Update from TM0025

This is just a short report following fairly quickly on the heels of the previous posting. Autumn has struck, with falling temperatures, and this has been immediately apparent in the number of invertebrates seen, both in and out of the mothtrap. The only species unaffected seems to be the Large yellow underwing, which is diving into the mothtrap in ever increasing numbers. I think that I’m going to have to be more proactive in my search for new species from now on, not expecting them to cross my path but instead looking for groups to which I have thus far not paid much attention. The cold and rain will also allow me more time to review photographs and specimens from earlier in the year, which may include some previously unidentified species.

Incidentally, Stewart has kindly pointed out that my White-spotted pug must in fact be either a Wormwood pug or a Currant pug. Looking at it again, and taking into account the date on which it was found I have concluded that it must have been a Currant pug, Eupithecia assimilata, a new species for the list, so my running total remains unaffected.

Fish

772. Roach, Rutilus rutilus

Bees, wasps

773. Blue mason bee, Osmia caerulescens

Hoverflies

774. Cheilosia scutellata

775. Melanostoma scalare

Mayflies

776. Pond olive, Cloeon dipterum  

Caddisflies

777. Limnephilus lunatus

Other flies

778. Berberis Sawfly, Arge berberidis (caterpillar)

779. Culiseta annulata

780. Culex pipiens

781. Macrocera phalerata        

782. Nephrotoma flavipalpis

783. Tipula oleracea

784. Toxoneura modesta

785. Tricholauxania praeusta

Beetles

786. Black vine weevil. Otiorhynchus sulcatus   

Bugs

787. Birch catkin bug, Kleidocerys resedae  

788. Common flower bug, Anthocoris nemorum   

789. Miridius quadrivirgatus                             

790. Tarnished plant bug, Lygus rugulipennis       

Psocids

791. Ectopsocus briggsi

Leafhopper

792. Allygus mixtus

Lacewing

793. Hemerobius stigma

Moths

794. Antler moth, Cerapteryx graminis

795. Carnation tortrix, Cacoecimorpha pronubana

796. Caryocolum fraternella

797. Cochylis molliculana

798. Feathered ranunculus, Polymixis lichenea

799. Green carpet, Colostygia pectinataria

800. Pyrausta purpuralis

801. Twin-spot plume, Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla

802. Webb’s wainscot, Archanara sparganii

Spiders

803. Meta segementata

804. Noble false-widow, Steatoda nobilis

Harvestmen

805. Odiellus spinosus

Mites

806. Slug mite, Riccardoella limacum     

Woodlice

807. Common striped woodlouse, Philoscia muscorum

Gastropods

808. Common garden slug, Arion hortensis

809. Dusky slug, Arion subfuscus

Galls

810. Aceria cephaloneus (gall mite of sycamore)

811. Apple leaf mite, Phyllocoptes malinus

Plants

812. Dragon’s-teeth, Tetragonolobus maritimus

813. Greater pond sedge, Carex riparia

814. Grimmia pulvinata (a moss)            

815. Ground ivy, Glechoma hederacea

816. Hard rush, Juncus inflexus

817. Hawkweed ox-tongue, Picris hieracioides

818. Male fern, Dryopteris filix-mas

Fungi

819. Apple rot fungus, Monilinia fructigena

820. Field mushroom, Agaricus campestris

821. Giant puffball, Langermannia gigantea

822. Orange jelly fungus/Witch’s-butter, Dacrymyces palmatus  

Finally ...

For me this was not the year to take on a challenge like this with too many other things going on in my life but finally, after months of tortoise-like progress, I have somehow reached the 1000 species mark!

The morning started well with family commitments fulfilled by mid morning, and I felt like 1000 was in sight by the end of the day. A short walk to the station and back before lunch produced:

973      the very common spider Zygiella atrica from oak foliage

974      meadow pipit – one calling over my garden      

  975      common crossbill – 2 over the village   
  976      Adonia variegata (Adonis ladybird)  - swept from tall grass
  977      Himacerus mirmicoides (ant damsel bug) – swept from black horehound
  978      Meripilus giganteus (giant polypore) - on birch stump     
  979      Ustulina deusta (a crustose fungus) – ditto.        
 

I had great plans for a major sweep netting session after lunch but disaster struck – rain!  In desperation I resorted to a couple of hours photographing and collecting lichens -(something I had hoped to avoid) and out of about 40 species I was able to confidently identify 21: 

980        Caloplaca aurantia

981        Candelariella aurella

982        Cladonia coniocrae

983        Cladonia fimbriata

984        Diploicia canescens

985        Lecanora campestris

986        Lecanora dispersa

987        Lecanora muralis

988        Lecanora polytropa

989        Lepraria incana

990        Melanelia subaurifera

991        Neofuscelia verruculifera

992        Parmelia sulcata

993        Phaeophyscia orbicularis

994        Physcia adscendens

995        Physcia tenella

996        Punctelia subrudecta

997        Tephromela atra

998        Verrucaria nigrescens

999        Xanthoparmelia mougeotii

1000      Xanthoria parietina

 
I will carry on, though with invertebrates drying up and plants done to death, I don’t expect to get too many more – 1100 now sounds like a challenge, but who knows … I still have a fair few flies and beetles in alcohol, and I haven't had a go at bryophytes yet.
 

Tim

 

A very short blog post!

Well, smallest number of additions for a long time this week. Autumn is in the air, with the temperatures dropping mid-week. Added to which, lots of work on so not much time for the square unfortunately. New species keep appearing though, so definitely not time to give up yet.

1st September

1,227 - Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyka in the moth-trap (35 species tonight)

2nd September

1,228 - Treble-bar Aplocera plagiata in the moth-trap (41 species tonight including record count of 33 Brimstone Moths)

3rd September

1,229 - Beautiful China-mark Nymphula stagnata in the moth-trap (43 species tonight)

4th September

1,230 - Orange Sallow Xanthia citrago, and...
1,231 - Brown-spot Pinion Agrochola litura in the moth-trap (37 species tonight)

5th September

No new species, 40 species in moth-trap

6th September

No new species, big temperature drop and just 18 species in moth-trap.

7th September

1,232 - Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra in the moth-trap (26 species tonight / 59 individuals in total)

8th September

1,233 - Leucoptera lotella - occupied leaf-mines of this micro-moth found on the common in Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil. A lifer for me and I was surprised to find that this appears to be the first Norfolk record for 20 years!
1,234 - Hoary Mullein Verbascum pulverulentum - a cluster of plants in a wild area of someone's "garden", oddly overlooked until now!

Hoary Mullein - a real Norfolk speciality

Leucoptera lotella in Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil. Bit of a mega, surely it must be hugely overlooked?

Being casual in Guernsey

Well this is nice and relaxing. Having reached 1000, when I find a creature I don't recognise, I don't fly into a rage or a panic, but just give a "meh" and throw it away! Think I have managed to kick the 1ksq habit. (someone needs to kidnap Muzza, lock him in a room so he can go cold turkey - like Renton in Trainspotting)

1001 - Tipula maxima

1002 - Argyresthia albistria (moth)
1003 - Tall Nightshade
1004 - Sycamore Tar-spot Fungus
1005 - Wall-rue
1006 - Pear Slug Sawfly (larva)
1007 - Bradycellus verbasci (beetle)
1008 - Canary-shouldered Thorn
1009 - Cypress Pug
1010 - Painted Lady
1011 - Gold Spot
1012 - Geotrupes spiniger (Dumble Dor Beetle?)
1013 - Latticed Heath
1014 - Straw Underwing
1015 - Palpita vitrealis (moth) - just my second ever & a cracker!
1016 - Common Darter

1017 - Agriphila geniculea (moth)
1018 - Euzophera pinguis (moth)
1019 - Common Wainscot
1020 - Small Wainscot
1021 - Small Tortoiseshell - first ever garden record, and had another a few days later (pic below). This species is quite rare here, and I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't regularly breed here. Every one I see is associated with an influx of other immigrant butterflies.

1022 - Eumerus funeralis (hoverfly)
1023 - Eristalinus sepulchralis (hoverfly)
1024 - Hygrotus impressopunctatus (water beetle) - under the same dead seagull that was mentioned a while ago!
1025 - Fern
1026 - Clavigestra purdeyi (moth)
1027 - Nephopterix angustella (moth)
1028 - Engrailed - new species for the garden and only a few recs for Guernsey.

1029 - Caloptilia leucapennella (moth)
1030 - Wesmaelius subnebulosus (lacewing)
1031 - Whimbrel - migrant calling over the garden (didn't see it)
1032 - Grass Eggar
1033 - Apion pomonae (weevil)
1034 - Hare's-foot Clover
1035 - Med Gull - the 3 or 4 times I have seen Med Gull over the garden have all been on the days that our ant nest erupts and the gulls come to feed overhead.

1036 - Gem
1037 - Aethes smeathmanniana (moth)
1038 - Monopis laevigella (moth)

To 1100...and beyond!

Well, August was a busy month, and a very exciting one, but unfortunately mostly away from home and my 1k square. However, I still managed somehow to add another 100 or so species to the list, just over half of which were Lepidoptera. The inevitable cutting of crops, murdering of hedges and the trimming of verges that comes in August has had a fairly dramatic effect on my ability to locate new species, in particular the severe haircut given to the local green lane and stream banks, and the reduction of the accompanying hedges to "waffer-thin" veils of hacked twigs. I understand the need to trim vegetation, but surely doing it in August must have a major effect on invertebrate populations? Hedges can ALL wait until winter, while grass cuts could just as easily be done in late September or early October. I don't give a monkeys what they do with the crops!

Another feature of the month has been, at the end, a trickle of migrant birds over the square, including green sandpiper, tree pipit, whimbrel, little egret and snipe. The tree pip was first for my garden, while the green sand and whimbrel were both seconds. The tree pipit appeared on the same day that I found a wryneck and located a subsequently identified booted warbler on Blakeney Point - see, it all ties in!

Anyway, before the mechanical shitstorm, I did see some good bits and pieces, including a random selection:

Syrphus vitripennis

hoverfly

Rubus caesius

dewberry

Harmonia axyridis

Harlequin ladybird

Meconema thalassinum

Oak bush cricket

Persicaria lapathifolia

pale persicaria

Eristalis nemorum

hoverfly

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

hoverfly

Lycaena phlaeas

small copper

Aeshna mixta

Migrant hawker

Dasineura crataegi

Gall aphid on hawthorn

Cynips divisa

oak leaf gall

Eupontania pedunculi

gall on willow

Tachyporus hypnorum

rove beetle

Cordylepherus viridis

beetle

Coprinellus callinus

mushroom in lawn

Opilio saxatilis

harvest spider

Apamea ophiogramma

double-lobed moth

Prunus domestica

plum

Update from TM0025

It’s been just over a month, and the list has moved on well. I’m now over three-quarters of the way there, but autumn is now approaching, and I am wondering if it will hold enough for me to reach the finish line by the end of the year.

Birds

573. Grey wagtail 574. Kingfisher

575. Sparrowhawk

Amphibians and reptiles 576. Common lizard, Zootoca vivipara 577. Common toad, Bufo bufo

Fish

578. Bream, Abramis brama

579. Minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus

Mammals

580. Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus

Bees, wasps

581. Hornet, Vespa crabro

582. Hylaeus communis

583. Ichneumon stramantarius

584. Ichneumon suspiciosus

585. Lissonata setosa

586. Mellinus arvensis

587. Sphecodes spinulosus

588. Yellow-legged mining-bee, Andrena flavipes

Hoverflies

589. Eristalis pertinax

590. Lejogaster metallina

591. Myathropa florea

592. Scaeva pyrastri

593. Sphaerophoria ruepellii

594. Syritta pipiens

Odonata

595. Brown hawker, Aeshna grandis

596. Southern hawker, Aeshna Cyanea

597. White-legged damselfly, Platycnemis pennipes

598. Willow emerald damselfly,  Lestes viridis

Other flies

599. Anomoia purmunda        

  

600. Chloromyia formosa

601. Cleon dipterum (a mayfly)

602. Eriothrix rufomaculata

603. Green-headed soldierfly, Chorisops tibialis  

604. Nephrotoma crocata

605. Sapromyza sexpunctata

606. Sylvicola fenestralis (a window midge)

607. Tipula paludosa

Beetles

608. Flea beetle, Altica lythri

609. Mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor

610. Microcara testacea

611. Nut weevil, Curculio nucum

612. Pterostichus cupreus

613. Rhantus suturalis

614. Whirligig beetle,  Gyrinus natator

Bugs

615. Black-kneed capsid, Blepharidopterus angulatus

616. Brassica bug, Eurydema oleracea (nymph)   

617. Dock bug, Coreus marginatus

618. Field damsel-bug, Nabis ferus (nymph)

619. Forest bug, Pentatoma rufipes                  

620. Hawthorn shieldbug, Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale

621. Iassus ianio (a leafhopper)

622. Liocoris tripustulatus

623. Parent bug, Elasmucha grisea

624. Phytocaris tiliae

625. Stenodema laevigatum

Lacewings

626. Chrysoperla carnea

627. Micromus variegatus

Orthoptera

628. Common field grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus

629. Common green grasshopper, Omocestus viridulus

630. Oak bush-cricket, Meconema thalassinum

Moths

631. Acrobasis advenella

632. Aethes smeathmanniana

633. Agonopterix kaekeritziana

634. Agriphila geniculea

635. Agriphila inquinatella

636. Agriphila straminella

637. Agriphila tristella

638. Anania crocealis

639. Apotomis betuletana

640. Angle shades, Phlogophora meticulosa

641. Blastobasis adustella

642. Blastobasis lignea

643. Brown china-mark, Elophila nymphaeata

644. Bryotropha affinis

645. Canary-shouldered thorn, Ennomos alniaria

646. Catoptria falsella

647. Chequered fruit-tree tortrix, Pandemis corylana

648. Cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae (caterpillar)

649. Cochylis hybridella            

650. Copper underwing, Amphipyra pyramidea

651. Crescent, Celaena leucostigma

652. Cydia fugiglandana

653. Cydia splendana

654. Diamond-backed moth, Plutella zylostella

655. Double-lobed, Apamea ophiogramma

656. Double-striped pug, Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

657. Feathered gothic, Tholera decimalis

658. Fen wainscot, Arenostola phragmitidis

659. Flounced rustic,  Luperina testacea

660. Garden rose tortrix, Acleris variegana

661. Hedge rustic,  Tholera cespitis

662. Ingrailed clay, Diarsia mendica mendica

663. Iron prominent, Notodonta dromedarius

664. Latticed heath, Chiasma clathrata

665. Light emerald, Campaea margaritata

666. Lunar yellow underwing, Noctua orbona

667. Marbled beauty, Cryphia domestica

668. Marbled green, Cryphia muralis

669. Nutmeg, Descestra trifolii

670. Old lady, Mormo maura

671. Orange swift, Hepialis sylvina

672. Orchard ermine, Yponomeuta padella

673. Pale mottled willow, Paradrina clavipalpis

674. Pediasa aridella

675. Philedone gerningana

676. Pine leaf-mining moth, Clavigesta purdeyi

677. Rhomboid tortrix, Acleris rhombana

678. Scarce silver lines, Bena bicolorana

679. Sharp-angled peacock, Macaria alternata

680. Single-dotted wave, Idaea dimidiata

681. Square-spot rustic, Xestia xanthographa

682. Straw dot, Rivula sericealis

683. Straw underwing, Thalpophila matura

684. Turnip moth, Agrotis segetum

685. Vapourer, Orgya antiqua  

686. Vine’s rustic, Hoplodrina ambigua

687. Water veneer, Acentria ephemerella

688. White satin moth, Leucoma salicis

689. White-spotted pug, Eupithecia tripunctaria Currant pug, Eupithecia assimilata

690. Yellow shell, Camptogramma bilineata

Butterflies

691. Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni

692. Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus

693. Green-veined white, Pieris napi

694. Holly blue, Celastrina argiolus

695. Painted lady, Vanessa cardui

696. Small heath, Coenomympha pamphilus

697. Small skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris

Galls

698. Andricus grossulariae (gall wasp of oak)

699. Biorhiza pallida (Oak apple, gall wasp)

700. Ergot, Claviceps purpurea

701. Lipara lucens (gall fly of common reed)  

702. Pemphigus spyrothecae (gall aphid of poplar)

703. Neuroterus albipes (a gall wasp of oak)

704. Neuroterus anthracinus (a gall wasp of oak)

705. Neuroterus numismalis (gall wasp of oak)

706. Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (gall wasp of oak)

707. Rhabdophaga rosaria (gall midge of willow)  

708. Urophora cardui (gall fly of thistle)                   

709. Wachtliella persicariae (gall midge of bistort)   

A selection of galls

Spiders

710. Crustulina guttata

711. Diaea dorsata

712. Meta mengei

713. Nuctena umbricata

714. Tetragnatha montana

715. Theridion varians

Gastropods

716. Large black slug, Arion ater

Leech

717. Erpobdella octoculata

Plants

718. Angelica, Angelica sylvestris

719. Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis

720. Black bryony, Tamus communis

721. Bladder senna, Colutea arborescens

722. Branched bur-reed, Sparanium erectum

723. Canadian fleabane, Conyza canadensis

724. Canadian goldenrod, Solidago canadensis

725. Common fleabane, Pulicaria dysentarica

726. Common knapweed, Centaurea nigra

727. Common liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha

728. Common orache, Atriplex patula

729. Common sorrel, Rumex acetosa

730. Common toadflax, linaria vulgaris

731. Curled dock, Rumex crispus

732. Evergreen oak, Quercus ilex

733. Field maple, Acer campestre

734. Garden parsley,  Petroselinum crispum

735. Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata

736. Giant hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum

737. Gipsywort, Lycopus europaeus

738. Hairy nightshade, Solanum villosum

739. Hazel, Corylus avellana

740. Holly, Ilex aquifolium

741. Horseradish, Armoracia rusticana

742. Ivy-leaved cyclamen, Cyclamen hederifolium

743. Ivy-leaved speedwell, Veronica hederifolia

744. Knotgrass, Polygonum aviculare

745. Large bindweed, Calystegia silvatica

746. Lesser burdock, Arctium minus

747. Lords-and-ladies, Arum maculatum

748. Marsh woundwort, Stachys palustris

749. Mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris

750. Oregon-grape, Mahonia aquifolium

751. Pendulous sedge, Carex pendula

752. Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria

753. Reed sweet-grass, Glyceria maxima

754. Rough chervil, Chaeropyllum temulum

755. Scentless mayweed, Tripleurospermum inodorum

756. Short-leaved water-starwort, Callitriche truncata

757. Small balsam, Impatiens parviflora

758. Smooth hawks-beard, Crepis biennis

759. Spear-leaved orache, Atriplex prostrata

760. Trailing St John’s-wort, Hypericum humifusum

761. Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia

762. Water-cress, Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum

763. Water forget-me-not, Myosotis scorpioides

764. Water mint, Mentha aquatica

765. Wild marjoram, Origanum vulgare

766. Wild mignonette, Reseda lutea

767. Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium

Fungi

768. Bonnet mycena, Mycena galericulata

769. Brown nettle-gill, Panaeolus foenisecii

770. Fairy-ring champignon, Marasmius oreades

771. Tar-spot, Rhytisma acerinum