Did I miss something?

Wednesday 20th July 2022, Crossways

The title refers to a comment from one of the group who had moved elsewhere when we came across an insect that caused a great deal of excitement. Here is a clue:

Do not worry if you cannot see what is being pointed at. All will be revealed later.

For this visit we had been invited to survey an upland grassland meadow in Crossways, which is close to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust reserve at Rhos Fiddle. 

Setting off from Telford for the 80 minute or so drive to the site we wondered if it would have been quicker to go to the coast!

OK, the coast is not in Shropshire and we do tend to ply our interests within the county border, although we have had our occasional transgression. However, it did remind us of what a large county we live in.

Having taken a while to sort ourselves out on arrival we entered the meadow and almost immediately found a new species for Shropshire. 

The first vacuum sample of the day from a bank at the edge of the meadow revealed a small black beetle.

Photograph: David Williams

Whilst on site we were unable to decide what it was although we agreed it was an “inconspicuous” ladybird. The favoured species was Scymnus femoralis, which had not been recorded in the county before, but a dark version of another species was also a possibility.

Lots of photographs were taken of the insect and these were sent to people with more experience and expertise than us for identification. They agreed that it was Scymnus femoralis. What a start to the day!

The meadow had an abundance of Yellow rattle. A larva was found on one of these plants:

Photograph: John Lyden

This is a Grass rivulet which feeds on the plant.

Another plant present in the meadow is Yarrow and a moth associated with the plant was found in the meadow, a Yarrow plume.

Photograph: John Martin

Being a meadow would we see Meadow browns?

Yes.

Here is one on a thistle.

Photograph: John Martin

Following the fence to the east of the site towards a large beech we came across a Musk-mallow that had white flowers.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

On one of the fence posts a patch of the lichen Xanthoria polycarpa was observed.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

And, whilst on the subject of lichens, one known affectionately as “Norman’s diner” was spotted on the beech. Its “official” name is Normandina pulchella.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

By now the group had become quite widespread as we pursued our particular interests. However as I looked across the meadow I saw a line of entomologists looking as though they were part of a Police search team.

Should we be doing this in a meadow? Normally we stick to the edges to avoid unnecessary damage, but on this occasion we had been given permission to venture where we wanted.

Lunchtime was getting closer but, before we get there, there is time to include a further couple of the morning’s finds:

A fly with a red patch on its abdomen, Eriothrix rufomaculata;

Photograph: John Martin

And a hooktip moth larva.

Photograph: David Williams

This could be the larva of either the Oak hooktip or Barred hooktip as they are indistinguishable. The foodplant of the first is, unsurprisingly, oak, whereas the second is beech. As oak and beech were present on site this did not provide a clue about the species.

Lunch was taken on and surrounding a bench that provided an excellent view of the surrounding countryside, including, in the middle distance, Rhos Fiddle.

After lunch we spent most of our time in the area near the bench where there was some rougher grassland and a collection of younger trees. Finds from this area included:

A micromoth with a strange dark fringe of scales on its antennae, Ochsenheimeria urella;

Photograph: John Martin

A hoverfly, Volucella bombylans, which can easily be mistaken for a White-tailed bumble bee;

Photograph: David Williams

A mid-instar nymph of a Gorse shieldbug;

Photograph: David Williams

A second hoverfly, Eristalis horticola;

Photograph: John Martin

And a fly, Prosena siberita.

Photograph: John Martin

The meadow was home to a large number of grasshoppers. However, all but one, turned out to be the same species, Common green grasshopper.

Photograph: David Williams

The day was winding down and a couple of the group had already called it a day when something flashed by. 

We followed its path until it landed.

To save you having to refer back to the start here is the pertinent photograph.

And as it is not obvious what is being pointed at, I have extracted the relevant section of the photograph to make it clearer.

Yes, it is a blue butterfly.

But not just any blue butterfly …

This was a Chalkhill blue.

Photograph: David Williams

This generated a lot of excitement as photographers jostled to get the best photographs.

Photograph: John Lyden

And as the news spread, the crowd gathered.

In case the sight of a Chalkhill blue does not thrill you, I will elaborate.

Chalkhill blues are not normally found in the county. They are residents of the chalk and limestone downs of the south. So to find one here was, to say the least, very unexpected.

They have been seen here before …

In 1916 when a few males were observed on the Long Mynd.

Welcome back after 106 years.

Photograph: David Williams

Photograph: David Williams

Going back to this report’s title. Yes, you did miss something.

How did it get here? 

The hot weather and southerly winds may have carried it in from its normal habitat. But what are the chances of a single butterfly being diverted by a hundred miles or so to land at the feet of a group of entomologists? However, blow-ins do occur and they are found. Another possibility is that it was inadvertently brought to the site either in produce or in transport of some sort, but a similar objection can be raised. Alternatively has someone been breeding them and released them nearby? We will probably never know.

Once everyone had calmed down we went home.

Well, not quite …

On the way to and from this part of the county we frequently pass a tea room. We can never be tempted to stop as the sign outside placed thoughtfully by the road always reads “Closed”. As we passed on the way home the sign said “Open” …

We had no choice but to stop and enjoy some celebratory refreshments!

Finally the Wednesday Weevil of the Week is Hypera plantaginis. This weevil has appeared before, but there is no reason why it cannot be selected a further time.

Photograph: Emm Cane-Honeysett

My thanks to the owner of the meadow for giving us permission to do what we enjoy doing and to the photographers for providing their excellent images and I am sorry that I could not use them all.

Saved!

Wednesday 13th July 2022, Heath Farm, Dudmaston

This outing was to Heath Farm in the National Trust’s Dudmaston Estate. We had been asked to look at a field adjacent to Comer Wood which is a mosaic of acid grassland plants, bare sandy ground and other recolonising vegetation, where NT have been trialling some heather seeding/plugs.

Having met in the car park and the initial extended period of greetings curtailed, we made our way directly to the site.

Yes!!

Unbelievably we did not dilly-dally on the way.

Well, almost …

A couple noticed activity at a log pile and could not pass it by without a closer look.

The rest of us piled onto the site and did not stray more than 50 yards from the entrance as we found plenty of larger insects to keep us busy. These included a Forget-me-not shieldbug which, despite the preponderance of the plant, remains one of our more elusive shieldbugs. However, it was not deemed worthy of a photograph. I must admit I never thought of it at the time!

What was worthy of a photograph was this female Roesel’s bush cricket which had a blob attached to her abdomen.

Photograph: David Williams

The blob is a spermatophylax which a male would have been produced by a male during mating.

Another worthy insect was a large nymph.

Photograph: David Williams

We decided it was the nymph of a Rhopalid bug, but which one?

Later we found this adult:

Photograph: David Williams

After much discussion and checking of documents it was identified as Stictopleurus punctatonervosus. 

It is likely that the nymph was also this species, but we cannot be certain.

Continuing the nymphal theme, an ant-like nymph was found:

Photograph: David Williams

This is one of the early stages of the Ant damsel bug.

I was approached determinedly by one member of the group with his hands forming a box in an attempt to enclose something.

On opening up the “box” …

“Oh! It’s escaped” …

Disappointment?

Not too much …

“I took a photograph.”

Here it is.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A Forest bug, also called a Red-legged shieldbug.

Another bit of insect activity he had photographed was this Anthocorid bug nymph tucking into another bug.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

At least it was not feasting on one of us!

Talking of feasting it was time to find some shade to partake of lunch.

The Oak looked inviting.

But it was rejected as too far away!

We found some nearer shade and settled down to eat, carefully avoiding the brambles.

Whilst eating I noticed this beast on my trousers.

It is a queen cuckoo bumble bee, Bombus rupestris. It is our largest bumble bee and resemble the more familiar Red-tailed bumble bee, Bombus lapidarius, of which it is a parasite.

I was quite happy nursing the bee until I was informed that its posture was such that it may administer its sting.

All of a sudden removal seemed the best course.

Fortunately a hero was close at hand to coax the bee onto a leaf and place it in the vegetation.

Saved!

In the afternoon we moved into the larger, more open and even dryer area where the plugs of heather had been planted to encourage a return to heathland.

An early find in this area was a Denticulate leatherbug which was far too flighty to agree to pose, meaning that it had to be photographed in the tube.

Photograph: David Williams

Later we found this attractive nymph which we believe to be a nymphal stage of the same bug.

Photograph: David Williams

In the hedge that formed the top boundary of the site there were a few Scot’s pines. An inspection of the needles of one of them revealed two species using the tree as a nursery:

Sawfly larvae;

Photograph: David Williams

And Green shieldbug nymphs.

Photograph: David Williams

There was an area of bare sandy soil under the trees. This formed the backdrop to the puzzling, frantic scurrying of wasps and bees, some of which occasionally popped into holes in the ground. Many of the insects seemed to be the same species, thought to be the wasp Astata boops. There was no chance of getting a photograph or catching one to confirm the identity. Sometimes you just have to stand, watch, wonder and admire.

Our next find was a beetle with a strange protuberance from its pronotum projecting over its head, Notoxus monoceros.

Photograph: David Williams

Before you ask…

I have no idea what the purpose of the ‘horn’ may be.

Time, as always, was marching on.

Heath Farm boasts a café, so what better way to finish the day than tea and cake? (Unless you do not like tea or cake.)

Making our way back to the entrance of the site we noticed this cane whose hollow centre was now being used by a bee or wasp as its nesting chamber.

Unfortunately I do not know the species of the beast whose abdomen can be seen nor whether is it a friend or foe.

We made our way back to the café, with the odd diversion, reasonable quickly.

And what did we find?

IT WAS SHUT!!!

Never mind, we made use of their picnic tables and benches for a short rest before heading back to the cars and home.

This week’s Wednesday Weevil of the Week is Otiorhynchus ovatus, a lovely black shiny broad-nosed weevil. Notice the dangerous looking ‘teeth’ on the femurs.

Photograph: Emm Cane-Honeysett

An excellent day on an excellent site. The only surprise was the lack of the smaller common bugs that I would expect to be plentiful on a site like this. I suspect the hot and dry weather was the main reason for them keeping out of our way.

My thanks to the National Trust for giving us permission to do what we enjoy doing and allowing us to use their car park free of charge. My appreciation to the photographers for providing their excellent images.

Double First

Wednesday 29th June 2022, Fir Tree Farm

Photograph: David Williams

The site at Fir Tree Farm is three fields that have been acquired by the National Trust who are trying to return them to flower rich meadows as part of their Stepping Stones project. The fields nestle at the foot of the western flank of the Long Mynd. Two of the fields are to the south of the farm buildings and the third is to the north, about 200 yards from the other two.

The title of this piece does not refer to an academic achievement but two firsts that have occurred within the group.

The first “first” occurred when a member of the group made an early visit to the site as she was unable to join us on the day. For good measure she took her family with her to share the joy. They visited the largest field with is the one to the north.

As an aperitif here are some of the things they found:

A weevil, Sitona cylindricollis;

Photograph: Emm Cane-Honeysett

A Poplar hawkmoth larva;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A bee that, as yet, remains unidentified;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Another moth larva, this time what I believe to be a Knot grass (I trust someone will correct me if I am wrong);

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A fully grown moth, which is probably Agyresthia conjugella;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Another weevil, Glocianus punctiger;

Photograph: Emm Cane-Honeysett

A barkfly, Graphopsocus cruciatus, which is very easy to identify from its distinctive wing pattern;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a horsefly, Haematopota pluvialis, waiting to pounce on a victim.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Would it still be there when the rest of the group came a few days later?

And so to the “main” course.

We parked in the corner of the southern-most meadow, getting a free clean from the vegetation as it brushed against the undersides of the cars.

As the photograph shows it was bright and sunny when we arrived, with the Long Mynd looking down on us in the background.

We stayed at the bottom of the meadow for a long time looking for whatever took our interest in the meadow’s vegetation and the lush hedge that shielded it from the road.

And yes, the cleg, Haematopota pluvialis, WAS still waiting!

OK.

It was probably not the same fly!

It was three days later. The first was in the north meadow and this was in the one furthest south. But please give me some licence to fantasise in the reports,

Searching this area was very rewarding as we found quite a number of insects inhabiting the grasses and hedgerow including:

A soldier beetle that I do not recall seeing before, Cantharis flavilabris;

Photograph: David Williams

And a 14-spot ladybird larva.

Photograph: David Williams

One of the delights of this time of year is seeing the early instar nymphs of Dock bugs with their huge antennae that seem out of proportion to the rest of their body making them look as though they should topple over at each attempt to move.

Photograph: David Williams

Like children, they soon grow up.

Turning our attention briefly to the sky we saw a Red kite gliding by.

Photograph: David Williams

Far more graceful than the manmade gliders taking off at regular intervals on the hill above us.

Back to the ground, keen eyesight spotted the worker of Bombus monticola, the bilberry bumble bee, foraging on a yellow rattle flower.

Photograph: David Williams

A field maple was amongst the trees within the hedgerow. Many of its leaves were covered in red pimples.

These are galls caused by the mite, Aceria myriadeuam.

I have mentioned how it was “bright and sunny” when we arrived.

Well …

The use of “was” is intentional!

As the sky now looked like this.

Photograph: David Williams

And that grey shadow of rain was heading our way swiftly.

We sought shelter under some larger trees.

The rain soon passed but we hung about the area.

Firstly, finding invertebrates in the vegetation that surround the trees including:

A tortoise beetle, Cassida vibex.

And then for lunch, in the long grass.

Lunch over, it started to rain again.

Hiding from the rain we checked a vacuum sample taken as we sought shelter and found the hairy nymph of a Hairy shieldbug, Dolycoris baccarum.

Photograph: David Williams

Again the rain soon stopped and the sun reappeared.

We were drawn to a ditch between the two southern meadows that housed what looked like Monkeyflower.

But closer inspection showed that it was probably a hybrid monkey flower.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Time was marching on and as we had still not visited the northern meadow we made a dash for the cars (more a determined stroll really), and drove the short distance to the car parking area by the farm buildings.

We spent about an hour in the northern meadow which, probably, did not do justice to the site, but a lot of what we found was also seen in the meadows visited earlier. A couple of additional species successfully photographed were:

A Forest bug nymph;

Photograph: David Williams

And a Meadow brown butterfly, feeding.

I am sure you will be happy to know that it did not rain again.

The Wednesday Weevil of the Week is the lovely Graptus triguttatus. It is bristly and has a distinctive Greek-mask-like pattern on it’s back. Its rostrum is very skinny for a ‘broad-nosed’ weevil.

Photograph: Emm Cane-Honeysett

Wednesday 6th July 2022, Bell Coppice

This was a joint outing with the Wyre Forest Study Group who were able to arrange for us to visit Bell Coppice, a privately owned site to the west of the Wyre Forest. 

The site is and ancient oak woodland with four flower-rich meadows. Three of the meadows which are situated at the south end of the site are flower-rich, one of which is a hay meadow with aftermath grazing by cattle, and the other two are gazed by cattle in the autumn and winter. 

I was unable to attend this outing so I cannot contribute anything to the report. However I have been sent a synopsis of the day which is paraphrased below.

The morning was spent in the flower meadows at the southern end of the site. Lunch was taken near the site entrance after which the group moved on to the meadow at the far end of the site ("Far Meadow"). This was followed by going along the disused railway line that forms the northern boundary before a march through the woods back to the cars. 

An early find was the second “first”.

A bee-fly that has not been recorded (as far as I know) in the county before.

Villa cingulata.

Photograph: John Bingham

This species has been resident in Worcestershire for a short while having spread recently from the chalklands found in the Chiltern and Cotswold Hills. It has now crossed the boundary into Shropshire.

One fly was seen early in the day in the first meadow but later, in Far Meadow, a number of individuals were seen. 

Other finds that were photographed were:

A Nut weevil, Curculio nucum with its extraordinary rostrum;

Photograph: Emm Cane-Honeysett

A Labyrinth spider, Agelena labyrinthica;

Photograph: Neil Nash

A Speckled bush cricket nymph;

Photograph: David Williams

A Spiked shieldbug nymph;

Photograph: David Williams

A Zelotes sp. spider and egg sac;

Photograph: Neil Nash

A Marbled white butterfly;

Photograph: David Williams

A Dark green fritillary;

Photograph: David Willaims

And a Southern hawker.

Photograph: David Williams

The general impression of the site was that the finds were a little disappointing, the vacuum sampler in particular not really producing anything of great note. But, nevertheless a good day in a nice place. 

And to finish the Wednesday Weevil of the Week is the hunched Orbitis cyanae.

Photograph: David Williams

My thanks to the National Trust and the owner of Bell Coppice for giving us permission to do what we enjoy doing, and to the Wyre Forest Study Group for arranging access to Bell Coppice. My great appreciation to the photographers for providing their excellent images.