Issue 37 November 2014

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 4 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Identification of Scorpion Flies

Mike Averill

Following Martin Mathews excellent Gloucester Mecopterans numbers 1 & 2 reprinted in the Worcestershire Record No 36 there is at last a reliable way to identify the three different species likely to be encountered in Worcestershire. Following recording in 2014 this note confirms that it is easy to identify the males without the need for dissection. All that is needed is an examination of a male or of a good photograph of the underside of the male genital capsule. Thankfully the male usually holds this uppermost giving the group its familiar name. When held like this there are two structures called hypovalves on the surface which are characteristic of the species (see guide 01).

Both Panorpa germanica and P. communis are reasonably common, but P. panorpa is less likely to be found.

Although it is recommended that the genital capsule is the positive way to split the species, the markings do seem different within the three species seen. Panorpa communis usually has the darker black markings with very little additional spotting. P. communis and P. germanica are superficially more similar with paler black markings and more of them. There is fourth species P. vulgaris which may well arrive in the UK and it is similar to P communis but with more dark black spots so watch out for that.

It is hoped that this note will aid the further identification of Scorpionflies in the county.

Reference

Matthews, M. 2014. The Gloucester Mecopteran. Worcestershire Record 36:24-27


01. Guide to identification of scorpion flies. Mike Averill

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 4 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Dragonflies in Worcestershire 2014

Mike Averill

Following the previous year’s prolonged cold spring right in to May, the weather in 2014 was more like a normal year with gradually increasing temperatures through April and May. Through the year 24 species were seen out of the 28 so far recorded in the county. Nearly all species emerged earlier than last year and a few were actually earlier than in the 2008-12 period, namely the Common Club-tail Gomphus vulgatissimus and Scarce Chaser Libellula fulva. It’s worth noting that 13 of our Dragonflies and three of our Damselflies emerge early in spring as a synchronised event. These are usually species that have at least a two year cycle but delay emergence through the previous Autumn and wait until the following year to enable them to emerge early in the next April/May. All the early synchronised species are very susceptible to poor weather and can easily vary their first dates by as much as three weeks.

As the year progressed in to 2014, the weather was occasionally fine and memories of the summer are likely to be good with long spells of fine weather (16 dry days in June, 23 in July, 11 in August and 23 in September), yet as a year it was very wet and September was the only month with below average rainfall. This continuation of regular rain was ideal for dragonflies, wet enough to keep pools full yet with long dry sunny spells allowing the adults to fly regularly. This is good weather for aquatic insects but perhaps not so good for butterflies and bees.

Recording transects are a really useful way to get a meaningful trend in dragonfly numbers through the year, which can in turn be compared to other years. Taking counts over a measured distance and repeating the visit each month in good weather can give a better idea of numbers where subjective impressions cannot. In the case of the counts on the River Avon at Eckington, most species had an upturn in numbers compared to last year, the only exception being the Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas. This upturn followed a two year decline in 2012 and 2013 for the White-legged Platycnemis pennipes, Blue-tailed Ischnura elegans and Common Blue Enallagma cyathigerum damselflies (01). Species with too small a count to see on the graph like Scarce Chaser, Common Darter Sympetrum striolatumand Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula also had a slight upturn. Another species that has recovered a little in 2014 after a large decline from 2009 is the Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens. It is not clear why 2009 was such a good year for this species but it did have a very warm Spring followed by long hot spells in the summer. Whatever the reason, the species has not done nearly as well since.

In Croome Park all species were also up this year, recovering from a poor 2013. The Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum did very well indeed this year exceeding all previous years counts. Elsewhere the Small Red-eyed popped up in various places including Lower Smite Farm, Hanley Swan, Purshull Green Pool, Hartlebury Riverside Pool, several pools at Grimley, Pirton Pool, a few river locations on the Avon near Pershore and one farm pond near Berrow in the very south of the county. This is significant because although this species has been with us since 2006, having arrived in the UK in 1998, it has not really consolidated its position elsewhere before this and it was thought that the westerly spread had slowed up to a halt.

Other dragonflies that are doing well are the Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata and the Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo. The Four-spotted chaser seemed to appear in all sorts of locations this year whereas it was confined to just a couple of sites 20 years ago. The Beautiful Demoiselle is another species that has changed its distribution where, 20 years ago it stuck to the westerly tributaries of the Severn it can now be found in small streams throughout Worcestershire and even on the river Cole in the old Vice County area of Birmingham (A separate account from Des Jennings will appear in volume 38 April 2015 issue of Worcestershire Record).

The Scarce Chaser Libellula fulva was quite prominent on its stronghold along the Avon and has in fact spread up to the Warwickshire border this year. It was seen on Hillditch Pool again where it breeds in low numbers and also once again at Hurcott Pool where a mated male was seen.

Another species, also found on our rivers at the same time, the Common Club-tail Gomphus vulgatissimus had another good year at Bewdley where emergence numbers were the third highest in seven years. On the Avon though, there are signs that it is struggling as fewer individuals were seen above Pershore and apparently none were seen in Warwickshire for the second year running. It is hard to know why this is happening as the Scarce Chaser which has a similar life cycle and habitat requirements is doing quite well and so does not suggest there is a water quality issue.

Our regular visitor the Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii made an early appearance(23/6) at Pirton Pool but wasn’t seen anywhere else this year.

Normally only seen in the Wyre Forest area, the Golden Ringed dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii was seen by chance at the Devils Spittleful egg laying in a leakage by a water trough. There is no mistaking this species, when seen ovipositing, as the female prods her abdomen in soft silt like a garden dibber to insert her eggs. This species is normally found on rivulets and seepages, so it was a surprise to find two shed larval cases, this year, along the Severn at Bewdley but this location was just downstream of Dowles Brook so perhaps they had been washed out of there in the January floods.

A late species to emerge, the Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta, was very evident in September due to the fine weather and it gave the opportunity to watch where they laid their eggs at Hartlebury Common. They choose the Soft Rush Juncus effusus and lay about 10 cms above the water line in to the older browner stems. They may well try other woody vegetation but reject anything hard like brambles and tree species preferring rush where the eggs can be inserted in to the stems to lie in the soft tissue inside(02). Each egg is about 1.7mm long shaped like a long cylinder with an opening called a micropyle at one end. This opening firstly allows sperm to enter the egg for fertilisation and later it is the place where the prolarvae emerges. The egg is laid at an angle downwards in to the plant so that the micropyle is nearest to the exit hole. The recess in the plant tissue is made by a knife like device called the ovipositor which cuts a hole and also carefully inserts the egg in to the slot. The way that the dragonfly exerts enough pressure to punch a hole in to the plant is by forming an arch over the stem between the legs and the end of the abdomen and by flexing the middle abdomen the ovipositor is forced in to the stem (03). Each egg is laid separately within its own hole, the next one being laid about 0.5 cm away so that on average there are 25 eggs per 10 cm. These eggs will remain safe and secure in the stems until the spring when they emerge as prolarvae and drop in to the water below. All hawker dragonflies and all damselflies lay eggs in to plant material like this while the darters, skimmers and chasers lay their cluster of eggs on to plants or directly in to water.

An uncommon Worcestershire dragonfly, the Common Hawker Aeshna juncea was seen twice this year, once at Penny Hill egg laying and once at Hartlebury Common.

The mention of Hartlebury Common twice in an article about dragonflies is a real treat as it is a site that has deteriorated badly over the last 50 years due to drying out of water features. This year was without doubt the best year for dragonflies in recent memory with 18 species recorded there. The key to this was the fact that we have had three wet years in a row leading to permanent standing water in the Rush Pool and the Bog which has enabled species with two and three year cycles to succeed in breeding there. It is a lowland heath site and is the only place in Worcestershire where we can see the classic heathland species like Common Hawker, Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa and Four-spotted Chaser together. The only one missing is Black Darter Sympetrum danae so perhaps that one will appear next year as it has been seen at Hartlebury in the past. Other than these heathland species, the fact that 18 species were present through the year made the site quite a spectacle and provides an opportunity to really compare similar species like Scarce Chaser, Broad bodied Chaser Libellula depressa and Four-spotted Chaser.

While the wet weather has helped the situation on Hartlebury Common the chances are that we will return to drier conditions in the coming years and so it is important that the Council and Natural England press ahead with plans to support the water levels on the site during dry spells using a groundwater pump. This will not only benefit dragonflies but all the other aquatic invertebrates and plants that make the site special.

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01. Eckington dragonfly transect 2009-14.
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02. Migrant Hawker egg in plant stem. Mike Averill.
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03. Migrant Hawker inserting egg into Juncus effusus stem. Mike Averill

 

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 10-11 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Lasius brunneus (Latreille, 1798). The Tree Ant, Nationally Notable (Na) at Hurcott, Kidderminster

John Bingham & Denise Bingham
In the Worcestershire Record Harry Green (1998) provided a note on the distribution of Lasius brunneus in Worcestershire drawing attention to a paper by Alexander and Taylor (1998) on the Severn Valley as a stronghold for the species. The Thames Valley was the main stronghold for the species until the 1960s when it was reported from the Severn Vale in Gloucestershire and south Worcestershire. Shropshire had one record from Dudmaston Park in 1996. Parkland sites such as Croome Park and Hanbury Park appear to be the typical habitat in Worcestershire. Harry considered that it seemed likely that the species has been under-recorded rather than showing a recent extension of range. More records are now known but the ant is probably still under- recorded.
On 21st April 2014 Denise and I were recording our local patch at Hurcott, Kidderminster when Denise swept up a number of ants from a patch of flowering White Deadnettle Lamium album at grid reference SO848776. I identified the ants as Lasius brunneus but to confirm this I sent an image to Harry and Geoff Trevis, who both who agreed (01). The area around Hurcott has a number of large oak trees in the fields and hedgerows and the land is managed as low intensity horse pasture. Whilst not parkland it has some similarities, so it is perhaps not that surprising that L. brunneus was found here. Why it was swept off L. album is not clear, perhaps an early nectar source or were tiny aphids present on the plant? Searching the large oak trees nearby a few days later failed to reveal any ants, but they do remain well hidden in crevices so perhaps this was to be expected. The hedgerow had many old dead and dying bushes and old wooden fence rails, all possible habitat for ants. I did eventually find the ant in low numbers on a sycamore tree about 0.4 km away to the north at SO847779.
As worker ants are fugitive and rarely seen on the host tree surface perhaps sweeping any flowering plants of L. album in early spring might be a way of providing records of this elusive ant, especially if large oak trees are present nearby. As yet we have yet to see the ant on the nearest old oak to the Hurcott L. album site, but the tree has deep crevices!
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Harry and Geoff for the identification.
References
Green, H. 1998. The brown ant: Lasius brunneus (Latreille). Worcestershire Record 4:12.
Alexander KNA & Taylor A. 1998. The Severn Vale, a national stronghold for Lasius brunneus (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). British Journal for Entomology & Natural History 10:217-219.
Editors note.
Since 1998 Lasius brunneus has been found in many places across Worcestershire almost always on tree trunks in parkland, orchards and elsewhere. Special studies of old orchards for other species have almost always detected Lasius brunneus. I (Harry Green) have swept it off flowering Ramsons Alium ursinum on two occasions in May, once on hawthorn flowers Crataegus monogyna in May and also amongst leaf litter beneath trees on one occasion. These visits to plants other than trees are rarely reported and not understood.
Geoff Trevis is producing a Worcestershire Atlas of Aculeate Hymenoptera which should be printed in 2015. His comments together with a distribution map (02) on Lasius brunneus appear below: compare with the map from the 1998 paper (03).
Lasius brunneus (Latreille, 1798).
Formicidae: Formicinae
Has a curious distribution with two separate populations, one based around the Thames valley and extending north into East Anglia and south into the North Downs and the other in the Severn Valley up to Shropshire. In these areas it is common and not threatened.
Habitat: Generally nests in mature, living trees but has been found in stumps, hedgerows and timber framed buildings.
Flight Period: Queens and males fly in June or early July.
Worcestershire Records: The species is widely distributed across the county with 92 widely distributed records. Nationally this remains a rare species.


01. Lasius brunneus at Hurcott. John Bingham.


02. Lasius brunneus distribution map 2014


03. Lasius brunneus distribution map 1998

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 10-11 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 11-12 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Mordellistena (Mordellistena) variegata (Fabricius, 1798) (Coleoptera, Mordellidae) at Kidderminster

John Bingham & Denise Bingham
On 24 July 2014 Denise beat a small beetle from a Rowan tree in our garden (01, 02). It was quite well marked and colourful but belonged to a group of tumbling flower beetles Mordellistena, not easy to identify and with some quite rare species. Help was at hand and thanks to Paul Whitehead who identified the beetle from an image sent to him as Mordellistena (Mordellistena) variegata and provided information on distribution. In the note that follows he reports more fully on identifying species in this small group of interesting beetles.
The beetle is widespread but localised in the English midland region extending from lowland river floodplain level to at least 160 m a.s.l. on Bredon Hill, Worcestershire. Host trees include Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur L., Field Maple Acer campestre L. and now Rowan Sorbus aucuparia L. This last is perhaps unsurprising given that M. variegata is a well-known inhabitant of traditional pome fruit orchards in the region.

The Mordellidae or ‘tumbling flower beetles’.
Paul Whitehead
The Mordellidae or ‘tumbling flower beetles’ has always challenged human comprehension. The late Mr A. A. Allen, one of the greatest of the recent British coleopterists described new species of Mordellistena in both 1995 and 1999 neither of which have stood up to subsequent scrutiny. The group is generally well known for the apical abdominal segment being extended to form a so-called pygidium (Gr. pygidion = rump). This is especially conspicuous in the black Mordellistena which are especially speciose in southern Europe and which mostly breed in the rigid stems and rootstocks of Asteraceae, including Artemisia spp. and occasionally those of other groups such as Campanulaceae (e.g. Jasione).
Only three of the 12 British species of Mordellistena are not black viz. the scarce widespread M. neuwaldeggiana (Panzer, 1796) which is more or less uniformly brownish-orange and thus immediately recognisable; M. humeralis (L., 1758) which is variegated black and dull yellow-orange rarely with the pronotum darkened and M. variegata (F., 1798) which (in numerous examples seen) has clear orange vittae running obliquely away from the elytral humeri and the pronotum usually darkened but paler laterally and with the antennae longer. These three species are arboreal as larvae in a wide range of deciduous trees usually in soft delignified wood; M. neuwaldeggiana occurs in traditional orchards. In the English midlands I have numerous records of these species with the exception of M. humeralis which I have not yet seen in Britain. Male M. variegata have diagnostic subcircular last palpal segments whereas these are not dilated in male M. humeralis which also has relatively shorter antennae.
Other genera likely to be encountered in the region are Mordellochroa and Variimorda. Female Mordellochroa abdominalis (F., 1775) are unique and unmistakeable in the British fauna being black with clear red pronota; the males have darker pronota and may be confused with species of Mordellistena and Mordella. Ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) is a known larval host in Worcestershire. Variimorda villosa (Schrank, 1781) is the only British representative of the genus and may be recognised by the pattern of shimmering bronze hairs forming transverse fasciae on the black elytra. Both of these robust species are arboreal as larvae although V. villosa has a demonstrable preference for Salicaceae in riparian situations. Mordella, a genus of mostly robust black species includes two British species which are either rare or localised; M. holomelaena Apfelbeck, 1914 may occur in the region but I am not aware of modern records.
For anyone wishing to acquaint themselves with the finer details of this group I would recommend perusal of Batten, R., 1986. A review of the British Mordellidae (Coleoptera). Entomologist’s Gazette 37:225-235. They might also consider forming a collection taking no more than a minimal number of specimens. As ‘tumbling flower beetles’ mordellids prefer to visit flowers with exposed nectaries, notably those in Rosaceae and Apiaceae and with records also from flowers of Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus L. Finally (with a few clear exceptions) do not rely on the internet to inform decisions; many such images are based on misidentifications.


01. Mordellistena variegata at Kidderminster. John Bingham.


02. Mordellistena variegata at Kidderminster. John Bingham.

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 11-12 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 12-14 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Coleoptera of note in the Kidderminster area 2014

Alan Brown
I spent the season occasionally visiting a couple of my local haunts, Springfield Park (SO87) and Devil’s Spittleful Nature Reserve (SO87), but my main focus concentrated on a 400 metre stretch of River Severn bankside (SO77) that runs alongside Bewdley town centre, downstream towards Stourport. All observations were made at night with a headband torch.
01. Aegialia sabuleti Scarabaeidae (Nationally scarce) 3/5/2014
A riparian species of scarab beetle found on bare river sandbanks on rivers and streams where it feeds on decaying vegetable matter. This species is very local in the south with most records coming from northern England. Found active at night alongside the river in Bewdley.
02. Dorytomus tremulae Curculionidae (Nationally scarce) 22/4/2014
A species of catkin weevil restricted to feeding on Aspen trees, the adults feed on leaves but the larvae develop in the catkins. I found this one active at night on a mature Aspen trunk at Springfield Park, Kidderminster. Also seen on Aspen alongside the River Severn at Bewdley.
03. Dorytomus tortrix Curculionidae (Local) 23/4/2014
Another species of catkin weevil linked to Aspen, I found these in large numbers on Aspen trees in Kidderminster and along the River Severn in Bewdley on 3/5/2014.
04. Xyleborus saxesenii Scolytidae (Local) 3/5/2014
A rather local bark beetle in Worcestershire, I found a number of these on decaying bark on a dead plum tree alongside the river Severn, Bewdley, active at night.
05. Stereocorynes truncorum Curculionidae (Nationally rare) 22/5/2014
A scarce saproxylic weevil that feeds on dead wood and is nocturnal and seldom seen. I found a number of these on an ancient hollow Sycamore tree at night in shaded woodland at the Devil’s Spittleful NR but it is usually linked to hollow oak trees.
Enicmus rugosus Latridiidae. (Nationally scarce) 22/5/2014
I found two of these small scavenger beetles on a bracket fungus on a dead standing oak tree at the Devil’s Spittleful NR. The species feeds on various fungi and slime moulds.
06. Platystomos albinus Anthribidae.(Nationally scarce) 7/6/2014
A fungus weevil from the edge of the River Severn at Bewdley. This is an unusual record as it was found feeding on mouldy wood on a decaying ash bough infested with Cramp ball fungus which is usually a habitat of its sister species Platyrhinus resinosus. Perhaps there is some competition between these two species. Usually this species is linked to fungoid oak. In 2012 John Bingham recorded one on oak on the Shropshire side of the Wyre Forest.
07. Clitostethus arcuatus Coccinellidae (RDB1) 23/5/2014
These species was seen breeding again at Crossley Park and Hurcott Wood and I was delighted to find it on Greater Celandine Chelidonium majus at the base of an old hawthorn tree alongside the River Severn at Bewdley and on honeysuckle in woodland alongside the Devil’s Spittleful NR. Definitely spreading and good to see it doing so well (Whitehead & Brown 2012).
08. Cyanostolus aeneus Monotomidae (Nationally rare) 10/7/2014
A predatory riparian species. I found two of these on the wet section of a log jutting out of shallow water on the River Severn at Bewdley. The log was too old to make a positive identification of the type of wood, but when disturbed the one specimen took flight; I don’t think night flight has been recorded in this species before.
09. Bracteon litorale Carabidae (Nationally scarce) 27/7/2014
I found three specimens of this predatory ground beetle active at night on a bare sandy river bank at Bewdley. This species is usually described as diurnal so this was also an interesting observation.
10. Amara praetermissa Carabidae (Nationally scarce) 27/7/2014
A seed-feeding ground beetle. Previously recorded at the Devil’s Spittleful heath, I recorded this one in 2011 at Hartlebury Common in sandy heathland. I was surprised to also come across this species on dry areas of sand banks along the River Severn at Bewdley. It was regularly seen there during the summer months.
11. Dyschirius aeneus Carabidae (Local) 4/7/2014
This is the black colour variation of the species; there is also a brassy version. A predatory ground beetle linked to species of Bledius (Col., Staphylinidae). I found these on bare sand banks along the River Severn at Bewdley.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to John Meiklejohn for his help especially in my early studies. And a big thank you to Paul Whitehead for his help in identifying a lot of these species which has been a big help to me.
Reference
Whitehead, P.F. & Brown, A. 2012. Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi, 1794) (Col., Coccinellidae) breeding in the Kidderminster area of Worcestershire: overwintering strategies and breeding biology. Worcestershire Record 33:20-22


01. Aegialia sabuleti


02. Dorytomus tremulae


03. Dorytomus tortrix.


04. Xyleborus saxesenni


05. Stereocorynes truncorum

06. Platystomos albinus


07. Clitostethus arcuatus in Bewdley.

08. Rhizophagus aeneus


09. Bracteon literale


10. Amara praetermissa


11. Dyschirius aeneus

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 12-14 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 15-16 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Hornet Rove beetle Velleius dilatatus (F., 1787) (Col., Staphylinidae) at Kidderminster, Worcestershire

Alan Brown
On the 15 June 2014 three specimens of the endangered Hornet Rove Beetle Velleius dilatatus (F.) were found at night at an oak sap-run in woodland alongside the Devil’s Spittleful Nature Reserve, Kidderminster.
Distribution.
Historically this species had only been recorded from the New Forest, Windsor Forest and Moccas Park, but recently it has been recorded further afield at Dartmoor Deer Park, Epping Forest, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
Habitat
A sap-run was located on a mature Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur L. (01 & 02) just inside the fringe of a patch of mixed ancient woodland most of which is privately owned. However, a public path leading to the heath through this area allows access to some of the ancient trees, mainly oak, but also birch, Sycamore and lime. A vigil was arranged to see what species turned up at night on the sap-run with interesting results. Two notable species, Cryptarcha strigata (F.) and Cryptarcha undata (Ol.) appeared in numbers with an Epuraea species and a number of Soronia grisea (L.). However, my attention was drawn by a large black rove beetle and I was convinced that it matched the description of Velleius dilatatus, an endangered species. Photographs (03, 04, 05 & 06) were taken and this identification was confirmed by Paul Whitehead who also noted that the sap-run was possibly a Cossus flux but this could not be confirmed.
Behaviour
At least three different individual Hornet Rove Beetles were observed over the following seven nights, sometimes all three together. The white light on my headband torch disturbed them too much to observe any behaviour so I switched to a red light which they were not able to detect. Each night the Hornet Rove Beetles appeared at the sap-run within an hour of it becoming dark and remained there for most of the night. All three were males and always kept some distance between each other at different points around the sap-run. Eventually one male started investigating the sap and at first I thought he was ingesting the sap but it soon became obvious that he was looking for something in it. He then extracted what looked like a white larva, possibly a fly larva although this could not be verified. Later a second beetle retrieved what looked like a fly pupa (07 & 08) but again I could not make a definite identification. However, one larva I did find in the sap was positively identified by Paul Whitehead as Cryptarcha.sp. A daily night time temperature taken at the base of the tree averaged a mild 16° Celsius. Random checks of the sap-run were made during daylight hours but no Velleius dilatatus were seen. After a week the sap-run dried up and that was the end of my observations.
Notes
The Hornet Rove Beetle is an interesting species that spends almost its whole life living in hornet’s nests and is therefore dependent on the success of its host. There are various theories as to what it feeds on, some literature suggests it is parasitic on fly maggots that infest the hornet’s nest or that it feeds on hornet detritus and even on dead or dying hornets. In recent years however the range of the hornet has spread slowly northwards and likewise the range of this rove beetle. Although there is no doubt that this species does most of its feeding within the nest there are obvious indications here that when food is scarce the beetle is drawn to sap-runs to seek alternative prey. It clearly responds well to olefactory cues and can fly well and link the odour of sap to its preferred food. This find, which is a first for Worcestershire, would also seem to indicate that Velleius dilatatus may become more widespread in the future.


01. Oak tree on which sap run was found.


02. Sap-run on oak tree


03. Velleius dilatatus


04. Velleius dilatatus

05. Velleius dilatatus


06. Velleius dilatatus


07. Velleius dilatatus with fly pupa


08. Velleius dilatatus with fly pupa

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 15-16 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 16-18 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Stenelmis canaliculata (Gyllenhal, 1808) (Col., Elmidae) and other aquatic Coleoptera from the Kidderminster and Bewdley areas of Worcestershire

Alan Brown.
On the 24 August, 2014 a single specimen of our largest Riffle Beetle Stenelmis canaliculata was found on a sandbank alongside the River Severn at Bewdley (01 & 02). This is the first Worcestershire record and its identity was confirmed by Paul Whitehead. The current national status is RDB2.
Description: About 5mm long, sculptured on the elytra with four prominent ridges, two of which extend the full length of the elytra, the two inner ridges extending to about halfway down. The pronotum is square with a visible channel down the centre. The tips of the tarsi and apical segments of antennae are red.
Distribution: Recorded from 12 rivers in the last 20 years. First discovered at Lake Windemere in Cumbria, this species has a scattered distribution mainly in fast-flowing rivers in Herefordshire, Devon, Cornwall, Nottinghamshire and Bedfordshire. There is a 1996 record apparently from the Kennet and Avon Canal near Bath North Somerset and a more recent one from the River Findhorn at Moray, Scotland.
History: This species was not added to the British list until 1960 when it was found on a wave-washed shingle bank on Lake Windermere. Since then, records have predominantly come from clean, fast-flowing streams and rivers with gravelly or stony bottoms. Like some other species of elmid it needs well-oxygenated water free of pollution making it a very good indicator of water purity. The beetle itself extracts oxygen from the water and does not need to surface except for a brief period of flight shortly after emergence from its pupa. It is thought to feed on algae attached to stones and prefers deep water.
Notes: Not much is known about this beetle’s life cycle. I found the beetle, in this case an adult female, on sandy ground close to the water’s edge at night. At the time I was looking for ground beetles so I was quite surprised to find it there. It was on a cold autumn evening and the beetle seemed to be moving away from the water. I have seen other elmids above water level so perhaps this was not such an unusual event. With my headband torch I had no difficulty in picking it out despite its small size.
Other Notable Finds
Macronychus quadrituberculatus Müller, 1806. Elmidae: Nationally rare. River Severn, Bewdley, 10 August 2014. The River Severn is a well-known stronghold for this species and I saw them on most of the pieces of decaying wood in shallow water and also occasionally on sandbanks close to the water’s edge. They are quite colourful and unusual with long legs (03).
Pomatinus substriatus (Müller, 1806). Elmidae: Nationally rare. Kidderminster 22 April 2014. Ironically, I recorded this species not in the River Severn, but in the Kidderminster to Cookley section of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal running alongside Springfield Park. It was spotted at night apparently feeding on algae growing on the canal’s concrete wall about two inches below the water surface. Three other beetles from bare mud alongside a stream running through the park were identified as the dryopids Dryops ernesti des Gozis, 1886 by Paul Whitehead.
Hydrochus elongatus (Schaller, 1783). Hydrophilidae: Nationally scarce. Kidderminster 23 April 2014. A Water Scavenger Beetle found in good numbers in a shaded willow carr bog pool at Springfield Park. The pool itself is a seasonal one tending to dry up in the summertime, but for the last two years has remained full. The pool contains decaying leaves and wood with some mosses. The beetle was easily found at night walking underneath the surface tension of the water and could be scooped up without using a net (04).
Helophorus dorsalis (Marsham, 1802). Hydrophilidae: Nationally scarce Kidderminster 22 April 2010. A Water Scavenger Beetle found during my Ground Beetle survey. This species was found in the same shaded willow carr bog pool at Springfield Park as Hydrochus elongatus and found in the same way. Good numbers were found at night on the water surface.
Acknowledgements
Unfortunately, the 2014 season was to be my last recording for the Worcestershire Biological Records Centre in Worcestershire as I moved elsewhere at the end of the year. It was a memorable six years. Within a two mile radius of Kidderminster, some 101 nationally scarce species of Coleoptera were found together with nine RDB species. There are undoubtedly many more there still to be found. I would like to thank John Meiklejohn, Paul Whitehead, Harry Green, Simon Wood and Rosemary Winnall for the help they gave me during this survey. I am grateful to Paul Whitehead for his constructive assistance in the preparation of this short paper; any factual errors are mine alone. Good luck to everyone for 2015.


01. Stenelmis canaliculata River Severn, Bewdley, 10 August 2014. Alan Brown


02. Stenelmis canaliculata River Severn, Bewdley, 10 August 2014. Alan Brown


03. Macronychus quadrituberculatus River Severn, Bewdley, 10 July 2014. Alan Brown


04. Hydrochus elongates Kidderminster 22 April 2014. Alan Brown

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 16-18 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 20-21 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

The Elm Leaf Hopper Iassus scutellaris (Fieber, 1886) at large in Worcestershire

Gary Farmer
The leaf hopper Iassus lanio will be a familiar insect to anyone who has a mind to shake the branches of oak trees into a net or up-turned brolly. This relatively large leaf hopper (6.5mm to 8.3mm. long) from the family Cicidellidae is wide-spread across Worcestershire and likely to turn up on oak trees almost anywhere in the county (01). However its rarer cousin Iassus scutellaris has become established in the south of the county living in elm hedges.
On 24th July 2014 while surveying hedgerows at Vale Landscape Heritage Trust’s reserve Littleton Meadows I found a small Iassus bug and photographed (02) it because “it didn’t look right”. Its wings were more translucent than any I. lanio that I had seen and it was oddly marked. I checked the British Bugs WebSite and found that it strongly resembled I. scutellaris a Nationally Notable A species found on elm. A check of the distribution on NBN Gateway suggested it to be a species restricted to south east England and East Anglia.
A check on the Auchenorrhyncha Recording Scheme WebSite revealed that the species is now more widely distributed and gives the following account:
“Discovered in Surrey in 1978, this species [Iassus scutlellaris] is now found widely across southern and central England despite its classification as Nationally Notable A. Associated with English Elm Ulmus procera and able to persist on low re-growth following dieback due to Dutch elm disease, it is similar in appearance to the common oak-feeding I. lanio but the colour of the forewings is generally a much brighter lime-green.”
I forwarded my record and photograph to Alan Stewart the Auchenorrhynca Recording Scheme Organiser who gave this cautionary reply:
“…..The distinction between Iassus scutellaris and Iassus lanio is a rather subtle one. …… Externally, it is mainly a question of the pointedness of the vertex (top of head), which I can’t really see on the photo. The fact that it was on elm is highly suggestive of I. scutellaris, but not completely reliable unfortunately as I. lanio can sometimes be found on this tree, although its main host is oak. I have a record of scutellaris from SP24 so not that far from where you found yours. I think this is one of those species for which one would need to examine a specimen to be absolutely sure; getting the right angle on a photo to see the necessary features is extremely difficult …… I would be reluctant to add the records to the recording scheme database without someone inspecting a specimen”.
Unfortunately I had not kept a specimen and a return visit to the location failed to turn up any further examples. However I had been given permission to visit the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust reserve of Hill Court Farm and I took the opportunity to beat some of the hedgerows for invertebrates. I collected several individuals of what I believed to be I scutellaris. I photographed (03) some of the bugs to show the variation and kept one as a specimen. This I pinned alongside a specimen of I.lanio for comparison (04). A clear difference can be seen in the vertex of the two species; I. scutellaris appears to have a longer ‘nose’ because of the shape of the vertex. It is also a smaller insect and in life is a paler more translucent green. The brown markings are variable but distinct from I. lanio. Iassus scutellaris has undoubtedly become established in the county recently but has remained undetected, possibly because of its similarity to its common cousin.
References:
British Bugs WebSite: www.britishbugs.org.uk
Auchenorrhyncha Recording Scheme WebSite: http://www.ledra.co.uk/
Wilson, Michael R. 1981, Identification of European Iassus species (Homoptera: Cicidellidae) with one new species to Britain. Systematic Entomology 6:115-118
Biedermann, R.& Niedringhaus, R. 2009. The Plant- and Leafhoppers of Germany. Identification Keys for all species.


01. Iassus lanio Lower Smite Farm 20 July 2014. Gary Farmer


02. Iassus scutellaris 24 July 2014 Littleton Meadows. Gary Farmer


03. Iassus scutellaris 20 August 2014 Hill Court. Gary Farmer

04. Iassus scutellaris (right) & Iassus lanio (left) pinned specimens. Gary Farmer

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 20-21 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 25-26 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

The large pill woodlouse Armadillidium depressum Brandt, 1833 found in Worcestershire

Gary Farmer
On 8th July 2014 I noticed a Pill Woodlouse on the wall of the Volunteer Centre in the middle of Evesham. This particular individual was slate-grey and very large and on closer examination its body plates (pleonites) splayed out at the edges. When I tried to capture it, rather than rolling into a ball typical of the pill woodlice, it clamped down with its splayed plates covering its legs. This curious behaviour and large size was reminiscent of a species that I am familiar with from the quarries on Portland, Dorset, Armadillidium depressum, so I decided to take the woodlouse to check it later. I referenced A Key to the Woodlice of Britain & Ireland (Hopkin, 1991) which gives the description for A. depressum “….and often rest in a clamped position in which they remain even when disturbed…….pleonites appear splayed out like a skirt….”. Details shown of the uropods and telson from the rear confirmed that I had found Armadillidium depressum. The images 01, 02, 03, & 03 compare the common Pill Woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare with Armadillidium depressum.
This is a strongly synanthropic species and appears to be going through a range expansion. The Atlas of Woodlice and Waterlice in Britain & Ireland (Gregory, 2009) gives the distribution as having a “distinct south-west bias” and a large population is known to exist around Bristol (B. Westwood pers. comm.). So this is certainly a species to look for around the county’s towns and old churches.
Interestingly Worcestershire Biogical Records Centre holds two other records:
Bredon Hill, SO9438, 1985-1986, Paul Whitehead.
Newland SO791482, 29.06.14, John Dodgson.
References
Hopkin, S.P. 1991. A Key to the Woodlice of Britain and Ireland. Field Studies vol 7 No. 4 Field Studies Council, Shropshire.
Gregory, S. 2009. Woodlice and Waterlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea and Asellota) in Britain and Ireland. NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Oxfordshire.


01. Armadillidium vulgare. Gary Farmer


02. Armadillidium depressum. Gary Farmer


03. Armadillidium vulgare uropods and telson. Gary Farmer


04. Armadillidium depressum uropods and telson. Gary Farmer

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 25-26 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 26 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Two synanthropic Isopods overlooked in Worcestershire

Gary Farmer
Two distinctive woodlice which appear to be strongly synanthropic in Worcestershire are worth looking for in gardens.
Androniscus dentiger Verhoeff, 1908. (01)This is perhaps our most distinctive species being brightly coloured orange or salmon-pink. It is fairly small measuring up to 6mm, fast moving and strongly heliophobic; disappearing quickly when disturbed. This species needs damp conditions and I have only ever found it in deep gravel, under regularly watered plant pots and deep down in the footings of buildings. I am sure it is overlooked in the county because of its choice of habitat so it is worth looking in appropriate places in any garden in limestone areas or close to buildings where lime has leached from mortar or concrete, although I appreciate that not everyone will want to dig out footings just to look for woodlice.
Porcellionides pruinosus (Brandt, 1833). (02). Another distinctive species with long antennae and a fairly narrow body. Porcellionides pruinosus is another fast moving woodlouse with long pale legs which can contrast strongly with the brown/purple body. This is a medium sized species growing up to 12mm but its most distinctive feature is that it often has a bluish powdery bloom. I have only ever seen P. pruinosus in compost bins. Steve Gregory (2009) notes that the species is readily moved around in farmyard manure. So another one to check for in your own gardens, farms and stables.
Reference
Gregory, S. 2009. Woodlice and Waterlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea and Asellota) in Britain and Ireland. NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Oxfordshire.


01. Androniscus dentiger. Gary Farmer


02. Porcellionides pruinosus. Gary Farmer

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 26 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 8-9 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Wasps in a box: Dolichovespula sylvestris using a bird nest box

Gary Farmer
I was asked to advise on the action to take regarding a wasp nest in a bird box on a house wall in Bishampton (01, 02 & 03). I was curious as I couldn’t recall seeing wasp nests in bird boxes other than Hornets Vespa crabro. When I first saw the nest on 20th June 2014 the wasps were already very active and were extending their remarkable ‘paper’ structure over the outside of the bird box. I was able to take a few reference pictures and could see that they were in fact Tree Wasps Dolichovespula sylvestris. I had not seen the nest of this species before and was unable to find references in ‘the books’ so I did an internet search on “tree wasp nest” to see if this was usual behaviour for them. Unfortunately the internet is more interested in exterminating our black and yellow hymenopteran neighbours than it is on sharing real information. Site after site reported that tree wasps are aggressive and gave details of how to deal with a nest. Sadly it seems that any wasp that nests in trees or bushes is classed as a tree wasp and seen as something to be feared and destroyed. In my experience D. sylvestris is by far the least aggressive of the social wasps and I was happily able to persuade the home owner to let the wasps live. A little later in the summer I was given an update that the wasps were busy eating fence posts and patio furniture and by 17th July the nest was finished and the colony had dispersed.
I have since been able to find reference to various wasp nests in Bees and Wasps by Jiri Zahradnik in which he states that Tree Wasp nests are “…built most often under eaves, in bird boxes, in tree tops or partly underground”. Interestingly in the description of the wasp he notes “It does not bother man and does not enter his homes.” Thank goodness for books.
Reference:
Zahradnik, J. 1998. Bees and Wasps (English edition), Blitz Editions, Leicester.

01. Tree Wasp Dolichovespula sylvestris nest in bird box. Gary Farmer


02. Tree Wasp Dolichovespula sylvestris nest in bird box


03. Tree Wasp Dolichovespula sylvestris nest in bird box. Gary Farmer.

Worcestershire Record | 37 (November 2014) page: 8-9 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders