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Badlands
Posted by Graeme Lyons , Tuesday 18 May 2010 20:11
Not the Terrence Malick movie but a part of The Mens nature reserve and one of the few areas where there is Hawthorn in blossom. As part of a saproxylic (more or less meaning deadwood feeding) beetle survey I tried to add a few species to the list by searching spring nectar sources and searching dead wood. I saw two species that I had not seen before, certainly new to the site and these were Anthocomus fasciatus and Dasytes aerosus. I also saw three Common Grammoptera, the first longhorn beetles I have seen this year, wahoo! Another saproxylic species I observed was Criorhina berberina, a bumble-bee mimic hoverfly. I watched both colour forms laying eggs on dead Beech trees. I also saw a woodland shield bug Troilus luridus. Moths included White-pinion Spotted and Silver-ground Carpet. Beating at this time of year always gives a list of caterpillars longer than the actual moths and they make good photographic subjects. I recorded Winter Moth, Small Quaker, Mottled Umber, Scarce Umber, Pale Brindled beauty Twin-spot Quaker and Satellite. This last one was new to me and is a smart looking caterpillar that can really leg-it! See photo. I'm not looking forward to a 4.30 am start to get to Filsham early for a bird survey, boo.
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