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BUCKS INVERTEBRATE RECORDING GROUP NEWSLETTER N0.5
Many thanks to all contributors to this edition of the Newsletter. Whilst this year without an Eric Hollowday 'special' (he has already begun compiling a magnum opus on Buckinghamshire water beetles for the next issue) we have our usual wide range of articles, although further material is always welcome. Notes, erudite scientific papers, observations and illustrations to: Kate HawkinsIJulian Scott Buckinghamshire County Museum Technical Centre Tring Road Ha1ton Aylesbury HP22 5PJ 0296-696012
b
Also enclosed with the notes from the last indoor meeting is a summary of Buckinghamshire County Council's Strategy for Nature Conservation.
BERNWOOD FOREST. INCLUDING BOTH THE HELL COPPICE/SHABBINGTON COMPLEX, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE AND WATERPERRY WOOD, OXFORDSHIRE, 31 JULY 1993 - LEADER. PAUL WARING
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This meeting was held jointly with members of Butterfly Conservation and the British Entomological and Natural History Society. The leader was joined by 19 members and friends during the day and 42 people at night. The Forestry Commission had kindly provided keys so that we could get cars, cars generators and other overnight equipment into the woods rather than leaving them in the public car park. As Claude Rivers remarked as he sat in the cavalcade of fourteen cars entering the wood for the day-time session, the general public had reason to be grateful because entomologists would otherwise have completely filled the car park! 24 mercury vapour lights and at least one actinic were operated during the night time session and we succeeded in dispersing traps throughout the whole of this 1000 acre site, including six lights in Waterperry Wood. The main objectives of the meeting were to note insects generally during the day-time session, which commenced at ll.OOhrs, and then to record as many species of macro-moths as possible during the night-time session to provide 1990s records to up-date and possibly add to the historical list of 431 species recorded up to the late 1980s (Waring 1988, 1990a). Copies of the full list for the Shabbington complex were issued for annotation and interest to those that required them. Before we started sampling Dr Rachel Thomas gave a brief presentation of the management history of the wood - the subject of her PhD thesis (Thomas 1987). This provided the context for interpreting the changes in the insect fauna (eg Peachey 1980, Waring 1990b) and also drew attention to special areas of recent management for us to sample.
On a good night it is possible to record upwards of 100 species of macros at this time of year in woodland sites. Unfortunately the weather was far from ideal during both the day and night sessions. By day it was at least dry but rather cool with only intermittent sunshine. The butterflies were sluggish. Sixteen species were seen of which the most notable was the White Admiral Ladoga camilla of which two individuals were seen visiting flowers of Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense and Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. near the Oakley Wood entrance. The other species, in generally small numbers, included the Large, Small and Essex Skippers, Ochlodes venata, Thymelicus sylvestris and T.lineola, the latter comprising a fair proportion of the total, the Large, Small and Green-veined Whites Pieris brassicae, P.napi and P.rapae, the Purple Hairstreak Quercusia quercus and Common Blue Polyoosnatus Icarus, Peacock Inachis i o and Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta, Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria, Marbled White Melanargia galathea, Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus, Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina and Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus. The numbers and distribution of Marbled Whites within this wood are rather variable but on this visit over a dozen were seen along the main east-west ride. The verges of several of the major rides looked better in terms of abundance and variety of flowers than in some recent years. The day-time group spent some time around the pond which the Forestry Commission created in the centre of the wood in the winter of 198611987. There is now a large stand of the Greater Reed-mace or Bulrush by the pond and inspection of the stems revealed the workings of the Bulrush Wainscot Nonagria typhae. Dragonflies and damselflies seen included Aeshna grandis, A.cyanea, Sympetrum striolatum, Enallagma cyathigerum, Ishnura elegans and several Lestes sponsa. Some of the moths recorded by day included the Yellow Shell Campt ograma bilinea ta , Six-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendula and larvae of the Cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae. A small amount of beating was done and as a result several larvae of the Poplar Lutestring Tethea or from Aspen Populus tremula and the larva of the Green Silver-lines Pseudoips fagana , Vapourer Moth Orgyria antiqua and Engrailed Ectropis bistortata from Silver Birch Betula pendula were seen. Just over 30 species of micro-moth were noted from leaf-mines and by other means, all of rather common species. Among insects of other orders were the Eyed Ladybird Anatis ocellata, several of which were seen at rest on plants including the Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre, and the Cerambycid beetle Strangalia maculata on flower-heads of Angelica Angelica sylvestris. The cloud that had been with us for most of the afternoon cleared by dusk of course! As a result the temperature fell. It was barely 13OC at 22.OOhrs, ll° at midnight and those of us that stayed in the wood all night, sleeping in cars, enjoyed a chilly 6 degrees. The low temperatures resulted in very small catches in the traps and the full moon by 23.00hrs did not help. What was doubly frustrating was that the following night was altogether warmer and cloudier and I had a larger catch in my garden trap than I did in the wood! What was noticeable among so many lights in the wood was that those in the shelter and to at least some extent shaded by trees, such as those in the narrow main ride from the Hell Coppice gate, caught more moths than those out in the open on the widest ride intersections. This type of result is welldocumented in Waring (1990a). Conversely on cloudy warm still nights in midsummer lights at ride intersects are likely to catch more species and often more individuals, particularly in the case of 125W MV lights rather than actinics. In spite of the small catches per trap, over 70 species of macro-moth were recorded, thanks to the large number of traps used. Furthermore two major
discoveries were made, adding the Hornet Clearwing Sesia apiformis and Pine Hawk Hyloicus pinastri to the all-time list for the site.
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Two Pine Hawk-moths were recorded by George Higgs and party who operated an MV light over a sheet at Intersection 18 in the centre of Waterperry Wood from dusk until midnight (SP608092). The moths arrived just before midnight. This is the first time the species has been recorded in Waterperry Wood and it has not been observed in the Hell CoppiceIShabbington woodlands either (Waring 1988). The absence of previous records of this species is in spite of the intensive light-trapping during the 1980s and also much beating of conifers for moth larvae during the PhD studies of Hatcher (1989). The records are very important locally. The moth has turned up periodically in the Oxford area over the years, at first as singletons, but now assumed to be breeding in the Wittenham and Boars Hill areas. There is a fair amount of Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris and other Pinus species in Bernwood and it may be that the moth has at last established a breeding colony in these woodlands. The Spruce Carpet Thera brittanica and the Dwarf Pug Eupithecia tantillaria were the only conifer-dependent macro-moths recorded from the site prior to 1950. The Larch Pug Eupi thecia laricata, Grey Pine Carpet Thera obeliscata, Tawny-barred Angle Semiothisa liturata and Bordered White or Pine Looper Bupalus piniaria were added to the list in the 1960s but it was not until the 1980s that the Barred Red Hylaea fasciaria, Satin Beauty Deileptenia ribeata, Pine Beauty Panolis flammea and Blair's Shoulderknot Lithophane leautieri were recorded (Waring 1988, 1990a). Had these species existed in the wood in their present numbers during the 1950s and 1960s they would undoubtedly have been recorded earlier. The other new addition to the all-time species list for Bernwood Forest is the Hornet Clearwing. During the field meeting Martin Townsend was sugaring sheltered trees on the western edge of the Shabbington complex by the Bernwood Meadows when he noticed an empty pupal case protruding from the base of one of the Poplars in the plantation (compt. 31, Yorks Wood, SP609109). The tree was about 3m in from the edge of the wood and vegetation around the base was sparse. The trunk probably receives some direct sunshine. The moth was actually discovered in the wood the previous month and reported at this meeting by Peter and Di Sharpe. On 27 June 1993 Peter had been turning back some bark on a Poplar at the eastern end of the adjacent compartment 32, on the north edge of the ride running east from Intersection 3 (SP614105), when a live pupa fell out. The adult moth was reared and emerged successfully on 29 June. This adds to a cluster of recent records in the Oxford area (Waring 1992).
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Three other species attracted particular interest and comment from the nightworkers and are worthy of mention. The Buff Footman Eilema deplana was about in good numbers throughout the woods, from Oakley Wood in the north to Waterperry Wood in the south, with several in many of the traps. Several recorders remarked that they had not seen this somewhat local moth before. The Oak Nycteoline Nycteola reveyana was another "newn species for some. This species was recorded in the semi-natural mature coppice regrowth of compartment 12 in Oakley Wood, and in Yorks Wood between compartments 23 and 24 on the main ride from Hell Coppice. The latter individual was of a fine red and grey form that seems to predominate in these woods. Several Satin Beauty, including females, were captured in the traps along the above ride, which runs by stands of mature conifers and has plenty of the cover with which both this species and the Oak Nycteoline are often associated. In contrast larvae of the Oak Nycteoline that I have beaten in these woods have been on free standing Oaks, in sunny places but adjacent to cover. The Satin Beauty turned up at other traps throughout the woods during the meeting but in smaller numbers.
The opportunity was also taken by light operators to record numbers of melanics, banded and typical forms of several species for comparisons of frequency between different habitats. The Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma was confirmed from the Shabbington complex, where specimens were taken on the main ride just north of Hell Coppice (D.Brown, pers.com.). Several Glow-worms L a m p y r i s n o c t i l u c a were reported along the main rides in Oakley and Waterperry Woods. Although the weather was against us the meeting did succeed in bringing together a large number of the societies' members and provided an opportunity to discuss our forays and discoveries so far this season. I would like to thank all those who attended and helped to make this meeting such a memorable occasion and to thank everyone for sending in their species lists so promptly. If any of you are still wondering what happened to my assistant, his five generators and the walkie-talkie radios that would have avoided Rachel and I travelling around the wood several times during the night, the answers are that the assistant did not have an accident on the road, nor was his van stolen as we feared; he phoned the day after to report that the loaded van was locked in a garage on the Friday night and he couldn't get hold of the key on the day of the meeting1 The owners of the radios had not renewed the licences to use them! REFERENCES Hatcher, P .E. (1989) Host p l a n t s and n u t r i t i o n i n c o n i f e r - f e e d i n g L e p i d o p t e r a . PhD thesis, unpublished. Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford. Peachey, C.A. (1980) The c o n s e r v a t i o n o f b u t t e r f l i e s i n Bernwood F o r e s t . Unpublished report. Nature Conservancy Council, Newbury. Thomas, R.C. (1987) The h i s t o r i c a l e c o l o g y o f Bernwood F o r e s t . PhD thesis, unpublished. Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford. Waring, P. (1988) Hell C o p p i c e I S h a b b i n g t o n Wood c o m p l e x , Bernwood F o r e s t , B u c k i n g h a m s h i r e , i n c l u d i n g t h e Bernwood Meadows. P r o v i s i o n a l a n n o t a t e d l i s t o f t h e macro-moths i n c l u d i n g a l l known h i s t o r i c a l r e c o r d s . 57pp. Unpublished booklet. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. Waring, P. (1990a) Abundance and d i v e r s i t y o f m o t h s i n woodland h a b i t a t s . PhD thesis, unpublished. Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford. Waring, P. (1990b) The status in Bernwood Forest of moth species which are recognised as nationally uncommon. E n t o m o l o g i s t ' s Record and J o u r n a l o f V a r i a t i o n 102:233-238. Waring, P. (1992) Provisional distribution map for S e s i a a p i f o r m i s . In: Moth c o n s e r v a t i o n p r o j e c t . News B u l l e t i n 4 . Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. Paul Waring
ANOTHER LOCALITY FOR H E L I X POMATIA? Further to the note in Newsletter 4 concerning Roman Snails, Ed Kendrick writes "I enclose an old record, in case you don't have it, of an apparent introduction at Gayhurst which was favoured by the limestone geology like the Buckingham examples. It would be interesting to know if a population still survives there. Its conservation status would seem to preclude testing the recipe for invalidsl":
The Roman Snail. T h e Helix Pomaiia, or large edible snail, which abounds in the spring months, in many w a t e n places, and amongst woods, is found at Gayhurst: a coppice on the banks of the Ouse abounds with it, and it is said to have been brought from France by Sir Kenelm Digby, to be used by Lady Veiietia, as a restorative in consumption. This snail, which is of a whitish hue tinged with red, and the flesh particularly white and firm, buri,es itself deep in t h e ground on the approach of winter, and remains in a torpid state until the spring'. T h e method of serving up these slimy dainties for invalids was: ' Take twelve snayles, clean washed, boil them in a pint of new milk to half a pint. then pour it on one ounce of cryngo-root." The suserer being told to take it every night and morning.
The source of this interesting culinary snippet is Oliver Ratcliffe (1900) H i s t o r y a n d a n t i q u i t i e s of t h e N e w p o r t P a g n e l l H u n d r e d s . Cowper Press, Olney , p.142.
E. POLLARD AND T .J .YATES ( 199 3 ) MONITORING BUTTERFLIES FOR ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION- CHAPMAN AND HALL, LONDON - £35.0 In essence this book is an account of the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme which has been running since 1976, organised by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology at Monks Wood. Put in these dry terms the book may seem to be of limited appeal, but in fact the Monitoring Scheme has produced a wealth of data, and has enabled a number of researchers to investigate a wide range of subjects relating to the biology of butterflies. This book brings together all these strands in what must be one of the most comprehensive and readable accounts of a survey scheme ever published.
Pollard and Yates first describe the Monitoring Scheme itself, pointing out the assumptions made in its conception and clearly indicating the limitations of the method which must be borne in mind when working with the data it has produced. The sites used in the Scheme are discussed, and then the distribution of butterflies in different habitats within those sites. The Scheme is not intended to give an absolute estimate of butterfly numbers, but rather to assess fluctuations in relative abundance from one year to the next, and Pollard and Yates next present the information on overall UK changes in butterfly abundance, followed by the evidence from the Scheme of local colonizations and extinctions. The next chapters discuss the effects of weather on butterfly populations, the behaviour and distribution of migrant species, and the data the Scheme has provided on flight periods (this latter being a good example of a subject which might have been thought to be sufficiently well-known not to be of much further interest; however, careful analysis of data from the Scheme has produced new information on the variation in flight periods between years and between sites, which in turn has implications for species ranges and colonising abilities). It has become apparent, and the Monitoring Scheme has confirmed, that in general terms our butterflies now fall into two groups, those which are widely distributed and can be found in a variety of habitats (and are mostly holding or increasing their range), and those which are distinctly less widely distributed, having much more specific habitat requirements (many of which are decreasing in range). The next two chapters describe in detail the information from the Scheme for four of the widespread species and four of the localised species. Another detailed chapter fallows on specific sites within the Scheme, containing much information on the effects of different sorts of management on butterflies, which will be of great practical value to those involved in conservation management. Finally there is a general discussion of butterfly population ecology, a fascinating account of the way in which the Monitoring Scheme may be able to provide evidence of the potential changes in butterfly populations due to climatic warming, and a synopsis summarising the knowledge gained from the Scheme and the way in which this has been fed back into practical conservation measures. There are three appendices and comprehensive references and indices. This book is a tribute both to the dedication of the largely amateur recorders whose work has made the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme possible, and to the expertise of the scientists who have subsequently interpreted the resulting data. A point frequently made in the book is that many areas of study require very long periods of consistent data, and even after 17 years of the Scheme some aspects of butterfly biology can only begin to be studied, and others will require continuous monitoring in the future. This book, with its exemplary presentation of the benefits so far gained from the Scheme, should inspire recorders and scientists to continue their efforts for many years to come. Martin Harvey T h i s r e v i e w o r i g i n a l l y a p p e a r e d i n Antenna and i s r e p r o d u c e d w i t h p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e Royal E n t o m o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y .
LOOK OUT FOR THIS SPECIES The following illustration should make it easy to identify this beetle, which is rumoured to have established itself in Britain from its origin in central Europe, particularly on old firing ranges.
SWISS ARmY
BEETLE
Tony F Marshal1
ANALYSIS OF BURNBAM BEECHES MOTH CATCHES W
When recording moths using more than 1 lamp it is often obvious that some species only occur at one of the 2 lamps, even though they are in the same habitat and no more than 50m apart. On the 16th of July 1993 7 lamps, split into 3 sites, were run on a rather unpromising night at Burnham Beeches, Bucks. At each site no 2 lamps were further apart than about 60 metres. Separate species lists were kept for all but lamps 6 & 7. This provided a good opportunity to assess the potential, in terms of species recording, of more than one lamp. The data are summarised below: SITE A (mixed wood by Upper Pond): Lamp 1, SU950848. Lamp 2, SU9.51848, very close to pond.
SITE B (edge of open common land next to young woodland): Lamp 3, SU954849. Lamp 4, SU955849. Lamp 5, SU954848, in the woodland. SITE C (heath area, recently cleared), SU954845: Lamps 6 & 7, species not recorded separately, listed as lamp 6. INDIVIDUAL LAMP TOTALS (not lamps 6 & 7) 1 27 species 2 29 species 3 30 species 4 29 species 5 28 species SITE TOTALS A (2 lamps) B (3 lamps) C (2 lamps)
40 species 52 species 45 species
TOTAL FOR ALL SITES
75 species
SPECIES FOUND AT ALL LAMPS (6 & 7 together) 5. SPECIES FOUND AT ALL SITES 19. SPECIES FOUND AT ONE SITE ONLY
32.
WITHIN A SITE SPECIES FOUND AT ALL LAMPS (site C excluded) Site A 16 species from a total of 40. Site B 10 species from a total of 52. These results certainly showa distinct benefit in having multiple lamps, even in the same habitat, for species recording purposes at these 3 sites on this particular night. The total of 75 species would be expected from only 1 or 2 lamps on a reasonable July night. That then raises the question of how would the results have compared on a good night? It would also be interesting to know the numbers of species at each light, especially those found at only one, were they just singletons? Whilst this exercise raises many questions and can provide talking points whilst sitting round moth lamps from November to February, it is an area worth investigating. Questions on moth biology and the relevance of records from moth lamps for sites of limited size and for monitoring of effects of management are pertinent. U =
t
a
S =
species unique to a site species occuring at all lamps species occuring at all sites
Site A
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Site B
Site C
1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2
U
3 3 3
U
5
4 5 3 4
4 3 4 5
1
S
6
U U
U
6
2 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 2
1 2
3 4 5 3 5 5 5 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 5 3 3
2 4 4 4
6 6 6
1 2
6 6 6
U
2 1 2
6 6 6 U U
3 4
6
5 3 4 5 4 5 3 4 5
6 6 6
S S
U
3 3 4 5 3 4 5
3 4 5 5 5 5
3
6 6
t U
6 6 6 6
6 6
U U
U
t
S U
6 3 4 U
5 U
4 5 4
1 1
t
U U
6 1 2 2 1
t U
U
L
2
S S
S
1 2
1 2 2
S U U
6
5 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2
S S
6 6 6
5 4
6 6 6
S
U
1765 BARRED YELLOW 2301 BIRD'S WING 2033 BLACK ARCHES 1906 BRIMSTONE MOTH 2110 BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING 1653 BUFF ARCHES 2049 BUFF FOOTMAN 1994 BUFF-TIP 2193 CLAY 1887 CLOUDED BORDER 1958 CLOUDED SILVER 1738 COMMON CARPET 1669 COMMON EMERALD 2050 COMMON FOOTMAN 1657 COMMON LUTESTRING 1956 COMMON WAVE 1955 COMMON WHITE WAVE 2008 COXCOMB PROMINENT 2321 DARK ARCHES 2128 DOUBLE SQUARE-SPOT 2318 DUN-BAR 1917 EARLY THORN 1 9 9 1 ELEPHANT HAWK 1947 ENGRAILED 2102 FLAME SHOULDER 1860 GREEN PUG - 2 1 5 0 GREY ARCHES 1768 GREY PINE CARPET 2089 HEART AND DART 2000 IRON PROMINENT 1777 JULY HIGHFLYER 1666 LARGE EMERALD 2107 LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING 1814 LEAD-COLOURED PUG 1 6 1 LEOPARD MOTH 2006 LESSER SWALLOW PROMINENT 2109 LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING 1 9 6 1 LIGHT EMERALD 2337 MARBLED MINOR 2410 MARBLED WHITE SPOT 2280 MILLER 2225 MINOR SHOULDER-KNOT 1 9 4 1 MOTTLED BEAUTY 2425 NUT-TREE TUSSOCK 1646 OAK HOOK-TIP 1 6 5 2 PEACH BLOSSOM 1648 PEBBLE HOOK-TIP 2003 PEBBLE PROMINENT 1 9 3 1 PEPPERED MOTH 1978 PINE HAWK-MOTH 1 9 8 1 POPLAR HAWK 2122 PURPLE CLAY 1713 RIBAND WAVE 2064 RUBY TIGER 2382 RUSTIC 1789 SCALLOP SHELL 1645 SCALLOPED HOOK-TIP
1 9 2 1 SCALLOPED OAK 2047 SCARCE FOOTMAN 2 4 2 1 SCARCE SILVER-LINES 2335 SLENDER BRINDLE 2305 SMALL ANGLE SHADES 1 7 0 2 SMALL FAN-FOOTED WAVE 1 7 5 9 SMALL PHOENIX 1 8 7 5 SMALL WHITE WAVE 2198 SMOKY WAINSCOT 2 4 7 7 SNOUT 2 2 6 8 SUSPECTED 1 9 2 2 SWALLOW-TAILED MOTH 2339 TAWNY BARRED-ANGLE 1 8 9 3 TAWNY MARBLED MINOR 2118 TRUE LOVER'S KNOT 2 3 8 1 UNCERTAIN 1 9 3 7 WILLOW BEAUTY 2030 YELLOW-TAIL
Martin Albertini
DIPTERA & MICROSCOPY
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FOR THE UN-INITIATED
A little background to what I do - I use water traps with an inverted plastic bottle to maintain the water level during hot weather. The water contains the usual mix of chloral hydrate etc. I trap from April to September, before the traps become fouled with catkins and debris, afterwards with falling leaves. I bulk store in screwtop jars filled with iso propyl alcohol. I sort out a batch of about fifty specimens and place them in numbered V X 3 " glass tubes. All tubes, microslides, descriptive data sheets, drawings & process appertaining to a specimen retain this preliminary number until identified. When, and if, identified the specimen receives a Collection serial number, a Family number (from 1 - 8 7 ) and a page number from the index of that particular family - even the large number of slides that I give away retain these details. With this system, from a collection of over 600 (and still growing) microslides, I can place my finger on a tube, microslide or data sheet within 1 5 seconds. Mountants - I get on best with Numount or Balsam thick in xylene - toluene dries off too quickly - but xylene is just about right. Another advantage of Numount or Balsam is that it is not necessary to ring seal the cover slip only to make the slide look pretty it should be cured on a hot plate for about three days. With alcoholic or aqueous mountants I get 'Bubble Trouble' although, theoretically, the former should be ideal since I store and dissect in alcohol under a stereo microscope. However, in alcoholic mountants I lose wings, they adhere to 9 instrument in use, curl up, and become damaged when they won't unfurl, and generally end up unfit to be mounted1 When moved from alcohol into xylene they straighten out. To remove wings I use fine tweezers honed to a point (not quite needle sharp), grip the wing as close as possible to the thorax, then run a sharp blade down
the tweezers on the thorax side and place in xylene. The blade is a small section cut with scissors off a modern double edged razor blade set in a slot at the end of a 6mm square (square, because round dowels end up on the floorl) handle about 12cm long. With xylene & propyl I do not use watch glasses as I find plastic stoppers from 1" glass tubes or any small white snap-on caps more useful. They can be used in an 80mm Petri Dish and when not in immediate use and covered the liquids will not dry out for a couple of days. I have microscissors although some chitin is hard and slides up the scissor blades - in this case I have micro-pincers, with parallel sharp blades. .To handle the wings once they have been removed I have developed two simple tools from white eraser rubber (some commercially manufactured rubber is rather crumbly - as the elasticity is important 'Rubbery Rubber' is preferable); (1) the 'Finder' is a thin tapered triangular section cut to a point about 20mm long, and; the 'Floater', which is a thin section, 10mm X 20nm1, with the leading edge as thin as possible - it looks like a spade whentinserted into a slot at the end of a 6mm square handle. The Finder is also mounted on a handle at an angle of about 30° I float the wing onto the rubber spade with the aid of the finder, and in this way it is very easy to transfer the wing whilst wet from one liquid to another. The disadvantage of steel needles is the damage that their springiness can cause (dry specimens under the microscope have been known to take off without the assistance of their wings l ) Rubber, by contrast, is slower to retain its shape and doesn't spring.
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All wings in excess of 5mm in length I place between two pieces of glass (cut pieces of micro-slide), bind with cotton two or three times whilst held in a 'bulldog' clip, and place in xylene for about three days. During this time the cotton will shrink and flatten out any ridges in the wing - this is a normal practice in microscopy for whole mounts etc. Mounting - Have ready to hand a guide to the centre of a 1" X 3" microslide. It can be as simple as two diagonal lines on a card, on which the slide is placed; or, as I have made in plywood, a 1" X 3" recess, open at one end, into which a card marked with concentric rings from 10mm to 22mm (in 2mm stages), and also cross lined, squared and rectangled, is inserted. As a mountant I would recommend 'Numount in xylene - THICK', and a 3-5mm glass rod with which to apply it. An appropriate size of coverslip is no smaller than 4mm plus the length of the wing, or to start with one that is double the length. In the case of large wings, such as the Tipulidae, use rectangles - 20mm X 50mm coverslips can be cut to size with a diamond scriber, or bought to size. Put a small drop of mountant on the centre of the microslide. Float the wing onto the edge rubber spade with the aid of the finder, remove from the xylene, and blot off any excess from the underside. At an angle, slowly slide the wing into the mountant - bubbles should not be trapped under the wing, but if there are just dab the wing and push them away into the surrounding mountant. The xylene on the spade will thin the mountant, and if it becomes too dilute, more can be added. However, surplus liquid will need to be pushed away as to much allows the wings to float out from under the coverslip. Using a pair of paddle-ended tweezers pick up the coverslip by its edge and lower it slowly onto the microslide at an angle, You will see the mountant move from one side to the other taking any air with it. Remove the tweezers and don't touch the coverslip unless you really have to, but if you do have any bubbles careful slight pressure may get rid of them.. The slide must then be baked for 24 hours at 70°C Then, if the edges are cured, carefully scrape off any surplus mountant, bake for another two days, and clean with either Toluene or xylene. For ringing the coverslip, I use water based acrylic paint or black ring cement. I have stopped using Gentian violet in shellac which is Meths based, because even months after completion fingers of violet penetrate under the
,
coverslip. With practice and experience, you will be able to make perfect slides. A good slide must show the necessary identification features - all pertinent bristles, spines, hairs, scales and microtrichia (i.e. squamae bristles). In the case of the Tipulidae and Calliphoridae stem and vein bristles and costal spines are important. Staining with Fastgreen in Acetic Acid - At the Quekett Annual Exhibition Meeting held in the Natural History Museum in 1992 I prepared 18 microslides with one wing stained and the other natural on the same slide. (Normally I would stain both wings so that if one gets messed up then, with a bit of luck, I may be more fortunate with the other). The object of staining is to intensify or highlight those veins that are very faint and difficult to see under a microscope. I draw wings at exactly lOx magnification so I need to see all of the venation. I recommend the following steps: 1) remove a wing and place between two pieces of glass with a small piece of paper to act as a spacer (having written in pencil on the paper the same number or letter as the rest of the fly in a tube of alcohol). Bind the glass with a turn of cotton - there is no need to compress the wing, merely stop distortion. Keep the wing between the glass until just before mounting. 2) place in a small jar (30ml) with a weak solution of the stain and monitor
for several days - some veins stain more readily than others - as they stain place them in propyl. With wings that are reluctant to stain, strengthen the fluid until the desired result is forthcoming. 3) the use of acetic acid makes fragile wings more fragile, a reason for my development of the rubber tools mentioned previously. After an hour or two remove from the propyl and dab with a piece of cloth to remove any surplus fluid. Place in a small jar of xylene, leave for a few minutes and prepare for mounting as described above. Put the bound glass into a plastic stopper or lid filled with xylene, cut the cotton, gently separate the glass and the wing will float off, then carry on as before. Get into the habit of putting the cap or screw top back on containers and bottles immediately after use. Quite apart from being flammable, it is not wise to inhale xylene fumes.
All my material wants - I get from Mr Eric Marson of Northern Biological Supplies (N.B.S., 3 Betts Avenue, MartleshamHeath, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP5 7HR, 0473-623995). Mr Marson is one of the leading experts in mounting microscopy and various other subjects including the mounting of genitalia. On application he will send price lists (very competitive) and also answer questions or give advice. Mr Marson also has a series of seventeen booklets which are now bound in book form and indexed (price £5.00) It is a very useful reference book to have on the shelf and he also has available videos showing techniques. Apart from making microslides - I have one or two gadgets to aid the examination of flies under the microscope: 1) a horizontal rotatable spindle at the end of which is a platformwhich can be turned through 360'. On one side is a 15mm long ' V of white plastic on the other is a 15mm diameter mirror (with a removable rim for cleaning). If a specimen is placed on the slightly angled mirror, using a x3 objective and xlO eyepieces, it is possible to see the dorsal and ventral sides of legs just by
racking the microscope up or down. 2) the next idea is simple. It is an elongated 'V', one white and one dull black, on which the glass specimen tubes rest. It is possible to record a lot of inÂormation from the wet specimens at this stage under a stereo microscope, before drying them off for examination with a binocular microscope.
Cecil Monk
INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION AT HOMEFIELD WOOD 1.1 Introduction
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Homefield Wood is in south Buckinghamshire, near Marlow (SU8186). There is evidence for at least some woodland having been on this site since 1768. In 1947 much of the wood then existing was felled, and the same year Mr J.E.Lousley discovered the very rare Military Orchid growing in a clearing. Since 1969 part of the Wood has been managed by BBONT, initially as a 'secret' reserve, but in recent years it has been opened to the public. It was declared an SSSI in 1984. Homefield Wood as a whole covers between 100 and 120 hectares, and is owned and commercially managed by Forest Enterprise. The area managed by BBONT in conjunction with Forest Enterprise covers about 6 ha, of which about 4 ha is woodland and 2 ha unimproved chalk grassland. Although the Military Orchids obviously receive first priority when it comes to conservation management, the reserve manager, Bill Havers, has much wider horizons than just the reserve's botanical interest, and is enthusiastically pursuing a balanced approach to conservation of the site's plants, birds, mammals and invertebrates. Military Orchids are now very rare in England, and their restricted distribution is far from understood; one still-unsolved mystery is how they are naturally pollinated. On the continent they grow much more profusely and in a variety of habitats. The plants at Homefield are the subject of a long-running programme of research, and are protected by an on-site warden, whose duties include hand-pollinating a proportion of the flowers and carefully recording the progress of the existing plants.
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I first visited Homefield Wood in January 1993, and since then have visited the site regularly, to record moths and other invertebrates, to take part in conservation work parties and simply to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the wood. For this year's annual report (Wheeler & ChiMOG, 1994) I undertook to collate as many invertebrate records as I could find for the site, and to interpret them to the best of my ability in order that invertebrates might be considered as fully as possible in future management plans. The following article is a summary of some of the more unusual records at Homefield Wood; the full report, including complete species lists for plants, mammals, birds and invertebrates, as well as the current state of play for the orchids, is available from ChiMOG (address below). The full report and this summary are the result of records having been submitted by a large number of people, and I am grateful for their interest and advice. I have given their initials for particular records (full names are listed at the foot of this article), but special mention must be made of Martin Albertini and Peter Hall, whose records of moths and other invertebrates form the backbone of the recording work that
has been done at Homefield. 1.2 Habitats at Homefield Wood The woodland at Homefield is mixed, with a predominance of Norway and Omorika Spruce, Hybrid Larch and Beech; the relatively small area of this woodland which falls within the reserve itself is mostly young Beech, with some older Yew. The trees at Homefield were mostly planted from 1959 to 1961, and some areas are now due to be thinned over the next few years. There is a wide variety of other trees present, particularly around the edges of the wood. These include Scot's Pine, Douglas Fir, Field Maple, Sycamore, Birch, Sallow, Oak, Wych and English Elm, Ash and Cherry. As most of these trees (apart from the Yews) are no older than about 30 years, there is a shortage of standing dead wood, although stumps from previous fellings are in ample supply, and some interesting dead wood species have been recorded (see below). There is a good network of rides through the wood, but many of these have become rather over-shadowed as the trees have begun to mature. BBONT has not in the past had any control over ride management, but from 1994 onwards this may change, and it is hoped that at least some rides can be opened up more. The other main habitat within the reserve itself is an unimproved chalk grassland area, the Meadow. This is bisected by a drainage ditch running north to south, and the grass area rises to the east and west of this ditch. This area is botanically rich, and supports a variety of invertebrates; six species of butterfly are found nowhere else on the reserve. The other clearings on.the reserve are smaller, and are fairly enclosed by Yews and young Beeches, which possibly form a barrier to species spreading from the Meadow. The oldest clearing dates from about 1947, or perhaps earlier, but the others are recent, the result of management work in the winters since 1985186, mostly consisting of the clearance of areas of Laurel. 1.3 Recording methods The bulk of the invertebrate recording at Homefield Wood dates from 1989 onwards (MA+PH), although I have been sent two lots of records from 1985 (TM and KP), and Homefield Wood's claim to entomological fame dates from 1983, when Dr H.C.J.Godfray discovered on the reserve a species of leaf-mining fly new to science, Chromatomyia paraciliata (Diptera: Agromyzidae; see Godfray 1985). Dr Godfray has since found the fly quite widely in the BBONT area. The most comprehensively recorded group of invertebrates is, not surprisingly, the butterflies, although even here records were somewhat erratic before 1988. Although an informal butterfly transect has been used at Homefield in the past, in 1993 a new one was set up to include the newly-created clearings and to be consistent, as far as possible, with the national recording scheme. This has not been fully achieved, the major difficulty being that the national scheme runs for Z6 weeks from 1 April, whereas the Orchid Warden is only able to record transacts in 13 weeks, equivalent to weeks 7-19 of the national scheme, between May and the beginning of August. Whilst this means that some species are under-recorded, the reduced transect will nonetheless enable a more accurate estimate to be made of the health of many of the reserve's butterfly populations in future years, and will also give some indication of the success (or otherwise) of the habitat management carried out in different parts of the reserve. After the butterflies, the macro-moths have been the most thoroughly investigated of the invertebrates at Homefield Wood. Even so, 1993 has been
the first year when moth-trapping has occurred throughout the year, and more species undoubtedly await discovery. The vast majority of moth records have been obtained by using light-traps in the summer months, mostly Robinson or Skinner MV traps; in 1993 a fairly regular programme of Heath-trapping took place throughout the year. Of the approximately 800 resident or regular migrant species of macro-moths on the UK list, 285 ( just over 35%) have been recorded at Homefield Wood. The Homefield list includes one species classified as "Red Data Book (RDB) 3: rare", two species classified as "nationally notable a" and 16 species classified as "nationally notable b". Approximately 1500 species of micro-moth have been recorded in the British Isles. At Homefield 111 species have been recorded. If we assume that Homefield contains the same percentage of British micro-moths as it does macros, i.e. 35Z, then there are another 400 species of micro awaiting discovery1 Of the micro-moth species that have been recorded, one is "RDB 2: vulnerablen and one is "nationally notable". It may be of interest to note the numbers of species caught in different years with different trapping regimes, and this is given in Table 1 (micros are not included since they have not been studied as consistently as macros). Table 1. Moths caught at light-trap at Homefield Wood 1989-1993
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1989 one Heath actinic trap run once (June) one Robinson mv trap run on two occasions (July, November) two Robinson mv traps run on three occasions (June, August, November) number of species caught: 123 1990 two Robinson mv traps run on five occasions (April, May, July, August, September) number of species caught: 146 species previously unrecorded: 64 (44Z) 1991 two Robinson mv traps run on four occasions (April, May, July, August) two Skinner traps (one mv lamp, one SL fluorescent lamp) run on two occasions (June, July) number of species caught: 173 species previously unrecorded: 58 (34Z) 1992 two Robinson mv traps run on one occasion (July) number of species caught: 87 species previously unrecorded: 14 (16Z) 1993 two Robinson mv traps run on one occasion (April) two Skinner mv traps run on two occasions (June, August) one mv lamp (on sheet) run on four occasions (May, June, September) one Heath actinic trap run on about 25 occasions throughout the year number of species caught: 210 species previously unrecorded: 42 (20%) The fact that new species are still being found fairly easily would suggest that there is some way to go before the moth list can be considered
comprehensive. This is partly because light-traps are fairly inefficient at sampling moth populations, and only catch a small percentage of moths from a small radius around the trap. For this reason it is difficult to generalise about whether moths are doing well or badly, in terms of either number of species or size of populations. However, my own opinion is that Homefield Wood is an important site for moths, considering the total number of species that have been recorded, and the number of nationally rare species included in this total, after relatively few trapping sessions. The rest of the invertebrates have been recorded far less comprehensively than the Lepidoptera. Some of the larger and more conspicuous creatures, such as Ladybirds, Bush-crickets and Dragonflies, have been recorded relatively frequently. Other records are the result of chance coincidences between the species concerned and a naturalist able to identify them. The records that we have do not allow any conclusions about trends in species number or population size, but again prompt the general observation that a wide range of species, including a number of rare ones, have been found despite the lack of any organised survey work. One "RDB 2: vulnerable" species, five "nationally notablen species and four other locally rare species have been recorded. 1.4 Butterflies in 1993 Of the 60 or so resident or regular migrant butterfly species in the British Isles, 25 were recorded at Homefield in 1993 (compared to 28 in 1992). Of the 25 species recorded this year, 24 are almost certainly established and breeding on or near the reserve, and the remaining one, the Red Admiral, is a regular and common migrant. Since the 1960s, 36 butterfly species have been recorded at Homefield at least once. In general, the transect counts in 1993 confirmed what one would have expected with regard to species distribution on the reserve, namely that the older clearings with a greater variety of plants support more species of butterfly. Twenty-one butterfly species were recorded during the 1993 transect counts. Most local entomologists seem to agree that 1993 was a fairly bad year for butterflies, with much of the summer wet and/or cold. There were no sightings at Homefield this year of Green Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary or Dark Green Fritillary, all of which were seen last year. With luck they will return in future years, although the two fritillaries are declining in the BBONT area (and elsewhere). The poor weather may be the explanation for the fact that there was no evidence this year of a second brood of Small Heath. Small Tortoiseshells seemed common enough in March and April, but very few were seen subsequently; indeed, none at all were counted on the transect. The White Admiral was only seen once; Although it can tolerate more shade than some other woodland butterflies, it does not do well in cold or wet summers. Of the migrant species, Red Admirals were seen frequently, but no Painted Ladies or Clouded Yellows reached Homefield this year. The other butterfly that dropped from the records this year was the Holly Blue, the populations of which were widely expected to crash following recent good years for this butterfly. Only one adult Small Copper was reported this year, in May. Small Copper numbers do fluctuate, although not as much as do Holly Blues, and hopefully this butterfly will return (although there is some evidence of a decline nationally). White-letter Hairstreaks have maintained an encouraging presence. Their caterpillars were found on Wych Elm, and the butterflies were seen during
transect counts. Purple Hairstreaks were not recorded this year, but they are probably breeding somewhere in Homefield Wood; they are elusive butterflies. In terms of their national status, the rarest butterflies at Homefield are probably the Dingy Skipper, the Grizzled Skipper and the Brown Argus. All three were seen in the Meadow in reasonably good numbers this year (with a second brood for the Brown Argus) , although the small area of the Meadow means that their populations will never be very large. This in turn means that these populations will remain vulnerable to poor weather, loss of foodplant, or just chance events. Management for conservation of these species is difficult in such a small area, but the present rotational grazing regime is designed to ensure that not all the grass is grazed in any one year, thus always allowing some eggs, larvae or pupae to survive. 1.5 Military Orchid pollination
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The natural insect pollinators of the Military Orchid remain elusive; indeed it is still a matter of debate as to whether or not the flowers actually produce nectar. However, in 1993 a worker bumble bee, of the common species Bombus pratorum, was captured with a Military Orchid pollinium stuck to its thorax. This does not conclusively prove that it would have been able to pollinate another plant, but is the best evidence we have so far for an insect pollinator (although bees are not observed on the Military Orchid flowers very often). A dance fly, Empis tessellata, was filmed visiting a flower in 1992, by Charles Russell. However, this is a predatory fly, and was thus unlikely to have been acting as a pollinator. On three nights a Heath moth trapwas positioned close to Military Orchid flowers, but although a variety of moths was trapped, none had pollinia -attached. At the Open Day on 29 May, a Brimstone butterfly, an unspecified bumble bee and a "small waspn were reported on Military Orchid flowers. The majority of Military Orchid flowers at Homefield are pollinated naturally, and if this is by a particular invertebrate species it seems strange that the orchid wardens have not noticed it during the long periods that they spend pollinating flowers by hand, especially since the pollinia themselves are quite large, suggesting a large insect pollinator. If the flowers do not produce nectar, could pollen-feeding hoverflies be likely candidates? 1.6 Rarer species and habitat requirements
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Although the species mentioned below are categorised loosely by habitat type, many of them might require a variety of habitats at different stages in their life-cycle, or for different aspects of their behaviour. One of the strengths of Homefield Wood is that it contains a wide variety of habitats in close proximity: chalk grassland, broadleaf and coniferwood, scrub, hedgerows, bare ground, damp hollows. Habitat requirements are poorly known for many invertebrates; those details that are given are taken fromvarious references, where possible from the Reviews recently published by JNCC. 1.6.1 Rare species in the clearings
Of the habitats represented on the reserve, the natural 'unimproved' chalk grassland of the Meadow and other clearings is probably the habitat type which is least common in the surrounding area; indeed, this sort of grassland is increasingly rare nationally. Although there are other grassy fields nearby, they are grazed much more intensively, and may receive fertilizer, herbicide or pesticide sprays, either directly or as a result of 'drift' from other farmland. Consequently, Homefield's Meadow is much richer in flowers by
comparison. It also contains some uncommon invertebrate species, including most of Homefield's rarer butterflies; however, its potential for being a refuge for some of these species is limited by its relatively small size, rendering at least some of the invertebrate populations vulnerable to the dangers of fragmentation. Current management is taking these problems into account, with the grazing regime using a rotation system to reduce the danger of entire invertebrate populations being simply eaten or trampled, and to ensure that a mosaic of different habitats is maintained. Also, as other clearings in addition to the Meadow are created and managed it is hoped that some species will be able to migrate between clearings, thus building up bigger overall populations. Even relatively small barriers such as hedges can prevent some insects from migrating in this manner, and it may therefore be important to provide 'corridors' in the form of grassy rides between the clearings. The rarer species associated with the Meadow and clearings are: Dingy Skipper. Established in the Meadow, but not yet seen in the other clearings. A declining species throughout Europe, it likes sunny, sheltered slopes, and at Homefield is mostly seen on the north-east 'chalk bank' side of the Meadow. As this is a sedentary butterfly, it probably breeds only in this area. Grizzled Skipper. Established in the Meadow only, again on the north-east bank (and it is again a sedentary species), but seen in smaller numbers than the Dingy Skipper. Declining nationally. Seems to prefer habitat which is in transition from grassland to scrub, and is thus susceptible both to over-grazing and shrub encroachment. It is susceptible to trampling during its nine-month pupal stage, emphasising the value of a rotational grazing regime to ensure its survival. Brown Argus. Established in the Meadow only. A very local butterfly, typically occurring in small populations such as that at Homefield. Prefers sunny slopes with some shelter, and may be associated with ants. Found principally on the north-east bank of the Meadow, but this species is less sedentary than the previous two, and may spread if its foodplant does. Dark Green Fritillary. Has occurred sporadically, in seven years since 1972 (including a run of three years from 1979 to 1981). last seen in 1992. This seems to suggest that the butterfly is capable of reaching Homefield, but does not find the habitat suitable for breeding. Perhaps the butterfly prefers larger areas of downland, but it can exist on small sites, and is said to favour sites adjoining woodland, even utilising rides where they are sufficiently open and sunny. It likes longer turf than the three species mentioned above, suggesting that Homefield is currently maintaining those three species at the expense of providing conditions suitable for the Dark Green Fritillary (however, all four species were present in 1980). Striped Lychnis moth. Nationally Notable A. A very local moth largely confined to Buckinghamshire and Hampshire. In 1991 MAtPH found 39 larvae, mostly on dark mullein plants along the Main Ride near the entrance to Homefield (in terms of numbers of larvae recorded, Homefield Wood was the best site in Bucks for this moth in 1991; Waring 1992b). On 4 .viii.93 I searched all the plants I could find; out of a total of 87 plants, I found 26 larvae, 23 of which were on one plant in the 'middle segment' of the Meadow. The other three larvae were on three other plants around the Meadow. There was no sign of any larvae along the Main Ride, as in 1991; however, just at the time when the eggs would have been laid, contractors for Forest Enterprise mowed the Main Ride, cutting down the flower spikes on approximately 16 plants. As the larvae mostly feed on the flowers, this may have caused some damage to the population this year, especially as the
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Striped Lychnis usually chooses plants growing in the open, where they get more sun - in other words the plants nearest the centre of the Ride, which suffered most from the mowing. The plant with 23 larvae feeding voraciously on it was understandably beginning to show some signs of wear and tear, and on the advice of Dr Paul Waring I moved 11 larvae to other plants around the Meadow. Sitochroa palealismicro-moth. Nationally Notable. First recorded at Homefield at MV trap on 20.vii.93 (RK), apparently the first record for Buckinghamshire. The status of this moth is uncertain, it is an immigrant from the Continent, but also seems to have established permanent populations in some areas, especially in coastal areas. Most records are for southern England, but it has been found as far north as Yorkshire and as far west as Carmarthenshire. The larval foodplant is Wild Carrot, which has been recorded at Homefield Wood, but not on the reserve itself. Mecyna flavalis ssp. flaviculalis micro-moth. Provisional Red Data Book 2: Vulnerable. A single example of this species was recorded at Homefield Wood on 18 .vii.92 (MAtPH). This record would appear to be the only one for Buckinghamshire; indeed, this very rare moth is currently known to maintain viable populations at only two sites, one in East Sussex and the other on the Isle of Wight. Its larval foodplant is unknown, but it probably requires a close-grazed herb-rich turfn (Parsons 1993). It is interesting that both this and the above species have been found at Homefield, along with the "very local"(but not in any of the Notable categories as yet) Cochylis flaviciliana micro-moth; all three of these species are more usually associated with chalk grassland much further south in England, often near the coast. Helicella itala snail. A species which is declining nationally. Recorded in 1993 by BV, who notes that, it has disappeared from many chalk hillsides where he had seen it commonly in the past. He found one empty shell, near the hedge at the eastern side of the Meadow. Snail shells can last virtually unchanged for many years, so this cannot be taken as evidence that the species is still present, but it would be worth searching for next year. Helicigona lapidica snail. Another declining species, still found in the west Chilterns (including the Warburg reserve) but very rare in the east. BV found an empty shell in 1993, in the same place as but more recent than that of Helicella itala, so it may still occur. Said to be an indicator species for old calcareous grassland (Willing 1993), but according to BV is also associated with Beech trees. Another one to look out for in future . Stripe-winged Grasshopper, Stenobothrus lineatus. Locally common in southern England, and "very local" in the Chilterns (Marshall and Haes 1988); said to be an indicator of old, species-rich calcareous grassland. BV thought it frequent in the Meadow in 1993, but cautions that this needs confirmation, and should be sought out next year. Asilus crabroniformis fly. Nationally Notable. Since 1960 only recorded at about 40 sites, mostly in Hampshire, south-west England and south Wales. One adult was seen flying in the Meadow on 4.viii.93 (MH), a new record for this 10 km square as shown on the 1991 distribution map. Its larvae are predatory, probably on dung beetle larvae. Eggs are said to be laid in cow dung, but the adults have also been seen around horse dung (Falk 1991). If this fly is restricted to breeding in horse or cow dung, it seems unlikely that it is breeding on the reserve proper, although both commodities are in ample supply in the surrounding farmland. However, Homefield may be important as a hunting site for the predatory adult flies, and given the restriction in currently known sites for the species its appearance here is encouraging. The fly is one of the largest in the UK, marked in brown and yellow and very fast-flying, and should thus be
reasonably noticeable if it occurs again. Other grassland Nationally Notable B moth species recorded: Shaded Pug and Reddish Light Arches. 1.6.2 Rare species in the wood
Homefield does not have many trees which are mature enough to have dead or damaged branches, nor much in the way of standing dead wood. Nonetheless, several invertebrate species associated with dead wood have been recorded, including two Nationally Notable ones. It would be a useful exercise to make an inventory of the dead wood habitat at Homefield, but from casual observation it would seem that there are plenty of old tree-stumps from previous forestry fellings, along with a small number of dead trees (mostly fallen), some fallen branches, and the piles of logs that have accumulated from the management operations on the reserve. Presumably the dead wood invertebrates that have been recorded are able to survive on these mostly small-sized habitats, but their continued survival and the attraction of further species will depend on a continuing supply of suitable habitat. Some active management for dead wood species has been carried out this year. A rotting stump found in the 1993 clearing was fenced off, and other logs, in various states of decay, were added to the original stump, in the hope of encouraging wood feeders. Empty pupal cases of moths (perhaps a species of Clearwing moth?) were found in some of these logs, and it is hoped that they have continued to breed. The numerous log piles around the new clearings may provide some useful habitat as they begin to decay, and some of the larger and more decayed logs have been positioned in the undergrowth with the intention of ensuring that 'they do not become too dry for any invertebrates that may be inhabiting them. The rarer invertebrates associated with woodland habitats at Homefield are: White-letter Hairstreak. At Homefield this butterfly seems well-established on Wych Elm. Caterpillars were found on several trees this year, including a small tree on the northern edge of the 1993 clearing, and the adults were seen during transect counts. Silver-washed Fritillary. This butterfly, which is declining locally, first appeared in 1990, and subsequent sightings in 1991 and 1992 seemed to suggest that it might have taken up residence. However, it was not seen in 1993. It prefers fairly open woodland, with wide rides and ample woodland nectar plants, and it is possible that as the trees at Homefield have grown, the habitat has become less suitable (although this does not explain why it did not appear until 1990). The planned thinning and cropping due at Homefield may open up suitable habitat for the Silver-washed Fritillary in future. Blomer's Rivulet moth. Nationally Notable B. Widespread but very local, the well-established south Buckinghamshire population currently represents the south-east limit of its distribution. Recorded at moth traps on 16.vi.89, 5.viii.89, 12.vii.90 (MAtPH), 12.vii.91 (RK), 19.vii.92 (MAtPH), 15.vi.93 (two moths, R K ) , 23.vi.93 (MH) and 20.viii.93 (five moths, RK). Plumed Prominent moth. Nationally Notable A. Very local; established in the southern Chilterns, but otherwise known to be established in only about six locations. A nearly full-grown caterpillar was found, on 28.v.93 (MH) on a Field Maple at the northern edge of the Meadow; this subsequently spun a cocoon on 8.vi.93, and had pupated by 15.vi.93, but at the time of writing (20.xii.93) no adult had emerged. The adult moths have been seen in moth traps on 10.xi.89 (MAtPH) and 27.xi.93 (MH). White-marked moth. Nationally Notable B. Local. Well-established locally, it was recorded for the first time at Homefield this year, but this is due
to trapping having not been carried out at the right time of year before. Recorded at Sallow blossom on 15.iii.93 (MH), and at MV trap on 17.iv.93 (MA+PH) Pale Pinion moth. Nationally Notable B. A local moth, mostly found in south-west England. One was caught at Homefield in a Heath trap on 23.x.93 (MH; this moth had probably been feeding on the Ivy blossom under which the trap had been placed). I have also caught Pale Pinion at Bottom Wood (near Stokenchurch, SU795957) this year (14.iv.93), and Ched George had one in his garden moth-trap at Radnage on the same night as my Homefield moth appeared. Young (1993) has also noted a number of records of this species in Berkshire recently, so it may be spreading further north-east. Waved Black moth. Nationally Notable B. The Waved Black's distribution in Britain is predominantly in a cluster of some 80 X 80 km, just west of London. Homefield Wood falls into the north-west corner of this cluster. Recorded once at MV trap, on 18.vii.92 (MA+PH). Eumerus ornatus hoverfly. Nationally Notable. Associated with old broadleaved woodland, it is generally found in open rides and clearings. Only known from 20 sites since 1960, and recorded at Homefield on 10.vii.85 (KP). Pyrochroa coccinea cardinal beetle. Nationally Notable B. Regarded as an indicator species for dead wood habitat, its larvae feed under the bark and in the wood of trees including Oak, Beech and Elm. The adult beetle was seen on several occasions during the summer of 1993 (the only dated record I have is 12.v.93, found in the roadside hedge near the entrance to the Wood; MH). Anaglyptus mysticus longhorn beetle. Nationally Notable B. Again, regarded as an indicator of dead wood habitat. The larvae of this species are said to utilise drier timber than the previous species, and to make use of shrubs as well as a wide range of trees. Management recommendations are given as "retain dead timber, especially with bark attached, and ensure a nectar supply from Hawthorns and umbellifers. The removal of under-story shrubs may be a threat to this speciesn (Hyman and Parsons 1992). An adult beetle was recorded on an urnbellifer near the warden's caravan during the summer, 1993 (BV). Other woodland Nationally Notable B moth species recorded: Barred Hook-tip, Mocha, Beech-green Carpet, Maple Pug, Ochreous Pug, Oak-tree Pug, Satin Beauty, Square-spot, Brindled White-spot and Square-spotted Clay.
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1.6.3
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Other rare species
Balsam Carpet moth. Red Data Book 3: Rare. A puzzling record: this moth has a very restricted distribution, and is usually associated with "lightly wooded water meadows, bordering rivers and canalsn (Skinner 1984); its larval foodplant is Orange Balsam (Impatiens capensis), a plant not recorded from Homefield. The moth has, however, been recorded elsewhere in 'our' 10 km square (Perring and Walters 1990), and presumably had flown, or was blown, from suitable habitat nearby. Orange Balsam has been recorded in 'our' 10 km square, and it would be interesting to know where the nearest location for the plant is. The Homefield record was on 18.vii.92 (MA+PH). Ephemera lineata mayfly. Provisional Red Data Book 2: Vulnerable. If one goes by the RDB categories, this is one of the two rarest insects to have been recorded at Homefield; however, it may have been better if it had not occurred here at all! It has been mostly recorded from locations along the Thames, with only a few other localities, not all of which are confirmed. The nearest records to Homefield have been at Little Marlow, in 1902, and at Cookham, in 1987. The nymphs live in the sediment of large rivers, and the adults are usually found close to the rivers in which they breed; "lights attracting the adults away from the rivern have been cited as a
possible threat to the species (Bratton 1990), and the two specimens seen at Homefield may have been carried away from the river by strong winds, thus making subsequent breeding success unlikely. The Homefield records were on 3.vii.91 and 18.vii.92 (MAtPH). Gomphus vulgatissimus Club-tailed Dragonfly. Something of a Thames speciality, also recorded from the Wye, Severn and in Sussex. This Dragonfly is a strong flyer, often seen away from its river breeding sites, and Homefield may be fulfilling a valuable role in providing h.unting grounds for the adult. Seen twice in 1992, the first time on 30.v.92 (reported by CM). Acknowledgements
I am grateful to Forest Enterprise, English Nature and BBONT for permission to study, and where necessary collect, invertebrates at Homefield Wood. The species records, of which the above is a summary, are the result of many hours of fieldwork by many people; my thanks go to all those listed below. I would be very pleased to receive further invertebrate records for Homefield Wood, either from previous years or in the future; as I am about to move house, please either phone me on my work number, 0635 550380, or write to me c10 the Chiltern Military Orchid Group, Countryside, Abbotsbrook, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, SL8 5QS. The full Annual Report, giving further information and complete species lists, is also available from this address (price to be decided, probably about £7) Martin Harvey THE RECORDERS BH:Bill Havers KP:Dr Keith Porter BV:Dr Bernard Verdcourt MA:Martin Albertini BW:Belinda Wheeler, 1993 orchid warden MY :Maurice Young CM:Clare Moorhouse, 1992 orchid warden (who PH:Peter Hall also passed on BIRG records from 1992) PP:Philip Pratt HR:Dr Helen Read TM:Tony Marshall REFERENCES Asher, J. ( in press ) B u t t e r f l i e s o f Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Pisces Publications, Newbury. Bradley, J.D., Tremewan, W.G. and Smith, A. (1979) B r i t i s h Tortricoid Moths. Ray Society, London. Bratton, J.H. (1990) A review o f the scarcer Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera o f Great Britain. Research and survey in nature conservation no. 29, NCC, Peterborough. Bratton, J.H. (1991) B r i t i s h Red D a t a Books. 3 . Invertebrates other than i n s e c t s . NCC, Peterborough. BUTT - Butterflies Under threat Team (1986) The management o f chalk grassland f o r b u t t e r f l i e s . Focus on nature conservation no. 17, NCC, Peterborough. Drake, C.M. (1991) Provisional a t l a s o f the larger Brachycera (Diptera) o f Britain and Ireland. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Huntingdon. Falk, S. (1991) A review o f the scarce and threatened f i l e s o f Great Britain part 1. Research and survey in nature conservation no. 39, NCC, Peterborough. Fry, R. and Lonsdale, D., eds. (1991) Habitat conservation f o r i n s e c t s - a neglected green i s s u e . Amateur Entomologists' Society, Middlesex. Goater, B. (1986) B r i t i s h Pyralid Moths, a Guide t o t h e i r I d e n t i f i c a t i o n .
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Harley Books, Colchester. Godfray, H.C.J. (1985) Chromatomyia paraciliata sp.n. (Diptera: Agromyzidae), a leaf-miner of Leucanthemum vulgare from southern England. Entomologist's Gazette x:47-50. Hammond, C.O. revised Merritt, R. (1985) The Dragonflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Harley Books, Colchester. Heath, J. and Ernmet, A.M., eds. (1979 - ) The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Harley Books, Colchester. Hyman, P. and Parsons, M. (1992) A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain, part 1. UK nature conservation no. 3, JNCC, Peterborough. Joy, N. (1932, reprinted 1976) A Practical Handbook of British Beetles. E.W. Classey, Oxford. Kerney, M.P. (1976) Atlas of the non-marine Mollusca of the British Isles. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Huntingdon. Kerney, M.P. and Cameron, R.A.D. (1979) A field guide to the land snails of Britain and north-west Europe. Collins, London. Kirby, K.J. and Drake, C.M., eds. (1993) Dead wood matters: the ecology and conservation of saproxylic invertebrates in Britain. English Nature Science No. 7, English Nature, Peterborough. Kirby, P. (1992) Habitat Management for Invertebrates: a practical handbook. JNCC, Peterborough. Marshall, J.A. and Haes, E.C.M. (1988) Grasshoppers and allied insects of Great Britain and Ireland. Harley Books, Colchester. Parsons, M.S. (1993) A review of the scarce and threatened pyralid moths of Great Britain. UK Nature Conservation No. 11, JNCC, Peterborough. Paul, J. (1989) Grasshoppers and Crickets of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Pisces Publications; Newbury. Perring, F.H. and Walters, S.M., eds. (1990) Atlas of the British Flora. Botanical Society of the British Isles. Plant, C.W. (1993) Larger Moths of the London Area. London Natural History Society. Pollard, E., Hall, M.L. and Bibby, T.J. (1986) Monitoring the abundance of butterflies 1976-1985. Research and survey in nature conservation no. 2 , NCC, Peterborough. Pollard, E. and Yates, T.J. 1993. Monitoring Butterflies for Ecology and Conservation. Chapman & Hall, London. Shirt, D.B., ed. (1987) British Red Data Books. 2. Insects. NCC, Peterborough. Skinner, B. (1984) Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. Viking, Harmondsworth. Thomas, J. and Lewington, R. (1991) The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Dorling Kindersley, London. Stubbs, A. and Falk, S. (1993, 3rd ed.) British Hoverflies. British Entomological and Natural History Society, Reading. Waring, P. (1991) Wildlife Reports: Moths. British Wildlife 2(3):177-178. Waring, P. (1992a) Moth conservation project news bulletin 4. JNCC, Peterborough. Waring, P. (1992b) The Striped Lychnis moth, Cucullia lychnitis Rambur (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) - a review of its distribution and status in Britain. Entomologist's Gazette s:179-205. Wheeler, B. and ChiMOG (1994) Homefield Wood Annual Report 1992-1993. ChiMOG, Bourne End. Willing, M. (1993) Land Molluscs and their Conservation - an introduction. British Wildlife 4(3) ~145-153. Young, D. (1993) Lepidoptera records from Berkshire. Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation 105(11-12):249-250.
Postscript
I have also been involved in recording at two other sites in south Buckinghamshire, and would be grateful for any relevant records. The sites are : 1. Bottom Wood, near Radnage, SU794954
This is a Chiltern Society reserve, managed by their Trees and Woodland Project. It consists mostly of mixed woodland, with a small area of scrubby chalk grassland. Ched George and I have been trapping moths fairly regularly over the last eighteen months, producing about 200 species for the wood to date. Other invertebrates are poorly known, but the wood has a good mixture of broadleaved trees, and some substantial dead wood, although little still standing. If you visit the wood, wellies are strongly recommended! 2. Moor End Common, between Lane End and Frieth, SU802905
An SSSI which has been somewhat neglected in the past, but the Lane End Conservation Group are hoping to revive the site, and would welcome any input to their recording and management plans. The Common extends over both sides of the Lane End-Frieth road, and contains some unusual habitats for the south Chilterns: large stands of Oak (both mature and younger overgrown coppice) and areas of acid boglheath. There is also an intriguing stream which disappears dramatically into a swallow-hole amongst the trees. The site was listed as an SSSI for its botanical interest, and very few records seem to exist for its fauna. There are reports of Hairstreaks having been seen around Blackthorn on the site, but I have been unable t o find firm evidence for Black or Brown Hairstreak here. The dragonflies may well be interesting around the boggy area.
TWO FURTHER NOTES ON DOLICHOVESPULA MEDIA
This recent European immigrant social wasp, whose arrival in Bucks after spreading from the south-east over the last decade was first noted in this newsletter, is now well established in the south of the county, on the evidence of the frequency with which workers were encountered this summer (1993) in our garden in Prestwood. The workers, which in size approach that of the queens of the commoner social wasps, and are conspicuously darker (at least in the northern race which has invaded this country), were commonly to be seen scraping wood from our shed door for their nest, which was probably in a neighbouring garden, as our own nest, situated behind the same shed in a compost heap, was of V e s p u l a v u l g a r i s . Tony F.Marshal1 Mr. Laurie Webb of Wendover, a local beekeeper, brought three D o l i c h o v e s p u l a media nests to Buckinghamshire County Museum recently. All were fromwendover, collected in August and September 1993. Mr.Webb is regularly called to deal with unwanted wasps' nests and reports that D.media seemed to be more aggressive than other social wasp species he has encountered.
Kate Hawkins
INSECTS RECORDED AT ARC WILDFOWL CENTRE, LINFORD LAKES, MILTON KEYNES, 17TH JULY 1993 The BIRG meeting at the ARC Wildfowl Centre, Linford Pits, Milton Keynes, ended with a moth recording session which was attended by about twenty five people. We were pleased to welcome some Butterfly Conservation members, but most of our number were members of the Milton Keynes Natural History Society. Martin Albertini (BIRG), Mike Killeby (MKNHS), Trevor Munns (BC) and George Higgs (BIRG and MKNHS) all brought either a light or a moth trap. Weather conditions were not ideal; the evening was clear, still and chilly. At 10pm when we began recording it was 54OF and 4Z° when we ended our session at lam.
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Our total of fifty nine species comprised fifty three macromoths and six micromoths. The Crescent was the most notable species for County records. The Large Emerald was the first record for the Borough of Milton Keynes. MACROMOTHS
Lackey Drinker Buff Arches Large Emerald Single-dotted Wave Small Scallop Riband Wave Red Twin-spot Carpet Shaded Broad-bar Slender Pug Clouded Border Brimstone Moth Bordered Beauty Early Thorn Scalloped Oak + Engrailed Poplar Hawk Buff-tip Pebble Prominent Coxcomb Prominent Yellow-tail Round-winged Muslin Scarce Footman Common Footman Garden Tiger Buff Ermine Ruby Tiger Short Cloaked Moth Heart and Dart Flame Shoulder Large Yellow Underwing
Malacosoma n e u s t r i a Phi1 udoria p o t a t o r i a Habrosyne p y r i t o i d e s Geome t r a p a p i l i o n a r i a Idaea d i m i d i a t a Idaea emarginata Idaea a v e r s a t a Xanthorhoe s p a d i c e a r i a S c o t o p t e r y x chenopodiata Eupi t h e c i a t e n u i a t a Lomaspilis marginata Opisthograptis luteolata Epi one r e p a n d a r i a Selenia dentaria Crocallis elinguaria Ectropis bistortata Laothoe populi Phalera bucephala El i g m o d o n t a z i c z a c P t i l odon capucina Euproctis s i m i l i s Thuma t h a senex E i l e m a complana Eilema l u r i d e o l a Arctia caja Spilosoma luteum Phragma t o b i a f u l i g i n o s a Nola c u c u l l a t e l l a Agrotis exclamationis O c h r o p l e u r a p1 e c t a N o c t ua pronuba
Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua f i m b r i a t a Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow U/wing Noctua j a n t h i n a Least Yellow Underwing Noctua i n t e r j e c t a Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia o l e r a c e a Brown-line Bright Eye Mythimna c o n i g e r a Clay Mythimna f e r r a g o Southern Wainscot Mythimna s t r a m i n e a Smoky Wainscot Mythimna i m p u r a Common Wainscot Mythimna p a l 1 e n s Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Light Arches Apamea l i t h o x y l ea Common Rustic Mesapamea s e c a l i S Small Dotted Buff P h o t e d e s minima Mere Wainscot P h o t e d e s f l uxa Crescent Celaena l eucostigma Rustic Hop1 o d r i n a b l a n d a Mottled Rustic Caradrina morpheus Spectacle Abrostola t r i p l a s i a Herald Scoliopteryx l i b a t r i x Snout Hypena p r o b o s c i d a l i S MICROMOTHS Ditula angustiorana Celypha striana Epi b l ema r o b o r a n a Donacaula f o r f i c e l l a El o p h i l a nymphaeata Parapoynx s t r a t i o t a t a
Red-barred Tortrix
Brown China-mark Ringed China-mark
DERMAPTERA Forficula auricularia
Common Earwig
Frances Higgs
THE IMPORTANCE OF PENN AND THE PERTINENCE OF PONDS
Penn Wood is a large area of woodland and relic heath to the east of High Wycombe, situated for the most part on acid clays overlying chalk. It was once part of a more extensive tract of heathy commons and ancient woodland. At one extreme corner the woods directly overlie chalk. Such an expanse of acid soil in this part of the county is unusual, so that the site is potentially valuable locally from a natural history perspective. The site has been visited, on and off, over ten years. Collections and observations of insects and other invertebrates were made in1986 (August) and in 1993 (June, July, September), and these are the source of all species mentioned in this article.
The woods have long been privately owned and used for a variety of activities, including, quite recently, war games, as well as commercial forestry. The habitat has been extensively degraded by the introduction of foreign trees and shrubs, most notably the extensive thickets of rhododendron (several species), decorative Acers (Acer callipes, A. lobelii, A.palmatum and A. rufinerve var albolimbatum), the honeysuckle relative, Leycesteria formosa, and plantations of conifers. Nevertheless there are still considerable stands of deciduous trees, such as beech, oak, birch and willow, and good wide rides have been maintained. Most of the old grass and heather heathland has been lost to plantations, unfortunately, although there are relics of this to be found in the rides and on cleared patches of ground including the characteristic creeping plants of dry heath such as Potentilla erecta (tormentil), Hypericum pulchrum and Trifolium micranthum (the last two in small quantities). Muntjac are commonly seen in the cleared areas. Although the predominant vegetation is of a dry heath type, there are substantial areas of more or less permanently wet ground, especially along some of the rides, with prolific Juncus bufonius (toad rush), many of the wheel ruts holding water for most of the year and forming miniature ponds inhabited by pond skaters, water boatmen, dolichopods, and small aquatic beetles. Furthermore, there are a number of larger ponds, mostly too shaded by trees, except for one near the northern boundary which was the centre for most of the interesting observations. This pond has a good stand of reedmace, but is seriously being encroached upon by marginal vegetation, especially in mid-summer when the bracken makes access to it extremely difficult, as well as crowding out the narrow patch of bare mud at its edge where many of the more exciting inhabitants were to be found in the spring. Many of the invertebrates noted are, of course, common ones of general distribution, and these are merely listed at the end of this report. More interesting are those species associated with particular features of the habitat. The bracken, for instance, is associated with a number of insect specialists, although no uncommon species were collected. These included the Brown Silverline moth, and the sawflies Strombocerus delicatulus and Aneugmenus padi. Woods, of course, have a large associated community of invertebrates, most of them common in this area, including amongst those observed: Heteroptera: Troilus luridus, Phytocoris tiliae + Lepidoptera: Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Buff-tip moth Diptera (Syrphidae): Myathropa florea, Meliscaeva cinctella, Xylota segnis Hymenoptera (Vespidae): Dolichovespula sylvestri S Coleoptera (Carabidae): Harpalus latus (Scarabaeidae): Melolontha melolontha (Cerambycidae): Strangalia maculata Millipede: Glomeris marginata (especially associated with beechwoods) Less common woodland specialists included the grasshopper Omocestus viridulus, the hemipteran Cercopis vulnerata, the hoverflies Dasysyrphus venustus and Xylota sylvarum, both of which are fairly frequent in woodland glades and by woodland margins, and the more local ground beetle Pterostichus niger. Despite the forestry, which is not currently intensive, there are fair quantities of dead trees and decaying wood, the habitat of the common staphylinid Atrecus affinis, while powdery fungi on trunks attracts the less common Anisotoma orbicularis (a small very shiny round black beetle of the
Leiodidae). Birch trees carry the common weevil Deporaus betulae, but the willows bring in the less common leaf beetles Lochmaea caprea (also birch) and Phytodecta viminalis (abundant in June), both local in distribution. Much rarer is the associated with stumps of red-and-black click beetle Ampedus elongantulu~~ both oak and fir, and found, in this instance, on fir. This may have been the first record of this beetle in Bucks. Plenty of honeysuckle brings in the locally distributed sawfly Zaraea fasciata. The pond area, on the whole* however* contained the more fascinating species* even though the pond itself was not examined for its aquatic invertebrates (which would probably be well worth surveying). Here there were good numbers of dragonflies (Aeshna cyanea* Coenagrion puella? Enallagma cyathigerum, and Sympetrum species), and the hoverfly Helophilus pendulus, which is of general distribution but particularly favours ponds. A small patch of bare wet mud on the northern side of the pond was inhabited by two species of groundh~pper~ the local Tetrix undulata and the rare T.subu1ata. This is possibly the only site for the latter for some considerable distance. These marshy areas also provide a habitat for three other local species; the dolichopod fly Argyra diaphana (very noticeable with the bright metallic green males flashing their wings at the crowds of females), among commoner species of the same family; the ground beetle Stenolophus mixtus; and the staphylinid Achenium humile. In this area also occurs the common bug Dolichonabis limbatus, and the leaf beetle Phaedon armoraciae, which is supposed to be associated with watercress. The reedmace stems are the site for the larvae of the rare hoverfly Parhelophilus frutetorum, another first for the region. The fly looks very similar to the common Helophilus pendulus, and flies in association with it, but is a little smaller and duller. Another rare beetle* the weevil Ceutorhynchus viduatus* occurs on its sole food-plant, marsh woundwort. Even on the basis of brief visits* therefore, the pond area of Penn Wood would appear to be a prime site for insects that clearly needs protection and appropriate management, which should aim to reduce the encroachment of shrubs without eliminating them* enlarge the bare mud area, and certainly hold back the bracken. Finally* a number of less common insects of more general distribution were recorded: Lepidoptera: Essex Skipper* Marbled White (both in the calcareous corner) Diptera (Conopidae): Conops quadrifasciata (said to be a parasite on Bombus lapidarius which was not recorded) Coleoptera (Carabidae): Notiophilus substriatus (drier areas) (Necrophoridae): Nicrophorus vespilloides (Elateridae): Agriotes actaninatus Tony and Valerie Marshal1 Additional Common Species Orthoptera: Chorthippus brunneus Heteroptera: Palomena prasina, Liocoris tripustulatus Lepidoptera: Green-veined White* Peacock* Large White, Meadow Brown* Small Skipper, Hedge Brown* Red Admiral, Cormnon Carpet moth
Diptera (Tipulidae): Limonia chorea, Tipula oleracea, T. vernalis, T.marmorata, Nephrotoma ma cula ta (Bombylidae): Bombylius major (Tabanidae): Haematopota pluvialis (Syrphidae): Eristalis pertinax, Syrphus ribesii, Rhingia campestris, Melanost oma scalare, Platycheirus a1bimanus, Episyrphus balteatus Hymenoptera (Symphyta): Calameuta pallipes (Formicidae): Formica fusca , Myrmica scabrinodis (Apidae) : Bombus lucorum, B.pratorum Coleoptera (Carabidae): Bradycellus harpalinus (Staphylinidae): Othius punctulatus, Tachinus signatus (Coccinellidae): Calvia 14-gut tata, Propylea 14-punctata (Chrysomelidae) : Oulema melanopa Molluscs: Oxychilus alliarius (one of the acid tolerant species) Oniscoidea : Oni scus asell us, Phi1oscia muscorum, Porcellio scaber
MEETING AT BURNHAM BEECHES, BUCKS (SU95-84-) 4-9-1993 b
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Four people attended this meeting on a rather dull day not conducive to insect activity. Orthoptera became the theme of the day, with the walk going to areas where the Bog Bush-cricket, Metrioptera brachyptera, had been seen some years ago, but had not been noted recently. These areas have become overgrown in recent years, which may have contributed to the species decline. One area has now been cleared, which if the species is still present, will hopefully help increase numbers. Unfortunately none were found, so its status here must still be in doubt. Fortunately the species is doing well at near-by Stoke Poges Common, which is one of the few colonies in the south of the country north of the River Thames. The other reason for the focus on Orthoptera was the discovery of a strong colony of the Short-winged Cone-head Conocephalus dorsalis in the bog area above Upper Pond. This was a first for Burnham Beeches and one of very few records for Bucks. this species has been spreading quite rapidly in the Thames Valley over the last 5 years, so its appearance is not unexpected. It is interesting to speculate how long it has been in this site which was cleared of trees about 6 years ago. Some individuals were stridulating and could be heard by some of the party (well, that's what they said), others had to make do with picking up the song with a bat detector.
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A list of the species seen is given below:
LEPIDOPTERA Au tographa gamma Psyche casta Epinotia ramella Parage aegeria
Silver Y - cases on tree trunks Speckled Wood
COLEOPTERA Seven-spot ladybird
Coccinella septempunctata Lochmaea caprea DIPTERA Eristali S pertinax He1ophilus pendul U S HEMIPTERA Aelia acuminata Pentatoma rufipes Coreus marginat us Stenodema calcaratum
Forest bug
ORTHOPTERA Short-winged cone head Common Green Grasshopper Common field grasshopper Meadow grasshopper
Conocephalus dorsalis Omocestus viridulus Chorthippus brunneus Chorthippus parallel us ODONATA
Migrant hawker Common darter Ruddy darter Black darter
Aeshna mixta Sympetrum striolatum Sympetrum sanguineum Sympetrum danae Martin Albertini
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KATE'S GUILT COLUMN
I often say to people who are waiting for me to identify invertebrate material "don't worry, it may take some time, but I always produce a list in the endn. A year's delay, nay nearly two, is perhaps stretching faith a little too far. However I have stopped having babies now and can risk attempting some determinations. Here it is then, the list of spiders and harvestmen for the BIRG Halton meeting on 16 May 1992. Aston Clinton Ragpits Harve S tman Homal enotus quadridentatus (Cuvier)
Spiders Xysticus cristatus (Clerck, 1 7 5 7 )
P h i 1 odromus sp . H e l i o p h a n u s f l a v i p e s Hahn, 1832 E u o p h r y s f r o n t a l i s (Walckenaer, 1802) Pardosa pra t i vaga l p u l l a t a A l e p e c o s a p u l v e r u l e n t a (Clerck, 1757) T h e r i d i o n p a l l e n s Blackwall, 1834 E n o p l o g n a t h a t h o r a c i c a (Hahn, 1831) M e t e l l i n a m e n g e i (Blackwall, 1869)
Stablebridge Road - Canal at Green Park Bridge [aka Wellonhead Bridge1 Harve Stman Rilaena t r i a n g u l a r i s Spiders T e t r a g n a t h a montana Simon, 1874 G o n g y l i d i u m r u f i p e s (Sundevall, 1829) B a t h y p h a n t e s a p p r o x i m a t u s (0. P.-Cambridge, 1871) L i n y p h i a h o r t e n s i s Sundevall, 1829 N e r i e n e c l a t h r a t a (Sundevall, 1829)
Bucks County Museum Technical Centre L
Spider Pardosa a m e n t a t a (Clerck)
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coll. Martin Albertini
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Nothing terribly exciting here, though Aston Clinton Ragpits looked very promising and would repay a more extensive study than the hour or two I spent there. The warm chalk banks provide hunting grounds for jumping (salticid) spiders and ought to have more species than E u o p h r y s f r o n t a l i s and H e l i o p h a n u s f l a v i p e s recorded here. In MayIJune time there certainly ought to be a range of theridiid spider9 ( T h e r i d i o n p a l l e n s ) in this list) and the linyphiids or money spiders were not represented at all in my collection. The harvestman Homalenotus q u a d r i d e n t a t u s is quite interesting as a species which prefers chalk habitats and is, not surprisingly, more or less restricted to southern Britain. The species from the canal at Wellonhead Bridge are much to be expected from that sort of waterside coarse vegetation, B a t h y p h a n t e s a p p r o x i m a t u s and T e t r a g n a t h a montana favouring the damper habitats. Anyway we were all having too much fun trying to get at the mysterious diatom masses that Eric had his eye on to bother with easy stuff like hanging over the canal bank for insects and spiders. b
Bacombe Hill. SP 8507, 12 June 1993 Last season's Halton meeting was a bit thin on participants, a pity as Bacombe Hill offers much in terms of habitat variety and invertebrate potential. Chris Damant, who manages Bacombe Hill for the County Council, showed us the results of conservation work carried out recently, particularly to rejuvenate an area of chalk grassland with juniper. Juniper in chalk grassland: Harvestman Rilaena t r i a n g u l a r i s
Spiders Xysticus c r i s t a t u s (Clerck, 1757) Philodromus aureolus (Clerck, 1757) Theridion sisyphium (Clerck, 1757) Theridion tinctum (Walckenaer, 1802) Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1757 Araniella opistographa (Kulczynski, 1905)
Ground search (including area where Dodder grows): Heliophanus cupreus (Walckenaer, 1802) Cercidia prominens (Westring, 1851) Trichoncus saxicola (0. P . -Cambridge, 1861)
Recently cleared scrub area
- bare ground:
Pardosa pullata (Clerck, 1757)
Ground search, chalk grassland: T i b e l l u s oblongus (Walckenaer, 1802) Neon r e t i c u l a t u s (Blackwall, 1853) Metopobactrus prom'nulus (0. P . -Cambridge, 1872) Lepthyphantes ericaeus (Blackwall, 1853)
Since the collecting time for this site was curtailed by the heavens opening (and I am not the world's fastest collector, being given to much chatting on the job) this list is not at all' bad and promises much for future visits. Trichoncus saxicola is one of the rarer British spiders, recorded from less than 100 ten kilometre squares (Notable B in the Invertebrate Sites Register). It is usually found in moss and grass, and indeed I was grovelling around on the ground at the time. Cercidia prominens one of the orb web spinners is uncommon, though seems to be expected from chalk grassland in this area. The tiny money spider Metopobactrus prominulus is also most frequently recorded from chalk grassland and though widespread throughout Britain is uncommon. The juniper is always worth looking at carefully for spiders as its needlelike leaves provide lots of anchorage points for webs and hiding places for the hunting spiders. Martin Albertini recorded the following insects - the brief descriptions are from the English Nature software package RECORDER: Coleoptera
Phyll opertha horticola
Bracken clock or chafer
A centimeter long shiny brown beetle with a metallic green pronoturn. The larvae feed at the roots of turf and can reach pest proportions, up to a million per acre. Usually found in poor quality pasture on light soils often in hilly areas. Very common in the uplands of northern and western Britain, but now somwhat less common in southern and eastern England. Dascillus cervinus
A large grey-brown beetle whose larvae feed on plant roots, including orchids. The adults can be found on flowers in grassslands in the early summer and are sometimes abundant. Widespread but local.
Athous haemorrhoidalis 10-15mm long brown and black click beetle. All type of grassland t rides in woods etc. Larvae are common wireworm pests. Rhagonycha l U t ea Uncommon soldier beetle Malachius b i p u s t u l a t u s
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Nationally Notable B. On flowers. Malachite beetle
Metallic green malachite beetle with red tips to elytra. Common on flowers in grassy places over England and Wales. Rare in Scotland. C o c c i n e l l a septempunctata
Seven-spot ladybird
6.5-8mm long red ladybird with 7 black spots. Gardens, hedgerows etc. Larvae aphidophagous. Very common, often with vast immigrations from the continent. I s o m i r a rnurina U
4.5-6mm long brown or black "darkling" beetle, usually of sandy places. Specific larval ecology appears not to be recorded. Widespread and common. f
L
Grammopt e r a r u f i c o r n i S
A small blackish longhorn beetle with legs and antennae partly reddish. Larvae develop in the wood of a wide range of tree species; adults often occur on blossom in early summer. Timarcha g o e t t i n g e n i s Black/purple ground living leaf beetle of limestone grassland, often in the uplands. Widespread but local. Polyphagous. Chrysolina p o l i t a Brown & green leaf beetle. Polyphagous with no habitat specificity. Generally abundant species, becoming more local in the north.
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Mecoptera Panorpa g e r m a n i ca
L .
A scorpion-fly, of distinctive appearance with flexible red-tipped abdomen, elongate face and boldly black-marked wings. The larvae live in tunnels or cells in the soil. The adults are found in a wide range of habitats, usually amongst rank or scrubby vegetation in such sites as woodland rides and edges, hedgerows, nettle beds and bramble patches. The adults are both predacious and scavenging. It occurs on a wide range of soils, and is widely distributed and common throughout Britain. Micromoths Micropterix aruncella Argyresthia arceuthina Crambus l a t h o m i e l l u s
Pyrausta n i g r a t a
A small black and white moth which frequents rough downland slopes, especially where there is broken ground. The larva feeds in a slight web under the leaves of Thymus drucei, Origanum, Mentha arvensis or Galium odoratum. Found in southern England and Cumberland and Westmorland. Macromoths Camp t ogramma b i l i n e a t a
Yellow Shell
Very common species of various habitats, the larvae developing on docks, chickweeds and various other low herbage species. T y r i a jacobaeae
Cinnabar
Widespread throughout much of England and Wales, rather local and mainly coastal in the southern half of Scotland. The larva feeds on Senecio, especially S.jacobaea. Hymenoptera Myrmi c a r u g i n o d i s
One of the commonest British red ants. Nests in tree stumps, under stones in woodland, or in more exposed locations on hills and moors. On the wing during August. Has a hefty sting. P o n t i a sp.
A sawfly, galls on S a l i x spp. Kate Hawkins
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BUTTERFLY SIGHTINGS 1992 & 1993 5 Apr 1992
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Stoke Mandeville; Brimstone (BR)
9 Apr 1992
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Whiteleaf; Peacock (P); BR
21 Apr 1992 4 May 1992
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Haddenham; Orange Tip (OT) if
Little Hampden; Speckled Wood (SW); P; Small Tortoiseshell (ST);
BR; "Whites" 6 May 1992
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Haddenham; Holly Blue (HB); OT if; BR; P; "Whites"
6 May 1992
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Shabbington Wood, Bernwood; Comma (C); HB; SW; P; BR if & 9 ; OT
"Whites"
13 May 1992
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Kingswood; OT
BR 8 & 9; SW; P; "Whitesn
13 May 1992
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Gt.Hampden; P
14 May 1992
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Nether Winchendon; P; OT; SW; Large White (LW)
15 May 1992
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Cliveden; OT; Green-veined White (GVW); P; SW
26 May 1992 - Grangelands; Duke of Burgundy (DB); Common Blue (CB); Green Hairstreak (GH); HB; Small Heath (SH); Dingy Skipper (DS); Grizzled Skipper (GS); OT; Small Copper (SC); BR 2 Jun 1992 - Ludgershall; Wood White (WW); Large Skipper (LS); CB; Meadow Brown (MB); DS; GS; GH; Marsh Fritillary (MF); Red Admiral (RA); SH; SW
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8 Jun 1992 8 Jun 1992
Nether Winchendon; RA Whitecross Green Wood; WW numerous; LS; SH; MB; CB; SW; LW
10 Jun 1992 SW; LW; CB
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Shabbington Wood, Bernwood; Black Hairstreak (BH); LS; MB; SH;
11 Jun 1992
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Kingswood; BH; GVW; LW; SW; MB; larvae of ST
&
P
12 Jun 1992 - Finemere Wood; BH numerous; GS; P; C; RA; GVW; Small White
(SMW); LW; LS; SH; CB; SC; MB; SW; BR 18 Jun 1992
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Aston Clinton Ragpits; Ringlet (R); MB; SW; CB
18 Jun 1992
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Wendover Woods; LW
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23 Jun 1992 - Whiteleaf; R; SW; MB; LW; LS
- Shabbington Wood, Bernwood; White Admiral (WA); Small Skipper (SS); LS; R; MB; SH; SW; BR 8 & 9 ; Marbled White (MW); CB; ST; C; LW; BH
24 Jun 1992
26 Jun 1992 - Lodge Hill; GH; Dark Green Fritillary (DGF); MW; R; SS; LS; SH; SW; BR 8; CB; MB; LW; ST
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30 Jun 1992 ss; LS; LW
2 Jul 1992
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b
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Buttler's Hangings; MW numerous; R; MB; SH; SW; ST; C; CB old;
14 Jul 1992
Quainton; MB; Gatekeeper (G)
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Coombe Hill; LW numerous; SMW; GVW; SS; G; MB; RA; R; ST; MW
16 July 1992 - West Wycombe; Essex Skipper (ES) numerous; SS; LS; MW; R; MB; G; LW; SMW; GVW; ST; C; BR; White-letter Hairstreak (WLH); P; RA 18 Jul 1992 - Medmenham (Bucks Invertebrate Recording Group Meeting); R; ES;
SS; LS; LW; SMW; GVW; MB; G; C; BR; SW; P; ST 18 Jul 1992 - Homefield Wood (B.I.R.G. Meeting); WLH; Purple Hairstreak (PH); C; CB; MW; SS; ES; LS; SW; LW; SMW; GVW; G ; MB; R 22 Jul 1992 - Shabbington Wood, Bernwood; WA; P; RA; ST; MW; SW; CB 3; BR 9 ; MB; R; ES; SS; LS; LW; SMW; G W ; SC; PH; C; G (first "20-day" this year) 1 Aug 1992
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Chenies; SW; CB; SS; ST; RA; P; BR; LW; SMW; GVW; MB; G
FORD VILLAGE BUTTERFLY SIGHTINGS
r Tortoiseshell
1
FEBRUARY
shed)
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
- 1992 JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
7,16,17, 18.20.26.
Orange Tip Green-veined White
1
l l I
l1
Speckled Wood Common Blue
Large White
small White Large Skipper
CONCLUSIONS: Noticeably f e w sightings of Small Copper, Comma and Painted Lady compared with previous years. Wall is now back, but Holly Blues disappeared. This single acre site boasts over one third of the British species at 23 for 1992.
.
..
FORD VILLAGE BUTTERFLY SIGHTINGS FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
- 1993 JULY
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock Brimstone Orange Tip Green-veined White Small Coooer Small Eeath
Speckled Wood Common Blue
Large White
Wall Small White Large Skipper
H e a d w Brown
Brown Areus Ringlet Small Skipper
comma Red Admiral
Gatekeeper
P
1
Â¥"Ã
-
P
Marbled White Essex Skipper Painted Lady
CONCLUSIONS: Very poor year compared with last year both in numbers and species (only 20 in 1993, compared with 23 in 1992). The species missing were Painted Lady, Brown Argus and Comma (the latter was quite numerous in late 1991). Again probably the cold late spring was the major cause. There was a notable scarcity of all 3 white species until the 2nd generation in July. Again Small Copper was scarce and there were surprisingly few Orange Tips.
4 Aug 1992 - Whiteleaf; LW; SMW; GVW; LS; SS; ES; MB; G ; R ; SW; MW; Chalkhill Blue (CHB); CB; Silver-washed Fritillary ( S W ) cf;WLH; Painted Lady (PL); RA; ST; P ; BR; Brown, Argus (BA); SC; C 18 Aug 1992
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Kingswood; WW; SW; SC; G ; CB; ST; GVW; LW
19 Aug 1992 LS (old)
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Grangelands; CHB; SC; CB; ST; SW; G ; MB numerous; LW; GVW;
7 Sep 1992 - Turville; MB; CHB; ST
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8 Sep 1992
17 Sep 1992
Lodge Hill; BR; SW; SC; SMW; GVW; MB; P ; ST; CB
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Whiteleaf; SW; GVW
18 Sep 1992 - Shabbington Wood, Bernwood; SW; C
16 Nov 1992
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Aylesbury; ST flying inside Rabans Lane warehouse
1992 Highlights
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for Bucks
1) Only a few Holly Blues (1st generation only) seen this year after previous
"bumper" years t
2) A generally bad year for butterflies with a cold prolonged spring, though sightings generally earlier than in 1991 3) Essex Skipper is becoming more numerous and widespread in Buckinghamshire 4) 2nd generation Wood White at Kingswood - generally a good year for this species
5) Singleton cf Silver-washed Fritillary at Whiteleaf - this is the best that we can expect for this species in Buckinghamshire
6) Interesting woodland habitat for Chalkhill Blue at Whiteleaf prompted by storm damage
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possibly
7) The White-letter Hairstreak is surviving in reasonable numbers
8) A bad year for Small Copper
9) The national influx of Clouded Yellows didn't reach Buckinghamshire 15 Mar 1993
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Cliveden; ST; P
20 Apr 1993
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Dancersend; SW cf; BR 8 & 9 ; P ; ST
30 Apr 1993
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Whiteleaf; BR; P; SW; OT cf & 9
5 May 1993
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Grangelands; GS; DS; OT 8 & 9 ; BR; P ; SW; GH
6 May 1993
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Coombe Hill; GS; SW; BR; OT; GH
7 May 1993
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Ivinghoe Beacon; DB; GH; OT; BR; P ; SW
17 May 1993
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Whiteleaf; GVW; OT; P; BR
18 May 1993
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Shabbington Wood, Bernwood; GVW; LW; C; SW; P; OT; BR
21 May 1993
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Haddenham; P; GVW
31 May 1993
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Homefield Wood; SH; GVW
7 Jun 1993
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Ludgershall; GS; DS; GH; CB
8 Jun 1993
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Rushbeds; MB; LS; SH; GS; WW; LW; SW; OT
8 Jun 1993
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Whitecross Green Wood; WW; LS
15 Jun 1993
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Dunsmore; SW
15 Jun 1993
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Turville; CB; SH; MB; BR; LS; GH; DS
RA; CB
19 Jun 1993 - Finemere Wood; BH (20 sightings); LS; SW; MB; MW
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22 Jun 1993 L
24 Jun 1993
Windsor Hill; R; MB; SW; LS; DS; SH Kingswood; BH; SW; R; MB; LS; BR ?
24 Jun 1993 - Ludgershall
&
Rushbeds; MW; R; MB; SW; CB; GS; WW; SH; LS; P
b
25 Jun 1993
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Whiteleaf; R; MB; LS; BR; SW
28 Jun 1993
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Whaddon Chase; R; MB; LS; BR 9 ; SW
28 Jun 1993 - Pilch Field (BBONT Reserve); MB; CB; LS; RA; SW 29 Jun 1993 LS; BR ?
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Grangelands; DGF; Small Blue (SB); BA; MW; MB; CB; R; SW; SH;
30 Jun 1993
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Grangelands; SB; MW; MB; CB; R; SW; SH; LS; BR; RA
4 Jul 1993
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Grangelands; CHB; CB; R; MB; SW; SS; LS; SH; GVW; RA; SB; MW
7 Jul 1993
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Hampden House; R ; MB; SS; LS; SW
10 Jul 1993
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Whiteleaf; R; MB; SS; LS; MW; RA
22 Jul 1993 - Shabbington Wood, Bernwood; PH; WA; ST; SS; ES; LS; SW; R; MB; G; LW; SMW; GVW 30 Jul 1993 - West Wycombe & Battler's Hangings; SS; ES; LS; GVW; SMW; LW; MB; R; G; MW; SC; DGF; CB; BA; CHB; ST; P; BR; SW (19 species) 31 Jul 1993 - Shabbington Wood, Bernwood (BENHS Meeting); LS; ES; SS; R; MB; G; CB; MW; pH; LW; SMW; GVW; SW; P 19 Aug 1993
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Kingswood; BA; CB; SS; BR; LW; G
19 Aug 1993
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Whiteleaf; R; P; BR; SS; LS; CHB; SW; G; MB; GVW
24 Aug 1993 - Shabbington Wood, Bernwood; BH; SC; CB; SW; Wall (W) 8; G; MB; LW; GVW; SMW; P; RA; SS; ES; PH
14 Sep 1993
- Coombe Hill; MB
1993 Highlights
- for Bucks
1) No sightings of Holly Blue 2) The worst year for butterflies for many years - particularly bad for Small Copper, Orange Tip and first generation whites. I've always found Small White to be relatively scarce away from gardens and even in gardens in mid-north Bucks. 3) Again Essex Skipper as numerous as Small Skipper
4) A new site for Brown Argus at Kingswood 5) A reasonable year for Black Hairstreak and very good for Ringlet 6) The Meadow Brown appears to be in decline Gatekeeper on some sites
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it was less numerous than
7) I did not record Adonis Blue at Turville this year, nor Marsh Fritillary at Ludgershall. The latter is unexplained, but Horseshoe Vetch is scarce at Turville. If it is not too late, this plant needs to be conserved or even reintroduced there.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Saturday 21st May, Halton
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1994
- This year's Invertebrate Group Meeting
Leaders Kate Hawkins and/or Julian Scott (0296-696012). All day meeting based around the Museum's premises at Halton. In close proximity to Wendover Woods (moth-ing and other collecting permissions will be arranged) and other Chiltern sites. Rudimentary lab and microscope facilities available. Any specific requests, please contact Julian. Saturday 2nd July, Homefield Wood, near Marlow insects
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Butterflies, moths and other
A BBONTIButterfly Conservation meeting led by Martin Harvey. Meet at Homefield Wood entrance, SU814867, at 2pm for walk and daytime insects, 8pm for mothtrapping. From Marlow, take the A4155 towards Henley, turning right soon after Marlow towards Bockmer End. At Bockmer End, turn right again towards Lower Woodend. The entrance to the wood is on the left as you reach the valley bottom. All BIRG members and their invertebrate identification skills welcome1 If you would like to run a moth-trap in the evening session, or any other information, please contact Martin Harvey on High Wycombe (0494) 882636.
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![Optima] Recording](https://p.pdfkul.com/img/300x300/optima-recording_5a12b1df1723dd238b6fed4b.jpg)
