W h i t e A d m i r a l
Newsletter 89 Autumn 2014
Suffolk Naturalists’ Society C o n te n t s
E d i t or i a l 1 Autumn Members Evening 2014 2 Logo Challenge Ben Heather 3 Black rat record for Ipswich Simone Bullion 4 A Fault: Nacton Shore Cliff Bob Markham 4 A n t li on s - a n E a s t - Suffolk speciality Joan Hardingham 6 The purse web spider Alan Thornhill 9 Species Records - Making a difference G e n B r oa d 10 Le a f - Cutter Bees Richard Stewart 14 My year (2014) Trevor Goodfellow 16 Voucher Specimens Neil Mahler 19 A New Suffolk Record for the large Adrian Chalkley 21 Pond Skater Confessions of a novice Moth - er P e t e r La c k 23 Stag Beetles 1868 – 2 0 1 4 Colin Hawes 26 Chemicals in our fields, water and Tom Langton 28 wi ld li f e Drosophila suzukii i n Su f f ol k Martin Cooper 30 Roman Snails Richard Fisk 31 Mammals of Essex - A New Atlas Darren Tansley 31 Shieldbugs at Play Rob P a r ke r 32
ISSN 0959-8537 Published by the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society c/o Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3QH Registered Charity No. 206084 © Suffolk Naturalists’ Society
Front cover: Hoopoe taken at Framsden Suffolk on 1/11/2014 by Chris Upson http://chrisupson.zenfolio.com/ SuffolkThe Naturalists’ Society
Newsletter 89 - Autumn 2014
Welcome to this packed issue of White Admiral newsletter. Thank you to all those who have sent me copy for this issue, it makes my job much easier! Please bear in mind that the next issue is Spring 2015, so please think about any ‘dates for the diary’ or 2015 events that you would like me to feature in the ‘what’s on’ section of this issue and send them to me before 1st February. I have had a very interesting year when it comes to natural history and have been able to get out and take lots of interesting photos of wildlife in Suffolk with one of my highlights being able to find the Wasp Spiders at Alton Water for a second year in a row. These spiders are great for anyone learning macro photography and are very well behaved subjects and do not shy away from having their photo taken, quite the opposite. Away from photography I have enjoyed my first couple of outings with the Suffolk Bat Group of which I joined earlier in the year. I was able to complete my Bat Conservation Trust ‘Waterways Survey’ training on my second attempt after a biblical thunderstorm put paid to my first attempt. I have also been able to take advantage of being a member of Suffolk Bat Group and borrow a heterodyne bat detector and have now spent many evenings trying to learn what is, to me, a different language. I have a lot to learn but it certainly is very fascinating. This winter I will be spending time re-developing the recording section of Suffolk Biological Records Centre’s website with some of our county recorders ready for the Spring, so keep a look out for updates. Please can I bring to your attention our Logo Challenge on page 3, we hope you will give it a go and also the notice of our Autumn members evening (page 2) which is on the 27th of November, we hope to see you there.
Editor: Ben Heather Suffolk Biological Records Centre, c/o Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, IP1 3 Q H [email protected]
White Admiral 89 1 Autumn Members Evening 2014
Thursday 27th November | 7.30pm Cedars Hotel, Needham Road, Stowmarket, IP14 2AJ
Speakers and Talks:
Colin Hawes | Stag beetles as fungivores “My 10 min talk will be about my collaboration with a researcher in Japan, which has led to us discovering a stag beetle-fungal relationship that helps the larvae digest wood.”
Dennis Kell Investigating the distribution of flowering spikes of Purple Helleborine Epipactis purpurata in a deciduous Suffolk woodland in relation to adjacent ditches and differences in height, soil moisture and pH.
Caroline Markham | Underground Heritage Suffolk’s geodiversity sites - landforms, geology and buildings.
Gen Broad | SNS Taster Days A summary of SNS events from the last couple of years.
Plus any updates from recorders present at the evening. Members are welcome to bring along short Powerpoint presentations or pictures they would like to share with the Society.
Drinks from the bar on arrival and half -ti m e refreshment break (tea and coffee).
2 White Admiral 89 Logo Challenge
Help us design a new logo for SNS
Now that the nights are drawing in, and the days are becoming shorter, SNS council has decided to challenge its members, over the winter, to help design a new graphical logo for the society. SNS council has decided that a new logo is well overdue and would like something that is both creative and simple to represent the society on publications, websites and social media etc… our letter head (below). The brief is fairly simple; what is Please send your ideas and designs needed is a graphic design that to the editor using the contact depicts what the Suffolk details on page 1. If sending Naturalists’ Society is, does or images via email please do not what it stands for to you. To get send items over 10mb. the creative juices flowing I have created a very quick photoshop based graphic (top right) depicting a record being made of a butterfly. You do not need any skills at using photoshop or design programs, all As long as we get a good response we need from you is an idea. This we will publish any sketches in the could be a quick sketch or detailed next White Admiral with our new drawing and these designs will be logo. voted on by the council and then It will be great to have a new eye transformed into a computer based catching logo that will take SNS graphic by the society. forward and I hope many of you Designs need to be graphic based take part. and contain no text. Designs will Ben Heather be digitised into a suite of logo layouts of which some will contain Editor: White Admiral
White Admiral 89 3 Black rat record for Ipswich
On 30th June 2014 I was contacted another interloper, the common or by Peter Woolley of Alpha ‘brown’ rat. Remaining populations Fumigation concerning an unusual in the UK are thought to be looking young rat that had been restricted to a very few dockside found dead at the Ipswich Grain seed and flour mills, which is also Terminal. His suspicions were that linked to its habit of being a more this was a black or ship rat, rather indoor-living rat. than a brown or common rat. Further correspondence with Peter Colour is not a reliable feature in Woolley on 16th September 2014 telling the two apart, rather the indicated that a number of animals relatively larger ears and longer, have been now recorded, including thinner tail (up to 120% of the three dead juveniles and a live head and body length) should be female with a litter of babies. The used. As this specimen bore all the absence of a record from Ipswich characteristics of a ‘black rat’, I for many years implies that double-checked this with national animals may have arrived via mammal expert Dr Pat Morris, shipping, becoming established who confirmed the record. during the last year or so. The The black rat, Rattus rattus, is need for rodent control at this now a very scarce British Mammal location means that this and there have been no records in population may be short-lived, Suffolk for decades. This species although the more arboreal habits reached Britain in early Roman of black rats makes them more times and was associated with difficult to eliminate than common transmission of the Plague in the rats. Middle Ages. Since the 18th Simone Bullion Century, it has been replaced by Suffolk Mammal Recorder
A Fault: Nacton Shore Cliff
The photograph (on the next page) between Nacton Shores and shows a section in the Harwich Levington Creek. Within the clay Formation London Clay (c.53 may be seen a tabular band of hard million years old) in the river cliff rock and above, two bands of thin
4 White Admiral 89 A Fault at Nacton Shore Cliff
rusty layers. Look at the left side cuts the soft clay cleanly but the and right side – the same strata hard rock band is bent and broken are at noticeably different heights. into angular fragments at the From the central area of the hard fault. rock follow up and to the left to see The relationship of the fault to the a clearly defined inclined plane overlying younger strata is not (c.40o to the vertical) – a fault – seen, and how deep does it go? which here displaces the strata How far into the cliff and in which downwards on the right with a direction? vertical component of over half a Bob Markham metre movement. The fault plane
For more information on the London Clay at this site see the article by Roger Dixon in the Transactions 2012.
White Admiral 89 5 A n tl i o n s - a n E a s t -Suffolk speciality
Antlion pits
Those with long memories will recall Michael Kirby and his enthusiasm for Antlions Euroleon nostras; (see the account of his studies in SNS Transactions: Kirby, E. J. M. (2001). Antlions in A n t L i on - Pete Etheridge (Eastbridge) the Suffolk Sandlings. Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc., 37: 57-65.) I including conifers above. Here the attended one of his field meetings creature can create pits of the on these fascinating creatures in a precise slope needed to prevent gravel quarry in Dunwich Forest, dinner escaping. I have returned to where a large quantity of Antlion the quarry from time to time and pit traps were found and it was last spring was disappointed to demonstrated how to capture the note that this edge had been larvae with a spoon. eliminated. It emerged that re- The cliff edge, created by gravel profiling had been done by the excavations, supplies the perfect Forestry Commission as a safety conditions of dry sand under a measure to prevent trespassing heather and bracken root scrambling bike-riders killing overhang, with mature trees, themselves (to be re-instated for
6 White Admiral 89 the benefit of the Antlions, I am Cottages at Dunwich Heath and in assured). I noticed that where the gravel pit on Westleton Heath. there was the smallest area that I understand they have been found still had the right conditions there in greenhouses too. were up to 9 small and large pits This led me to think that although cheek-by-jowl (not a healthy the adults are reputed to be weak situation as they are exceedingly fliers and only live 20-24 days, rapacious to the extent of eating they are sufficiently abundant to other larvae and even the adult find widely distributed locations female when egg- laying). I visited
Antlion sites with the RSPB In the hand warden at Minsmere where they colonise WW1 army
for egg-laying. T h e y a r e
Good conditions possibly far more widespread in the east Suffolk area than trenches. These are very might appear and if provided with overgrown, but again I noticed that those precise conditions could be wherever conditions were ideal, encouraged to increase. even if the area was only a few There is a Biodiversity Action Plan square cm, there was a large for the Antlion, ( h t t p : / / concentration of pits. They have www.suffolkbiodiversity.org/) colonised a dry area under the roof though it is not protected and not of the visitors’ centre at Minsmere much positive conservation seems and I have found them under the to be undertaken for them. So I wooden fence at the Coastguard would like to encourage people to
White Admiral 89 7 look out for likely places - a south- on a south-facing bank, under a facing sandy overhang protected hedge or with an artificial from the rain by vegetation or an structure - a wooden plank or artificial structure, where the sand paving slab. There are so many stays permanently dry and warm. questions still to be answered and The female lays her eggs in July/ it would be a fascinating project for August and the larvae live for 2 children: winters. In spring and summer When do the pits appear and how look out for the conical pits 1 - 5cm do numbers vary? across; close observation will show Does one larva take over? the activities of the larva tossing When does pupation occur? sand up from the base. Records Do they need trees nearby or will a with a photo can be submitted at building do? http://www.suffolkbrc.org.uk or Build it and they will come? - e-mailed to : perhaps in the sandy areas of East [email protected]. Suffolk anyway. Suitable conditions could be created by digging out an overhang Joan Hardingham
A useful account of the Antlion can be found at http://www.arkive.org/ suffolk-ant-lion/euroleon-nostras. Antlions even inspired Darwin: http:// darwin-online.org.uk for the account by P.H. Armstrong in Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 38 (2002).
Note from the editor - Appeal for more records
Whilst editing this piece I received If you have also spotted antlion an email from Judith Hart pits or indeed the adult antlion we reporting up to 80 antlion pits would, at the Suffolk Biological occurring in her Aldringham Records Centre, be very interested garden. The pits, active till about in receiving your sightings. two weeks ago, were within a Records can be created on SBRC’s sheltered, raised flowerbed next to website www.suffolkbrc.org.uk or her house. Judith also detailed sent in via post or email to the that there have been pits in this editor (see page 1). flower bed for at least the last Ben Heather three years.
8 White Admiral 89 The purse web spider - Atypus affinis
The purse web spider, Atypus being known from around a affinis, is the only UK representa- hundred sites in the UK. However, tive of the Mygalomorphae, the some records are old and the spider group of spiders which also may no longer be present at those includes tarantulas and trap-door sites. Prior to 2014, it was recorded spiders. It is not as large as most of from just three sites in Suffolk. In these but it is nevertheless quite 2013 a picture of one was placed on an impressive spider. Its large an internet forum with the location forward-pointing jaws are given as Devil’s Dyke. Most of the particularly striking. It has Dyke is in Cambridgeshire but the downward-pointing fangs, a Cambridgeshire/Suffolk border feature that members of the runs along the Dyke for about two Mygalomorphae have in common. kilometres. I wanted to see The spider lives underground in a whether the spider occurred on the silken tube-like web that extends Suffolk part (the east-facing slope above ground for a few of the section that runs between centimetres. It catches prey that the A1304 and the A14). After crawl across the web by sinking its some searching, a few webs were fangs into the prey and dragging it found and later, two male spiders. inside. The webs are usually It was also found on a bank that difficult to find because they runs parallel to the Dyke, about 40 become covered in soil and plant metres to the East. material. Alan Thornhill Purse web spiders are uncommon,
Adult male Atypus affinis A typus we b
White Admiral 89 9 Species Records - Making a difference
Martin Sanford explains how to identify the marshland plants
Marsh harrier, Wall butterfly, contacted us to say what an Great Silver Diving Beetle, Water inspirational day it was and how Soldier and the Fen Raft Spider much they had enjoyed it. were amongst the more unusual The aim was to demonstrate how plants and animals recorded on important it is to record the nature 29th July at the Surveying and around us and to show that it Recording Suffolk Species event at SWT’s Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve. Over 40 people signed up to learn about identifying and recording species and why this is so important. The day was packed with practical, hands - o n experience identifying plants, water beetles, dragonflies, birds and other groups as well as submitting records to a national database. After spending an exciting day with Suffolk County Recorders and other experts on the floodplain grazing marshes and
dykes of this beautiful north Adrian Chalkley talks to the group about the animals living in ditches and dykes. Suffolk landscape, several people
10 White Admiral 89 really is fun! Today’s common species may well be rare in the future, so recording what we see today provides valuable data on population trends over years. This is vital biodiversity information Water Soldier, abundant in the dykes at Carlton Marshes required to make planning and home for the Fen Raft Spider decisions, for example for housing developments. Collecting and sharing wildlife records. submitting wildlife records to a iRecord aims to make it easier for local or national database can wildlife sightings to be collated, really make a difference by checked by experts and made contributing to the pool of nature available to support research and conservation information. decision-making at local and Gen Broad (Suffolk Biodiversity national levels. The site is Officer) and Martin Sanford available through SBRC online. (Manager of Suffolk Biological Nature conservation is dependent Records Centre) gave on having accurate and up to date demonstrations of how to use records of species - the Who, What, iRecord, a site for managing and Where and When of wildlife. With the rapid advances in technology, people are increasingly able to download ‘Apps’ to help with identification or take pin sharp photos on Smart phones to find out what they are later. All this makes ‘Citizen Science’ a very useful way of collecting wildlife records. All of the event leaders have enormous enthusiasm and vast knowledge of their topics - it’s impossible not to be inspired by their generous sharing of knowledge, often gained over many years. Each participant was able to Adrian Chalkley talks to the group about the animals living in ditches and dykes. choose one morning workshop and
White Admiral 89 11 Adrian’s unique glass tank for aquatic invertebrates
one afternoon workshop from a showing them how to identify some choice of six: plants, coastal plants of the inhabitants of the & animals, freshwater freshwater ditches and dykes. invertebrates, dragonflies, Adrian used a semi-circular glass butterflies and birds. tank just a few centimetres wide Martin Sanford, Flora County which he made himself many years Recorder, Chair of Suffolk ago. This showed off the star of the Naturalists’ Society and Manager aquatic invertebrates day - a Great of Suffolk Biological Records Silver Diving Beetle - to great Centre enthused his group with his effect. Other species found common-sense approach to included saucerbugs and water identification of plants and his stick insects. determination that “Recording species has to be fun first and foremost”. Toby Abrehart took groups to nearby Pakefield Beach to look at the plants and animals on the rare habitat of vegetated shingle and along the strandline. Their discoveries included sea pea, sea holly, sea sandwort and yellow horned poppy. Adrian Chalkley Steve Piotrowski’s dragonfly workshop led the aquatic invertebrate group,
12 White Admiral 89 Peter Maddison SOG bird workshop at the scrape took his butterfly group along the footpath at the edge of the marsh. He was delighted to find Clouded Yellows as well as Wall Brown - a Priority or BAP Species rapidly declining in Suffolk. The name comes from the species’ characteristic behaviour of resting waterfowl, including Little Egrets. with wings two-thirds open on any Highlights for the group included bare surface, such as walls. We garganey and grasshopper saw them resting on the footpath, warbler. flying up when disturbed and then Steve Piotrowski led the dragonfly settling again a few metres further workshops who were delighted to on. record 12 dragonfly and Phil Brown and Giovanni Grieco damselflies species during the day. from Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group Several organisations worked led the bird workshop, based at the together to make this day a huge new scrape for much of the time. success: Suffolk Naturalists’ This has been very successful, Society, Suffolk Ornithologists’ attracting many kinds of Group, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, SWT Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve staff and the event was generously funded by Touching the Tide. John Grant featured the event in the East Anglian Daily Times Environment Supplement 2 August. Gen Broad Secretary Suffolk Naturalists’ Society
White Admiral 89 13 L ea f -Cutter Bees
On 20th July 2014 my wife Marie out a section from a buddleia leaf and I made our first visit to the and taking it inside 4-2, i.e. four RSPB Wildlife Garden at Flatford, rows down on the right, second one where there was a Butterfly in. Conservation event. By the time Marie made a close examination of we arrived it was cloudy and the Megachile centuncularis: black only butterflies seen were small head, quite wide to accommodate and green-veined whites. We the cutting jaws, greyish thorax, concentrated instead on several black abdomen with thin white ‘insect homes’ and one, triangular stripes and yellowish underneath. in shape, was being visited by leaf- In size they were marginally bigger cutter bees. than honey bees. Having cleared The next day, seated on our back out any sawdust, the bees take garden patio in the sun, we were their cut leaves into the holes, a bemoaning the lack of activity in larger one being used for initial our own insect box, just a few feet lining. Subsequent leaf sections are away. Suddenly Marie saw a bee rolled into a hollow cylinder with fly into one of the bamboo cane an egg being laid plus a supply of holes and from then onwards we honey and pollen. This cell is were absorbed by what occurred. A sealed off and the process repeated close examination of nearby until the cylinder is full. Marie’s vegetation revealed cuts, almost close observations suggested that circular in shape, on leaves of holes on both sides of the box were Japanese quince, buddleia, golden being used, rather than a longer rod and periwinkle. Later we laying all the way through. The actually watched one bee cutting final sealing off involved several
14 White Admiral 89 layers of leaves with one bee starting with those nearest the dropping a section three times final capping. These are always before getting it into the correct males, which then wait nearby for position. This final sealing had a the females to emerge. So far we ragged appearance and Marie have not witnessed this activity. At wondered if this was to make it the time of writing this article, look more natural and discourage 18th September, seven of the predators. There are also parasitic capped holes were now empty with bees, Caeliozys sp., which will lay four still capped. their own eggs inside when the leaf -cutter is away. This may explain why leaves were cut quickly and close to the box. I timed several operations and the cutting and detaching took a minimum of ten seconds and a maximum of fifteen- also testimony to the power of their cutting mandibles. This urgency probably explains why the bees worked late into the evening to seal their hole (the latest activity Capped holes was recorded at 8.43 pm). However, the complete filling of While at Flatford, one of the the holes varied from one to volunteers showed us leaf-cutter several days, with some not activity in a natural piece of wood completed and uncapped. and we subsequently found cut Territorial behaviour included one holes in a buckthorn right at the bee pulling another backward out bottom of our garden. This was of a hole and a peacock butterfly some distance from the insect box which landed on the box was and we speculated that the bees continually ‘buzzed’ by a leaf- were flying over the nearby fence, cutter working on a nearby hole. with their cut leaves, to take The most activity at the same time advantage of the many natural was three bees on 29th July and holes in our neighbour’s decaying the last observed working day was trees. 22nd August. According to ‘The Oxford Book of Insects’ the newly Richard Stewart emerging bees eat their way out,
White Admiral 89 15 My year (2014) by Trevor Goodfellow
16 White Admiral 89
Top (left to right): Willow emerald, Weasel & Green hairstreak Inset (left): m icr o-moth Orange Conch Commophila aeneana Inset (right): Fo rester Bottom (left to right): Grass snake, Dingy skipper & Scarce chaser female
White Admiral 89 17 My year (2014) continued...
I had great hopes for 2014, after with a butterfly net in the 1960s. last year’s failed mission to find I was amazed to see a forester and photograph a swallowtail moth, then another, and another. butterfly; I was keen to make I had not seen one before so I felt amends. ‘At least I found Norfolk very lucky as the bright sun hawkers and scarce chasers at illuminated their iridescent the Ted Ellis trust’ I reassured wings. I returned later to find a myself. few, but failed to find the In May I joined the Butterfly grayling butterfly that I also Conservation group’s dingy needed to tick off my list. skipper count at Wordwell and Pakenham woods was also on my was thrilled to see my first dingy ‘to do’ list but I was a bit late skippers. The same day I added getting there as the white green hairstreak and small heath admirals were long gone and to my growing photo library. silver-washed fritillaries were SWT’s Grove Farm was one ragged. target in June as I endeavoured At home in Thurston, I recorded to find the Commophila aeneana the first grass snakes, preceded moth again, after first finding it by the finding a shed skin, and last year. I timed several visits first willow emerald damsels, ten while their food plant, ragwort or more of them. Occasional was sprouting, on only one of glimpses of fox, weasel and stoat these days. I had success in were as exciting as ever and finding two or three of these always challenging to lovely orange micro moths photograph. (orange conch). Their larvae feed Ditch water levels were good for on the roots of ragwort and in my the most part and definitely experience the hatched adults favoured the survival of crested have a very short flight period in newts. June to mate and breed. Three sightings of red kite this In July I stopped at Ramparts year at Ixworth, Higham and Field for lunch on the way back here in Thurston. from Mildenhall, this brought back memories of my childhood Trevor Goodfellow
18 White Admiral 89 Voucher Specimens
Most fungi can be up to 90% water, can keep on picking (foraging) the so it follows they do not last very fruiting bodies forever on the long in perfect condition in order to assumption they will keep coming make an identification. Sometimes, up again and again because once you can be caught out and have a the organic matter is gone or more choice of rushing back home to correctly, the cellulose is depleted, fetch an ID book or you have to the fungus will die, unlike plants carefully remove the fungus and that have chlorophyll and obtain get it home somehow without their energy from the sun and Co2. damaging it. Many fungi are hygrophanous and The disadvantage here is that if it turn a much paler shade as the is rare and consists of only the caps dry out, so for this reason I single specimen or fruiting body, it always carry a small camera with may not grow again if you dig too me wherever I go ‘just in case’. deeply to be certain of obtaining all Typical examples are the identification features needed Kuehneromyces mutabilis and (such as growing from buried wood Laccaria amethystina which turn below the surface or being deeply almost white as they dry out. Tiny rooted into the soil). In most cases, Ink Cap species are notorious in the fungus body itself will remain this respect, they can suddenly safe in the soil or rotting wood as appear very early in the morning invisible mycelium doing its job in before sunrise and by mid-morning breaking down organic matter and completely dry up. absorbing nutrients and when Luckily for the mycologist, fungi conditions are right another have cell walls made out of chitin fruiting body will emerge. so are extremely resilient and can It is important to be clear that survive in their dried but what you see is only the fruiting unrecognisable state for decades body bearing the spores whilst the enabling further study with the fungus itself remains hidden in the use of laboratory standard substrate as a network of tiny microscopes capable of 1,000X plus filaments breaking down magnification with the resolution (recycling) the material it is to match. (The extremely useful feeding on or exchanging nutrients bargain priced digital microscopes with the roots of a nearby tree. Do from Aldi and Lidl are not suitable not be fooled into thinking that you for fungal use unfortunately.)
White Admiral 89 19 But if somebody were to send me a it but he couldn’t puff out any dried specimen and ask me to put a spores, and neither could he find name to it, I wouldn’t know where any sign of the multiple stalks to start because first I would need attached which make this fungus to know what substrate it was unique. growing from (soil, wood, etc…), All in all, there was no basis in the species of tree it was close to, making this claim of having found was there a particular smell or the Pepperpot whatsoever - in fact, taste to the fungus, what was the what he described would better original colour of cap and stem and suit the common Oak Apple Gall most importantly, the habitat. In complete with tiny exit holes made this respect, think of Cross Leaved by the emerging insects. Bell Heather (Erica tetralix); if Another case where a retained dry somebody said dry acid heathland, voucher specimen would have come I wouldn’t believe them, but if they in handy is someone made a claim said a damp hollow or moisture of having found the little known retentive soil on the heathland and rare Psathyrella caput-medusa then that would be feasible. fungus. The person was unknown In most cases, a good set of to me and had no track record on photographs showing the cap producing reliable records of fungi, surface, the stem, the gill or tube so with no photographic evidence colour and how they are attached either, and no description at all, I to the stem will be sufficient, but had no choice but to reject this additional details are always going claim. to make life easier. Now if only the A similar case happened a few late Peter Jordan could have taken days ago when I received an email these measures when he was from a Ranger thinking they might rummaging around Captains Wood have found the scarce Ramaria back in 2010 and found what he butrytis coral fungus for which bravely claimed to be the very rare there are no Suffolk records. I had Pepperpot Fungus and promptly my suspicions, so asked for habitat threw away the evidence on the details and a good photograph - grounds that it was “Too far gone” luckily it was a very good photo, to identify! Having a pint with him clearly showing the fungus to be an in the Lord Nelson, Southwold one excellent example of the quite evening I managed to extract that common, Cauliflower Coral it was only the spore sac that was Fungus. remaining which had tiny holes in
20 White Admiral 89 Recently, I was browsing iSpot and for the National UK Fungus Day came across a photo showing a held this year at the Discovery group of Battarrea phalloides Centre RSPB Minsmere. My typically growing on a roadside grateful thanks to the RSPB in verge. There was no mistaking the having faith in me by hosting this fungus in this case as the Sandy important event whose aim is to Stiltball is very easy to recognise, put across the vital role fungi play but the poster (who is well known in all our lives. to me) is claiming it is a new The following day on October 12 I location for Suffolk, but is not had to rush up to Norwich going to say where it is until he Cathedral Square where the John has an assurance the verge will be Innes Centre hosted Norfolk’s protected. The post was made in version of the UK Fungus Day and 2010 and so far this person still I lead 2 fungal forays for them in has not made contact with anybody the morning and in the afternoon about his ‘claim to fame’ so neither went to Mousehold Heath for the will I be contacting him as the site main foray. is probably known about anyway. Neil Mahler By the time you will have read this I would have done my bit for County Recorder (Fungi) England by representing Suffolk
A New Suffolk Record for the large Pond Skater,
Aquarius paludum
In White Admiral 77: Autumn This new sighting was again of a 2010 I wrote about the discovery of large colony some 32 km away on a a large colony of this species of farm lake in Thurston and sent to Pond Skater which was hitherto me by Trevor Goodfellow. If unknown in Suffolk. A colony of anything Trevor’s colony is even skaters is known as a flotilla and larger than the one at Purdis this one was found on two lakes on Heath, which continues to do well. the Mill River to the east of However, until this year those two Ipswich. Being sure that the sites remained the only known Purdis Heath colony could not be locations in the county. However, alone in Suffolk, I hoped for more whilst surveying for Suffolk sightings to come in but I had to Wildlife Trust on their Oulton wait until 2012 before Aquarius Marshes Reserve on September paludum was found again. 19th, amongst large numbers of
White Admiral 89 21 Pond Skaters
normal sized skaters, I spotted one which was much larger than all the others. It took some 15 minutes to catch it, they are Aquarius paludum superbly adept at moving out of the way of your net, but once caught it was clearly A. paludum! Aquarius paludum is easy to So do we now have three county distinguish from your average sites for this bug? Well this is a skater being almost half as big gregarious creature and it is again as most common species, unusual to find only one specimen. around 15mm rather than about I have been recording at Oulton at 10mm. Exact measurements are various times since 2012 and yet little help when watching the I’ve only seen this one. The most water surface from the bank but likely explanation is that this was the size difference is clear to the a stray animal landing on what naked eye. When viewed through was quite a small pond on the binoculars the final detail to look reserve. Whilst there are for is at the rear end of the body. innumerable dykes, ditches and A. paludum has two pointed ponds on the reserve the most processes which extend to, or just likely area for a flotilla of skaters past, the end of the abdomen as to inhabitat would be the large, can be seen from the deep, wide Soke Dyke which runs accompanying photographs by parallel to the public footpath Trevor Goodfellow. All of the pond along the main Oulton Dyke. Only skaters common in Suffolk have common species were there when very short processes, if indeed any surveyed in 2013 but I shall can be seen at all. A final detail to investigate further on my next look for through binoculars is a trip. short yellow line along the side of
22 White Admiral 89 the pronotum, which can be seen rostrum pierces it’s body. just behind the head on the photos. So once again, If you see any These photos also illustrate the unusual skaters, anywhere in way in which the six legs are able Suffolk, that are larger than to rest on the surface film due to normal with long tail processes I their hydrofuge or water repellent would very much appreciate an properties. This allows it to ‘row’ email to [email protected] for forward using the middle legs and the county recording scheme. skate across the surface on the front and rear legs whilst bringing Adrian Chalkley the middle legs back into position. County Recorder, Freshwater All skaters are predatory bugs and Invertebrates the photo of A. paludum capturing With thanks to Trevor Goodfellow a cranefly clearly shows how the for his photographic help. front legs are used to hold prey whilst the tubular mouthparts or
A. paludum predating Cranefly
Confessions of a novice Moth -er
This time last year I had hardly Fakenham. Mainly for electrical looked at a moth aside from the odd reasons (!) we have only tried it this chance encounter with a hawk- year in the back garden which backs moth. That changed though when onto the large field just to the north we gave ourselves a moth trap last of Lackford village and about 100 Christmas (2013) – a Skinner trap metres from the nearest point of with a mains-run 30W Actinic bulb Lackford Lakes SWT reserve. from Anglia Lepidoptera Supplies in We were advised to start early in
White Admiral 89 23 the season so as not to get show some of the jizz! And more swamped, advice which we heeded importantly still they give you a list and would definitely agree with. of what might be expected (has been However 3-4 nights in January and recorded) in each week of the year, February were disheartening as thus in most cases narrowing down nothing got caught. the potential list when you are In March though we started to catch confronted by a moth which could be some, and the fun (and one of several species. Several times identification problems!) started. these web pages have corrected The popular perception is that glaring errors. moths are dull, brown or grey and We have also been helped boring. Some do indeed fit this considerably by 2 or 3 of my work description but many don’t. And colleagues at BTO who are real when the second catch produced an experts, and who luckily do not Oak Beauty and the fourth a Pine seem to mind my taking in many Beauty we were hooked. The and various moths. My first standard Field Guide (Waring) is encounters with the majority of excellent and sorts out the basic species have been checked for patterning of each species. But, and identification by one or other of it is quite a big but, there are often these. a lot of potential species looking To date (end of September) we have rather similar and you can get cross recorded about 230 species, with 15- -eyed as a result and the paintings 20 of these normally considered to give no indication of what be “micros”. However some micros birdwatchers know as “jizz”. The are far from micro! Mother of Pearl other point we got to realise quite and Small Magpie for example are early on is that many species and it obvious and “standard”-sized moths seems especially some of the but are not in the standard book commoner ones are extremely because strictly they are “micro”! variable in detail. We did not worry too much about At that point we really started to real micros although some which appreciate the Suffolk Moth Group’s appeared to look obvious were website picked out of the trap for www.suffolkmoths.org.uk (and the identification by my colleagues (e.g. similar one for Norfolk Moths). some of the brighter coloured tortrix These are both superb resources. moths). Firstly they have a series of The overall list has included some photographs, many of which do amazing looking insects. The show what the moths actually look Prominents (e.g. Iron, Swallow and like when they are at rest, i.e. do Lesser Swallow, Coxcombe, Pebble),
24 White Admiral 89 Chocolate Tip, Burnished Brass, effectively have to start again. I White Ermine, Buff Ermine, along have certainly already forgotten with some yellow ones, some bright most of the early season ones for green ones and to date 7 Hawk- example and will have to relearn Moths (Elephant, Small Elephant them afresh. It is also clear now (the commoner of the two), Privet, that an Actinic bulb lessens the load Poplar (the commonest), Pine, Lime compared to what would probably and Eyed) all vie for “best of the have been caught in a Mercury bunch”. A few rarer ones too, Vapour trap – one of my work notably some Breckland specialities colleagues got around 1000 like the exquisite Tawny Wave and individuals one night with a MV Clouded Buff, an example of a light whereas my maximum this second (much rarer) generation year has been 102 (plus a load of Grey (or perhaps Dark) Dagger micros) of 41 species on 20 July with (they are only distinguishable by most catches being in the 30-60 dissecting their naughty bits!) range with up to 30 species although the rarest of all has been a (excluding micros). Dotted Chestnut. This is a recent Will we continue? Yes of course we arrival in Suffolk, first recorded in will. It is fascinating and to date we 2006, although apparently it is have had at least one “new” species being recorded more often each almost every night’s trapping. There year. is no question that access to experts We have had our fair share of the really helps, aside from removing brown and grey ones, and we have some silly mistakes. But the been amazed at how variable some available resources to help identify can be. Some of these I have taken the catches are fantastic and make in to the experts where I have been the whole process much quicker and convinced I have something new easier. Like most things, moths are and unusual only to be told such as thought to be declining but the Clouded Drab, Nutmeg, Common records for many areas, often Quaker, Spectacle, Shuttle-shaped including nature reserves and Dart, or Common Rustic depending similar sites, are often meagre or on the time of year. non-existent. So you can really A couple of autumn surprises were a make a difference to species lists. Red Admiral and a week later a We will of course be sending in all Hornet! our records. It has been a very steep learning Get mothing! curve and, although I certainly think we are getting better at it, I Peter Lack am sure that next year we shall
White Admiral 89 25 Stag Beetles 1868 – 2 0 14
It has been some time since there has been an update listing the places where stag beetles have been sighted. The table presented here shows the locality (parish/ town) plus the earliest and latest year of confirmed records. Requests for records of this species are made every year, usually in the Newsletter and/or the East Stag beetles mating by David walker Anglian Daily Times (EADT). This year it was the turn of the EADT, where a successful article (8th May) be the longest ‘season’ recorded for brought in many reports of stag Suffolk. beetle sightings. It is interesting to Unconfirmed records have been compare this table with that in received from: Bardwell, Transactions Vol. 34 (1998). Barningham, Beccles, Benhall, The stag beetle 2014 ‘season’ Bradfield Combust, Bulmer, started earlier than usual, with the Campsea Ash, Cotton, Culpho, first live beetle, a male observed on Dennington, Falkenham, Gt 8th May. Stag beetle activity Barton, Holton (nr Halsworth), continued to be reported Kenton, Moulton, Orford, and throughout the ‘season’, which Wenhaston. ended with a live female reported on 16th August. 2014 turned out to Colin Hawes
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to the many observers who sent in their records, either direct to me, or via the SNS website recording form. Thanks also go to SWT and to Adrian Chalkley for creating a link between the Trust’s website and SNS’s website, thus making it easier for those using the SWT website. I gratefully acknowledge and thank the EADT for their valuable assistance.
26 White Admiral 89 Parish/Town Earliest Latest Parish/Town Earliest Latest Aldham 1994 - Gislingham 1999 2006 Ashfield 1999 - Gosbeck 1997 2014 Ashfield-cum-Thorpe 2006 - Gt Waldingfield 1996 - Assington 1951 2002 Gt Wenham 1997 - Barham 1995 2013 Grundisburgh 1996 2014 Battisford 1890s 1950 Hadleigh 1991 2014 Belstead 1890s 2014 Harkstead 1994 2013 Bentley 1937 2014 Hartest 2006 - Boxford 2000 2005 Helmingham 2006 - Bramford 1959 2014 Heveningham 2007 - Higham (nr Brantham 1959 2014 1996 - Hadleigh) Brightwell 1997 - Hintlesham 2001 - Bromeswell 2004 - Holbrook 1960 2014 Bucklesham 1994 2014 Hollesley 1999 2006 Burstall 1998 - Holton St Mary 1998 2014 Bury St Edmunds 1868 - Hunston 1999 - district* Capel St Mary 1979 2014 Ipswich 1890 2014 Chelmondiston 1994 2013 Kersey 1964 2010 Claydon 1999 2012 Kesgrave 1994 2014 Clare* 1897 - Kirton 1988 2013 Creeting St Mary 2005 - Layham 1993 2014 Coddenham 1965 2006 Leavenheath 2005 - Copdock 1994 2014 Levington 1994 2012 Debenham 2004 - Little Waldingfield 1996 - Dedham 2014 - Little Wenham 1997 - Earl Soham 1880 - Lowestoft* 1899 - Earl Stonham 2005 2006 Martlesham 1995 2014 East Bergholt 1935 2014 Melton 1994 2014 Elmsett 1988 - Monewden 1997 - Ewarton 1992 2006 Mutford 2006 - Felixstowe 1948 2014 Nacton 1957 2014 Flatford 1938 2014 Nayland 1934 2014 Framlingham 2006 2014 Needham Market 1938 2014 Freston 1947 1994 Newbourne 1994 2011
White Admiral 89 27 Parish/Town Earliest Latest Parish/Town Earliest Latest Offton 2012 - Thorington Street 1963 1996 Parham 2001 2003 Trimley St Martin 2005 2014 Tuddenham St Pettaugh 2006 - 1998 2005 Martin Playford 1994 2011 Ufford 2002 - Polstead 1995 2014 Waldringfield 1995 2014 Raydon 1994 2013 Wattisham 2006 - Reydon 1980 2009 Westerfield 1968 2010 Rushmere St 1940 2011 Wetheringsett 2006 - Shelly 1992 2011 Whatfield 2006 - Shotley 1978 2014 Wherstead 1993 2005 Somersham 1994 - Wickham Market 1999 - Sproughton 1890 1996 Wissington 2005 - Stoke by Nayland 1994 2012 Wiston 1994 - Stowmarket 1995 2012 Witnesham 2006 2014 Stratford St Mary 1899 2014 Woodbridge 1925 2014 Stutton 1993 2014 Woolverstone 1962 2014 Tattingstone 1993 2014 Yoxford 1997 -
Chemicals in our fields, water and wildlife
I recently received the July/August Methiocarb has been struck off the Natural England and DEFRA list of permitted poisons that can catchment sensitive farming (CSF) be spread or sprayed from the end broadsheet, which relates news of next year. Methiocarb is a about farm chemical use. It set me carbamate pesticide which has to thinking how little information been used as a bird repellent, is put out to the public about farm insecticide and molluscicide since chemicals and their use. Given the the 1960s, when it was chosen in importance of the long term health preference to the use of persistent of the environment to both food organochlorines like DDT; this still production and our wildlife, I causes ill-health in otters decades decided to put together a brief note since its first use. Methiocarb has on the latest news. neurotoxic effects on molluscs, and
28 White Admiral 89 seeds treated with methiocarb also good 50 metres on the wind, and affect birds. The European Union the likelihood is that drift would be has voted to ban the use of measurable even further if methiocarb slug pellets due to the monitored accurately. The reality detrimental effect they have on is that the six metre ‘buffer’ strips grain-eating farm birds such as and hedges around fields must be finches and sparrows. I and others regularly covered with spray and have noticed lethargic birds at the pellets. side of the road in the Halesworh I do find it very surprising that area in recent years during and despite the obvious importance of after the drilling season and the health of the environment, wondered about a connection. there is very little information Next in line for bans or restrictions readily available on the effects of are Metaldehyde, Propyzamide farm chemicals on wild animals and Carbetamide. Metaldehyde is and plants. This is perhaps in the majority of slug pellets used because there is a sense that in both agriculture and gardens. growing food is the most important Metaldehyde is detectable in issue here, which of course does extracted drinking water and has nothing to counter the basic fact been exceeding European limits. that we need a balanced Propyzamide provides selective pre unpolluted environment in which - and post-emergent control of to do it. Not knowing, or not annual grasses and broadleaves, accepting that we need to know and Carbetamide is also a what is going on, seems like a herbicide. ‘head-in-the-sand’ position that is The information supplied by the completely unsustainable, as ‘the CSF initiative indicates that world is going to starve’ and ‘the chemical application should be economy needs intensive kept 6 metres away from ditches, production’ debates continue to go and that it only takes one or two round in circles. We need more and pellets to pollute a ditch. My better information, and with the observations are that although decline in farmland wildlife there are no doubt some very continuing, farming even more in careful farmers, many contractors crisis due to depressed prices and routinely apply farm chemicals in bullying by the retail industries, it windy weather. I have often seen is surely about time that this liquid spray applications carry a situation changed. Will we ever get
White Admiral 89 29 a return to an administration based on well balanced science and where sensible decisions about our evidence-based management? most precious and irreplaceable asset, our environment, are made Tom Langton
Drosophila suzukii in Suffolk
I saw a posting on Facebook about rearing maggots from rotting Honey Fungus and thought I’d have a go. Whilst collecting the fungus sample I collected about 8 of the flies visiting the fungus in a plastic bag and brought them home. I posted a photo of the first specimen I examined on Facebook and it was identified as a Drosophila (I think it is D subobscura) and it was suggested that I looked out for D suzukii as it had previously been found near Honey Fungus. I checked the specimens I had taken and to my surprise found I did Ma le D s uzuki i indeed have D suzukii among them. There was only one of each an significant agricultural pest. It gender in this small sample. damages both ripe and unripe soft This is a new species in the UK and fruit. It has yet to added to the was first reported in 2012 by a NBN Gateway, although dipterists Kent group. It was headline news! have reported a number of See the Daily Mail http:// sightings. The male (pictured) www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ usually has darkened wing tips article-2209952/Strawberry-alert- which gives the species the The-2mm-long-Asian-fruit-fly- common name of “spotted-wing d e c i m a t e - B r i t a i n s - f r u i t - drosophila”. industry.html. Martin Cooper Sometimes referred to as the Cherry Vinegar Fly, D suzukii is
30 White Admiral 89 Roman Snails
These photos of Roman Snail, Helix pomatia, did not make it into the last issue of White Admiral but Helix pomatia were sent into me at the Suffolk Biological Records Centre by Richard Fisk in May. These snails included one (photo) of the trunk to occur in a few locations in Suffolk give an idea of the size of them. It and due to the sensitivity of these was interesting that one had a species the location details cannot rounder foot than the other. I also be given out. Richard wrote in his saw three more in a grassy correspondence; “a damp drizzly area”…”but two of these had day and just the sort of weather brown shells.” when snails come out to play but I was unprepared for the sight of Ben Heather (Letter and photos these on the trunk of willow trees from Richard Fisk) on the bank of the river. I have
Mammals of Essex - A New Atlas
In 2014 the new “Mammals of Essex” has been completely revamped and updated, once again charting the decline of once common animals such as water vole, the addition of new species such as the edible dormouse, and the return of the polecat after extinction due to persecution. From the harvest mouse to the humpback whale, exotic species and fossil mammals, with a dedicated chapter on mammal field signs, this will be one of the most comprehensive county mammal atlases available today. Visit www.essexmammals.co.uk for more details. Darren Tansley
White Admiral 89 31 Shieldbugs at Play
Secret Fen 03 by Chris Brooks
Whilst visiting the “Secret Fen” on the northern edge of Cavenham Secret Fen 06 by Chris Brooks Heath NNR, our ‘Watching Wildlife’ group came across a couple of shieldbugs mating. A closer look revealed a secondary Identifying the caterpillar is activity. The female bug was busily proving more difficult. A few sucking the juices out of a moments earlier, its head capsule caterpillar [See inset photo left- was just visible in photo 03, but by opposite]. County Hemiptera the time 06 was taken the head Recorder Nigel Cuming identified and first abdominal segment had the bugs as Picromerus bidens, been evacuated. It seems likely otherwise known as the spiked that the larva is a Common Rustic, shieldbug, and remarked: or similar small Noctuid moth. “obviously sex for shieldbugs is very boring!!!!” Rob Parker
Contributions to White Admiral
Deadlines for copy are: 1st Feb (Spring issue), 1st June (Summer issue) and 1st Oct (Autumn issue) The opinions expressed in White Admiral are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society.
32 White Admiral 89 Suffolk Naturalists’ Society Bursaries
The Suffolk Naturalists’ Society offers five bursaries, of up to £500 each, annually. Larger projects may be eligible for grants of over £500 – please contact SNS for further information. Activities eligible for funding include: travel and subsistence for field work, visits to scientific institutions, scientific equipment, identification guide books or other items relevant to the study. Morley Bursary - Studies involving insects (or other invertebrates) other than butterflies and moths. Chipperfield Bursary - Studies involving butterflies or moths. Cranbrook Bursary - Studies involving mammals or birds. Rivis Bursary - Studies of the county's flora. Simpson Bursary - In memory of Francis Simpson. The bursary will be awarded for a botanical study where possible. Applications should be set in the context of a research question i.e. a clear statement of what the problem is and how the applicant plans to tackle it. Criteria: 1. Projects should include a large element of original work and further knowledge of Suffolk’s flora, fauna or geology. 2. A written account of the project is required within 12 months of receipt of a bursary. This should be in a form suitable for publication in one of the Society's journals: Suffolk Natural History, Suffolk Birds or White Admiral. 3. Suffolk Naturalists' Society should be acknowledged in all publicity associated with the project and in any publications emanating from the project. Applications may be made at any time. Please apply to SNS for an application form or visit our website for more details. Naturalists’ Society www.sns.org.uk
Re d-headed Cardinal Beetle by Ben Heather
The Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, founded in 1929 by Claude Morley (1874 -1951), pioneered the study and recording of the County’s flora, fauna and geology. It is the seed bed from which have grown other important wildlife organisations in Suffolk, such as Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT) and Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group (SOG). Recording the natural history of Suffolk is still the Society’s primary objective. Members’ observations go to specialist recorders and then on to the Suffolk Biological Records Centre at Ipswich Museum to provide a basis for detailed distribution maps and subsequent analysis with benefits to environmental protection. Funds held by the Society allow it to offer substantial grants for wildlife studies. Annually, SNS publishes its transactions Suffolk Natural History, containing studies on the County’s wildlife, and the County bird report, Suffolk Birds (compiled by SOG). The newsletter White Admiral, with comment and observations, appears three times a year. SNS organises two members’ evenings a year and a conference every two years. Field meetings are held throughout the year often in conjunction with other specialist organisations. Subscriptions: Individual members £15.00; Family membership £17.00; Student Membership £10.00; Corporate membership £17.00. Members receive the three publications above. Joint membership with the Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group: Individual members £28.00; Family membership £32.00. Joint members receive, in addition to the above, the SOG newsletter The Harrier. As defined by the Constitution of this Society its objectives shall be: 2.1 To study and record the fauna, flora and geology of the County 2.2 To publish a Transactions and Proceedings and a Bird Report. These shall be free to members except those whose annual subscriptions are in arrears contact: 2.3 To liaise with other natural history societies and conservation bodies in the County 2.4 To promote interest in natural history and the activities of the Society. For more details about the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society contact: Hon. Secretary, Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, c/o Ipswich Museum, High Street, IPSWICH, IP1 3QH. Telephone 01473 400251 [email protected]