The Hawks

Poplar Hawk Moth , Small Elephant Hawkmoth and the Lime Hawk Moth can be seen at this time of year

69.001 BF1979    Lime Hawk-moth Mimas tiliae

The less colourful Poplar Moth

69.003 BF1981

Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi

69.016 BF1991 Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor. 

Cercopis vulnernata

The ubiquitous Cercopis vulnernata found this week on stands of seeding cow parsley

The Lily Beetle Lilioceris lilii

A colourful spectacle The Lily Beetle Lily Beetle Lilioceris lilii

Cixidae Lacehopper Tachycixius pilosus

 Cixidae Lacehopper Tachycixius pilosus

Quote Of The Week 10

If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.

Confucius

 

Frog Life

We get quite a few questions and enquiries from local children and schools close to the reserve particularly about the fascinating life cycle of the Frog . Chloe has recently asked what happens to the baby frogs  - Andrew - What are baby Frogs Called and Bethany - How high can frogs jump   Well there is some good news  this Spring. Below is a picture of Billy The Frog with his new family - Little Billy and they will be jumping around nature reserves this Spring - Phillip Yr 7 - Is that why its called Spring ?

A visit From The Queen

Drying off in the early morning Sunshine The Queen of The Buff Tailed bumblebee one of a number of Bumblebee and Solitary Bee found in the Spring Time

Bugs Bees Flowers & Toads !!

Lots of Bugs Bees Flowers and Toads Today!!!

Honey Bee Apiis melifera

Midge ( Non-Biting) 

Quote of The Week 9

“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.”

― Confucius

Quote of The Week 8

Recents Spring Moths

March Moth 8
Pale brindled Beauty 1
Dotted Border 4
Chestnut 1
Clouded Drab 1
Agonoptrix her 1

Weather 

Cool Still Previous days weather wet / damp / rain.  MV Lamp

Other Entomology

Large colonies of Orange Ladybird abundant - these are a fungal eating species which agregate in large numbers

73.242 BF2188 Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta

32.018 BF688 Agonopterix heracliana ( Worn Specimen)

70.247 BF1926 Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria

70.255 BF1934 Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria

70.245 BF1663 March Moth Alsophila aescularia

Life Amongst The Lichens

The Lichen Shown below is one of the Dog Lichens Peltigera sp Peltigera is a genus of approximately 91 species of foliose lichens It is possibly  Peltigera praetextata or Peltigera membranacea .The leaf area showed no visible isidia which would be more deinitive for membranacea  however there are a number of similars which would require a more detailed analysis such  as microscopic spore work .The Large large red-brown apothecia like varnished nails are reproductive structures .The shots below show some of the features of this "Dull Green Leaf Like Lichen" All species of Peltigera associate with the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria Nostoc which can make them somewhat toxic but an important component of ecological cycles Fixing nitrogen into the soil. This sample was found on compacted acid shale with small clumps of poorly established heather as might be expected of this habitat

Rhizines

in situ

Apotheca

Goosanders

Facts

• Goosanders are a Freshwater diving duck,
• They are in a Family of Ducks called Sawbills because of their narrow bills with saw-like 'teeth' which are good for gripping fish.
• Goosanders are excellent at fishing, but their diet, which includes Salmon and Trout, and the ecosystem and water quality of Cromwell Bottom is conducive to this relationship
• The male Goosander has a dark green head, a black back and a long, red bill with a hook at the tip. The white sides and breast sometimes have a pink glow.
• The female is grey with a gingery or rufous brown head and a white throat.
• Males may not be seen in Summer as it is known that the this species has a unique migratory behaviour where it will leave for the FFjords of Norway in Summer to Moult returning in Nov Dec Females remain in this country with a few solitary males to moult

• Goosanders Mergus merganser is also known as Common Merganser Mergus merganser
• They have an estimated life Span of 7 years
• Common Mergansers typically nest in tree cavities wet woodland areas and around large crack willows close to water
• Goosanders are mainly a River Duck and is similar to the Red breasted merganiser which tends to shallower waters of coastal nature Eg estuarines etc

Garden Actinics 1923 Feathered Thorn 1760 Red-Green Carpet

20th October 2015

Actinic 10W

1923 Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria ABH 70.244    x1
1760  Red-green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata 70.095     x1

1923 Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria ABH 70.244 

1760  Red-green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata 70.095  

DaNES Insect Exhibition Saturday 21st November 2015 11.00am-16.00pm

The DaNES Insect Exhibition which is being held at Nottingham Trent University on Saturday 21st November between 11.00am-16.00pm

From Tom Hubbard of the Northern Coleopterists' .There is a PDF here if any one is interested

PDF Exhibition Poster