Lamproderma giganticum

Wednesday 20th March, Roveries Wood

The privately owned Roveries Wood covers a pair of hills on the western edge of Shropshire just north of Bishop’s Castle. The wood is conifer plantation with some broadleaved trees and there is a hillfort at the summit of the southern-most hill.

Recently the owners have been felling some of the conifers to allow more light into the wood with the intent to improve its biodiversity.

I was unable to attend this meeting, so I am grateful for a summary of the day from Jim which forms the basis of this report.

Entering the site they followed a track which was south facing, in the sun and quite warm. To the north of the path, cloaking the slope was mixed woodland.

Large patches of Polytrichum moss were noted. Although it was too late for Snow fleas it may be worth returning to next winter to see if they are present.

The aim was to reach the hill fort for lunch but the pace, despite best endeavours, was too slow! 

As the track headed round to the north it went downhill. This continued for quite a while as it passed into the trees of the conifer plantation. Eventually they started to head westwards, uphill towards the saddle between the two hills.

As the time for lunch arrived the hillfort was still some way off so they had lunch perched on the main path.

Lunch over they took a path to the top, which was not too steep as it meandered upwards. 

The hillfort is quite flat with some trees but mostly lush grass. Unfortunately the attempts to include Yellow rattle have not yet been fruitful.

After spending time exploring the hillfort area they followed a path down that led to where the cars were parked. 

And now the pictures from the day.

A general scene within the wood.

Photograph: David Williams

A slime mould, Trichia varia.

Photograph: John Martin

A moth larva, probably a Scarce footman.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A 7-spot ladybird.

Scarce footman David Williams

A wingless lesser dung fly, Apteromyia claviventris.

Photograph: Nigel Jones

This was a very interesting find as this species is not known for being wingless.

An Orange ladybird.

Photograph: David Williams

A moth larva, possibly an Anomalous moth.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A micro-ladybird Scymnus suturalis together with a springtail, a species of Entomobryia.

Photograph: David Williams

Here is a Scymnus suturalis alongside a Pine ladybird.

Photograph: David Williams

A plant, Bird’s foot.

Photograph: John Martin

A huddle around a tray containing the results of a suction sample.

Photograph: Caroline Uff

A pair of Broom leaf beetles.

Photograph: David Williams

Finally a Common damsel bug.

Photograph: John Martin

As the group drove away from the site a passenger in one of the cars took the following photograph.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

After much discussion the structure was named Lamproderma giganticum.

Why?

Lamproderma is a group of slime moulds whose fruiting bodies are often iridescent globes on the top of stalks. Type Lamproderma into your search engine and look at the images it returns; you will see the resemblance between them and the photographed structure.

My thanks to the owners of Roveries Wood for allowing us to do what we enjoy doing. My gratitude to Jim for the summary of the day and the photographers for sending me their images to illuminate the report.