IO

February 1993

rooroooRECORITS ON COMPUTER. ONLTA MILTION TO GO!

In SepLember 1992 Leicester Museumwas asked what number of records were kept in the Biological Records Centre. This was a very difficult guestion to answer but we came to a very rough estimate of. 420,000 records of 9,000 species. This does not include approximately 750,000 records associated with specimens in the collections! Of the 420,000 records, approxinately 120,000 refer to about 4,000 species of invertebrates.

Group No Records No specres Rcl.d1* remtrcs Conputerised

Dragonflies 4,760 zl 100 Orthoptera 104 11 9s Heteroptera 366 104 20 Beetles 38,323 1,556 98 Lepidoptera 7,902 800 20 Hoverflies 1,952 125 100 t'tillipedes 861 34 90 Harvestmen 879 21 100 Woodlice 2,405 21 80 Molluscs 2,270 116 70

Totals 59,722 2,809 hi

Nearly 100,000 species records are data base developed at the Museun. now indexed on BIOSPIN, a comPuter eontd p2 Computerlsed records the Museum and take on a group is welcome to contact us. tle are contd particularly anxious to receive help with Lepidoptera and nolluscs These records are much more but, obviously, you are free to accessible than paper records for follow your own interest, many different types of analysis such as mapping, sj.te evaluation, Recently we have begrun to accept phenology etc. They are also much records on computer discs directly easier to count! The table on the fron recorders. He1en Ikin and front cover of this Newsletter Adrian Russell have each sent us shows the number of computerised over 2,000 records of dragonflies species records for each and Lepidoptera respectively. As invertebrate group as at January more recorders start using PCs at 1993. home, this will become an increasingly useful and painless Beetles have the largest number of way of exchanging records. computerised records but the Lepid- optera will overtake them as more For further information on BIOSPIN records are entered into BIOSPIN. and species records please contact However, the best covered group so me on Leicester 473031. far is the dragonflies with an average of over 200 records per Derek Lott species.

To date, records have been computerised for a specific purpose. For example, dragonfly records were originally comp- Too slow! uterised in order to contribute to a national At1as. Recently the records have been updated for the Quick forthcoming Museum publication on Splat Leicestershire dragonflies. How about that Beetles have been covered in order Never mind to provide data for evaluating It got away survey results. This means that the limited staff resources of the Quick, guick Museun have been allocated to That was nearly it special target groups. But never mind It got away The target groups amongst the invertebrates have been beetles Biff, biff (Derek Lott and Jeremy woodhead), f take a huge swiff molluscs (John Mathias) and, more But I miss recently, dragonflies (Steve Hit the tripod Grover) and lepidoptera (Nona And it flew away Finch, Jane McPhail and Peter Thompson). Biff, biff Another swiff A large number of groups, however, The generator knocked out have been covered by enthusiasts. And it would not stay They have come into the Museum and spent a great deal of time and Swipe, swipe effort sorti.ng and checking records With all my might before entering into BIOSPIN. I'le What a calamity are grateful to Helen fkin ft got away (dragonflies, Orthoptera), Neil Frankum (hoverflies), Ingrid Birker Swipe, swipe (millipedes) and Jon Daws At the speed of light (woodlice, harvestmen) in this What a pity respect. David Hemsley and Liz It did not pay Poxon have also cone in as Oh I'll get one like it another volunteers and helped with data day ! entry. Roy McPhail (l2yrs) Anyone who would like to come into Diptera in 1qg2

1992 proved to be quite a good year for the Diptera with several species turning up that I had not seen for a few years, both at home (see separate item in this newsletter, p9) and elsewhere in Leicestershire.

Prior's Coppice

The sunny weather on the MaY field larger Brachycera. Scenopinus meeting at Prior's Coppice brought fenestralis, the window fIy, was out the hoverflies. Twenty specles recorded for the first time as was were seen including DasYsYrPhus the soldier f1y Oxycera rara. venustus artd CheiTosia variabil-is. Several specimens of the latter, PTatycheirus tarsaJis btas fairly both male and female, were seen numerous along the rides. The best over a period of a few weeks, records of the day were not usually basking in the sun on the hoverflies, however. The beeflY, plants around the pond. Bonbylius najor, was seen flYing around the flowers along the main A single example of Strationys ride near to the new coPPice Plot. potanida $ras seen in Augrust, being Several fIy larvae were seen under only the second record for the the bark of a fallen tree trunk. garden of this spectacular soldier One of these was taken and reared fly. Another soldier fly, through and proved to be the RDB2 Pachygaster Leachii, which I had dead wood sPecialist SoLva only previously seen as the narginata. occasional dead specimen, ltas seen on a number of occasions duringr the / sunmer, often five or six at a time. The June field meeting to Lea Meadows $tas again blessed with And finally, in November, the sunny weather. An impressive total identification of three specimens of 29 hoverfly species r.tas seen on taken at the September 1991 field the reserve and on the roadside meeting at the Grantham Cana1 verges of Polly Botts tane. The (Plungar) were confirmed by Alan best of these was a male of the Stubbs, the national hoverfly nationally notable Neoascia experE,. These were Anasinyia genicuJata. This was ftying around Jineata, A contracta and A the marshy area in the south transfuga. The first has only been western field of the reserve. recorded a few times in Other flies seen included the Leicestershire and I know of no asilids Diobria tufiPes and previ.ous records for the county of Leptogaster cylindtica, and the the other two species. extremely large craneflY TiPuTa naxina. Neif Frankun

CJipshan Big Pit/ A week later CliPsham Big Pit provided guite a contrast in habitat. The old guarry had large areas of bare ground with Patches of vegetation starting to invade, the ideal habitat for the hover- f ties Parargius haenorrhus and TrigTyphus prinus. The latter is a nationally notable species.

The Augnrst meeting at Charnwood Lodge was not as Productive mainlY because of the dull weather.

Knighton

At home it was a good Year for the Insect recording in the far north-lYCSt

Members may be interested to hear what Pat and f have managed to discover about the insect life of this part of Sutherland, now that we have survived a whole season!

Nedd during which we record any aspects of the fauna that we can identify. To set the scene, I should exPlain Insect groups that come into this that Nedd, where we 1ive, is a category include dragonflies, small settlement on the winding grasshoppers, beetles, butterflies coast road between Lochinver and and moths. What I should like to Kylesku. Our house is situated on do in this article is to summarise half an acre of former croft our observations of the last two pasture land. This land, which groups during 1992. provides seasonal gtazing for ewes and lambs, occupies some 60 acres ButterfJies in the vicinity of Nedd. The grassland is studded with rockY Our knowledge of the butterflies is outcrops, often bearing trees. based largely on sightings of adults with just a few vanessid On the north-east face of the high larvae. There are two limiting ridge which shelters much of Nedd factors: our competence in from the prevailing south-west- identifying species in flj-ght and erlies there are extensive areas of the vagaries of the weather, since woodland. This woodland is mainlY it is often windy even when the sun oId coppiced hazel but includes ID VUL. substantlal amounts of birch and rowan, sma1l stands of asPen and I{e logged 75 records of 12 occasional oak, hollY and bird butterfly species in 1992. Perhaps cherry. The shrub laYer, such as the most unexpected was the clouded it is, is provided bY eared and yellow, one of which occurred in conmon sallows or indeterminate our garden in May and another 900ft hybrids between them. up Quinag in September. By all accounts 1992 was an annus Much of the rest of the townshiP of nirabiLis for the species in Nedd, which covers some 1481 acres' Scotland. Our records of whites is "hi11-grazing", moorland and bog are curiously sparse, just one interspersed with numerous rockY Iarge white in the garden in JuIy crags and outcops, rising in pJ-aces and a couple of green-veined whites to over 500ft. There are, however, elsewhere. However, crops of further considerable areas of cabbage and its relatives (other woodland, dominated bY birch (Part than turnips) are few and far of the Ardvar Woodlands SSSr) and between and the small white is, patches of former neutral grass- anyway, rare this far north. The land, now invaded bY bracken. large white was probably an There is a sea frontage of more immigrant and although lady's than a nile on the west side of smock, the likeIy foodplant of the Loch Nedd, which we overlook. The green veined, is common, a nurnber township includes the whole or part of possibles went unconfirmed for of nine freshwater lochs, including lack of a net and the effort Gorm Loch Mor which is over a mile necessary to catch them! long. Comrnon blues were seen on 16 Assynt occasions, from June to early August, making this one of our two The large parish of AssYnt, of commonestbutterflies. Many of the which Nedd is a part, extends to records were from coastal areas, some 11 0, 091 acres . It stretches but the species also occurs inland. about 20 miles from the sea cliffs of the Point of Stoer in the west 1992 was a good year for migrant to the surunit of Conival at 3 '234f't vanessids. Painted ladies were in the east. An ongoing surveY of only seen once, in June, but there the flora of Assynt Provides the framework for our sunmer fieldwork cont p5 contd range into Assynt in the last Sutherland decade, and grayling which occurs on the coast but so far has eluded must have been a massive influx of us. I have twice had glimpse of red admirals in May when they were what I thought might be green seen from sea leveI to nearlY hairstreaks but have not been able 3,000ft on Foinaven to the north of to get close enough for us. Larvae were found on nettles confirmation. Small mountain in three places in JulY and a ringlet and scotch argnrs just might further generation of adults occur. hatched in Augrust. Small tortoise- she1ls were less freguent than red Moths adnirals, the five records includ- ing three of larvae. Again, a So far as moths are concerned, we limiting factor is the avail- are rank beginners. The notes that ability of the larval food-P1ant, follow are based partly on casual nettles being rare away from Past recording, all over Assynt, of day- or present human habitation and, flying species and the more thus absent from much of the conspicuous larvae. hle also made a interior of Assynt. concerted effort in the second half of the year to identify, using the FritiT)ary highlights excellent illustrations in Skinner, those attracted to our house lights One of the highlights of butterflY at Nedd. watching in this area is the two fritillaries which ete see The tally during 1992 hras 72 regrularly. The sma1l Pearl- records of 28 species. By far the bordered (five records) is on the most freguently recorded, on wing in June-July and often settles moorland, were the large furry obligingly on flowers to have its larvae of the fox noth which are a photograph taken. The larva1 common sight on our walks from foodplants, marsh and conmon dog August through the winter. AIso violet, are abundant. The dark conspicuous are the bright green green fritillary is a stronger larvae of the emperor moth, first flyer and appears a little 1ater, seen in JuIy and nature by mid- our seven records spanning earlY September; we also come across JuIy to early Augrust. Again, the their empty cocoons in the winter. larvae feed on marsh vlolet. ConvoTvuLus hawk Of the browns, the most elusive has been the hitherto familiar small Day-flying species in June included heath, with only one record in June six-spot burnet (on coastal near the coast. The large heath, grassland), chimney svreeper on the other hand, is freguent in (especially in the vicinity of moorland areas. Until l{e had bracken-infested grassland where one of the latter for the larval foodplant, pigrnut, is caught (in confirmation, we tere having very common) and argent & sable difficutty distingruishing the two open moorland almost certainly the species, since up here the Pale, form nigrescens, whose larvae feed almost spotless, forn scotica of on bog myrtle). In July, the the large heath apProximates very magrpie appears in nunbers in some closely, except in size, to a moorland areas, where the larvae northern form of the small heath. must be feeding on heather since This is particularly PerPlexing the only other likely foodplant, when the insect is at rest with hazel, is very thin on the ground. only the underside showing. The Two characteristic moorland species other very corunon brown, emerging also seen in July are the in mid-June and lasting for a Manchester treble-bar and the true couple of months, is the meadow Iover's knot whose larvae feed on brown (16 records) which is bilberry and heather respectively. ubiguitous in the grassier areas of Assynt. A surprising discovery on 26th Augrust was an exhausted female Apart from the small white, the convolvulus hawk moth found by a only two other species we are neighbour on the wa1l of an cerlain to see are speckled wood, isolated house a couple of miles to p6 which we know has extended its our east. cont Sutlrerland contd tVCnted! At Tight Some 16 species came to our house Rbcords,of ,,,,,,,,,ii:Derbyshir€ lights at Nedd between APril and beetles are feqqitgd,r,,r,t:Of:r::rF December. An early in APriI, was a nei* study. If you should hebrew character followed in May by have bny please contact,: a small angle shades and in JuIy by , ,, a silver-ground carpet. The larva Giaham Maynard,:t::,:::::tof,,tt::,:::ttr,rth€ of the latLer may well feed on the De'rby5hiie i,,,Entomoldgidel: primroses that are common here- SOci€:ty by,,phoning.:,:.:i,.0,246r!' abouts. In Augrust, when we began 27:;,tr 68,1;, ( weekendSi. : on1,y:r) r.,:r:':::rrr.rr:rr:r:::r r.l to take a more active interest, occurred purple bar, JuIy highflyer (in several of its manifestations), ingrailed c1ay, antler and ear (determined by Jane McPhail).

September was even more productive with chevron, dark and comnon Letter marbled carpets, feathered thorn, pink-barred sallow, black and rosY rustic added to the list. The I have today recived a photocopy of season tapered off very raPidIY issue 1 of the LES Newsletter from with the onset of colder weather; Derek Lott. I was pleased to read one feathered thorn in October and the article on dragonflies - most then a gap until a solitarY surprising was the remark "we are December moth arrived on the 21st still waiting for the first of that month. It is interesting properly authenticated record of to note that a high ProPortion of the southern hawker". Amazing for those listed feed in the larval 1988! stage on birch or sallow and most of the rest either on grasses or Brian MitchelT weed species.

To the experienced lePidoPterist this list will seem very run of the mi1I, apart perhaps from the moorland species. However, despite A really old comma! the regiular attendance at moth evenings in Leicestershire, this is the first time we have aPPlied Following on from the item in LES ourselves to the identification of Newsletter 7 when the 1930 record the macro-moths (with sone helP of the comma butterfly was queried from our friends) so you will have as being the first record for the to excuse a little initial over- county, I can now reveal that it enthusiasm! we shaLl hoPe to certainly was not! continue to develop our skills in 1993 and shall look forward eagerly Researching through the dusty to the arrival of the first of our shelves at Leicester Museum's naturalist visitors bearing a moth library resulted in the location of trap ! the oldest (so far) known record of the comma in Leicestershire. Ian Evans According to l{ BeIl and T BelI (Entonol.ogists IntelJigencer issue of 27th Augrust 1859) the coruna was present in the "past year" in some abundance in the Uppingham Oak egg:rr in district. Also noted were marbled whites, purple emperor and black Jean & Ron Harvey have notified us hairstreak with many others listed. of another site for this scarce - county moth this time between Ray Morris Medbourne and Slawston in mid-July. Glow-Trorrls 1992

Following on frorn the review of the status 9f glow-worms in Leicestershire (LES Nesletter 8) Jean Harvey has forwarded the latest report of research being carried out by Graham & Linda Worral, Jim Eaton, Clipsham Survey Group and members of the nutland Natural History Society.

The overall survey of glow-worms cutting and intrusion by the fence being carried out covers Rutland erected by British Gas. This may and Northamptonshire in the main have helped larvae and partly with a few sites in Leicestershire account for the higher number of and Lincolnshire also being glows in 1992. The front of the monitored. Five of the sites verges were cut late May this year visited in 1992, between June 16th and July 11 th; last year the verge and July 17th, which had glowing was not cut until one swathe on females in 1991, were dark in 1992. 22nd July. Maximum glow had Three sites were suPosed to have occurred before the July cut and been surveyed by volunteers from subsequent nurnbers did not seem t,o the National Glow-worm SurveY but, have been badly affected. In 1992, to date, no records have been the autumn cut was October which forthcoming. Two other sites were may prove beneficial in 1993. unavailable for investigatlon because of the presence of New Age At Ketton Quarry numbers were also Travellers ! up from 19 to 25. Several fenales were glowing within 10 yards of an However, a new countY site was orange street light and one had discovered by non-members of the positioned itself on the bare survey team at Essendine railwaY ground of a recent bonfire area. embankment when five females were glowing. A report bY SPalding Sightings in the rest of the Ramblers of 10 glowing females on a county, so far, are still rare in verge at Empingham arrived to late spite of considerable hunting. The in the season to be checked out. finding of four females amd a The Barrowden verge had 20 glowing single male at King Lud's females this year comPared with Entrenchments was most heartening. only eight in 1991 with glows beginning earlier, the first being lMy thanks go to the Rutland 14th June and ending 22nd JulY researchers for permission to (1991 started on JuIy 3rd and ended publish extracts of their work. Do on 8th Augrust). glow-worms occur to the west of the county? Has anyone really looked? From autumn 1990 to aPril 1991, the - Editorl Barrowden verge was protected from

RUrr.Ar{D

SK947006 Barrowden Roadside verge 21.6.92 20* TF044125 Essendine Roadside verge 24.6.92 s TF048125 Essendine Railway embankment -.7 .92 5 SK975055 Ketton Old guarry NR 27.6.92 25 SK889096 Burley Wood Woodland 2.7 .92 2 (Empingham - see note in text)

LEICESTERSHIRE

SK865278 King Lud's Woodland 27.6.92 4* Entrenchments

*included single male Miscellany part I

Our intrepid reporter from the east of the county, Jean Harvey, has Unaudited accounts sent in a whole host of interesting entomological sightings. 31/8/e1-31 /8/e2 Moth trapping at Clipsham Quarry on 25.vi.92 gave a record of the guite Betanco carrled over AF3LT! scarce blackneck moth and even more !t8 acrlb€rr @ g2..to el4stoo rare the maple prominent. I' don tlon @ gtlto S /!5o tntcrcft a t&o6 North Luffenham Quarry has now been added to the Rutland list for the Total eqr.a1 presence of glow-worms as has Croxton Kerrial in Leicestershire. Lcaa! Apparently these stem from reports made direct to the Museum. Exhlbltlon co*r st7.7o

Two of the bird nest boxes in Betance rb59.J, Burley tiood have been used bY hornets j.n 1992 as Terry Mitcham discovered when doing his "autumn in forthcoming years especially cleaning" ! when substantial documents are produced e.g. the forthcoming Jane McPhail reports the Presence Provisional Atlas of Leicestershire of Micropterix thunbergeTTa (a Microlepidoptera is 250 pages long micro) frorn Pickworth Great Wood in but it is the sort of publication 1992" As far as is known this is which the Society needs to produce. only the second record for the county, the other being in volume 1 Any offers of financial help or aid of the MBGBIseries. with producing manuscripts would be most welcome Andy Rhodes reports a hummingbird hawk moth on Wisteria oPPosite Groby Road Hospital on 23.viii.92 while in Barwell Ray Morris once points and bad again had srnalI elephant hawk moth Good at the garden mvI. AIso at this points of moth trapping latter location seven larvae of the puss moth were found demolishing a poplar sapling! Bad points

Nettle stings; huge swarms of gnats and grnat bitesl craneflies in your Annual Accounts hair; beetles in your coffee; stunbling through the dark when you've forgotten your torch; tons heavy bags to carry all the way Jane McPhail of LES Treasurer, the weather presented accounts of the from the car and back; the forecast is wrong; bunping into the AGMlast autumn. Sociely to cows in a field in the middle of nowherel getting lost on the way. Whilst the Society is on a sound footing, it should be financial Good points drawn to the attention of members future costs are going to that Good fun; you learn a lot; great To date we have been r].se. moth build your muscles in that we have incurred chases; fortunate heavy bags; when the weather printing costs but this with minimal forecast is right; seeing rare and be expected to continue. cannot beautifully narked moths; coffee and food breaks! There will be a need to find funds produce Newsletter and to both the Roy McPhail (l2yrs) the Occasional Publications Series Balephetrish Bayr Isle oI Tiree 1992 we set off for the Western Isles being a fairly local species in taking our actinic traP and enough northern England and Scotland. battery power for a few nights trapping. Arriving on Tiree, we Jean Harvey spent the first night on a very rocky shore in wind and rain moving on the next day to a grassY baY. This, however, rdas stilt not suitable for using the traP as the Hoverflies in sheep and cattle were roaming all around our van and tubes are too Knigltton expensive to leave in their Path! More Scottish cLouded yeTTows! Since I wrote of the hoverflies seen in my garden at Knighton (LES On exploring the northern coast of Occasional Publications Series 3, the island, we found what we were 1989) I have continued to observe looking for - sand dunes, rough them, adding a further 16 species grass, a few wild flowers and, best to the site list. This brings the of all, a degree of shelter from total to 55 speci.es. the continual strong winds. It was here in Balephetrish BaY that we 1989 saw the addition of CheiLosia recorded clouded yellow butterflies paganat C illustrata, Metasyrphus together with peacock, smal1 latifasciatus, Eristal, is horticoLa, tortoiseshell, painted IadY and an Dasysyrphus tricinctus and unidentified blue. The onlY other Xanthandrus contus (a nationally butterfly seen on the island was a notable species). The first four red admiral on the beach at HYnish. of these species have all been seen again in more recent years. Moth trapping aTnost washed out but sone good coastal sPecies! In 1990 PTatycheirus anbigaus, Epistrophe nitidicoTTis, Pipiza The moth list is the result of two b inacuJata , Er i sta L inus nights trapping at Balephtrish. we sepuJchrafrs and Cheil-osia proxina had hoped to do more on MulI but were seen. In 1991 only two new - the elements there Proved species nere recorded Parasyrphus otherwise. Torrential rain found punctulatus and HeTophiTus its way into our camPer van and brivittatus. forced us to cut the holidaY short to return home to dry out and get l,ast suilner (1992) , PiPiza the necessary repairs done! austriaca, Chrysogaster chafybeata and XyTota syTvarum were all seen The species recorded were: red here for the first time. carpet, barred rivulet, white line darl, Archer's dart, Iarge Yellow Although all 65 species are not underwing, lesser yellow underwing, seen every year, there are still true lover's knot, double square some fairly respectable annual spot, six-striped rustic, bright- totals with 45, 36, 38 and 45 line brown-eye, antler, colilDon species being seen in 1989, 1990, wainscot, shoulder-striped 1991 and 1992 respectiveLy. wainscot, mouse, dark arches, rosy minor, conmon rustic, flounced The only major changes to the rustic, saltern ear ' burnished garden during the period were the brass and silver Y. construction of a pond and a rockery in spring 1989. The pond Distinctly coastal species recorded is a possible breeding habitat for were Archer's dart, saltern ear and some of the eristaline hoverflies white-line dart. The red carPet is and the flowers on the rockery and a species of moorland in England around the pond are good hoverfly but is widespread and not unconnon attractants ( water mint in Scotland in rnost habitats. The especially). barred rivulet was a good find this NeiL Frankun Butter{lies in a suburban garden in Knightorr LeicestGr - srrmmer I,9g2

Mid-March and the first warm, sunny day brought the butterflies out of hibernation....peacock, brimstone, small tortoiseihell and a comma, the latter two_being,guite territorial! There were plenty of flowers available for a good supply of nectar.

The peacocks ( fnachis jo) continued butterflies lrere welcome visitors. to visit until late April. Then There vras a ringlet (Aphantopus there was a gap until mid-July when hypernatus) around on they appeared again in great 22/23.viii.92, a wall (Lasionnata nunbers (43 counted at one time on negera) was seen on 29.vii.92 and 6.viii.92), dwindling once more by 9.viii.92 and a speckled wood late Augn-rst. Similarly, small (Pararge aegeria) was seen on three tortoiseshells (AgLais urticae) occasions during the last week in were around in early April and then August. A larqe skipper (Ochjodes a gap until late June. They were venata) was around for a week in then regnrlars until late September. early Ju1y.

Commas (Polygonia c-albun) were The red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) seen occasionally from late June, first visited on 13.vi.92 and the through July and Augrust. There are species was seen through to the end three nettle patches available in of September. painted ladies the garden but we have yet to see (Cynthia cardui) joined them on the caterpillars on them. Brimstones buddleias in mid-August. (Gonopteryx rhanni) brightened up the garden in April and early May ALI in all, there were 18 species plus a sighting in early July. of butteflies - only one or two less than the record for Female orange tips (Anthocharis butterflies in the city of cardanines) lrere seen in mid-Apri1 Leicester. and both sexes in early May. A few years ago holly blues (Celastrina Maggie Frankum argiolus) would have caused much excitement but lately they have become very common. The first one was sighted on f .iv.92 with a bit of a gap in late June and then right through August and even one on 20 . ix.92 . The common blue (PoLyonnatus icarus), however, was rare with just one visit on 9.viii.92 - a1I that is blue is not necessarily holly!

Green-veined whites (Artogeia napi) were around in late April, mid-May and again in July, dwindling by early Augrust. The large (Pieris brassicae) and small (Artogeia rapae) whites appeared in early May and their offspring had a profound presence among the cabbages i throughout the sumrner!

There $ras a sprinkling meadow of ,l browns (ManioLa jurtina) from mid- L June and regrular sightings between mid-JuIy and mid-August. Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus) were regular visitors from mid-July to mid-August, especially on marjoram flowers Three more brown

10 the emergence of Libelluia depressa Miscellanlr Gontd from our garden pond in 199i (LES Newsletter 7). Since then there have been no further mass In early July, a $rasps' nest \^ras gmergences of the dragonfly but found hanging from a climbing both male and female were sighted hydrangea on the wall of a house in in June 1992, Synpetrun strioLatun Barrowden. We went to observe these is breeding in the pond and both vespidae (which were fairly newly emerged adults and egg-laying passive) and noted from the sessions have been observed this formation of the nest that they surnmer. Both fschnura eJegans and were obviously a tree wasp. Coenagrion pueJTa vrere around in However, having collected some June-Ju1y and Aeshna grandis, A specimens and examined their body cyanea and A nixta were seen markings, w€ realised that they hawking about the garden. nere, in fact, an unusual species. Maggie Frankum We sent them to Leicester Museun from where they were subseguently forwarded by Jan Dawson to Dr One of the funniest observations of Michael Archer at York. He 1992 was of a pseudoscorpion confirmed their identification as hitching a ride on the antenna of DolichovespuJa nedia and informed the hoverfLy EristaJis intricarius us that this species had also been on 9.viii.92. found this year (1992) in Worc- estershire and Norfolk. It seems Maggie Frankun that the wasp has been gradually extending its range northwards recently.

Jean & Ron Harvey More on gloru'-Tyorms

I was interested to read the glow- Only Muriel and us turned up for worm report in Newsletter 8. On the Clipsham Big Pit meeting...so 25.x.77 I found a larva amongst we had our expert, Jon Dawes, to nettles at the base of the walI ourselves! And we learnt a great between the road and guarry on the deal about the identification of top of (SK406233). woodlice. So much so, that on returning home we descended with 0n 12.ix"81 the Natural History enthusiasrn into our garden and Section of the Literary & prompt1y found PLatyarthus Philosophical Society visited hoffnanseggii. This is a little (SK812251). While white woodlouse found in ants' turning over the debris that vras nests (in this case .Lasjus fLavus) all that remained of a thresher in that insists on making a mound in the northern part of the quarry, the heather bed. Just as we had Dennis Cooper found, and I ident- found on a nanure heap in one of ified, another larva. the fields at Clipsham, the garden turned up Porcellionoides pruinosus Predictably, in the light of most - in our compost heap! Other of the Rutland localities, both of species found so far are Oniscus these sites are on limestone asel7us, PorceLiio scaber and Breedon Hill is hard Carboniferous Trichoniscus pyginaeus. 1i-mestone and Stonesby the much softer Lincolnshire limestone. Magigie Frankun However, as indicated in the earlier article, glow-worms are not Around the time of the convolvulus confined in Leicestershire to hawk seen at Kirby Muxloe limestone. rn Candlish (1976) it (Newsletter 9) I had one brought to is recorded that nembers of the me for identification from Rutland NHS found adults on the Fleckney. main ride in Owston Wood in May and June 1970 while Bill Cunnington HaroLd Godsnark found more in the same locality in June 1971. Members may remember our report on eont pl2

ti tl Glow-worms contd Yolunteens wanted!

There are, I seem to recollect, Nearer to home, it is nearly time even earlier records from this and for the Entomological Fair at the other east Leicestershire Granby Halls (this year it's on woodlands. Are they sti1l Present Sunday April 25th). in Owston Wood or has the growth of the 1960s plantings and understorey At the pre-Christmas Fair, the (and consequent shading of the Society had a stand to promote our rides) eliminated them? existence and our interests. Despite the "attraction" of so much A tra$rl of the older collections at dead-stock (aII pre-packaged! ) on the Museum might throw further other stands, much interest was tight on their loca1 habitat and shown in our group with about a soil preferences. dozen new nembers being recruited. lCandlish, P (1976). Owston hloods, Considering this response, and the Leicestershire: RePort of a fact that the April Fair is always Vegetation Study. Leicestershire better attended, the LES is to Museum Service and Nature mount a stand again. But we need Conservancy Councill volunteers !

Ian Evans The Fair runs essentially from 1Oam to 4pm and we are looking for cover for that period. Several of us will be there most of the day I suspect but extra hands are always Lancs et Cheshire welcome. If you can help in any way (nanning the stand, loan of Annual Exhibition exhibits please contact Adrian Russell (Leicester 415101) as soon as possible.

The Lancashire & Cheshire Entomological Society is the second oldest in the countrY. It is now in its 116th year! Every sPring Next copy date: they hold their Annual Show and the 1993 one will be on March 13th. Last year two LES menbers took the July 3!st 1993 Society's display and publications to the Show and were warmlY received by the Lancs & Cheshire members with much interest being The vitality of the Newsletter shown in our efforts in relies upon input from its members. Leicestershire. As a conseguence Several members are regular we now have a reciprocal exchange contributors but vre need a wider of Newsletters and a new nember in input, especially from those who the shape of Steve McWilliams, have interests other than their Secretary/sditor. lepidoptera!

The location of the show is just If you have any items of interest off the M6 after the Manchester (and you must have), comments, Ship Cana1 bridge and is well worth drawings, photographs (black & a visit. white only please) then send them in for inclusion in the Newsletter! The LES will probably particiPate again this year if onIY to maintain Been on holiday with an entom- contact with other groups like ological bent - let us know! ourselves. Nothing is rejected out of hand! If you want further details contact Ray Morris (Earl Shilton 842145). Send to: Ray Morris, 142 Hinckley Road, Barwell, Lei.cs LE9 8DN.

12 Moth trapping 1993

One of the delights of entomology, is running light traps for moths in the most unexpected places! It's a good time to chat with friends, 9et cold (and occasionally wetl ) and to participate in active recording of our insect fauna. Without such field work, the true status of many of our beautiful insects would be unknown - and then how could advice be given for their conservation? During 1993, members of the Society will be running light-traps at a variety of 1ocations within Leicestershire. Many trappers record as individuals or as a smaIl group and if you are interested in occasionally jg_ili_ng them then you should Lontbct them direct. However, this year there will be recording 3essions when the anybody interested in our natural history will be welcome to participate.

NARBOROUGHBOG ( SP545980) HORLSTQUARRY (SK4761 79) 24th April 24th July

A well-recorded site but alwaYs A joinL meeting with the capable of turning uP the Loughborough Naturalists Club and unexpected. Some 1ocal rarities the Lit & Phil Natural History have been found including southern Section. This is another proposed wainscot, possibly at its onlY blitz at a site which holds much locality in the county. 8Pm promise but has no records of any conseguence. Meet at dusk.

BT'RBAGEYIOOD, HINCKLEY (SP453943) 15th May SADDINGTONTT'NNEL 30th JuIy Moth trapping was carried out here in the 80s but there are no recent Annual moth trap at this well-known records. A SSSI which has a small bat roost. Joint meeting with the poputation of clouded magrPie and Leicestershire Bat Group. A1ways may well hold other goodies. Lead plenty of people about but we could by Jane McPhail and RaY Morris. do with a couple of nore lights! 8 . 30pm. See and hear bats then get moths in your hair! Lead by Ray Morris and Jane McPhail. Meet 8pm for bats STONESBYQUARRY (SKB1 1 253) with moths at about 9.30pm. 20th June

A nevr Trust reserve with no moth BIRSTAIL records. It is intended to "blitz" 1Oth August this site during the daY and night. Day-time recording of butterflies, A joint meeting with Birstall day-flying moths etc starting at Birders. Exact locality to be 10:30am followed by light-trapping decided. Contact Jane McPhail for at dusk. Turn up whenever You want details (Leicester 473262). to! Lead by Adrian Russell. PICKWORTHGRE.AT TIOOD ( SK985152 ) RTITLAT{DTIATER ( SK877073) 13th August 25th June This large Forestry Commission wood Our premier nature reserve has had holds great potential. Last year some moth recording in recent years it threw up a frosted green moth, a but with such a variety of habitats distinct county rarity, and it was it is difficult to know where to on the Leicestershire side of the start! Lead by Ron & Jean Harvey. border with Lincolnshire which Meet at the Egleton carPark at splits the wood! Lead by Adrian dusk. Russell who has been working this wood for several years with sone success. Meet at dusk.

13 SUMMER PROGRA}IME 1993

Before turning up please check with the leader that the event is still on. Day meetings in the County will start at 9.45am in the New Walk Museum car park or in the field at 10.30am.

A venue (local pub) for lunch and discussion of the morning's work will be decided during the morning.

Site/date Meet at Leader/contact NARBOROUGHBOG Car park near cricket Derek Lott 24th April paviliion off the 84114 0533 473031 just east of the M1 0509 412876 sP545980

BIIRBAGECOtlllON Minor road between John Mousley/ 15th May between Burbage Wood Jane McPhail/ and Aston Firs north Ray Morris of A5070 0533 473262 sP45 394 3

THISLSION GITLLEI Lay-by Thisleton to Jon Daws 5th June Sewstern road 0533 473031 sK903185

STONESBYQUARRY Near disused rubbish Adrian Russell 20th June tip entrance on Bescaby 0533 415101 to Waltham road sK811 253

GRAI\IDIJNION CANAL DeMaIe wharf John Kramer 27th June SP695916 0533 716499

LEIRE CUTIING Small car park south Steve Grover 24th JuIy of the teire to Froles- 0533 473005 worth road just west of the cutting sP520900

NORTHLIITFENIIAT{ QUARRY As best you can near Jon Daws 14th August Telecom building 0533 473031 tlatch out f or bee hives !

Roya1Entomo1o9ica1Societymeet.ing "fnyertebrates ln Rlvers - Current Issuesn ' lTth April 1993

Including gruided visit to Loughborough Big Meadors by Deiek Lott

Further details from, .:

Derek Lblt ,:ir, 0533 473031 (work) or 0509 412876 (nome}

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