An invertebrate survey of Penn Common (concentrating on the wet habitats, especially the springs and flushes) to cover those species and groups that help evaluate its biological importance and help to inform its habitat management under the Higher Level Scheme agreement. Peter Boardman, Ian Cheeseborough, Nigel Jones, Richard Wright November 2011 Penn Common invertebrate survey – 2011 (Boardman, Cheeseborough, Jones & Wright) INDEX i. Summary …………………………………………………………………………….. 3 1. Rationale …………………………………………………………………………………………. 4 2. Methodology…………………………………………………………………………………… 5 3. Results – overview………………………………………………………………………….. 5 4. Results – analysis of invertebrate communities………………………………. 9 5. Results – summary of ISIS analysis…………………………………………………… 10 6. Management Suggestions……………………………………………………………….. 11 7. Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………….. 13 ii. References………………………………………………………………………………. 15 iii. Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………. 15 Appendix 1 – Full survey data for Penn Common golf course ……………………. 16 Appendix 2 – ISIS outputs for Penn Common …………………………………………….. 31 Page 2 Penn Common invertebrate survey – 2011 (Boardman, Cheeseborough, Jones & Wright) Summary An invertebrate survey of Penn Common, near Wolverhampton, recorded 457 species of invertebrates during 2011. Of these, the vast majority were common species with only 7 species recorded of national or regional importance. These were the flies; Spania nigra, Syntormon macula, Sphaerophoria taeniata, and Herina frondescentiae. The weevil Trachyphloeus asperatus, the spider-hunting wasp Anoplius caviventris, and the solitary wasp Tiphia minuta. 24 species were noted as new to Staffordshire (V.C. 39). Data was put through ISIS software to identify species assemblages for the site. As a whole site, significant species assemblage types (SATs) were identified for scrub edge, rich flower resource, and bark & sapwood decay assemblages. The most significant broad assemblage type (BATs) noted was that for flowing water suggesting the wetland habitats are important at the site. Heathland communities were not significant across the whole site data. When data was split down into habitat areas the species assemblage types produced significant results for scrub-heath and moorland species assemblage amongst the dry acid grassland habitats, and the bark and sapwood decay assemblages amongst the aculeate habitats. The calcareous flush was found to be of little significance currently. Penn Common was found to be regionally important for its aculeate hymenoptera assemblage, though much of this is associated with dead-wood rather than heathland species. Management suggestions were made to increase the suitability of habitat for heathland hymenoptera, amongst other habitats across the site. Page 3 Penn Common invertebrate survey – 2011 (Boardman, Cheeseborough, Jones & Wright) 1. Rationale 1.1 An invertebrate survey was carried out on Penn Common (SO898945), near Wolverhampton, to identify the most important invertebrate communities at the site and examine how they compare to other similar sites in the area (Staffordshire and West Midlands primarily but also east Shropshire and north Worcestershire). 1.2 Outputs were to examine how the invertebrate communities can be conserved and, where possible, enhanced (under management through the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement). 1.3 Penn Common has historically been recognised as an important site in terms of nature conservation with historical botanical records suggesting important habitats (particularly base rich flushes and heathland) for invertebrates at the site. It was noted that grazing had recently ceased but more up to date information regarding habitat quality and suitability for invertebrate assemblages was lacking, hence the need to assess the site through survey work. 1.4 The site hosts Penn Common Golf Course, where golf has been played since 1893 (see map 1), and is intersected roughly down the centre on a north / south plane by a minor road. It sits to the south of Penn, a suburb of the major conurbation of Wolverhampton, and to the west of Sedgley, and is located in Staffordshire (V.C. 39). Map 1 – Penn Common Golf Course (www.maps.google.co.uk.) Page 4 Penn Common invertebrate survey – 2011 (Boardman, Cheeseborough, Jones & Wright) 2. Methodology 2.1 The survey methodology followed that laid out in ‘Surveying terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates for conservation evaluation’ (Drake et al, 2007) and results were analysed using the ISIS software, developed by Natural England, to assess invertebrate communities at the site. 2.2 The surveyors used appropriate methodologies for their particular invertebrate interests; Pete Boardman & Nigel Jones (diptera – timed sweeping over flushes, damp and marginal habitats, plus netting individual species of interest, water traps, limited Malaise trapping), Ian Cheeseborough (aculeate hymenoptera – netting individual species and observation of nesting aggregations and dead wood habitats, water traps, limited Malaise trapping), Richard Wright (coleoptera – pitfall trapping and sweeping / beating heather and other vegetation, hand searching). 2.3 Where possible other invertebrate and insect orders were recorded when encountered. These included the Lepidoptera which were being surveyed by another contractor so little attention was given to the group during our site visits. 2.4 Visits were timed to assess the peak phenology of the groups studied. 3. Results - overview 3.1 Survey visits were undertaken in April, May, June, July, September and October by the surveyors, after an initial visit in early April accompanied by the course manager, Paul Mills from Penn Common Golf Course. 3.2 Survey work during 2011 was in some ways hampered by the very dry conditions that occurred through the year. A hot, dry spring was followed by a generally dull, dry summer and the dry weather continued on into autumn. Several of the wet or damp areas where survey work was focused were subject to desiccation and at times insects were hard to come across. Nevertheless a total of 457 species were recorded at the site. 3.3 The table below details the breakdown of invertebrate orders recorded; Order No of Species Diptera (true flies) 220 Coleoptera (beetles) 82 Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants) 73 Aranae & Opiliones (spiders and harvestman) 33 Hemiptera (true bugs) 21 Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) 15 Diplopoda (millipedes) 4 Odonata (damselflies and dragonflies) 4 Isopoda (woodlice) 3 Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets) 2 Total - 457 Table 1 – summary of invertebrate orders recorded at Penn Common during the 2011 survey Page 5 Penn Common invertebrate survey – 2011 (Boardman, Cheeseborough, Jones & Wright) 3.4 Of the 457 species recorded few were noted to be of conservation importance except for the following 7 species; 3.5 Diptera (Spaniidae) Spania nigra Meigen, 1830 Liverwort Snipefly. This species is listed as Notable but being small is often overlooked. Larvae leaf mine species of liverworts and Pellia neesia has been noted to host the fly (Stubbs & Drake, 2001). It has a widespread distribution within the United Kingdom (www.data.nbn.org.uk) and appears here at its first Staffordshire site (Jukes, 2005). It has been recorded in Shropshire from dingle woodland near Ironbridge Gorge and at three sites around the Long Mynd in south Shropshire (Shropshire Ecological Data Network pers. comm.) 3.6 Diptera (Dolichopodidae) Syntormon macula Parent, 1927. This uncommon long-legged fly is often associated with dingle woodlands or damp places and has a mostly south-western distribution. It was originally designated a Red Data Book species but is now recognised as more commonly occurring, so was given the lower risk (near threatened) status to reflect this (Falk & Crossley, 2005). It appears here at its first Staffordshire site (Jukes, 2005). It is known from three dingle woodlands in Shropshire (Boardman, 2005 & Shropshire Ecological Data Network pers. comm.). 3.7 Diptera (Syrphidae) Sphaerophoria taeniata (Meigen, 1822). This hoverfly has a mostly southern distribution with Kent across to Somerset seeing the majority of records. It is uncommon outside of this range (www.hoverfly.org.uk), and it appears to be heading north and is recorded here at its first Staffordshire location (Jukes, 2005). 3.8 Diptera (Ulidiidae) Herina frondescentiae (Linnaeus, 1758). This non-tephritid picture-wing fly has a widespread distribution nationally but can be considered local in the Midlands. It is associated with damp grasslands and appears new to Staffordshire at this site (Jukes, 2005). Herina frondescentiae (photo by Nigel Jones) 3.9 Coleoptera (Curculionidae) Trachyphloeus asperatus Boheman, 1843. This weevil is associated with lowland calcareous grassland and has a widespread distribution in England, with mainly a maritime distribution in Wales. It is classed as Notable A, and is the first Staffordshire record since 1907 (Slawson & Brown, 2009). Page 6 Penn Common invertebrate survey – 2011 (Boardman, Cheeseborough, Jones & Wright) 3.10 Hymenoptera (Pompilidae) Anoplius caviventris (Aurivillius, 1907). This spider-hunting wasp has a mostly southern distribution (www.data.nbn.org) and is classed as Nationally Notable B by Falk (1991) but ‘very rare’ by Michael Archer in his more recent review. It appears here as new to Staffordshire (Webb, Bloxham and Slawson, 2005). It is known from one site in Worcestershire (Trevis, 2004) and a single site in Shropshire (Ian Cheeseborough pers. comm. &