Guess what’s for dinner

Wednesday 15th May 2024, Hodnet Old Railway Laine

Hodnet Old Railway Line is a mile or so long nature reserve owned by Shropshire County Council that follows the route of the defunct Wellington to Market Drayton line. It features an embankment and a cutting whose vegetation provides a home for Glow-worms. It runs from Station Road in Hodnet to Wollerton, ending opposite Wollerton Old Hall. A footpath runs along the length of the reserve.

Once again, I was absent as I was isolating with COVID, so, once again, I am grateful for a verbal summary of the day from one of the attendees.

Wollerton Old Hall Gardens were closed which meant that their car park was not available for use but, as it was quiet, we were able to park on the roadside by the hall.

To get to the reserve it is necessary to follow the footpath through the car park. This was bordered by a hedge which provided shelter from the early morning cool breeze.

An early record was a female Common earwig which was found eating her way through a Yellow dung-fly.

Photograph: David Williams

Soon after this a mirid bug, Rhabdomeris striatellus, was also discovered tucking into bits of another unfortunate Yellow dung-fly.

Photograph: David Williams

It is fair to say that there were a lot of Yellow dung-flies about!

On the reserve an insect was found that was not devouring a dung-fly, a Drinker moth larva.

Photograph: David Williams

This was followed by finding one of our least recorded shieldbugs, a Forget-me-not shieldbug.

Photograph: David Williams

Considering the amount of Forget-me-not plants there are, it is very surprising it is not more common. Presumably there are other environmental factors that need to be met for it to be successful. When found it tends to be on well drained sites.

The site may be a mile or so in length but it is not very wide so there is not much exploring to be done other than just follow the path to the end, turn round and return. The vegetation is mainly ground layer but there are some trees and shrubs.

And it was in one of the trees that the next insect was found, a micro-ladybird, Scymnus auratus, known as the Oak ladybird.

Photograph: David Williams

Another insect associated with oak is Harpocera thoracica, which can be found on the tree as an adult for a few weeks after the leaves first appear.

Photograph: David Williams

Back to the ground layer, a bee, Andrena labiata.

Photograph: David Williams

Switching from fauna to flora, a Pink garlic, Allium trifoliatum, was found in flower.

Photograph: John Martin

According to the finder this is the first time that this plant has been recorded in the county. 

Returning to fauna and insects, male Empis tessellata, when trying to win over a female for mating, will catch a prey item and present it to the female. If she is impressed, she will allow mating to take place.

Photograph: John Martin

She was impressed!

Once again, the gift of food is a Yellow dung-fly.

Well, there were lots about.

Also in the mood for love were a pair of 14-spot ladybirds.

Photograph: David Williams

Continuing searching the ground layer vegetation teased out a couple more shieldbugs:

Pied shieldbug;

Photograph: David Williams

Woundwort shieldbugs, a pair of which were mating, whilst a third was an onlooker.

Photograph: David Williams

At this time of year keep a look out for long-horned beetles. This one is a Wasp beetle.

Photograph: David Williams

The day was drawing to a close when this 2-spot ladybird was noticed.

Photograph: David Williams

Time to head back to the start and home.

And what’s for dinner? 

Yellow dung-flies, of course.

My thanks to Shropshire County Council for allowing us to do what we enjoy doing. My gratitude to Jim for providing a summary of the day and to the photographers for providing the substance of this report.