Insect news 2007

Invertebrate news 2008

Featuring news and sightings from Eakring

In most cases, clicking on the photos will link to larger images

First record of Lesser Marsh Grasshopper A walk around Eakring Meadows on September 3rd, produced a single Lesser Marsh Grasshopper - a species which only arrived in Nottinghamshire in 2000, but has since spread rapidly to become one of our most widespread grasshoppers.

Beetles at light A moth trapping session at Lound Wood on August 5th attracted a Lesser Stag Beetle which is only the third record here. Over recent weeks there have also been two records of the scarce longhorn Arhopalus rusticus. This is a large longhorn beetle and one which is regularly attracted to light and is largely active at night.

Latest news on the Harlequin Ladybird at Hare Hill Wood A search along the edge of Hare Hill Wood on July 7th, revealed no Harlequin Ladybirds at all. Despite diligent searching, only nine 7-spot Ladybirds were found - this extremly low total being a surprise considering the large numbers currently present in the Eakring Flash area.

First record of Red Wasp (Vespula rufa) Amongst a selection of wasps nectaring on Cotoneaster in Lound Wood were a queen Hornet, Common Wasp and several worker Red Wasps. This is the first time I have recorded this species here, although it is likely to have occurred at some point over the past ten years.

Area moth list increases Regular light trapping at two sites in the area continues to provide new moths recorded in the area for the first time. Amongst over 6 000 moths of over 200 species, more than 30 are completely new. New macro additions have included Orange Footman, Maiden's Blush, Pale Oak Beauty, Sallow Kitten, Poplar Grey, Campion, Chamomile Shark and Muslin Moth, with numerous micros including Incurvaria oehlmanniella, Nematopogon metaxella, Adela croesella, Telechrysis tripuncta and Phycitodes maritima.

Hornet in the area again (and again) Queen Hornets are being noted in ever increasing numbers here, with queens noted at Lound Wood on June 4th and at Eakring Flash on June 8th. Others have also been seen along the edge of Lound Wood on two occasions over the past few weeks. One of these occurred on the same day as the similarly marked (but smaller) Median Wasp (Dolichovespula media) was noted in the area for the first time at Eakring Meadows.

Silver Y is first migrant moth of 2007 An adult Silver Y moth was noted along a field edge near Hare Hill Wood on April 28th and is the earliest ever recorded here by several weeks.

First Orange Tip of the Spring Among many butterflies at Hare Hill Wood on 07/04/07 were two early male Orange Tip. Also seen were two Green-veined White, four Brimstones, numerous Peacock and smaller numbers of both Comma and Small Tortoiseshell.

Second record of Pied Shieldbug for the area A Pied Shieldbug on Dead Nettle at Hare Hill Wood, represented only the second ever record here.

Orange Underwing A single adult Orange Underwing was seen flying along the edge of Hare Hill Wood on 07/04/07. Orange Underwing is currently listed as Grade 2 in Nottinghamshire, but is probably an overlooked moth. Recently, my wife Dilys and myself have recorded this day-flying moth from Warsop Wood and one area of Sherwood Forest.

Early Butterflies at Hare Hill Wood The first post-hibernation butterflies were on the wing this afternoon at Hare Hill Wood. Two male Brimstones, single Comma and Small Tortoiseshell were seen and other insects included the Shieldbug Troilus luridus. 7-spot Ladybirds are now leaving their Winter roost sites and have moved to low vegetation. One Harlequin Ladybird was also noted today on Nettle.

New moth for the Eakring area The Plume Moth Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (shown right) was recorded from the Eakring area for the first time ever, when a single adult was attracted to light at Lound Wood. The same trapping session also produced a single Grey Shoulder-knot and three Yellow Horned.

Hare Hill Wood insects - 10/03/07 A count of the Ladybirds along the edge of Hare Hill Wood produced an extremely healthy 1142 7-spot Ladybird, ten 2-spot Ladybird, four Harlequin Ladybird, two 16-spot Ladybird (found singly with groups of 7-spots) two Pine Ladybird and a single Orange Ladybird. Other insects included several Queen Bumble Bees of two species - Bombus lucorum and Bombus terrestis and the Hoverfly Eristalis tenax.

Early Red Admiral A single Red Admiral was noted flying strongly north-west over the Red Hill area on February 4th. The record (despite being extremely early) is not that surprising, considering the number of Red Admirals reported across Nottinghamshire since the New Year. With the mild Winter, Red Admirals are clearly finding hibernation in the UK, much easier now than was the case a decade ago.

Oak Nycteoline Two Oak Nycteolines were taken at light during a trapping session at Lound Wood on January 31st. Representing a first for the area, this species is currently assigned Grade 3 status in Nottinghamshire.

First Harlequin Ladybirds of 2007 A thorough search to determine the hibernation site of the Harlequin Ladybird population at Hare Hill Wood near Kersall, was to eventually meet with some limited success when six were found underneath loose bark on a dead Elm. The six Harlequins were found in company with over-wintering 2-spot Ladybirds, a species we have found difficult to find recently at a series of sites. The expected wintering site (a small Ivy-covered Hawthorn) was not used and the Harlequins found are just a fraction of the 151 known to be at the site in November 2006. A total of 255 7-spot Ladybirds were found, wintering quite openly on dead vegetation.

First moths of 2007 A short moth-trapping session at Lound Wood on January 15th, produced the first moths of the year with records of Early Moth, Winter Moth and Tortricodes alternella.