NEWSLETTER 45 LEICESTERSHIRE September 2011 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY VC55 Leafhopper reaches Rutland During a moth trapping session on 5 August 2011 at Ketton Working Quarry, in the Grange Top area, two individuals of the large leafhopper Ledra aurita were found (well after midnight). Both individuals were actually inside the traps sitting on the egg boxes. Not at all a typical looking leafhopper - more like a miniature Duck-billed Platypus - with a flattened, slightly concave shovel-like “head”. The pronotum has two large ear-like projections. This curious looking beast is more likely to be found in the deciduous woodlands of south-east England, where it prefers lichen-covered oaks. The Ketton site, on the other hand, is the edge of a working limestone quarry. The actual site is a wide access track with an associated rich limestone grassland flora, albeit alongside a Who’s a pretty boy, then? Two views woodland edge. Woodland consists mainly of Ash, of Ledra aurita: Birch, Beech, Hawthorn and Hazel, there are Oaks, but This is the only not of any real size. The record was sent to Dr Alan J member of the A Stewart of the Auchenorrhyncha Recording Scheme subfamily Ledrinae of Great Britain and Ireland and I am grateful for his in Europe. Length 13 - 18 mm. comments, which are posted in full below. Photos: Graham Finch “Many thanks for this interesting record. As you say, it’s a rather unusual habitat for this species, Distribution map so I can only assume that it has come from one of extracted from the nearby oaks. It’s remarkable that the vast www.ledra.co.uk majority of records for this species are from moth on 10 Aug 2011. traps, so they can obviously fly without any Triangles = pre- difficulty. The location is quite a way north, as you 1960, circles = post 1960. A few dots say, although I suspect that its usual appearance remain to be added, in moth traps means that it is rather under- in addition to the recorded.” Ketton record. With thanks to Our dot is not as yet on the attached map, but you can Alan Stewart. see we are right on the northern limit of its range. Also worth noting that a large proportion of sightings for L. The superb recording scheme website is aurita are from specimens attracted to moth lights. The www.ledra.co.uk/index.html only other record for this species in VC55 is from Peter Gamble in his Quorn garden 20 August 2009, again Graham Finch from his moth trap [+Sapcote, Aug 2011 - Ed.]. LES Newsletter 45 September 2011 Editorial 2011 has certainly been an odd year for insects. Despite plenty of warm, sunny weather and some early appearances reported in British Wildlife, the variety Affiliated to: and quantity of insects in VC55 was generally much Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust lower than I expected. I have spent many hours in good habitat and favourable weather, yet butterflies, Chairman & LES Occasional Publications Editor: dragonflies and and other insects have been scarce. Ray Morris The only Longhorn beetle that has been common this 16 Hinckley Road, Dadlington year is the little Grammoptera ruficornis. With the Leics. CV13 6HU notable exception of Episyrphus balteatus, hoverflies Telephone: 01455 213569 have generally been in short supply, even on favourites Email: [email protected] such as Angelica. Perhaps the drought and two Secretary: previous cold winters have had an effect - of course it Anona Finch is very difficult, if not impossible, to nail down the 14 Thorndale, Ibstock, actual reason. Leics. LE67 6JT Email: [email protected] On the other hand, solitary bees and wasps seem to have done very well. It is true that I have been looking Treasurer: Stuart Poole harder for them this year, to support Helen Ikin’s 18 Croft Drive, Wigston, survey, nonetheless their numbers at some sites have Leicester LE18 1HD been spectacular. In the spring, the steep banks in Telephone: 0116 288 0236 Bradgate Park, near Newtown Linford, were humming Email: [email protected] with various mining species of Andrena and their Committee Members: Nomada parasites. On 17 April, we made a memorable Dave Budworth visit to Morley Quarry in Shepshed, where the eroding 121 Wood Lane, Newhall, Swadlincote soil on top of the rock face was riddled with holes, with Derbys. DE11 0LX dozens of insects (especially Nomada goodeniana and Telephone: 01283 215188 its host Andrena nigroaenea) visible at one time. Email: [email protected] Maggie & Roy Frankum Seven-spot Ladybirds, curiously, were not bothered 3 Chapel Lane, Knighton, by the cold winter and continued to be active. Aphid Leicester LE2 3WF numbers were also high in early summer, so I did Telephone: 0116 270 5833 wonder if ladybirds might again (like 1976) build up Email: [email protected] into a “plague”. Another insect that many members Newsletter Editor: may have noticed for the first time this year is the Bee Steve Woodward Fly Bombylius major. It looks like a small bumble-bee, 19 Highfield Road, Groby but has a much quicker, darting flight, very spindly Leicester LE6 0GU legs, and an extraordinarily long proboscis. Previously, Telephone: 0116 287 1679 Email : [email protected] I had glimpsed one or two locally, but they seemed to be everywhere this spring. The editor will be happy to Sadly, I have had to include obituaries for two receive articles, short members in this newsletter: Eva Penn-Smith and Derek notes and photos (in focus please!) about insects or Lott, both of whom made significant contribution to other arthropods in insect conservation, in their different ways. Leicestershire and Rutland, also news of If you are thinking that there are too many articles by members’ activities further Steve Woodward and his side-kick “Ed” - then I agree. afield. I am grateful to the other regular contributors, but Next Copy Deadline: surely other members see some insects worth Bee Fly Bombylius major has been reporting? I look forward to more contributions next 10 Jan 2012 a familiar insect this spring. Photo: time. Steve Woodward Steve Woodward 2 September 2011 LES Newsletter 45 Murderers look out - LES is on the case To whom it may concern, An email appeal for help found its way to the LES, My name is Helen Godfrey and I am a Ph.D student at which is reproduced opposite. the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. I am part of the School of Forensic and Investigative Some of us have Sciences - Forensic Genetics Group. My research aims already been in contact to identify UK Calliphoridae species through the use with Helen and have of genetics. been collecting flies for her using a simple As several Calliphoridae species are the first to be home-made trap (see attracted to a decomposing body, their presence and below). age at a crime scene can be used in forensic investigations to estimate the post mortem interval. Accurate identification The main problem in this field is the difficulty in is a laudable aim, but I identifying species using morphological do wonder where this characteristics. Closely related species, fragmented approach to samples and egg and larval specimens are very difficult identification is to identify. It is hoped that the use of genetics to leading - will A Calliphorid fly (bluebottle). Photo: identify these species will overcome these issues. identifications by Steve Woodward skilled amateurs using My project involves conducting DNA sequencing the traditional keys (i.e. counting bristles on forehead, experiments in order to find regions which differ etc) no longer be trusted? between species and can be used for identification purposes. So far I have collected data from 9 different The top and bottom of a 2 litre plastic bottle are cut off, then the inverted regions, some of which look very promising. bottom is fixed over the top. The lower part of the trap is an inverted The main problem I have, is that my sample set is quite pot, like a CD container or plant pot, small and thus, I have a very limited idea of the true with a large hole to accept the bottle level of genetic variation that exists between species. and smaller holes in the side to admit the flies. The flies are attracted by I am e-mailing you to ask if you and your members rotting meat. Emptying the trap is delightful! Photo: Helen Ikin would be willingly to collect specimens this summer to form part of my sample set. If required, I can provide Ed. you with collection packs. All samples, (not just Calliphoridae species) will be gratefully received. Glass tubes for sale Many thanks for taking the time to read this e-mail. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any At a meeting a year-or-so ago, there was a discussion further information. about the availability of little glass collecting/storage Kind Regards, tubes - the kind that clink in our pockets when we are Helen Godfrey, Ph.D Student [email protected] out, then roll around on our desks (then usually onto the floor) when we are in. We never seem to have DB254 - Darwin Building, School of Forensic and enough! There were mutterings about the high price Investigative Sciences, University of Central demanded by Watkins and Doncaster, and the Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE. Tel: 01772 894370 difficulty of obtaining them elsewhere. I have made a (personal) bulk purchase of four popular Dia Height Per 10 sizes. They have flat bottoms and come with polythene 9 38 £1.50 push-on stoppers. The sizes 12 38 £1.50 and prices are as follows 12 50 £1.50 (approx half the W&D price).