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.