupes are difficult to penetrate. The system is the way to communicate the situation to the policy makers if they are willing to look carefully at the tables of results provided.
Fencing method.
This was developed over a number of years using a circle rather that a square is the cheapest way to enclose the maximum area. The plastic fencing was easier to erect but has now become far more expensive. The metal fencing has a major disadvantage in that it difficult to remove after about four years when it is not required. Metal fencing left on the coppice plot will be extremely dangerous for subsequent chainsaw users on the next coppice cycle and must be removed.
Deer numbers
The number of deer in Grafton Wood has decreased significantly since culling started in 2008. From the regeneration survey and looking for deer tracks it can be seen that there is still a small population of deer there. At the last culling session no deer were shot which is the best indication that the numbers are down.
Conclusion
A simple monitoring system is necessary and all coppiced coupes should be monitored.
Use the monitoring system to measure the effects of different management techniques.
Some fencing is necessary and metal netting circles seems to be best (despite the difficulty of removal).
Deer culling is effective providing the wood can be closed off from visitors on culling days.
References
Johnson, C., Johnson, W. & Tilt, J. 2005. The Grafton Wood animal damage survey. Worcestershire Record, 18:29-31.
Johnson, W. 2008. Coppice survey – some experiences from Grafton Wood. Worcestershire Record. 25:21-23.
Tilt, J. 2008. Practical notes on the Grafton Wood deer damage survey and a new quick method. Worcestershire Record. 25:23-24.
Images
Fig. 1. Grafton Wood coppice rotation map and plot names. ©John Tilt
Alien bee Colletes hederae reaches Cheltenham
Geoff Trevis
In recent years several species of bees have been moving northwards through Europe and arriving in Britain. In 1993 a mining bee from southern Europe was described as new to science and named Colletes hederaeSchmit and Westrich, 1993. It spread rapidly across the continent and is now fairly common in countries bordering the English Channel and southern North Sea. It was first recorded in England in Dorset in 2001 and, as on the continent, it has spread rapidly, first along the Channel coast counties from Cornwall to Kent and then more slowly to Wiltshire, Somerset, Surrey and Essex. This year, 2011, the bee was recorded from a site near Cheltenham and thus could be in Worcestershire within the next two or three years (or sooner!).
Colletes hederae has a late summer flight period from early September until, in warm years, early November when it will be found foraging on its only known forage plant, Ivy Hedera helix. It nests in large aggregations in loose, sandy soil, with minimal vegetation, on south facing banks. This will be a species to look out for next year but if anyone has seen aggregations of bees looking like the one illustrated I would be glad to hear of it via the Worcestershire Biological Records Centre (Fig. 1.and Fig. 2.).
Images
Fig. 1. Colletes hederae. Anonymous
Fig. 2. Colletes hederae males. Andy Phillips
Hymenoptera in Worcestershire 2011
Geoff Trevis
This year has proved interesting in terms of hymenoptera, largely because of the weather I suspect. Early on the omens were good with numbers and range of species suggesting much to come. However, later in the season, although most species expected were found, the numbers were generally very low. Similar experiences were reported from around the country and the consensus of opinion is that the drought resulted in an impoverished flora with low yields of nectar and pollen. It would be interesting to know what bee keepers’ experiences have been. Nonetheless 287 records relating to 102 species were added to the database.
An analysis of the sites from which the records came shows, not surprisingly, that those visited on recording days or which were the subject of more systematic monitoring produced the most records. However, other very important sites were entirely missed (or records were not sent to me) e.g. Hartlebury Common. Hence the highest number of records (83) came from Kemerton, including the Lake and Upstones Orchard, which benefited both from a recording day and monthly survey by me whilst the Devil’s Spittleful provided only a single record. Other sites providing a good number of records were Bliss Gate (10), Cherry Orchard at Worcester (12), sites around Knighton-on-Teme (14), Rochford including Birchfields (27), Upper Blackstone Farm (20), Wilden Marsh (16) and Wyre Forest (31).
The table below shows the rarer species and the sites from which they came.
| Species | English Name | Status | Site |
| Andrena apicata | A mining bee | Nb | Bliss Gate |
| Andrena nigrospina | A mining bee | RDB2 | Ismere & Upper Blackstone Farm |
| Andrena similis | A mining bee | Na | Upper Blackstone Farm |
| Andrena trimmerana | Trimmer’s mining bee | Nb | Kemerton Lake |
| Anoplius caviventris | A spider-hunting wasp | Nb | Far Forest |
| Anoplius concinnus | A spider-hunting wasp | Scarce | Wilden marsh |
| Bombus ruderarius | Red-tailed carder bee | Local | Yew Tree Hill, Droitwich |
| Bombus rupestris | A cuckoo bee | Nb | Droitwich Canal towpath |
| Coelioxys conoidea | A cuckoo bee | Local | Cherry Orchard, Worcester |
| Colletes fodiens | A mining bee | Local | Cherry Orchard, Worcester |
| Dasypoda hirtipes | Hairy-legged mining bee | Nb | Cherry Orchard Worcester & Upper Blackstone Farm |
| Lasioglossum malachurum | A mining bee | Nb | Kemerton Lake |
| Lasioglossum xanthopus | A mining bee | Scarce | Rochford, Birchfields |
| Lasius brunneus | An ant | Nb | Kemerton Lake |
| Melitta leporina | A mining bee | Nb | Hill Court Farm |
| Nomada flavopicta | A solitary bee | Scarce | Wildlen Marsh |
| Nomada fucata | A solitary bee | Scarce | Kemerton Lake |
| Nomada fulvicornis | 6-banded nomad bee | RDB3 | Rochford, Birchfileds |
| Nomada guttulata | A solitary bee | RDB3 | Rochford, Birchfileds |
| Nomada lathburiana | A solitary bee | RDB3 | Kemerton Lake |
| Sphecodes crassus | A cuckoo bee | Nb | Upper Blackstone Farm |
| Sphecodes niger | A cuckoo bee | RDB3 | Kemerton Lake |
| Sphecodes puncticeps | A cuckoo bee | Local | Chapel Farm, Heightington |
| Sphecodes rubicundus | A cuckoo bee | Na | Chapel Farm, Heightington |
| Symmorphus crassicornis | A mason wasp | RDB3 | Droitwich Canal |
Looking at these a few things should be noted:
| Andrena nigrospina | Finding this at Ismere is particularly significant as it starts to provide a link between the population at Highgate Common in Staffordshire and Upper Blackstone Farm in Worcestershire |
| Bombus ruderarius | This is a bumblebee whose population has been declining markedly and which should have a higher rarity status. |
| Bombus rupestris | Many cuckoo bees are solitary species but this is a bumblebee which parasitises the nests of the Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius. |
| Lasius brunneus | It might seem strange in Worcestershire to accord this ant Nb status. However, nationally it remains rare and confined to the Severn and Thames catchments. |
| Nomada guttulata | This is a very rare species and the identification will need to be verified. |
| Nomada lathburiana | The population of this nomad bee has been increasing and it probably no longer justifies its RDB status. |
| Symmorphus crassicornnis | Like N. guttulata this species is very rare and the identification needs confirmation. |
I should also note that I have been adding to the list of sawflies with several additions to the county list. However, as nobody has been doing sawflies until now, adding to the list is not exactly difficult. The species for the year are Abia sericea at Upton Warren, Ametastegia glabrata at Wilden Marsh, Arge cyanocrocea at Stoke Bliss, Arge ochropus at Cherry Orchard Worcester and Wilden Marsh, Macrophya duodecimpunctata from Bell Coppice, Pachyprotasis rapae from Birchfields Rochford and Knighton-on-Teme, Rhogogaster viridis from Kemerton, Tenthredo arcuata from Wyre Forest Longdon, T. maculata from Longdon and Bell Coppice, T. mesomelasfrom Little Bannals and Tenthredopsis nassata from Huddington. Of these, only Abia sericea is a rarity.
In addition to my own records I am indebted to the following people for referring specimens to me for identification and addition to the database:
Rosemary Winnall: Andrena apicata, Coelioxys conoidea,Sphecodes puncticeps,Sphecodes rubicundus, Macrophya duodecimpunctata, Thenthredo maculata.
Brett Westwood: Andrena nigrospina
Susan Limbrey: Anoplius caviventris
Steven Bloomfield: Bombus ruderarius
Harry Green: Colletes fodiens, Dasypoda hirtipes, Melitta leporina, Sphecodes crassus, Sphecodes niger, Abia sericea, Arge cyanocrocea, Arge ochropus (Cherry Orchard), Tenthredopsis nassata.
In search of Eucera longicornis
Geoff Trevis
In 2007 a group from Worcestershire Recorders visited the old orchard at Joan’s Hole, near Heightington, a visit I was unable to attend. In the course of the day an unusual bee with immensely long antennae was noted foraging on yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon. This was photographed by Rosemary Winnall and later identified as Eucera longicornis. E. longicornis is a rare species of conservation concern and in 2009 I was invited by Hymettus Ltd. to revisit the site and undertake a study of the bee’s ecological requirements to assist in drawing up an action plan. Unfortunately, in the time between the original record and the proposed study the orchard had been acquired by a new owner and tidied up. This was in the interests of managing the orchard but, unfortunately, virtually all the yellow archangel had been removed and despite several visits during the expected flight period of E. longicornis there was no sign of the bee.
The initial visits to the orchard were made along the Dick Brook, mainly through woodland, and the total list of hymenoptera records was very short. However, the search area was widened later to encompass fields belonging to the nearby Norchard Farm, Old House Farm and Chapel Farm. At this stage I would like to acknowledge the assistance given by Rosemary Winnall both in helping with the recording and with contacting the land owners for permission to access their land. The outcome of extending the survey area was both unexpected and very pleasing.
On Norchard farm, close to the public footpath, a meadow is maintained for hay for winter feed for horses. This field had an abundant flora ranging from Red Clover Trifolium pratense to a thriving population of Common Spotted Orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii and round its perimeter brambles, hawthorn and other shrubs added to its diversity. It seemed particularly attractive to bumblebees though other mining bee species were present and, no doubt, their cleptoparasites would also have been found if more time had been given to collecting there.
The first big surprise came on Old House Farm (Fig. 1.). The Worcestershire Way goes through the orchard and then enters Old House Farm via a bridge over the Dick Brook. Within a few yards of the bridge and right by the Worcestershire Way there was a low, vertical bank about 10 cm high and a couple of metres long, probably the remains of the track of a wheeled vehicle. The field itself was unimproved with Red Clover, Bird’s-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus, various thistles and vetches, Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea, Common Spotted Orchid plus much more. The bank was alive with bees, mining bees, potter wasps, cleptoparasites and solitary bees, sustained by the rich nearby flora and the excellent nesting site. Further investigation on Old House Farm, approaching from the farm house and yard, showed that most of the land is on steep hillsides used for sheep grazing where land slips maintain ideal mining bee nesting sites. The farm itself was being developed as a rare breed and wildlife centre and hence the land remained unimproved. Unfortunately, the weather in 2011 was rather against us and there was little addition to the species recorded which are: Grey Mining Bee Andrena cineraria, Yellow-legged Mining Bee Andrena flavipes, Andrena fucata, Early Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa, Andrena nitida, Andrena labialis, Andrena wilkella, Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius, Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum, Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum, Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris, Ornate tailed digger wasp Cerceris rybyensis, the Sleepy Carpenter bee Chelostoma florisomne, a cuckoo wasp Chrysis viridula, a digger wasp Crossocerus ovalis, 4-spotted Digger Wasp Crossocerus quadrimaculatus, an ant Formica fusca, 4-banded Digger Wasp Gorytes quadrifasciatus, Halictus rubicundus, Lasioglossum malachurum, Lasioglossum morio, an ant Lasius niger, a nomad bee Nomada flava, a nomad bee Nomada flavoguttata, a nomad bee Nomada fucata, Spiny Mason Wasp Odynerus spinipes, a cuckoo wasp Pseudospinolia neglecta, and a cuckoo bee Sphecodes rubicundus. The findings here, especially in the area surrounding the wheel track, underline the need to be aware of small scale features in the landscape which may be vitally important for invertebrates.
Chapel Farm presented a slightly different situation. Whilst still on steep hillsides grazed by sheep it had not been managed as a conservation area and was, therefore, not as floristically rich. However, extensive land slip provided large areas suitable for mining bee nests (Fig. 2.). Fewer species of hymenoptera were found here but continued monitoring of the land slips through the seasons would be fully justified. The species list is Bombus lapidarius, Bombus pascuorum, Bombus terrestris, Andrena cineraria, Andrena scotica, Crossocerus quadrimaculatus, the tree wasp Dolichovespula sylvestris, Formica fusca, Lasioglossum calceatum, Myrmica rubra, Nomada fucata, Nomada ruficornis, Sphecodes rubicundus and Sphecodes puncticeps. The presence of several cuckoo species suggests that more of their target species should be present, for example Andrena flavipes whose nests are targeted by Nomada fucata; Andrena haemorrhoathe target for Nomada ruficornis; Andrena labialis which is targeted by Sphecodes rubicundus; and other Lasioglossum species attacked by Sphecodes puncticeps.
Joan’s Hole and its approaches are once again a different habitat with considerably more tree cover and a different flora for hymenoptera foraging. The species encountered were Andrena cineraria, Andrena haemorrhoa, Andrena scotica, Andrean synadelpha, Andrena wilkella, Athalia circularis (a sawfly), Bombus lucorum, Bombus lapidarius, Bombus pascuorum, Bombus pratorum, Bombus terrestris, Bombus vestalis (a cuckoo species), Lasioglossum albipes, Lasius brunneus, Lasius flavus, Lasius niger, Myrmica ruginodis, Nomada flava, Nomada flavoguttata, Nomada fucata, Nomada lathburiana, Nomada ruficornis, Odynerus spinipes, red mason bee Osmia rufa, Priocnemis susterai (a spider-hunter wasp), Pseudospinolia susterai, and Sphecodes rubicundus.
You will no doubt notice that Eucera longicornis is absent from the lists despite the title of the report being “In search of Eucera longicornis”. Unfortunately, systematic searching for two years has failed to find any trace of this species and one must regretfully conclude that it is now extinct in the area. The only record in 2011 was a single male seen and photographed by Harry Green in the car park at Knighton-on-Teme village hall. Further searches in the Knighton-on-Teme area were negative so that continuing the proposed ecological investigations is not recommended. It seems likely the E. longicornis can maintain a population over a wide area at very low population density and may thus be difficult to find (Mike Edwards, personal communication).
In addition to Rosemary Winnall I would like to record my thanks to Harry Green and Nigel Jones for their help with the survey, to Mr. Peter May for permission to collect on Old House Farm and to Mr.& Mrs. C. Pratt for permission to collect on Chapel Farm.
Images
Fig. 1. Oldhouse Farm small bank colonised by Hymenoptera. Geoff Trevis.
Fig. 2. Bank at Chapel Farm showing landslips colonised by Hymenoptera. Geoff Trevis.
Fig. 3. Eucera longicornis Knighton on Teme 19th May 2011. Harry Green.
A summary of recording events in 2011
Mark E Turner
Lily Beetles Lilioceris lilii in an Evesham garden, (SP044436), continued.
In the wake of Lily Beetle reports in recent issues of Worcestershire Recordincluding my own contribution (Turner 2010a), I felt it was only right that I did a follow-up since the ‘Red Devils’ continue to emerge unabated.
Despite the winter of 2010-2011 being particularly long and harsh, Lily Beetles appeared undefeated with adults showing on garden border lily plants much earlier than previously noticed with the first one on a warm (23ºC) 6th April. Does nothing deter these garden pests? The following five days continued to be warm and dry when a further four adults emerged including a mating pair on 11th April. One more adult beetle appeared on 12th April ending an early run of pestilence. However, just when you thought it was safe, three more adults emerged in sheer defiance on a warm 16thApril, another two on 19th April, and three on 23rd April. A further five adults appeared on 5th, 6th, and 8th May: that’s 19 beetles from 10 stems of lilies, but including one on a Snake’s head Fritillary seed head nearby.
Considering the tiny size of the garden and the very few plants currently growing in the border (May 2011), we would certainly have a patch devastated in next to no time were it not for our vigilance. Here follows further finds in brief:
4th June 2011 at 17.30 hrs, a mating pair, a single adult and two larvae from three lily stems. Another larva found on 6th June, 16 larvae and an adult on 24th June, last larva and adult on 27th June. Lily leaves were black with larval mess and eaten ragged.
Scarlet tiger moth Callimorpha dominula
Also following my report for this species (Turner 2010a) in Evesham gardens (SP044436), the voracious larva appeared in numbers once again on a variety of food plants at the overgrown weedy edges of a town terrace lane in the Bengeworth area. By the 9th April many had grown to a good size and were wandering up house walls and garden fences. The last larva I found appeared on our water butt during the afternoon of 10th May.
The larva has black and yellow stripes down its length which are punctuated by white dots. The small head is shiny black. The larval cycle lasts from August to May and the flight season from the end of May to early July.
Unfortunately mice abound in this area and Brown Rats are frequent, but despite the larva having warning colours like the moth, I imagine many chrysalises that formed in the vegetation and leaf litter were predated by the rodents.
Slightly earlier than expected (this spring has been extraordinary), I found my first Scarlet Tiger Moth on 17th May 2011, but sadly had been squashed on the pavement in Lime Street, Evesham, in the general area where my reports on them have been focused. Compare this to 30th May 2010. In the days that followed I was horrified to see that the Moth’s breeding grounds in our back lane had been sprayed with weed-killer by the Council and wondered what effect this would have on emerging adults.
My worst fears were laid to rest at 18.50 hrs on 31st May 2011. My wife Christine noticed the first one fluttering around the end of the house behind ours at gutter level. On closer inspection a second moth was at rest close-by, just below the rafters. The remarkable point being this is just one day later than last year for the emergence. This beautiful bright red gem seemed to flash in the early evening sun-light; it was a joy to behold. Forty-five minutes later the first moth on its maiden flight came to rest on the gutter channel no more than a foot from its reposing companion and this is where they remained until the following morning. Here follows brief notes on further observations.
1st June 2011 at 12.15 hrs, next one was fluttering next to traffic in Port Street, Evesham. 2nd June and two sightings during the evening. From now on Tigers were seen daily in the general area of Bengeworth, Evesham, and I came across many casualties squashed on pavements. Incredibly I found one emerging from limp and dying vegetation following the weed killer spraying and I saved one from certain death as it lay on its back entangled in spider’s webbing.
13th June at 17.00 hrs was notable for several Scarlet Tigers emerging in our garden. These included two mating pairs and evidently on close inspection they don’t wait for the wings to fully dry in readiness for flight if a willing partner is close by for the natural process to take place. Such is the importance of procreation.
Common Bee-fly Bombylius major
I found my first ones of the year at Broadway Gravel Pit LNR (SP087379) on 7th April visiting Ground Ivy flowers. A little later three were hovering well above head height and occasionally engaged in chases. At 12.00 hrs we observed two Bee-flies mating at ground level; one was at rest on the edge of a leaf whilst its attached mate hovered in mid-air. They took flight and continued to mate on the wing.
At least two were present in our Evesham garden (SP044436) attracted to Cowslips and blue Forget-me-not flowers on 9th April.
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeus
This one took me by surprise, a diminutive beauty on Vale of Evesham market garden land off Wickhamford Lane (SP058426) on 12th April which I temporarily disturbed from sunning on the bare soil. It re-alighted quickly on a spent cartridge case.
My next example of this mini gem appeared on 4th May at Broadway Gravel Pit Local Nature Reserve (SP087379), again sunning and resting on the ground in the small car park.
Mother Shipton Moth Callistege mi.
2nd June 2011, SP107379, Broadway.
Fan-foot Moth Zandognatha tarsipennalis.
13th June 2011 SP044436, Evesham.
Buff Ermine (male), Spilosoma luteum.
17th June 2011, SP044436, Evesham.
Riband Wave, Idaea aversata.
27th June 2011, SP044436, Evesham.
Uncommon tern of events. Part 2
Like a bolt from the blue at 13.00 hrs on a sunny 21st May 2011 whilst my wife and I stood on our back patio, we just happened to look up to see the very distinctive shape of a returning Common Tern Sterna hirundo in an apparent stoop over our neighbourhood in Bengeworth, Evesham. It gave out a sharp KEK call as it passed heading north to northeast parallel with the River Avon.
This immediately recalled events which I reported before (Turner 2010b). A quick check at the weir nearby as per last summer’s venue unfortunately drew a blank; we had been truly lucky with our view from home.
The next Common Tern to appear was on 19th June with a single bird flying down river seen from Evesham’s Workman Gardens at 14.00 hrs, but more surprisingly two calling birds were active again at the weir during the same week.
Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum at Broadway Gravel Pit LNR (SP087379)
29th May 2011
Bumblebees were first noted entering the base of a large Willow through a narrow crevice. There was a curious pile of wood chippings below the nest entrance. Identification had not yet been confirmed but I had my suspicions.
4th June 2011
This was a follow up session to look closer at what now appears to be a scarce (but increasing in range) species – the Tree Bumblebee – nesting in the base of the willow and also in a nearby open-fronted nest box.
Our insects certainly matched descriptions which I gleaned from the Worcestershire Record having gingery brown thorax hairs, black abdomen and white tail.
At the end of July there were no bees active around the nest box so I removed it for closer inspection (Figs. 1-4).
17th September 2011
Confirmation of identity regarding our nest box and willow tree nesting bees as the rare Tree Bumblebee. Bombus hypnorum, came when two dead specimens and the nest box nest were shown to Harry Green, John Meiklejohn and Geoff Trevis.
[Interestingly the nest of Bombus hypnorum in the bird nest box appears to be constructed on top a bird’s nest. Ed.]References
Turner, M. E. 2010a. Red Devils and Dancing Tigers (Lily Beetles and Scarlet Tigers). Worcestershire Record 29:22.
Turner, M. E. 2010b. An uncommon tern of events (Common Terns Sterna hirundo) in Evesham. Worcestershire Record 29:41-42.
Images
Fig. 1. Bombus hypnorum nest in bird nest box. Harry Green
Fig. 2. Dead Bombus hypnorum found with nest. Mark E Turner.
Fig. 3. Undamaged Bombus hypnorum nest in bird box. Mark E Turner
Fig. 4. Opened Bombus hypnorum nest in bird nest box. Mark E Turner
Water Beetles in the Rivers Severn and Teme 2011
Will Watson
At the Cherry Orchard recorders day on 2nd July I teamed up with Mike Averill and looked for water beetles, Odonata and other aquatic life in River Severn. Whilst the main focus of the day was to look at the ruderal grass and tall herb communities on Cherry Orchard we were determined to look at the river which has only rarely had any surveys conducted to species level. Perhaps this is because the challenging nature of the river; the banks are very steep and there is a narrow 2m margin of soft silt before it drops off vertically for 3m or so where the main channel is located. So I was amazed to be able to collect seven species of river ‘specialist’ water beetles from the left bank at Cherry Orchard and an additional species from the right bank at Diglis Weir. Included amongst this haul was the National Scarce list B whirligig ‘The Artist’ Gyrinus urinator and the Hairy Whirligig Orchectochilus villosus (Fig. 1.). Also found were the riffle beetle Oulimnus tuberculatus, the attractive medium size river diving beetle Platambus maculatus, two other specialist diving beetles of flowing water Stictotarus duodecimpustulatus and Nebrioporus elgans and the very small diving beetle Haliplus lineatocollis typically found in flowing water and lakes.
So successful was the exercise that Harry Green organised another excursion to the River Severn on 11th August mainly to look mollusc fauna. Water levels then were very low; I have heard that river levels were as low as they were in 1976. May be not good for fish and some of the river life but this allowed us to gain safe access to Diglis Weir spillway and salmon run; under normal conditions it would be covered by water and slippery algae and moss. On the vertical sides of the salmon run there was a mass of Fontinalis moss. This revealed two specialist but common riffle beetles Elmis aenea and Limnius volckmari bring the total of beetles found in the Severn at that locality to nine.
Mike and I then decided to visit the River Teme opting for a section rarely visited by biological recorders bordering Frank Matthews Nursery at Lower Berrington, Tenbury Wells (Fig. 2.); about as far as you get from Worcester but still in the county!? Six water beetles were recorded; Stictotarus duodecimpustulatus, Nebrioporus elgans, Haliplus lineatocollis, Platambus maculates and Ilybius fulginosus & Hygrotus inaequalis. The latter diving beetles are of interest because they are found in ponds and slow flowing rivers and were almost certainly more prevalent because of the low water.
On 14th September I sampled the Teme at Little Herefordshire and only two miles upstream from Lower Berrington, which as its name suggests is in the next county, and found the Nationally Scarce A water beetle Pomatinus substriatus as well as young brook lamprey. Surely both species occur downstream in Worcestershire.
These surveys indicate that the biological conditions of the two rivers are fairly good but I feel a little bit more recording and dare I say river monitoring is necessary before any firm conclusion and comparison with past data can be made.
[The River Teme waters appear not to have harmed the aquatic will Watson – see Fig. 3. Ed.]Images
Fig. 1. The Artist Gyrinus urinator, left and the Hairy Whirligig Orchectochilus villosus, right. ©Will Watson.
Fig. 2. Berrington Court overlooking the River Teme at Lower Berrington. ©Will Watson
Fig. 3. Will Watson swimming in Teme. ©Roger A Plant.
Monkwood ponds and back swimmers Notonecta October 2011
Will Watson
On the 16th October 2011 I looked in the ponds within Monkwood with James Hitchcock, Conservation Officer at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. I found all four native species of backswimmer; Notonecta glauca (Fig. 1.), Notonecta maculata (Fig. 2.), Notonecta viridis (Fig. 3.) and Notonecta obliqua (Fig. 4.). N. viridis was found in the round pond, N. obliqua was found in the large pond. The latter species has always been associated with ponds with low pH (acid ponds). However, I am sure the Monkwood ponds would be classed as eutrophic, but I think I heard somewhere the species is spreading. It turns up in the Wyre Forest and has always been present on the ponds on the Old Red Sandstone but localised. This is only the second time I have found all four species together; the other site was in Herefordshire.
Images
Common Backswimmer (Notonecta glauca) on Horned Pondweed (Zannichellia palustris), captive, UK.
Fig. 1. Common Backswimme Notonecta glauca. ©Will Watson
Common Backswimmer (Notonecta glauca) and the Spotted Backswimmer (Notonecta maculata) and Common (or wandering) pond snail (Lymnaea peregra) on Horned Pondweed (Zannichelia palustris), captive, England.
Fig. 2. Spotted Backswimmers Notonecta maculata. ©Will Watson
Fig. 3. Small Backswimmer Notonecta viridis on Horned Pondweed. ©Will Watson
Fig. 4. Black Backswimmer Notonecta obliqua. ©Will Watson
Fig. 5. Monkwood pond. ©Roger Plant
Fig. 6. Monkwood pond. ©Roger Plant
Fig. 7. Monkwood round pond. ©Roger Plant