A visit to this superb little reserve today in some pretty decent conditions, saw some lovely insects being found and included a new personal species in the form of a Box Bug.
This species was once very rare in the UK only being found at Box Hill in Surrey, were it was found feeding on Box trees, but it has now adapted to feed on other species of trees and shrubs including Buckthorn and Hawthorn. This individual was actually found on Buckthorn and is the third species of Coreidae i have observed after Dock Bug and Boat Bug.
Other nice species observed from the Heteroptera family included a nice Tortoise Bug, several Green-Shieldbugs, a smart final instar Bronze Shieldbug, 4 final instar Birch Shieldbugs and a Red-legged Shieldbug.
It was hard work looking for Hoverflies on today's visit, with a personal favourite being recorded when i found a male Sericomyia silentis, the first i have seen on this site for several years.
Grasshoppers were seen in fairly good numbers today, but trying to get photos was another thing in the breeze, but i finally managed to get some decent images of a male and female Field Grasshopper.
Modern management of these local nature reserves really needs to be thought out more thoroughly, with some of the best areas on site already cut.
The final nicety, was a relatively confiding juvenile Common Lizard which was nice to see and my first for a while.
Bird wise it was very quiet, with the best sighting going to a single Crossbill in the plantation.
The following are my favourite photos from my visit.
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| Final instar Green Shieldbug |
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| Box Bug, A New Species For Myself |
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| Female Myathropa florea |
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| Final Instar Bronze Shieldbug |
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| Vapourer Moth Caterpillar |
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| Final Instar Birch Shieldbug |
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| Hoverfly Species - Sericomyia silentis, Male |
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| Juvenile Common Lizard |
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| Tortoise Bug |
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| Red-legged Shieldbug |
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| Male Field Grasshopper |
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| Female Field Grasshopper |
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