Insect news 2010


Recent notable Sherwood Forest moths Moth trapping at the Sherwood Forest CP continues to provide much of interest throughout August and September. New leaf miners include an adult Phyllonoryter leucographella trapped at MV light in the country park and numerous occupied mines of Phyllonorycter sorbi found at both the country park and Clipstone Old Quarter. Ypsolopha horridella was another new micro for the NNR, whilst second records came from Ypsolopha alpella and Ypsolohpa sequella (first record for over 100 years) but totally new to the NNR was Psoricoptera gibbosella, which is a moth of ancient oak woodlands. Interestingly this moth also turned up twice at Lound Wood near Eakring shortly afterwards.

Some very mild evenings in August saw a second Sherwood record of Limnaecia phragmitella, whilst the Pyralid Agriphila selasella was another new moth. Traditionally, Agriphila selasella is a moth with a largely coastal distrbution in the southern UK, but occurs in numbers at some Leicestershire sites and seems quite frequent at Warsop Main Pit Top, but has not yet been recorded from any of the other sites within the NNR. It was also recorded from Eakring for the first time, where it appears to have either been previously overlooked amongst the commoner Agriphila tristella or is a recent colonist there.

New arachnid discovered for the first time at Sherwood Forest Following the second insect day/minibeast hunt held at the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre in August, we discovered two adult female Pholcus phalangiodes in the store room at the centre's classroom. This very long-legged spider is often found in dark dry areas, such as toilets and cupboards etc within houses and is rarely found outside these locations. The discovery was the first record of Pholcus phalangiodes for the Sherwood NNR.

Influx of Scaeva pyrastri and other migrant hoverflies During the latter part of July and continuing well into August, there has been a large influx of the migrant hoverfly, Scaeva pyrastri. This is quite a conspicuous species and we are finding it at every location we visit (including urban gardens) There are also higher than normal numbers of the common resident Episyrphus balteatus, whose numbers have been swelled by migrants from the continent.

More new moths for the Sherwood Forest NNR A catch of 494 moths of 109 species in just 2h 00m trapping time near the Centre Tree at Clipstone Old Quarter on July 11th, provided a quite remarkable short trapping session, resulting in three site firsts. The plume moth Marasmarcha lunaedactyla, the Tortrix Cochylis dubitana and the macro Blackneck were all new to the Sherwood Forest NNR site list, whilst first records since historical times included Orthotelia sparganella, Pyrausta purpuralis and Teliodes luculella.

New site for Welsh Clearwing in the Sherwood Forest NNR Two male Welsh Clearwing were attracted to pheremone lure at Sherwood Heath near Ollerton on June 26th at 09:57h and 10:04h.

		A second record of Cryptocephalus coryli Despite almost daily searching, it has been just over a month before we finally found a second adult C. coryli. The find did come out of the blue as we had virtually given up hope of finding any more this year. However, the male appeared very fresh and was found on young Oak regrowth, resulting from a small Oak stump which had been cut down during the Winter. It represents our latest record and the first time we have noted an adult eating Oak. Further searches for the beetle are to continue until the end of June and into July, but July records are (historically) few.

Recent Sherwood Forest invertebrate records Sherwood Forest continues to provide records of new species to the NNR. Most recent records of invertebrates either new, or the first modern records, to the Sherwood Forest species lists we maintain include the following species. Lepidoptera: Bucculatrix bechsteinella Sherwood Forest CP May 31st; Coleophora anatipennella Sherwood Forest CP May 15th; Spuleria flavicaput Sherwood Forest CP May 25th (first modern record) Coleophora spinella Sherwood Forest CP June 13th; Argyresthia retinella Sherwood Forest CP June 15th (first confirmed record) and Strophedra nitidana Sherwood Forest CP June 19th. Coleoptera: Hypera rumicis Sherwood Forest CP June 4th; Agrilus angustulus (Dutton, A.) Sherwood Forest CP June 3rd (first modern record) and Exapion fuscirostre Sherwood Forest CP June 19th. We have also recently photographed two large and beautifully marked Crane Flies, Ctenophora pectinicornis (one historical Sherwood Forest NNR record dated 1907) and Tanyptera atrata (no previous records)

Marsh Pug refound in Nottinghamshire Now a Grade 1 listed species in Nottinghamshire, Marsh Pug was once found in small numbers at three Eakring meadowland sites, but has not been recorded there since 2006. Due to it's small size and indistinctive appearance, this day flying Pug is difficult to locate and is easily missed. A most bizarre new Nottinghamshire location for this moth amd the first Nottinghamshire record since 2006, came in early June 2010, when a female was found egg laying around the lawn of an Edwinstowe pensioner's garden.

		Invertebrate numbers increase and more new species for Sherwood The third week of May produced some very warm weather, which in turn encouraged an increase in the number and species range of invertebrates around the Sherwood Forest NNR. After finally getting some evenings/nights where the temperature remained above 10C, moth trapping proved worthwhile. It seems that several new micro species were added to the Sherwood list including Pine Bud Moth, which was trapped at Budby South Forest (D. Hursthouse et al) and Sherwood Forest CP during the period. Other likely new species taken from Budby included Scrobipalpa acuminatella, Coleophora albicostella and Yellow-barred Brindle. A Flame Carpet at the CP on May 21st, was the first record since 1986, whilst the micro Parornix betulae was the first confirmed record since 1982.

		Good numbers of Chequered Click Beetle also appeared, along with several Denticollis linearis and Ampedus pomorum. Athous haemorrhoidalis and Dalopius marginatus also began to appear in increasing numbers. Most species of Phyllobius weevils became common, but much fewer numbers were found as the weather got hotter. Our search for the Hazel Pot Beetle this year began in the last week of April, but just one female has been found to date (May 16th) despite the perfect weather conditions. Other notable records were the mite infested Trox scaber, which was the second modern record and only the third Sherwood Forest ever, whilst the small rove beetle Lesteva longoelytrata was completely new to the NNR.

Another new moth for Sherwood Forest A single larval case of the Pistol-case Bearer Coleophora anatipennella, found on Blackthorn on May 15th, was another first record for the Sherwood Forest NNR.

First Cryptocephalus coryli of 2010 found Despite having the coldest Winter for many years, and after some three weeks since the start of our search, we found the first female on a small scrub Birch along a south-facing section of Birch woodland on May 16th. First date in 2009 after a much milder Winter was May 10th.

Lesteva longoelytrata - a new Rove Beetle for Sherwood A small Rove Beetle new to Sherwood Forest was been found at the Sherwood Forest Country Park on May 14th. Lesteva longoelytrata is a common species, so it came as a surprise to find that there were no previous records for the NNR in the site's coleoptera database we maintain.

A new moth for Nottinghamshire and Sherwood Forest Following the finding of three occupied larval cases of Coleophora betulella, found on Birch near the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre in May, it has been confirmed by John Langmaid as being a new species for Nottinghamshire. Coleophora betulella has a thinly scattered UK distribution. The larval cases are distinctive and named after their likeness to a Flintlock Pistol. Their are other Coleophora larvae which create similar cases, but feed on different plants. Despite much further searching, no other cases were found in the immediate area and the three larvae are now being bred through in captivity.

Recent Sherwood Coleoptera A prolonged spell of increasingly warm and sunny weather has led to an increase in the number of species appearing for the first time this year. Some recent records include the first Sherwood Forest record of 18-spot Ladybird since historical times and Megatoma undata at Budby South Forest on April 23rd. The 18-spot Ladybird was beaten from a large Pine on Budby and was only our second record of this supposedly widespread Nottinghamshire species. Another warm day at Sherwood Forest CP on April 24th produced a single Orchasia undulata, but also several other species, including the first green Phyllobius weevil, which eluded capture. All very much signs of Spring.

High numbers of Slender Groundhopper Two trips to Warsop Main Pit Top on April 20th and 21st, revealed very large numbers of Slender Groundhopper. Walking along, it was possible to disturb at least one Slender Groundhopper with each step. This is an insect on the Nottinghamshire list of species of conservation concern.

Early record of Hylecoetus dermestoides On April 18th 2010 we found a single adult Hylecoetus dermestoides at Sherwood Forest CP, on what seems a very early date compared to our records from last year.

Pardosa monticola		Pirata piraticus		First Sherwood record of Pardosa monticola since the late 1800's and the first ever record of Pirata piraticus Early April has seen two interesting arachnid records from Budby South Forest, with records of Pardosa monticola and Pirata piratica - a spider with a natural ability to walk on water. Both spiders belong to the Lycosidae group, which are often known commonly as Wolf Spiders and both species are attractively marked.

First Glow Worm larvae of 2010 found The first Glow Worm larvae of the year were found at Clipstone Old Quarter on April 4th.

Eakring Coleoptera - April 3rd Sunny weather induced first appearances of the Spring from a range of species, including numerous Aphodius prodromus, single Apion frumentarium and Phaedon tumidulus. At Eakring Meadows, the colourful Ant Beetle Thanasimus formicarius provided a first site record and a later walk on Budby South Forest, both Notiophilus substriatus and the first Exapion ulicis (on Gorse flowers) were noted.

Corticeus unicolor at Eakring again A second record of this RDB3 beetle has come from the Eakring area, with another adult found under Elm bark in the middle of Lound Wood on 18/03/10.

First Sherwood record of Acleris logiana since historical times On March 18th, an Acleris logiana was trapped at MV light, during a trapping session at Sherwood Forest CP, which was the first site record in over a 100 years.

Acleris logiana was formerly only known from Birch woodland Scotland, but has been recorded in recent years from sites in the south of the UK, where it was initially regarded as a migrant.

We also recorded this attractive Tortix at Lound Wood Eakring, in August 2007, so it is very likely to be expanding it's range northwards.

				Corticeus unicolor found in the Eakring recording area The nationally rare beetle Corticeus unicolor has been found at a new site away from it's Sherwood Forest stronghold. This is an extremely rare beetle (even in Nottinghamshire) with the entire UK distribution of Corticeus unicolor believed to be confined to Nottinghamshire and in particular the Sherwood Forest area, where this beetle has proved to be common to find underneath young Bracket Fungus by torchlight at night. This new site represents a very surprising record away from Sherwood Forest and came on 11/03/10, when we found a single adult under the bark of a long dead Elm at Hare Hill Wood near Kersall. Corticeus unicolor is an RDB3 species (Species with small populations which are localised or thinly scattered, but not at present qualifying for RDB1-2. Found in 15 or fewer 10km squares since 1980).

Jewel Beetle at Eakring Meadows NR The characteristic 'D' shaped exit holes of the Jewel Beetle Agrilus sinuatus, were found on the branches of a dead Hawthorn at Penny Pasture Common in early March. This is a new species for the Eakring area. Further searches in the Eakring Meadows and Hare Hill Wood area have so far proved negative, but we have found exit holes at Clipstone Old Quarter (10/03/10) Agrilus sinuatus was also discovered for the first time at Sherwood Forest CP by Keith Alexander in 2009 and has been recorded previously in Nottinghamshire at Attenborough NR. It is likely to be quite widespread throughout the southern half of the county. Amongst a range of other coleoptera found underneath the bark of felled Willow logs, were several adults of Chrysolina polita, single Oulema obscura, two Pediacus dermestoides, Pterostichus niger, Agonum viduum and Agonum fuliginosum.

First active Psychidae larvae of 2010 The first active Psychidae larvae have been recorded at two Sherwood Forest sites. An as yet unknown larva (probably Dahlica inconspicuella) was found making it's way up a Birch at Sherwood Forest CP on February 20th.

Then nearly a week later, numerous semi-active larvae were found on the algae covered trunk of a large Pine at Clipstone Old Quarter on February 25th. These look like fairly typical Narycia duplicella cases, one of which is shown in the accompanying photograph on the right.

All have been retained for rearing through to adult.

Some recent Sherwood Coleoptera A recent visit to the Edwinstowe end of Sherwood Forest CP on February 14th, provided records of over-wintering beetles in the form of Sepedophilus bipunctatus, Cychrus caraboides, Nebria brevicollis, Pterostichus oblongopunctatus (common) Harlequin Ladybird (five over-wintering inside a litter bin) and Othius subuliformis, Quedius cruentus and Atrecus affinis.

First record of Neriene montana for Sherwood A female Neriene montana, which was found under loose bark at Sherwood Forest CP on February 14th, was new to the Sherwood list. N. montana is a common spider and this first record came as something of a surprise.

Two new Rove Beetles for Sherwood Forest from 2009 The difficulties in identification of Rove Beetles (Staphylinidae) meant many months in determining the identification of three species, taken at two Sherwood sites in 2009. The three species concerned include Gauropterus fulgidus, Ocypus aeneocephalus (both from Budby South Forest) and Philonthus laminatus (Clipstone Old Quarter) Both G. fulgidus and O. aeneocephalus were new to Sherwood, with P. laminatus being the first record since the late 1800's.

Gauropterus fulgidus	Ocypus aeneocephalus	Philonthus laminatus

First Sherwood Coleoptera of 2010 A short walk on Budby South Forest after most of the snow had melted on January 17th, produced two species of Ground Beetle (Carabus problematicus and Nebria brevicollis) and Pine, 7-spot and Striped Ladybirds.

Carabus problematicus is the least recorded of the two Violet Ground Beetles at Sherwood and was our first record personally. C. problematicus is perhaps best distinguished from C. violaceus by the more structured elytra, with raised areas forming distinct grooves at times.

The Striped Ladybird was found at the end of the previous year's growth on a semi-mature Pine and was our first record of an over-wintering site for this species.


Marasmarchia lunaedactyla	Blackneck	Cochylis dubitana	*Ochsenheimeria vacculella*

Almost overlooked as a tiny Caddis Fly a few days earlier, was the NNR's first record of Ochsenheimeria vacculella, which is scarce in the UK and was swept from the low branches of a small Oak at Sherwood Forest CP.

An early Green Shieldbug A surprising find at Clipstone Old Quarter on February 25th, was an adult Green Shieldbug (the first Shieldbug of the year) found on the sheltered side of a fence post. The day was very mild, in comparison to most of the Winter.