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THE VASCULUM
Vol. 89, No 1 March 2004
Subscription Reminder
Subscriptions were due on 1st January. Many thanks to those that have paid. Subscriptions
are £7.00 for individuals, £9.00 for societies/libraries and should be sent to-
Northern Naturalists’ Union, C/o Office Administrator, Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton
Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6PU
Annual General Meeting
The eightieth Annual Meeting will be held at Rainton Meadows at 2.30 pm on Saturday 24th April
2004 by kind permission of Durham Wildlife Trust. After the business meeting members will give
short talks. This will be followed by tea and there will be an opportunity for members to bring and
display exhibits and photographs.
Agenda
1. Welcome by President.
2. Apologies for absence.
3. Minutes of 79th Annual Meeting.
4. Matters arising.
5. Financial Report.
6. Editors Report.
7. Field Secretary’s Report.
8. Proposed 2004 Meetings.
9. Election of Officers.
10. Any other business.
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Field Meetings 2004-Dates for your Diary
Field Meeting 252 17th April. 2.00p.m. Plankey Mill, west of Hexham, Leader Lance Moore
This site is well known to the NNU in the shape of Briarwood Banks, NY 796 621. Meeting to
begin at the car park at the riverside. Unfortunately there is a parking fee of two pounds per
vehicle (honesty box), but near to the farm the vehicles will be safe from possible interference. To
get here from Hexham take the A69 westbound and just before Haydon Bridge turn left on the
A686 Alston road passing Langley Castle and after about two kilometres turn right into the lane
leading to Plankey Mill. A circuitous route is planned heading downstream to cross the river over
the footbridge and then returning on the other bank. The paths can be muddy and rocky so stout
footwear is advised.
Field Meeting 253 May 22nd, 2.00pm Knitsley Fell, Leader:Terry Coult
Meet at the car park on the fell at NZ 094 347 on Howlea Lane.
There will also be a joint event by Durham Wildlife Trust and Butterfly
Conservation on the 22nd of May at Low Barns, Witton-le-Wear for National Moth Night. Moth
traps, barbecue and all night charcoal burn at night and a daytime search for Argent and Sable.
Details from [email protected]
Field Meeting 254 June 26th Coxhoe, 2.00 p.m.. Leader: Malcolm Birtle
Meet in the Leisure Centre car park NZ 317 358. We will walk along the Trowse to Coxhoe
Quarry Wood and Nature Reserve. Depending on circumstances we may walk on to Raisby Hill .
Field Meeting 255 Sunday 11th July 10.30 am Bishop Middleham and Wingate. Leader:Cliff
Evans
Meet at Bishop Middleham Nature Reserve at 10.30 am. This is a Durham Wildlife Trust reserve
and is half a mile north of the village to the west of the A177 (G.R. NZ 331 326 (Explorer Map
305). Parking is restricted to two lay-bys adjacent to the reserve entrance, so car share if possible!
The target species is the Northern Brown Argus. As it is an abandoned magnesium limestone
quarry it has a very good limestone flora.
We will leave at 12.30 and make our way south on the A177 to Hardwick Hall where
we will make use of the picnic site and toilets.
We will leave Hardwick and take the B1278 to arrive at Wingate at 2.00 pm. G.R.
NZ 371 375. This disused quarry is a Durham County Council local nature reserve, there is ample
parking here. The target species here is the Marbled White. This reserve also has a very good
limestone flora. Members have the choice of a full day or a half day visit.
Field Meeting 256 July 24th 2.00 pm Fallowlees Leader: Nick Cook
Meet at Greenleighton Quarry car park (NZ 034 914) off the B6342 near the Rothley crossroads.
This will require a round trip walk of about 4 miles.
Field Meeting 257 August 21st 12.30 Whitburn. Leader Phil Gates. NZ 409 613
Members are advised to wear wellies so they can wade at the lowest tide level, where the most
interesting stuff will be-hagfish, lumpsuckers, several
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species of starfish, some nice sea slugs, and even squat lobsters found here at various times in the
past. There are often quite large numbers of wading birds on the rocks and sometimes a few
interesting plants on the eroded low cliffs at the top of the beach too. Something for almost
everyone, with an ice-cream van within easy reach. Clear polythene bags are good for temporary
collecting. Members should be warned that the rocks can be slippery.
There's a car park at the north end of Whitburn Beach, where the sand runs out, that's
very convenient for Whitburn Rocks (especially if we have to dash for cover in the rain), but it is
sometimes quite full if the weather is good. I suggest we meet there, next to the ice cream kiosk.
If this car park is full there is also a lot of car parking space behind the big supermarket
(Morrisons) on the sea front, five minutes walk away.
Field Meeting 258 September 11th Briar Dene Woods
Details to follow.
Field Meeting 259 October 16th 11.00 am. Great High Wood, Durham
Meet at Durham Botanical Gardens. Details to follow.
Butterfly Conservation Workshops In Northern England 2004
The following events have been organized by Butterfly Conservation’s Northern England
Regional Office in collaboration with partner organizations. These events are free. Please bring
strong, waterproof footwear and clothing, plus a packed lunch.
For more information or to book a place on a workshop please contact:
Sam Ellis, Butterfly Conservation, 38 High Street South, Langley Moor,
Durham, DH7 8JW
Tel: 0870 7706148 or 0191 3789216
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.butterfly-conservation.org.uk
Monday 29th March: County Durham Butterfly Transact Workshop
Meet at 11.00am, Tanfield Lea Marsh Local Nature Reserve (NZ193547), near
Stanley. A joint event with Durham County Council. Mainly a refresher workshop for those who
have already done transect recording but open to anyone wishing to attend. Weather permitting,
other aspects of recording and identification will be discussed.
Friday 23rd April: Warton Crag Bracken Monitoring
Meet at 10.00am, in the car park at Warton Crag (SD 492724), on the Warton to
Silverdale road. Violet-rich Bracken habitats are important to several of our most threatened
fritillary butterflies. Warton Crag is a key site on the Morecambe Bay Limestones managed by
Arnside and Silverdale AONB, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and RSPB. An experiment is being set
up this year to investigate the effect of grazing on Bracken habitats. This workshop offers training
on the standard technique used by Butterfly Conservation to monitor Bracken habitats. The event
is organized by the High Brown Fritillary Action Group and is open to anyone interested.
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Saturday 8th May: County Durham Butterfly Recording and Transact Workshop
Meet at 10.30am, Waldridge Village Hall (NZ 251500), Waldridge, near Chester-le-
Street. A joint event with Durham County Council. A practical workshop for those new to
butterfly recording. Designed to help you improve your identification skills of common
butterflies, their habitats and important foodplants. Includes an introductory indoor session and a
visit to Waldridge Fell to practice field skills, learn how to record and undertake transect
monitoring.
Monday 10th May: Yorkshire Dales Barred Tooth Striped Workshop
Grass Wood Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve. Meet at 7.45pm in the Yorkshire
Dales National Park car park (SE 003638), Grassington. Please bring a torch to this event! The
Barred Tooth-striped is a scarce moth of open scrub and woodland, where the larvae feed on Wild
Privet and Ash. The moth can be found by torchlight or Tilley lamp after dusk, and also by actinic
light traps. Records are few from Grass Wood, the only known Yorkshire locality and the survey
will search suitable habitat at this well-known site.
Saturday 22nd May: Cumbria and Lancs. Duke Of Burgundy Search Day
Meet at 10.00am, The Barn, Gait Barrows NNR (SD 483775), near Silverdale. This
event is organized by the High Brown Fritillary Action Group and follows the training day in
2003. After a brief re-examination of the butterfly and its habitat at Gait Barrows, participants
will join a survey of all known, extinct and potential sites in the Morecambe Bay area. A
reporting back session will be held at Gait Barrows late afternoon. An action packed day will
conclude with National Moth Night events at both Gait Barrows and Witherslack Woods, starting
about 8.30pm (further details on the day).
The event is weather dependent, if in doubt please phone Rob Petley-Jones (01539
735526) between 9.00 and 9.30am. In the event of cancellation, the search day will be moved to
Sunday 23rd May, with the same arrangements as above (National Moth Night will not be
rearranged).
Wednesday 9th June: Cumbria Argent and Sable Workshop
Meet at 10.00am, Meathop Moss Cumbria Wildlife Trust reserve, near Witherslack.
Park at SD 447821. A joint event with Cumbria Wildlife Trust. The Argent and Sable is a scarce
moth which breeds on birch seedlings and low regrowth as well as Bog-myrtle. Adults are day-
flying, usually in warm, sunny weather. The only recent Cumbria records are from Meathop
Moss, where this workshop begins with a day search. Access permitting, other nearby mosses will
be surveyed.
Thursday 10th June: N. Yorkshire Argent and Sable Workshop
Meet at 10.00am, Bishop Wood, Selby. Park in Dutchmans Car Park (SE 560333),
west of Scalm Park Farm. A joint event with Forest Enterprise. The Argent and Sable is a scarce
moth which breeds on birch seedlings and low regrowth as well as Bog-myrtle. Adults are day-
flying, usually in warm, sunny weather. This workshop will begin with a day search of the
Yorkshire locality with recent records, followed by surveys of other potential sites.
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Wednesday 16th June: Strensall Common Dark Bordered Beauty Larval Search
Meet at 10.00am in the car park, adjacent the cattle grid on the Strensall to Flaxton
road, 1.5 miles east of the entrance to Queen Elizabeth’s Barracks (SE 648612). The Dark
Bordered Beauty is one of Britain’s rarest moths, being confined to just four known sites,
including Strensall Common, near York. This is a joint event with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and
Defence Estates and follows the successful 2003 workshop. We will be conducting further
searches to study the breeding habitat on the YWT reserve and the new locality on the MOD site.
Saturday 26th June: Yorkshire Dales Butterfly Recording and Transact Workshop
Meet at 10.00am, Threshfield Village Hall, Monkholme Lane, Threshfield, near Grassington (SD
990635). A joint event with Yorkshire Dales National Park. A practical workshop for those new
to butterfly recording. Designed to help you improve your identification skills of common
butterflies, their habitats and important foodplants. Includes an introductory indoor session and a
visit to a local site to practice field skills, learn how to record and undertake transect monitoring.
Monday 5th July: High Brown Fritillary Action Group Timed Counts Workshop
Meet 10.30am, at the western entrance to the Holmepark Fell National Trust reserve
(SD 535792), Hutton Roof. Please contact the Regional Office nearer the time for parking details.
Although transect counts are a very effective method of monitoring butterflies, they are not
always suitable for surveys of large numbers of sites. In these situations, timed counts are an
alternative method and the workshop will provide practical training in this technique. This event
is organized by the High Brown Fritillary Action Group, but is open to anyone interested in
learning about timed counts.
This event is weather dependent, if in doubt please phone Rob Petley-Jones (01539
735526) between 9.00 and 9.30am. In the event of cancellation, the training day will be moved to
Tuesday 6th July, with the same arrangements as above.
Wednesday 14th July: Strensall Common Dark Bordered Beauty Search Day
Meet at 10.00am in the car park, adjacent the cattle grid on the Strensall to Flaxton
road, 1.5 miles east of the entrance to Queen Elizabeth’s Barracks (SE 648612). The Dark
Bordered Beauty is one of Britain’s rarest moths, being confined to just four known sites,
including Strensall Common, near York. This is a joint event with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and
Defence Estates and follows the successful 2003 workshop. We will be conducting further adult
searches to find new localities on the common.
Wednesday 4th August: County Durham Chalk Carpet Workshop
Meet at 10.00am, in the car park Wingate Quarry Local Nature Reserve (NZ
372374). A joint event with Durham County Council and Durham Wildlife Trust. The Chalk
Carpet is a scarce moth, confined in County Durham to short
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magnesian limestone grasslands with abundant bare ground. The moth comes freely to light, but
can be readily disturbed by day. There are no recent records for Durham and this workshop will
begin with a search of one of its old haunts, followed by surveys of other potential sites.
Thursday 5th August: East Yorks Chalk Carpet Workshop
Meet at 11.00 am, Wharram Quarry Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve (SE 858653),
between Wharram–le-Street and Wharram Percy. A joint event with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
The Chalk Carpet is a scarce moth, more or less confined in Yorkshire to short chalk grasslands
with abundant bare ground. The moth comes freely to light, but can be readily disturbed by day.
There are few recent records from the Yorkshire Wolds and this workshop will begin with a day
search of a known site, followed by surveys of other potential sites, including light trapping at
Flamborough Head.
In addition several Dingy Skipper workshops are being organized during May in
North East England. For further details please contact Dave Wainwright at the Regional Office.
Moth Records For Northumberland 2003 (VC 67 And 68)
Nicholas Cook, 85 Lonsdale Court, West Jesmond Avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2
3HF
Terry Coult has already reported that the MapMate database is now in use for moth recording in
Durham and Northumberland (Vasculum 88 (4)). I wish to thank the Northern branch of Butterfly
Conservation for providing the funds to purchase the software. It makes analysis of the records
very easy indeed.
There is one addition to my 2002 report (Vasculum 88 (1)). I took a Shuttle-shaped
Dart (Agrotis puta) in my Jesmond trap on 1 June 2002. However, it escaped before I could have
a good look at it to confirm its identity with certainty. Given the number of recent records now
received from Co. Durham (56 to date), I am happy that my initial identification was correct. This
is the first record for Northumberland since Allerwash in June 1996 (Vasculum 83 (3)).
I would like to draw attention to some early records during 2003: White Ermine
(Spilosoma lubricipeda) on 30 April, Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) on 5 June, Svensson’s
Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera) on 23 July, and Red Underwing (Catocala nupta) on 31
July. These were followed by a good showing of second brood moths that are normally only
single-brooded in Northumberland. The last recorded dates were: Turnip (Agrotis segetum) on 19
September, Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) on 28 September, and Light Emerald
(Campaea margaritata) on 8 October.
As usual, the notable records are presented in chronological order:
February
Oak Beauty
Biston strataria
Michael Greene took eight at Corbridge between 25
February and 24 March.
March
Pine Beauty
Panolis flammea
Roger Edwards had two at Belford on 26 March and 1 April.
Also from Corbridge on 6 April and 5 May.
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April
Red Sword-grass
Xylena vetusta
Corbridge on 14 April, and Belford on 23 April.
Muslin Moth
Diaphora medica
A good spread of records. Belford, 21 April; Rothbury, 28
April; Corbridge, 16 May; and Low Countess Park on 18
May.
May
Double-striped Pug
Gymnoscelis rufifasciata
Keilder on 2 May, and Rothbury on 16 July.
Ash Pug
Eupithecia fraxinata
Two at Low Countess Park on 18 May.
Grey Scalloped Bar
Dyscia fagaria
Corbridge on 18 May.
Miller
Acronicta leporina
Two at Forest Hall on 21 May; Whitley Bay on 1 June; and
15 June at Tynemouth.
Sallow Kitten
Furcula furcula
Low Countess Park on 22 May; and Breamish Caravan Site
(NU 052 169) on 10 August.
Scorched Wing
Plagodis dolabraria
Now appearing annually at Low Countess Park; 24 May and
22 June.
Striped Twin-spot Carpet
Nebula salicata
Keilder, 27 May.
Alder Moth
Acronicta alni
Tony Hopkins reports one from Hexham on 29 May. All
other Northumberland records have been from Allerwash, so
it is good to hear of a second locality.
June
Dark Sword-grass
Agrotis ipsilon
Marden Quarry on 5 June, and Jesmond on 19 June. Two
early dates for this migrant.
Little Emerald
Jodis lactearia
Michael Greene rediscovered a colony at Dipton Woods (NY
970 615) on 14 June. A dozen or so were flying.
Hummingbird Hawkmoth
Macroglossum stellatarum
Belford, 15 June; Rothbury, 2 July; Higham Dykes near
Ponteland, 10 July; Cramlington, 22 July; and Craster on 13
August.
Saxon
Hyppa rectilinea
Keilder, 18 June.
Buff Arches
Habrosyne pyritoides
Expanding rapidly on Tyneside with five records this year.
Forest Hall on 23 June and 3 July; Marden Quarry on 10
July; Whitley Bay on 11 July; and Tynemouth on 13 July
Marbled Coronet
Hadena confusa
Tom Tams had one at Tynemouth on 25 June.
Dingy Shell
Euchoeca nebulata
Shaun Hackett reports one from Wagtail Farm, Rothbury
(NU 073 007) on 28 June.
July
White Satin Moth
Leucoma salicis
One in Keith Regan’s trap at Whitley Bay on 6 July.
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Golden Plusia
Polychrysia moneta
Whitley Bay on 12 July, and Jesmond on 21 July. Only the
second and third recent records for Northumberland (see
Vasculum 85.4). This species appears to be retreating from
our counties
Common Footman
Eilema lurideola
Rothbury, 16 July.
Manchester Treble-Bar
Carsia sororiata
Rothbury, 16 July.
Blood-vein
Timandra comae
Keith Regan had two at Whitley Bay on 16 and 22 July.
Roger Edwards reports one from Berryburn, Ancroft (NU
001 452) on 20 July. The first records for Northumberland
since 1982.
Brown-tail
Euproctis chrysorrhoea
A very rare migrant to Northumberland. One at Whitley Bay
on 16 July. This is the first record since I took one at
Hauxley Nature Reserve in August 1991 (previously
unreported).
Yellow-tail
Euproctis similis
Three records from Whitley Bay; on 18, 21 and 22 July.
Wood Carpet
Epirrhoe rivata
Shaun Hackett had one at Harbottle (NT 926 048) on 22
July.
Dark Brocade
Blepharita adusta
In my trap in Jesmond on 22 and 25 July. Unusual to find it
so far away from upland localities.
Red Carpet
Xanthorhoe munitata
Kirkwhelpington on 23 July.
Double Lobed
Apamea ophiogramma
Jesmond on 25 July.
Barred Carpet
Perizoma taeniata
Joyce Keating had one in her trap at Kirkwhelpington on 26
July. Identification was confirmed by Phil Gould of
Rothamsted. This is the first record since 1975.
Great Brocade
Eurois occulta
At Whitley Bay on 28 July, and again on 13 September.
Least Yellow Underwing
Noctua interjecta
Continuing to expand its range. Whitley Bay on 30 July; and
three at Corbridge between 15 and 24 August.
Red Underwing
Catocala nupta
An impressive group of records since it was first recorded in
2002. One at a lit window at Seaton Burn House (NZ 248
735) on 31 July. Newly emerged, it ejected meconium when
boxed. A second at the same locality on 11 September.
Other records from Tynemouth on 17 September; and Forest
Hall in “late September”. Four in all.
Cinnabar
Tyria jacobaeae
Colin Jewitt found an inland colony of over fifty larvae at
Ladycross Quarry (NY 954 551) on 23 July. See Terry
Coult’s report in Vasculum 88(4).
August
Olive
Ipimorpha subtusa
Whitley Bay on 2 August
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Bulrush Wainscot
Nonagria typhae
Ford Moss (NT 965 375) on 2 August.
Ruddy Highflier
Hydriomena ruberata
Ford Moss on 2 and 10 August.
Anomalous
Stilbia anomala
Bill Monck had it at Ladycross Quarry on 8 and 27 August.
Roger Edwards had one at Belford on 6 September.
Toadflax Pug
Eupithecia linariata
Jesmond on 10 August and 15 September; and at Rothbury
(date unknown).
Death’s Head Hawkmoth
Acherontia atropos
Harry Eales reports one found in Felton in “mid-August”.
Convolvulus Hawkmoth
Agrius convolvuli
Jim Parrack had one at home at Seaton Sluice on 13 August.
Unfortunately he was beaten to it by his cat – who ate it!
Brindled Green
Dryobotodes eremita
Corbridge, 24 August
Butterbur
Hydraecia petasitis
Roger Edwards had four at Berryburn, Ancroft on 27
August.
September
Large Wainscot
Rhizedra lutosa
Belford, 7 September; and Seaton Burn, 15 October.
October
Blair’s Shoulder-Knot
Lithophane leautieri
Kirkwhelpington on 11 October. The most northern record
to date. Now common on Tyneside.
The Steak
Chesias legatella
Belford, 12 October; Corbridge, 20 November; and
Rothbury (date unknown).
Juniper Carpet
Thera juniperata
Joyce Keating had three at Kirkwhelpington between 18
October and 4 November. Also at Tynemouth on 7
November.
In October I moved from 31 Lyndhurst Avenue, Jesmond to the temporary address at the head of
this article (while waiting for a well-known builder to finish my new flat in Gateshead!). Would
recorders please note this new address for your 2004 records? Incidentally, my former Jesmond
trap attracted a total of 186 different species of macro-moths between 1995 and 2003. During
2003, I recorded a total of 113 different macro species from this small city centre garden. A full
record is available for MapMate users.
Chris Dodd (Forest Hall), Tony Hopkins (Hexham) and Tom Tams (Tynemouth)
have now been added to the list of regular trappers and recorders. I would like to thank them, and
the other recorders, for sending me their records. Also, thanks to Beverley Harper for converting
this article from long-hand script to computer format. Northumberland lost one trap during 2003;
David Kipling reports that the Keilder Village Rothamsted trap stopped operating on 1 July
because of a “health and safety” problem. There are now eight traps known to be operating
regularly in the County.
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Preternatural Plantain
Hewett A. Ellis, 16, Southlands, North Shields, Tyne &Wear NE30 2QS
Introduction
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata L, is widespread and abundant and is known
to be subject to several aberrations (Cragg-Barber, 1999). Occasionally plants are found with
abnormal flower spikes. The spike may remain straight or become bent and there are two or three
additional lobes at its base. Most field naturalists are familiar with this malformation. During the
2003 season I encountered several extreme examples in which the flower spikes were grossly
enlarged and misshapen due to the presence of numerous additional lobes, not only at the base,
but also over much of the surface. The purpose of this paper is to describe the malformation and
list the sites where it was found.
Description of malformation
The degree to which individual flower spikes were deformed was variable. In the
simplest forms there were generally two to four additional lobes at the base of the flower spikes.
Each abnormal lobe was smaller than a normal spike and measured from about 5mm up to 15mm
in length. In other respects they resembled normal flower spikes. Increasingly abnormal spikes
had additional lobes up the sides (Figures 1-4). In one instance a pair of abnormal lobes was
present about halfway along the spike and there were none at the base. In severe examples the
whole spike was enlarged, multilobulated and distorted. In these there were up to several dozen of
the abnormal lobes with additional lobules arising from them (Figure 4). Even in the marked
forms it was usually possible to identify the apex of the original spike (Figure 3).
The leaves and stems of the affected plants were normal and in particular none was
fasciated. The prominent and distorted flower heads surmounting normal stems could be seen
amongst grasses and other vegetation even at distances of several metres. Early in the season the
normal and abnormal components of the flower spikes appeared dark brown. Later, as the tiny
flowers formed, the stamens with their creamy-white anthers, appeared on the abnormal lobes as
well as on the exposed remains of the original main spike. (Figure 2). In a few instances later
examination revealed that at least some of the abnormal lobes were capable of forming seeds.
Records of malformed Plantain
The multilobulated flower spikes were found at seven different locations within six tetrads
in south-east Northumberland (VC 67). I have not sought the malformation elsewhere in the
county or in County Durham.
1. Bedlington, grassland near road bridge over River Blyth in Attlee Park, NZ 266 814.
25.v.2003. Only a few affected plants found, each with
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2. several abnormal flower spikes. Also 14.vi.2003 a further two plants noted, together
with twelve abnormal spikes.
3. Tynemouth estuary, grasslands near Collingwood Monument NZ 369 690. 3.vi.2003.
Three plants bearing abnormal spikes. Also nearby at edge of Priors Park NZ 371
691, 12.vi.2003 found a single abnormal plant with six malformed spikes.
4. Shiremoor, field near dismantled railway, south side of New York Road bridge, NZ
316 703.4.vi.2003. Four affected plants with five, three, three & two abnormal
flower spikes, respectively. Several abnormal lobes bore anthers.
5. Druridge Ponds, grassland, NZ 275 966. 7.vi.2003. Two abnormal plants each with
four malformed flower spikes.
6. Seaton Sluice, Hartley Links near Gloucester Lodge Farm, NZ 324 783. 8.vi.2003.
Single plant with two stems, each bearing an abnormal spike.
7. Wallsend, Rising Sun Country Park, side of 'The Hill', NZ 296 688. 9.vi.2003. Single
plant with only one stem bearing a flower spike with a pair of abnormal lobes arising
from its mid-third.
Discussion
Minor degrees of the malformation described here have been known for many years,
but the cause remains unknown. These abnormal flower spikes have attracted the attention of
naturalists interested in galls. The general consensus of opinion is that, in spite of statements to
the contrary (Darlington,1975; Amoore,1990), these are not true galls. Darlington (1975)
illustrated some examples and states there can be from one to six lateral extensions near the base
of the spike. He attributed the abnormality to the presence of larvae of the moth Tortrix paleana
which later pupated in the flower spike. In their classic work on the British Tortricoid moths,
Bradley, Tremewan, Smith & Hargreaves (1973) refer to Tortrix paleana under the name Aphelia
paleana (Hübner) and give the usual foodplant as various grasses (Gramineae) and state that
when Plantago is the host it is the leaves which are eaten. A. paleana is common and widespread
in North-east England (Dunn & Parrack, 1992) but I have not found its larvae in any of the
malformed Plantago flower spikes examined. The only species mentioned by Bradley,
Tremewan, Smith & Hargreaves (1973) which feeds on the flowers and ripening seed of Ribwort
Plantain is Falseuncaria degreyana (McLachlan). The presence of the larvae is not necessarily
associated with multilobulation of the flower spikes. This, together with the fact that F. degreyana
is rare in Britain and more or less confined to East Anglia (Bradley, Tremewan, Smith &
Hargreaves, 1973; Redfern, Shirley & Bloxham, 2002), makes it extremely unlikely that
infestation by Tortrix moth larvae is the
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primary cause of the malformation, and indeed Stubbs (1986) states that the moth T. paleana is
not responsible.
Darlington (1975) mentions that there might be associated abnormalities such as
fasciation and eelworm infestation and Amoore (1990) also states he has found lobed ('Three-
headed') plantain on fasciated stems. This association is presumably coincidental, however, since
none of the plants with multilobed flower spikes which I have seen has had fasciated stems. In my
experience the abnormal flower spikes have been present on every stem of isolated plants
growing amongst numerous normal plantains. This suggests the possibility that the underlying
cause is a genetic one. In the future it would be of interest to collect seed from some of these
multilobed flower spikes and grow them on to see what arises in subsequent generations.
References
Amoore,K.W. 1990. Fascinated by fasciation. Cecidology 5(2):55-57.
Bradley,J.D,, Tremewan,W.G., Smith,A. & Hargreaves,B. 1973, British Tortricoid Moths.
Cochylidae and Tortricidae:Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London.
Cragg-Barber,M. 1999. That millennium's odd, a celebration of Plantain aberrations. Cecidology
14(2);44.
Darlington, A. 1975. The Pocket Encyclopaedia of Plant Galls. Revised edition. Blandford Press,
Poole.
Dunn,T.C. & Parrack,J.D. 1992. The Moths and Butterflies of Northumberland and Durham. Part
Two:Microlepidoptera. The Vasculum. Supplement No.3 Northern Naturalist's Union, Houghton -
le-Spring.
Redfern,M., Shirley,P. & Bloxham,M. 2002. British Plant Galls. Identification of galls on plants
and fungi. Field Studies 10:207-531.
Stubbs,F.B. 1986. Provisional Keys to British Plant Galls, British Plant Gall Society.
13
New and Significant records of fungi from VC66, 2002-2003
Alan W Legg. 36, Carleton Drive, Darlington, DL3 9QP
Introduction
Rarely can weather conditions during two consecutive years have proved so inimical to the
fruiting of fleshy fungi as in 2002-3. Dry weather in April of both years meant very disappointing
displays of the larger spring fungi as well as poor fruiting of small ascomycetes on the previous
year's dead vegetation. The autumn of both years was likewise disappointing. Heavy rain during
early August of 2002 did ensure a short-lived crop of boletes and Amanitas. In 2003, by contrast,
even this relief was absent and, apart from a few interesting early agarics in upland areas in July,
the whole main season proved remarkably barren. Even the usually reliable species colonising
dead wood were inhibited to a considerable extent. Mycorrhizal species in particular, however,
rely on summer rain and most of them fail to fruit at all if suitable precipitation does not occur
before the end of September. By mid-October it is usually too late for such fungi although large
numbers of late-fruiting saprophytes will then often mask the dearth of mycorrhizals.
The lack of rainfall is probably responsible at least in part for the low numbers of new VC66
records made during the period in question. In contrast to a shortage of toadstools, however, plant
parasites seem to have done remarkably well in the dry conditions with some evidence of
extensive colonisation by species previously unencountered in the North East (see Legg, 2004). In
2000-1, for instance, only two powdery mildews were newly recorded in County Durham
whereas, in 2002-3, seven such fungi were noted.
Whatever the underlying causes, the following list contains details of only 73 species considered
newly-recorded for VC66. Eight other records of particular interest have also been included. The
encouraging trend of many of these fungi being found or collected by people other than the author
has continued. Nearly 25% of the records fall into that category compared with 20% in 2000-1.
Thanks for help with identification are due to Mr Alick Henrici, Prof. Bruce Ing, Dr. T.F.Preece,
Dr. E. Punithalingan, Dr. Peter Roberts, Dr. Brian Spooner and Dr. Peter Wilberforce. Records
with voucher material deposited at Kew are coded K. At least four figure National Grid
references have been given for each record. As previously, references to Darlington West
Cemetery have been given as DWC.
New and significant records
MYXOMYCOTA
Brefeldia maxima (Fr.) Rostaf. On trunk of living Ulmus, Hawthorn Dene; NZ243459 (coll.
H.A.EIlis); 13.x. 2001. Notified too late for inclusion in the last list (Legg, 2002) but see Ellis
(2002).
14
BASIDIOMYCOTA: AGARICALES, BOLETALES, CORTINARIALES
Amanita eliae Quél. Under Quercus, near Low Force; NY905279 (coll. K. Cunningham); 19. vii.
2003.
Boletus pulverulentus Opat. Under Quercus rubra, DWC; NZ2713; 19. viii. 2002.
Clitocybe costata Kühner & Romagnesi. By conifers, Bowlees; NY907285; 19.vii. 2003. Conf. A.
Henrici. K.
Clitocybe diatreta (Fr.) Kummer. By conifers, DWC; NZ2714; 04. xi. 2002
Coprinus congregatus (Bull.) Fr. On buried organic material, DWC; NZ2613; 24.x.2002.
Coprinus stellatus Bull. On horse dung, Hamsterley Forest, NZ093314; 06.xi.2002.
Cortinarius armillatus (Fr.) Fr. With Betula near Blanchland; NY9649 (coll. P. Manuel);
14.ix.2002.
Cystolepipota bucknallii (Berk. & Br.) Sing. & Clemençon. Amongst scrub vegetation on old
railway embankment. Castle Eden Walkway; NZ402246 (coll. R.M.Legg); 01.xi.2003. One recent
VC66 record from Castle Eden Dene.
Entoloma caccabus (Kühn) NoordeIoos. In damp soil by lake, Hardwick Hall Country Park;
NZ346288; 28.viii.2002. Det. A.Henrici. K.
Hohenbuehelia cyphelliformis (Berk.) O.K.Miller. On moribund Sambucus, Norman's Riding
Wood, Winlaton (coll. D.E.McCutcheon) NZ1660; 21.i.2003. Det. A.Henrici. K.
Inocybe obscura (Pers.) Gillet. Under Fagus, DWC; NZ2713; 25.viii.2002.
Inocybe sindonia (Fr.) Karst. With conifers, Hamsterley Forest; NZ0528; 06.viii.2003.
Melanoleuca adstringens (Pers.) Métrod. By Chamacyparis, DWC; NZ2713: 11.xi.2002.
Melanoleuca aIbifolia Boekhout. Amongst grass, DWC; NZ2714; 04.xi.02.
Mycena cinerella Karst. On disturbed ground, DWC; NZ2713; 13.x.2003. One old record from
Gibside.
Omphalina obscurata Reid. Gregarious on wet ground with mosses, site of old aerodrome, Urlay
Nook; NZ4014 (coll. M.Birtle); 11.v.2002.
Pluteus cf inquilinus Romagn. On woody debris under Tilia, Hardwick Hall Country Park,
Sedgefield; NZ3429; 28.viii.2002. Det. A.Henrici. K.
Psathyrella cf clivensis (Berk. & Br.) P.D.Orton. Gregarious amongst grass, DWC;NZ2614;
09.ix.2002.
Psilocybe cf bullacea (Bull.) Kummer. Gregarious on garden lawn, Darlington; NZ2713 (coll. E.
Elliot); 21.x.2003.
Psilocybe graminicola (P.D.Orton) P.D.Orton. Single amongst short grass with moss. Low Barns,
Witton-le-Wear; NZ1631; 04.viii.2002.
Psilocybe pratensis P.D.Orton. Disturbed area, DWC; NZ2613; 24.x.2002.
Tricholoma cingulatum (Almf.) Jacobasch. Gregarious by scrub willow on old railway
embankment, Castle Eden Walkway; NZ402252; 01.xi.2003. One earlier VC66 record, now
considered a possible misidentification.
15
Preternatural Plantain -Illustrations: Lateral views of four different abnormal Plantain
flower spikes.
Figure 1. Showing some of the nine abnormal additional lobes which were
at the base. Figure 2. Showing flowering of the main part of the flower spike and of the few additional abnormal lobes
present.
Figure 4. showing spike distorted by many additional
Figure 3. Showing numerous abnormal lobes at the spike base and sides. Apex of main spike is still visible.
16
Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus) at Harehope Quarry, Frosterley, 23 August, 2003
Old Lady (Mormo maura) at Harehope Quarry, Frosterley, 23 August, 2003
17
Plume Moth (Platyptilia pallidactyla ?) Seaton Carew dunes, Wednesday 25
th June
2003, Nartlepool Naturalists’ field meeting
Green Wood Cup (Chlorociboria aeruginascens), Thorpe Wood, Thorpe Thewles, 18
th October
2003
18
Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja), Lindisfarne, Thursday 15
th
August, 2002
Cortinarius armillatus, Baybridge, 14th
September 2002 2002
19
BASIDIOMYCOTA: APHYLLOPHORALES
Clavulinopsis umbrinella (Sacc.) Corner, now considered conspecific with C. cinereoides (Atk.)
Corner. Single in rich alluvial soil by Alnus, Winston; NZ1416; 28.ix.2002. Conf. P.J. Roberts. K.
Exobasidium japonicum Shirai. On garden Azalea, Croxdale, NZ268371 (coll/det. G. Simpson);
vii.2003.
Oxyporus obducens (Pers.) Donk. On fallen wood of Castanea, DWC; NZ2713; 18.xi.2002.
BASIDIOMYCOTA: TREMELLALES
Femsjonia pezizaeformis (Lév) P.Karst. On fallen Quercus branch, Hamsterley Forest; NZ094313
(coll. K. Cunningham); 09.xi.2002. Conf. P.J.Roberts. K.
BASIDIOMYCOTA: UREDINALES
Gymnosporangium cornutum Kern. On thin twigs of Juniperus communis, Pennington
Beechwood, Hamsterley Forest; NZ037275 (coll. G.Simpson); 14.v.2002.
Phragmidium fragrariae (DC.) Karst. On leaves of Potentilla sterilis, Hamsterley Forest;
NZ036293 (coll. G. Simpson); 14.v.2002. Only one recent VC66 record.
Phragmidium sanguisorbae (DC.) Schroet. On Poterium sanguisorba, Castle Eden Denemouth;
NZ4540 (coll. S. Robbins); 27.vii.2003. One recent VC66 record from Cassop Vale.
Puccinia chrysospleni Grev. Almost invisible on discoloured leaves of Chrysosplenum
oppositifolium, Gibson's Cave, Bowlees; NY900287 (coll. G. Simpson); 19.vii.2003. One recent
VC66 record from Castle Eden Dene.
Uromyces athyllidis Schroet. On leaves of Anthyllis vulneraria, Castle Eden Denemouth; NZ4540
(coll. S. Robbins); 27.vii.2003.
Uromyces trifolii (DC.) Lév. On leaves of Trifolium repens, garden of 36, Carleton Drive,
Darlington; NZ265148; 10.xi.2003. Strangely, only one earlier VC66 record found, from Upper
Weardale.
ASCOMYCOTA
Clypeococcum hypocenomycae D. Hawksw. On the lichen Hypocenomyce scalaris, Stanhope
plantation, NY8934 (coll. D.E.McCutcheon); 01.viii.2003. Det. T.F.Preece.
Cordyceps gracilis Mont. & Dur. On mummified lepidopteran larva in leaf-mould, Norman's
Riding Wood, Winlaton, NZ1660 (coll. D.E.McCutcheon; det. AWL); 28.v.2003.
Cryptodiscus rhopaloides Sacc. On hollow decort, twig of Sambucus, DWC; NZ2713; 18.i.2002.
Conf. P.Wilberforce.
Dennisiella babingtonii (Berk.) Bat. & Cif. On thick honeydew deposit on living leaf of
Ligustrum, Durham City riverbank, NZ272422; 16.vii.2003. Det. P.Wilberforce.
20
Diaporthe inaequalis (Currey) Nits. On dead stem of Ulex, site of former aerodrome, Urlay Nook;
NZ4014; 11.v.2002.
Dothidea cf puccinioides (DC.) Fr. On cut ends of old Buxus twigs, DWC; NZ2713; 10.ii.2002.
Dothidea sambucui (Pers.) Fr. Dead attached twig of moribund Sambucus, Mowden, Darlington;
NZ264153; 24.ii.2003.
Dothiora pyrenophora (Fr.) Fr. Fallen branches of Sorbus aucuparia. DWC; NZ2713:26.i.2003.
Erysiphe convovuli DC. On living leaves of Calystegia, DWC; NZ2714; 01.ix.2003.
Eutypella stellulata (Fr.) Sacc. Dead attached twig of Ulmus, Gainford Spa Wood; NZ163173;
27.iv.2003.
Heterosphaeria patella (Tode) Grev. Anamorph on dead stem of Angelica, Hamsterley Forest;
NZ065299; 2002. Strangely, only one earlier VC66 record, from Upper Teesdale.
Hydnotrya tulasnei (Berk.) Berk. & Br. Litter under oak, Norman's Riding Wood, Winlaton;
NZ1660 (coll. D.E.McCutcheon); 10.viii.2003. Det. AWL, confirmed A. Henrici. K. (Legg,
2003b).
Leucoscypha erminea (Bomm.& Rouss.) Bond. Scattered amongst decid. leaf litter and runners of
Luzula sylvatica, near Blanchland, NY964501 (coll. H.A.EIlis); 14.ix.2002, (Legg,2003a).
Microsphaera pseudacaciae (Marcz.) Braun. Conidiophores on living leaves of Robinia sapling,
DWC; NZ2714; 10.ix.2003.
Microsphaera symphoricarpi Howe. Cleistothecia on living leaves of Syrnphoricarpos,
Hummersknott, Darlington; NZ258145; 17.x.2003.
Mycosphaerella rhododendri Lindau. On leaf of Rhododendron ponticum. DWC; NZ2714;
24.v.2003.
Nectria pinea Dingley. At needle bases on lopped, rotting branches of Pinus sylvestris,
Hamsterley Forest; NZ068299; 24.iv.2002. Conf. B.M.Spooner.K.
Ophiovalsa corylina (Tul.) Petrak. On old Corylus wood, DWC; NZ2613; 16.v.2002.
Pezicula cinnamomea (DC.) Sacc. Cryptosporiopsis state on dead attached Quercus twig, Flatts
Wood, Barnard Castle; NZ0413; 23.i.2003.
Phyllactinia fraxini (DC.) Fuss. Cleistothecia on living leaves of Fraxinus, DWC; NZ2713; 25.ix
2003.
Rosellinia buxi Fabre. Geniculosporium state in old dead twig of Buxus. DWC; NZ2713;
11.xii.2002.
Sphaerotheca fuliginea. (Schlecht.) Poll. On living basal leaves of Veronica. DWC; NZ2714;
04.vi.2003.
Splanchnonema carpini auct. On dead attached twig of Carpinus, South Park, Darlington;
NZ290133; 17.vi.2003. Det. B.M.Spooner. Probably the first British record.
Stomiopeltis pinastri (Fuckel) v. Arx. On old fallen needles of Pinus sylvestris, Hamsterley
Forest; NZ068299; 24.iv.2002.
Uncinula adunca var. regularis (Zheng & Chen) U. Braun. On leaves of Salix caprea, DWC;
NZ2714; 13.x.2003.
Uncinula flexuosa Peck. Cleistothecia on moribund leaves of Aesculus carnea, DWC; NZ2714;
13.x.2003. Conf B.Ing. (Legg, 2004) .
Uncinula prunastri (DC.) Sacc. Cleistothecia on living leaves of Prunus spinosa, Bowlees, Upper
Teesdale; NY907284; 19.vii.2003.
21
Velutarina rufo-olivacea (Alb. & Schw.) Korf. On dead attached twigs of Pyrus salicifolia. DWC;
NZ2713; 26.i.2003. Conf. B.M.Spooner. K.
DEUTEROMYCOTINA: HYPHALES
Cercospora ferruginea Fuckel. On living leaves of Artemisia vulgaris . Castle Eden Denemouth;
NZ4540; 27.vii.2003.
Dictyosporium toruloides (Corda) Guegan. On bark of Sorbus aucuparia twig, DWC; NZ2714;
24.vi.2002. Also at the same site on dead culm of Arundinaria, 13. x.2003.
Helminthosporium foveolatum (Link) Hughes. On dead culm of Arundinaria, DWC; NZ2714;
13.x.2003.
Hormiactella asetosa Hol.-Jech. On needle bases of lopped twigs of Pinus sylvestris, Hamsterley
Forest; NZ068299; 24.iv.2002. Conf. B.M.Spooner. K.
Oidium ericinum Erikss. On living leaves of Rhododendron ponticum, DWC; NZ2714; 10. ix.
2003.
Polycephalomyces ovalisporum auct. On indet. myxomycete on rotten wood, near Blanchland;
NY9649 (coll. G.Simpson); 14.xi.2002.
Ramularia aequivoca (Ces.) Sacc. On leaves of Ranunculus repens, DWC; NZ2714; 25.viii.2003.
Ramularia sphaeroidea Sacc. On living leaves of Lotus corniculatus, Hamsterley Forest;
NZ0527; 15.viii.2002.
Trichocladium opacum (Corda) Hughes. Around peeling bark on log of Fagus, Baydale,
Darlington; NZ259144; 19.ix.2002.
DEUTEROMYCOTINA: COELOMYCETES
Discogloeum veronicae (Lib.) Petrak. On basal leaves of Veronica in field of Brassica napus,
Summerhouse near Darlington; NZ2020; 13.v.2003.
Macrodiplodia ulmi Sacc. On dead attached twig of Ulmus, DWC; NZ2713; 20.ii.2003. Det. E.
Punithalingan. K.
Phoma epitricha. Sacc. On dead Equisetum, near Winston, NZ1417; 23.iii.2003.
Phoma libertiana Speg. & Roum. On thin dead Larix twig, Bowlees, NY9028; 23.iv.2003.
Phoma syringae (Fr.) Sacc. On dead attached twigs of Syringa vulgaris. DWC; NZ2714;
03.iii.2003.
Phomopsis controversa (Sacc.) Traverso. Moribund twigs of Fraxinus. DWC; NZ2714;
03.iii.2003.
Pyrenochaete ilicis Wilson. Erumpent from fallen Ilex leaves, DWC; NZ2714; 08.iv.2002.
Seimatosporium macrospermum (Berk. & Br.) Sutton. On fallen branch of ?Ulmus. DWC;
NZ2714; 03.iii.2003. Conf. E.Punithalingan. K.
Stagonospora calystegiae (West) Grove. On moribund leaves of Calystegia. Southend Ave.,
Darlington; NZ288146; 15.x.2002.
Tuberbercularia sp. Fallen Cedrus branch, DWC; NZ2713; 26.i.2003.
Vouauxiella lichenicola (Linds.) Petrak & Sydow. On the lichen Lecanora chlarotera, Allensford
picnic area near Stanhope; NZ0850 (coll. D.E.McCutcheon); 23.vii.2003. Det. T.F.Preece.
22
ZYGOMYCOTINA
Peronospora arborescens (Berk.) Casp. On fading leaves of Meconopsis. DWC; NZ2713;
04.vi.2003.
References
Ellis, H.A., 2002. Brefeldia maxima (Fr.) Rostaf., the largest known species of Myxomycete in
the world, in Hawthorn Dene, County Durham (VC66). The Vasculum 87(1): 3.
Legg, A.W., 2002. New and significant records of fungi from VC66, 2000-2001. The Vasculum
87(1); 8-13.
Legg, A.W., 2003a. Leucoscypha erminea (Bomm. & Rouss.) Boud. an uncommon discomycete
found near Blanchland. The Vasculum 88(1); 31.
Legg, A.W., 2003b. Hydnotrya tulasnei (Berk.) Berk. & Br. Helvellaceae, a Truffle newly
recorded for County Durham (VC66). The Vasculum 88(3): 12
Legg, A.W., 2004. The American Horse Chestnut mildew reaches County Durham. The Vasculum
88(4): 5.
23
OBITUARY
David Green, 21st May 1950 - 15th January 2004
The tragic news that naturalist and wildlife artist David Green of Darlington had been shot dead
in India has instilled a feeling of tremendous sadness in his many friends that someone who had
such an interest in, and affinity with, all aspects of natural history and a respect for all living
organisms should have had his own life taken away so cruelly. Living his life by Buddhist
principles it was no exaggeration to say that Dave would not hurt a fly or, indeed, any organism
that might inflict pain on human beings through their bite or sting.
We know from his own job applications and from tales that his mother told that, even
at a very young age, Dave had always had a fascination with natural history and used the
coalbunker at home to house his pet midwife toad and jars of minibeasts. Years later he worked at
Whipsnade Zoo where he particularly enjoyed looking after the bears and later he went on to art
college at Middlesborough. In 1977 he started work on a Job Creation scheme with Durham
County Conservation Trust as Publications Officer; it was at this time that many naturalists and
conservationists first came to know him as someone who, whilst immensely modest, had terrific
abilities in the fields of natural history and illustration. Over the next three decades he was widely
used as an illustrator of books, perhaps most famously on several occasions by David Bellamy,
together with other publications and became involved in a variety of conservation projects. With
John Durkin and Brian Banks he set up the Durham Reptile and Amphibian Group and in 1983 he
was re-engaged by the Trust, this time on a Community Programme scheme, to undertake a
survey of great crested newt sites in the vice-county of Durham. His report, plus the re-surveys
that he undertook in 2001 and 2002, has always been considered the authoritative work on this
subject. Amongst the ponds which he surveyed on four different occasions were Coxhoe Ponds
where the northern cutting pond was threatened by an opencast planning application which went
to appeal last year. Dave's records became a key component of the County Council's evidence at
the planning inquiry last summer and it was a cause of some personal sadness that, as he was in
India at the time that it was learnt that the Appeal had been dismissed, Dave had never known that
his work had contributed to this conservation success.
For the last three years of his life he was actively engaged in a great crested newt
translocation scheme for Northumbrian Water at Broken Scar in Darlington. This took up much of
his time in the early summer but, when the work was completed, this would free up his time to go
camping at Ravenscar in North Yorkshire where, as in India, he was most happy and in tune with
his surroundings.
As Dave did not drive, feeling that to do so would pose a threat to smaller forms of
life, I regularly provided transport for pond survey work which he carried out for the County
Council. Although we often had a busy itinerary, imposed by my own time pressures, these visits
were both informative and inspirational for me in recording plant and animal life together. As
well as surveying freshwater sites Dave had an excellent knowledge of organisms of other
habitats and carried out many most detailed and meticulous surveys of a wide variety of sites. His
recent study of the track bed of the old Stockton and
24
Darlington Railway was something of a personal crusade to try and see the site conserved. Other
projects carried out equally thoroughly included surveys of Cleveland Street in Darlington, an
area of rich grassland at the Snipe in Newton Aycliffe and the Cleveland Coast. He also produced
a number of botanical identification keys with the very neatest of presentation and became
interested in some perhaps surprising genera including bindweeds and cedars. On several
occasions he had articles, illustrated by himself, published in the magazine British Wildlife.
At Dave's funeral on February 2nd seven black poplars which had been grown from
cuttings by Cliff Evans were planted at a wonderfully inclusive green burial service at
Skerningham Manor Farm to the north of Darlington. The reception afterwards provided the
opportunity to look at some of his incredible pictures and written reports which both display that
hallmark of meticulous attention to detail. It was perhaps only then that some of us fully realised
the vast amount he had achieved in his life but without ever appearing rushed. Living simply, and
without many of the trappings of modern life, Dave was both immensely well-liked and respected
and also demonstrated how it is still possible to be in tune with natural surroundings on even the
smallest scale. His article on tree rot-holes written for the Trust Bulletin in September 1989 was
typical of his interest in a micro-environment that many of us might easily overlook. In terms of
real connections with nature and treading softly upon the earth he was an inspiration to us all.
Julie Stobbs
Notes and Records
Spiders
Meta menardi
Males and Females and egg sacs in large numbers in the culvert over Smallhope Burn, Lanchester
in 2003.
Gerry White, Garry Bell, Michael Mann.
Shield Bugs
On the 12th of October 2003 I took a pair of shield bugs on Durham Wildlife Trust's Malton
Nature Reserve of a species I had not seen before. Harry Eales kindly identified them for me as
Picromerus bidens, the Two Spined Shield Bug and provided the following historical
information.
Bold, T.J. 1872. Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland and
Durham records specimens "in Mr Hancocks collection".
Harry found two specimens without data in the Bold collection which were possibly
the same as the above as none could be found in the Hancock collection.
The species is mentioned by Massee, A. M. 1945 as being found in Northumberland
but it appears that Massee took his data from Bold's list so little help there.
It appears then that the two specimens from Malton are the first verifiable records
from County Durham.
Terry Coult
Conservation Manager
25
Field Meeting 249 27th July.(Sunday).11a.m. Castle Eden Dene. NZ428393. Leader Steve
Robbins
Members of the British Plant Gall Society and the Northern Naturalists’ Union met at Oakerside
Lodge, Peterlee, to explore and record the plant galls in Castle Eden Dene National Nature
Reserve. The reserve is managed by English Nature.
The walk followed the path down into the Dene, through the gorge, over Dungy and
Garden of Eden bridges crossing the Horden to Hartlepool road to Denemouth. Here the party
explored the coastal cliffs on both sides of the Denemouth before making their way back to
Oakerside Lodge.
It was a rewarding outing with nearly 80 plant galls recorded. These were caused by
various insects and fungi. Some of these were unusual, for example Aceria geranii on Geramium
sanguineum. This is found in large numbers on the Bloody Geranium from late July onwards.
Another gall species was Taphrina alni on Alnus glutinosa growing east of the railway arches. It
has only been recorded in the area in the last few years. Another unusual species was Phanacis
hypochoeridis on Hypochaeris radicola. The stem galls being very distinctive on many plants in
the coastal section of the Dene.
Below are some of the other galls seen. (Fungi inducing galls are not included as
these were listed in the field report that appeared in the Vasculum 88(3) submitted by Alan Legg.)
Names are those that appear in ‘British Plant Galls’ by M. Redfern and Peter Shirley,
2003).
Plant Galls
Acer pseudoplantanus Sycamore
Aceria pseudoplatani on several leaves
Aceria macrorhynchus on several leaves in dene
Achillea ptarmica Sneezewort
Rhopalomyia ptarmicae Found on plants on the coastal cliff on
Blackhall side.
Ajuga repens Bugle
Myzus ajugae Seen on plants near the Garden of Eden
Bridge
Alnus glutinosa Alder
Eriophyes laevis seen on tree near the railway arches.
Artemesia vulgaris Mugwort
Paroxyna misella several plants on the coastal section
affected.
Betula pendula Birch
Aculus leionotus near the Garden of Eden Bridge.
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Phyllocoptes goniothorax on several plants
Fagus sylvatica Beech
Acalitus stenaspis several leaves affected in the Dene west of
the coast road.
26
Aceria nervisequus On many leaves in the same area.
Aceria fagineus On same trees as above.
Hartigiola annulipes Close to the Oakerdene center.
Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet
Dasineura ulmaria Often seen
Dasineura pustulans Affecting many plants
Fraxinus excelsior Ash
Dasineura fraxini Often seen.
Psyllopsis fraxini On many leaves.
Dasineura fraxinea On many leaves.
Galium aparine Goosegrass
Dasineura aparines Found near Oakerside center
Cecidophyes galii On many plants
Geranium sanguineum Bloody Geranium
Aceria geranii many found on the coastal section.
Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy
Rondaniola bursaria On many leaves.
Hieracium
Noeeta pupillata Found on the Blackhall coast cliff side.
Hypochaeris Cat’s Ear
Phanacis hypochoeridis Affecting plants along the coast.
Knautia arvensis Field Scabious
Trioza munda Affecting plants along the coast.
Prunus Sloe
Eriophyes similes Common
Prunus padus Bird Cherry
Eriophyes padi many leaves heavily affected on plants
near Dungy bridge.
Pteridium aquilinum Bracken
Chirosia grossicaula seen in the Dene.
Dasineura filicina Found in the coastal area.
Quercus Oak
Neuroterus numismalis on trees near the coast road.
Neuroterus quercusbaccarum in same area
Cynips divisa in the same area.
Trioza remota In the same area on several leaves.
Ribes alpinum Mountain Currant
Cryptomyzus korschelti near Oakerdene Centre
Rosa Rose
Diplolepis rosae On Blackhall coast side at Denemouth.
Diplolepis eglaneriae on many plants in dene
Blennocampa phyllocolpa In Dene
Wachtliella rosarum In Dene.
Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble
Dasineura plicatrix In coastal area.
Salix spp. Willow
Iteomyia caprea on many plants in the Dene.
Rabdophaga cinerearum In dene.
27
Pontania pedunculi In Dene.
Pontania gallarum in middle Dene
Sambucus nigra Elder
Epitrimerus trilobus near Oakerdene Lodge
Senecio jacobaea Ragwort
Contarinia jacobeae On coast on Blackhall side.
Tilia cordata Small Leaved Lime
Aceria lateannulatus Affecting a tree in the Dene.
Phytoptus tertratrichus Affecting many leaves on same plant.
Trifolium repens White Clover
Dasineura trifolii near railway arch.
Ulmus glabra Wych Elm
Eriosoma patchiae Near Oakerside Lodge.
Urtica dioica Nettle
Dasineura urticae In Dene.
Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell.
Jaapiella veronicae Many plants affected.
Vicia sepium Bush Vetch
Dasineura viciae On several plants
Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch
Aculus retiolatus On several plants.
28
Butterfly Conservation, Priority Moth Species 2004
Terry Coult, Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton le Spring, Tyne
and Wear, DH4 6PU.
Butterfly Conservation is seeking information on the status and distribution of a number of
scarce/rare moth species. In the northeast the target species are Argent and Sable (Rheumapter
hastata), Chalk Carpet (Scotopteryx bipunctaria) and Dark Bordered Beauty (Epione
vespertaria). I have added Least Minor (Photedes captiuncula) as it is recorded from sites in
common with Chalk Carpet.
I have included all records for each species as a guide to where to look, flight times
can be found from field guides but I have included local dates to guide search times. Where
possible I have made my best guess suggested search areas and where I know it, contact details
for access. Please make sure that if you look for these moths you do not trespass, upset
landowners (including multiple phone calls), destroy or degrade habitat or contribute in any way
to a decline in moth numbers. A number of sites are open access and several have public rights of
way. Some sites such as Newham Fen/Bog have no public access please respect this restriction.
29
Some of the suggested search sites are SSSIs and certain actions are prohibited.
Including the removal of any specimens from the site and any trampling which may damage the
ground flora. All specimens must therefore be released at point of capture immediately after
identification and searchers should keep to the footpaths. As a general rule, because these species
are so rare, no specimens should be collected or removed from any site, proof of identification if
needed should be by photograph only.
Suggested search techniques
All of these species can be found by daytime searches of their habitat, with Dark Bordered Beauty
also coming to light traps.
Argent and Sable, search small birch (Betula sp) saplings in sunny locations, on warm sunny days
for this day flying species.
Chalk Carpet, search exposed south facing rock faces on warm sunny days for this day flying
species.
Least Minor, watch for it in flight on warm sunny days in the same areas as Chalk Carpet.
Dark Bordered Beauty, disturbed from creeping willow (Salix repens) and other willow species
during the day. Light trapping, it comes to light late at night and in the early morning.
Records
I would appreciate a record of negative searches as well as positive it helps to understand how
much effort is being made to find these species. All positive records should be submitted for
inclusion in the moth database for Northumberland and Durham.
30
Durham Taxon Vernacular Site Gridref VC Date Recorder Suggested
search site
Epione
vespertaria
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
Middleton
Quarries
NY945245 65 13
Aug
1976
Ian Findlay Middleton
Quarries
Rheumaptera
hastata
Argent and
Sable
Hoppyland NZ0932 66 1846 Rev. E.
Blenkinsopp
Knitsley Fell
Rheumaptera
hastata
Argent and
Sable
Witton le Wear
Nature Reserve
NZ1631 66 13
Jul
1997
Birtle, Dr M. Low Barns
Nature Reserve
Rheumaptera
hastata
Argent and
Sable
BLANCHLAND NY9650 66 12
Jul
1930
Unknown
Scotopteryx
bipunctaria
cretata
Chalk Carpet Bishop
Middleham
Quarry
NZ3332 66 1954 Heslop-
Harrison,
Prof
Bishop
Middleham
Quarry
Scotopteryx
bipunctaria
cretata
Chalk Carpet Cassop NZ3438 66 14
Jul
1956
N.N.U. Cassop Vale
NNR
Scotopteryx
bipunctaria
cretata
Chalk Carpet Wingate Quarry NZ3737 66 09
Aug
1978
Sheppard, Dr
D.
Wingate Quarry
Scotopteryx
bipunctaria cretata
Chalk Carpet Fulwell Quarry
Sunderland
NZ3860 66 1966 N.N.U. Fulwell Quarry
Sunderland
Scotopteryx bipunctaria
cretata
Chalk Carpet Hawthorn Dene NZ4345 66 19 Jul
1930
N.N.U. Hawthorn Hive
Scotopteryx
bipunctaria
cretata
Chalk Carpet Beacon Point NZ443455 66 03
Aug
1977
Sheppard, Dr
D.
Beacon Point
Scotopteryx
bipunctaria
cretata
Chalk Carpet Easington Coast NZ4443 66 18
Jul
1925
N.N.U.
Scotopteryx
bipunctaria
cretata
Chalk Carpet Blackhall Rocks NZ4738 66 07
Jul
1933
Heslop-
Harrison,
Prof
Blackhall Rocks
Scotopteryx
bipunctaria
cretata
Chalk Carpet Hawthorn Dene NZ4245 66 1978 Unknown Hawthorn Hive
Scotopteryx
bipunctaria
cretata
Chalk Carpet Seaham Bay NZ4349 66 1977 Unknown
Scotopteryx
bipunctaria
cretata
Chalk Carpet Hawthorn Hive NZ4446 66 03
Aug
1954
Tom Dunn Hawthorn Hive
Photedes
captiuncula
Least Minor Bishop
Middleham
Quarry
NZ3332 66 02
Jul
1989
Woods, Mr
R.
BISHOP
MIDDLEHAM
QUARRY
Photedes
captiuncula
Least Minor Blackhall Rocks NZ4738 66 1982 Unknown Blackhall Rocks
Photedes
captiuncula
Least Minor Sherburn Hill NZ346419 66 1945 Unknown Sherburn hill
Photedes
captiuncula
Least Minor Thrislington
Plantation
NZ3132 66 1982 Unknown
31
Northumberland Taxon Vernacular Site Gridref VC Date Recorder Suggested
search site
Epione
vespertaria
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
Newham Bog NU1728 68 06 Aug
1925
Unknown Newham
Bog
Epione
vespertaria
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
Newham Bog NU1728 68 22 Jul
1964
Long, A.G. Newham
Bog
Epione
vespertaria
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
Newham Bog NU1728 68 01 Aug
1998
Cook, Mr N. Newham
Bog
Epione
vespertaria
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
Newham Bog NU1728 68 1985 Unknown Newham
Bog
Epione
vespertaria
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
Newham Bog NU1728 68 28.7.87 Nick Cook Newham
Bog
Epione
vespertaria
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
Redpath and
Fallowlees
NZ0092 67 30 Jul
1952
Heslop-Harrison,
Prof Captured
female amongst Salix aurita,
NZ028937
Fallowlees
SSSI
Epione
vespertaria
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
Newham Bog NU1728 68 26 Jul
1983
PARRACK, Dr
J.D.
Newham
Bog
Epione
vespertaria
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
Learmouth Bog NT867376 68 1863 Lamb Mr English
Strother
Bog
Epione
vespertaria
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
Newham Bog NU1728 68 29 Aug
1890
BOLAM, Mr G. Newham
Bog
Epione
vespertaria
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
Kirkwhelpington NY998845 67 8.8.96 Joyce Keating
Rheumaptera
hastata
Argent and
Sable
Detchant Wood NU070370 68 1928 BOLAM, Mr G.
On west side of
wood where moor
is fringed with bog
myrtle.
Holburn
Moss
Rheumaptera
hastata
Argent and
Sable
Hepburn Bell NU054240 68 1928 BOLAM, Mr G. Hepburn
Bell
Rheumaptera
hastata
Argent and
Sable
Hexham NY9363 67 1928 Maling W
Rheumaptera
hastata
Argent and
Sable
Dipton Woods NY970615 67 1985 Unknown
Rheumaptera
hastata
Argent and
Sable
Dipton Woods NY970615 67 22 Sep
1956
Heslop-Harrison,
Prof
Photedes
captiuncula
Least Minor Arcot Hall NZ2475 67 1985 Tim Melling
Photedes
captiuncula
Least Minor Newton Links NU2424 68 1960 Unknown Newton
Links
32
Suggested search sites, priority moth species 2004.
Name Species Grid Ref Access Landowner Contact details Telephone
No.
Fallowlees
Burn,
Harwood
Forest,
Fallowlees
SSSI.
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
NZ032937 Public footpath,
private land, SSSI
Forestry
Commission,
National Trust,
Northumbrian
Water
FC. Jonathon
Farries, NT.
Warden Richard
Dickinson, NT
tenant farmer
Geoff Paxton,
NW
RD.
01670773604
Middleton
Quarries
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
NY945245 Arrange through
Sam Ellis at
Butt.con.
Strathmore Estates
Newham Bog Dark
Bordered
Beauty
NU1728 None English Nature,
closed NNR
Sarah Cole, EN.
Stocksfield
01661845500
Fulwell
Quarry
Chalk
Carpet
NZ3859 Open access LNR
Beacon Point Chalk
Carpet
NZ443455 Public footpath,
private land
National Trust NT. Dennis
Rooney
01915279190
Cassop Vale Chalk Carpet
NZ3438 Public footpath, private land,
NNR, SSSI
English Nature, NNR
EN. John Hope 01915860004
Sherburn Hill Chalk
Carpet
NZ346419 Public footpath,
private land, SSSI
Peter Gibson,
Sherburn Farm,
Sherburn, DH6
1HB
Dave Mitchell,
English Nature,
Peter Gibson
DM
01661845500
Dipton Woods Argent
and Sable
NY9660 Public Footpath FC
Holburn Moss Argent
and Sable
NU050364 Via
Northumberland
Wildlife Trust,
public footpath
Northumberland
Wildlife Trust
Duncan Hutt 01912846884
Knitsley Fell Argent
and Sable
NZ096346 Public footpath,
private land,
common
Three private
landowners.
Gamekeeper
Michael Gibson,
Head Keeper Sep
Fawcett
English
Strother Bog
Dark
Bordered
Beauty
NT867376 Private land J. Hayward J. Hayward,
Flodden Farm,
East Learmouth.
Low Barns Argent
and Sable
NZ1631 Footpaths only Durham Wildlife
Trust
Mark Richardson 01915843112
Blackhall
Rocks
Chalk
Carpet
NZ4738 Footpaths only Durham Wildlife
Trust
Mark Richardson 01915843112
Hawthorn
Hive
Chalk
Carpet
NZ4446 Footpaths only,
dangerous site
Durham Wildlife
Trust
Mark Richardson 01915843112
Thrislington
Plantation
Least
Minor
NZ3132 NNR, SSSI,
public footpath
English Nature John Hope 01915860004
Wingate
Quarry
Chalk
Carpet
NZ3737 Open access,
LNR, SSSI
Durham County
Council
THE VASCULUM
The Vasculum is a quarterly journal concerned with the Natural History of North-East England.
Founded in 1915 as a privately-published concern, since 1942 it has been the published organ of
the Northern Naturalists' Union. Any contribution on the Flora, Fauna and Geology of
Northumberland and Durham will be considered for inclusion. Short notes as well as longer
articles and simple records all fall within the scope of the journal. Space is also available for
secretaries of local societies to record their transactions and announce future meetings.
For preferred style, and particularly for the method of citing references, will contributors please
refer to previous issues. At least a four-figure grid reference should be supplied when referring to
sites.
Contributions are accepted on paper, computer disc, or e-mail: the address for
contributions is given on the front cover of this issue.
THE NORTHERN NATURALISTS' UNION
The Northern Naturalists' Union (NNU) was founded in 1924 to promote co-operation between
natural history societies, and to collect and collate local records. Membership currently stands at
around 200.
The NNU publishes The Vasculum, and several past publications included a series of
Transactions published between 1931 and 1953 and three separately published supplements to
The Vasculum: Sources of Information on the Natural History of County Durham (1972) and
parts I and II of T.C. Dunn & J.D. Parrack's The Moths and Butterflies of Northumberland and
Durham (1986 & 1992).
The NNU organises a series of field meetings each year, and arranges a speaker for an Annual
Invited Lecture, hosted by one of the constituent societies in November. An Annual General
Meeting of the NNU is held in March, and is addressed by a guest speaker.
The field meetings serve a dual purpose. First, the informal exchange of knowledge between
members and their guests, and secondly the recording of the flora and fauna of the sites visited.
Lists of the species seen during field meetings are published in The Vasculum. Subscriptions
Subscriptions are due on 1st January. Subscriptions are £7.00 for individuals, £9.00 for
societies/libraries and should be sent to
Northern Naturalists’ Union, C/o Office Administrator, Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton
Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6PU
1
THE VASCULUM
Vol. 89, No 2 June 2004
Subscription Reminder
Subscriptions were due on 1st January. Many thanks to those that have paid. Subscriptions
are £7.00 for individuals, £9.00 for societies/libraries and should be sent to-
Northern Naturalists’ Union, C/o Office Administrator, Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton
Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6PU
Seeking Past Volumes of the Vasculum
Dr. Hedley on 01434 605450, e-mail [email protected] is seeking back volumes 22
to 25 inclusive and 37 to the present. Original copies are required rather than facsimiles. He has
two spare continuous runs from vols.1 to 21, preferably for exchange.
New Reptiles and Amphibians Recorder
I have taken up the position as Reptile and Amphibian Recorder and I will accept records from all
the northern counties of England and adjacent Scottish ones for all native species. I will of course
be concentrating on our own vice counties but any others will be interesting, especially where the
reptiles are concerned. As many of you will be aware, on the continent many oviparous species
are found much further north than our position. I am also interested in recording alien species and
any old records however old or anecdotal.
Lee Stephenson,
12, Gainsborough Rd.,
Grindon Village,
Sunderland.
SR4 8HU.
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens,
0191 5532323.
2
Dates for your Diary
Field Meeting 256 July 24th 2.00 pm Fallowlees Leader: Nick Cook
Meet at Greenleighton Quarry car park (NZ 034 914) off the B6342 near the Rothley crossroads.
This will require a round trip walk of about 4 miles.
Field Meeting 257 August 21st 12.30 pm Whitburn. Leader Phil Gates. NZ 409 613
Members are advised to wear wellies so they can wade at the lowest tide level, where the most
interesting stuff will be-hagfish, lumpsuckers, several species of starfish, some nice sea slugs, and
even squat lobsters found here at various times in the past. There are often quite large numbers of
wading birds on the rocks and sometimes a few interesting plants on the eroded low cliffs at the
top of the beach too. Something for almost everyone, with an ice-cream van within easy reach.
Clear polythene bags are good for temporary collecting. Members should be warned that the rocks
can be slippery.
There's a car park at the north end of Whitburn Beach, where the sand runs out, that's
very convenient for Whitburn Rocks (especially if we have to dash for cover in the rain), but it is
sometimes quite full if the weather is good. I suggest we meet there, next to the ice cream kiosk.
If this car park is full there is also a lot of car parking space behind the big supermarket
(Morrisons) on the sea front, five minutes walk away.
Field Meeting 258 August 29th. 11.00 am. Hawthorn Dene. GR NZ423459 Leader: Steve
Robbins
Meet at car park. Joint meeting with members of the Plant Gall Society.
Field Meeting 259 September 11th Briar Dene Woods
Meet at 11 am at Plankey Mill NY795 621. Park in the field at the road end to the east of the
River Allen. Parking fee is £2.00. We will cross over a bridge to the west side of the River Allen.
The tracks are steep, slippery and on a rough hillside. Briarwood Banks is a Northumberland
Wildlife Trust reserve of mixed broadleaved trees on National Trust land. Joint meeting with
members of the North East Fungi Study Group.
.
Field Meeting 260 October 16th 11.00 am. Great High Wood, Durham
Meet at Durham Botanical Gardens. Joint meeting with members of the North East Fungi Study
Group.
3
Corrections
The following are amendments to the article New and Significant Records of Fungi from VC66,
2002-2003, from Vasculum 89:1 p.20.
The record of Dothidea cf puccinioides should be cancelled and that of D. sambuci revised as
probably Pseudothyridaria insitiva auct. The latter was kindly identified from submitted
specimens collected close to the original, by Dr. Roy Anderson of the Queens University, Belfast,
who has himself found similar material on Sambucus. Dr. Anderson also kindly provided good
specimens of Dothidea puccinioides which he had collected from its usual host, Ulex europaeus.
This was clearly different from the Darlington material tentatively identified as Dothidea cf
puccinioides.
The collection date of Phyllactinia fraxini should be 25.ix.2002 rather than 2003-an error missed
in proof reading.
The collection of Splanchnonema carpini from Carpinus is now known to be the second rather
than the first British record. I quote from an unpublished note by Alick Henrici (March 2004).
“Durham 2003 (Legg) was thought to be the first British record and Kew Gardens 2004 the
second. But an 1860 collection by Broome, now in Kew, labeled “Sphaeria sp. on Carpinus” with
accompanying spore drawings, is clearly this species. It was undescribed at the time.”
I am very grateful to Roy Anderson and Alick Henrici for providing information used above.
Alan Legg, April 2004
Notes and Records
Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis
On 28th June 2004 I was surveying wildlife in Countess Wood to the west of
Catcleugh Reservoir for the Forestry Commission before the clearfelled site was restocked. In the
morning I found a species of moth that I had never seen before. The moth was resting on Heath
Rush Juncus squarrosus on a ride at NT722034. In the afternoon I found another specimen
resting on grass, again on a ride, at NT721027.
On 1st July I spent a day with Shaun Hackett in Harwood Forest. Shaun spotted a
black moth flying past him and it alighted in the grass. After a long search we found yet another
specimen of the Red-necked Footman close to Fallowlees Burn at NY991930.
Gordon Simpson
4
Two rare fungi found on leaves of Gagea lutea (L.) Ker-Gawl in VC66
Alan W.Legg, 36 Carleton Drive, Darlington, DL3 9QP
One of the most northerly strongholds of Gagea lutea, the Yellow Star of Bethlehem, in eastern
England is on the VC66 bank of the River Tees in its middle reaches. The plant has been recorded
there since the later years of the Eighteenth Century. Records exist for the Wear valley at
Stanhope but the latest of these appears to be from the early years of the Twentieth Century
(Graham, 1988). During an informal survey of known sites on the northern Tees bank, carried out
in the early spring of 2004, by members of the Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists' Field Club,
records were made of two rare fungi not previously known from County Durham, the Rust,
Uromyces gageae and the Smut, Urocystis ornithogali. both of which colonise only living leaves
of Gagea lutea. During the Twentieth Century, W.G.Bramley collected both of these fungi in
Yorkshire (VC63 and VC64), and most of the existing herbarium material consists of his
collections.
Two leaves with telia of Uromyces gageae were collected from plants growing on the riverbank
just east of the disused railway bridge near Selaby (NZ158173) on March 21st 2004. Three and a
half weeks later, on April 14th 2004, a single leaf with sori of Urocystis ornithogali was collected
from the verge between a riverside path and an arable field near Low Coniscliffe (NZ242133).
Both specimens were pressed and dried and sent to Dr. Brian Spooner, Chief Mycologist at Kew,
who replied by return commenting on the paucity of material in the Kew herbarium. It contained
no specimen on Uromyces gageae dating from later than 1961 and none of Urocystis ornithogali
from later than 1956. The new specimens are accessed at Kew as K(M) 122082 and K(M) 122083
respectively. These two fungi, whose rarity obviously stems from the scarcity of the host plant,
are both newly-recorded for VC66, though it seems likely that both have been present there since
long before Gagea lutea was itself scientifically named and recorded.
References
Bramley, W.G., 1985. A Fungus Flora of Yorkshire. Leeds: Y.N.U.
Graham, G.G., The Flora and Vegetation of County Durham. Durham:
Durham County Conservation Trust.
5
Observations on the agamic (knopper) gall of Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf) and its
inquilines and parasitoid in Gosforth Park Nature Reserve
Hewett A. Ellis, 16, Southlands, Tynemouth, NE30 2QS
Introduction
The large ridged knopper galls (Figure 1.) produced by the cynipid Andricus quercuscalicis
(Burgsdorf, 1783) on the acorn cups of Pedunculated Oak Quercus robur L. are now a familiar
sight in Britain as far north as Alnwick in Northumberland. This has not always been the case.
Although known on the continent for several hundred years (Schönrogge, Stone &
Crawley,1995), the first British record, in Northamptonshire, was relatively recent (Claridge,
1962). A.quercuscalicis has an obligate host alternation with a sexual generation on the male
flowers of Turkey Oak Quercus cerris L. as well as the better known agamic generation on Q.
robur. The native range of Q. cerris is restricted to southern and eastern Europe and in Britain it
is an introduced species which has become naturalised. A. quercuscalicis is one of several gall
wasps of the Andricus genus to exploit this newly-available host and spread beyond its natural
range from the continent (Schönrogge, Walker & Crawley, 1988). The others are A.corruptrix
Schlechtendal), A. lignicolor (Hartig) and A. kollari. (Hartig).
During the last few decades there has been much interest in the spread of A. quercuscalicis
northwards from the south and east of England (Schönrogge, Stone &
Crawley,1995;1996a;1996b; Schönrogge, Walker & Crawley, 1998;2000) and in Ireland
(Schönrogge, Walker & Crawley, 1994), and particularly in the degree to which our native
cynipid inquilines and chalcid parasitoids have come to exploit this new host resource.
The cynipid inquilines develop within the outer gall wall and do not interfere with the A.
quercuscalicis larva inside the inner gall. The various species of chalcid parasitoids have the
potential to attack both these inquilines and the A. quercuscalicis larva. There was an interval of
several decades following the discovery of knopper galls in Britain before inquilines and
parasitoids were identified. Initially the incidence of parasitism of A. quercuscalicis was very low
in the British population and cynipid inquilines and their chalcid parasitoids were seldom found
(Hails, Askew & Notton,1990).
The situation changed dramatically during the 1990's and the cynipid inquiline Synergus
gallaepomiformis (Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1832) became widespread in sites in South-east
England and East Anglia and to a lesser extent further north in mid-England. The increase in
inquilines was associated with an increased number of chalcid parasitoids which attacked them,
notably Mesopolobus sericeus (Förster) (Pteromalidae). Although most of the parasitoids had
attacked inquiline larvae, there was also an increase in the attack rate of A. quercuscalicis, mainly
by Sycophila biguttata, (Swederus) (Eurytomidae) and Mesopolobus amaenus (Walker)
(Schönrogge, Stone & Crawley,1996a; Schönrogge, Walker & Crawley,2000). It appeared that as
A. quercuscalicis had extended its range and abundance northwards and become established, so
there had been an increase in the numbers of the various inquilines and parasitoid species.
Schönrogge (pers. comm.,2001) collected knopper galls from as far north as Alnwick in
Northumberland (VC68), where they were free from parasitoids. The northernmost location
where inquilines and parasitoids were found (Schönrogge, Walker & C
6
rawley, 2000) seems to have been Tatton Park (near Knutsford south-west of Manchester) which
is approximately 188 Km south of Newcastle upon Tyne. For a list of parasitoids currently
known to be associated with knopper galls see Randolph (2003).
It is not known how long knopper galls have occurred in North-east England. Simpson (1993)
reported seeing them at two locations in Darlington, County Durham (VC66) in September 1990
and November 1992. I first became aware of knopper galls in North-east England in 1993 during
a NNU Field Meeting on 21st August to The Hermitage, Chester-le-Street, County Durham. In
the same year I noted the galls in Northumberland (VC67) in Plessey Woods, Hartford Bridge on
27th August and in Holywell Dene near Holywell on 30th September (Ellis, 1994). Since virtually
nothing is known of the inquilines and parasitoids of knopper galls as far north as
Northumberland, I decided to collect samples of the galls from local sites and rear them to
determine which, if any, are present. Over the last few years I have reared knopper galls from
several locations. The present paper describes the results of observations made on galls collected
from Gosforth Park Nature Reserve, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Materials and Methods
105 knopper galls were collected from the ground beneath Q. robur in Gosforth Park Nature
Reserve (VC 67; Grid Reference: NZ 258 702) between February 2000 and March 2002 (Table
1.) The mature first calendar year galls collected in the autumns of 2000 and 2001 were green and
'sticky'; those second calendar year galls collected in the springs of 2000 and 2002 were brown
and more 'woody'. The galls were generally kept in individual transparent containers in an
unheated room. However, in the case of collection 26/2000 the galls were opened and the inner
galls removed and reared separately. The galls were examined at intervals for the presence of any
emerging insects, and, over the period of emergence, were checked daily.
Measurements were made of the height and width of each gall. The diameters of exit holes of A.
quercuscalicis in the inner galls and of inquilines and parasitoids in the outer gall walls were
measured using a Peak Scale Lupe 10X (which allows readings to 0.1mm). Galls were observed
over periods of from two to four years until March 2004, that is, to their third to fifth calendar
years. All galls were dissected at some time to reveal the inner gall and any unemerged insects.
Comparisons of the mean values of the various groups of data have been made using the Student's
“t” Test. Means are stated as Mean ± Standard Error (S.E.)
7
Results
A. Insects reared
1. A. quercuscalicis.
A live adult A. quercuscalicis was reared from 70 (66.7%) of the 105 galls. Of these 29 (41.4%)
emerged as expected in the early spring of the second calendar year between 21st January and 7th
March. 35 (50.0%) did not emerge until a year later between 30th January and 10th February and
6 (8.6%) after a further year in diapause on 27th January of the fourth calendar year. Of the 35
galls from which A. quercuscalicis failed to emerge, in 4 the base and inner gall were missing at
the time of collection, presumed eaten by small rodents. On dissection of the remaining galls there
was a normal exit hole of an emerging A. quercuscalicis in the inner gall of 16 indicating an adult
A. quercuscalicis had emerged before the galls were collected. (15 of these were from spring
collections at the time when A. quercuscalicis was known to be emerging). In 2 there was a dead
adult A. quercuscalicis trapped in the inner gall and in 1 a dead pupa. ln a gall with a stenosed
outlet there was a dead adult trapped in the main chamber. In 4 there was a live A. quercuscalicis
larva undergoing prolonged diapause in the inner chamber. In 6 galls the inner gall had been
damaged and was filled by frass; in 2 of these the Tortricoid moth larva was found and one reared
to the adult was identified as Pammene fasciana L. which had behaved as a lethal inquiline (Ellis,
2001). The final gall had an intact chamber filled by a gray substance, the nature of which was not
apparent.
Overall, there was direct or indirect evidence of an adult A. quercuscalicis in 89 (84.8%) of the
105 galls and no evidence of a parasitoid attacking the gall-inducer was found. After emerging A.
quercuscalicis survived from 8 to 19 (Mean 15 ± 2) days.
Times of emergence in ‘pairs' of galls
Sometimes there was more than one gall on the same stalk. 'Pairs' of galls were one of three types;
i. two galls arising on the same stalk but not especially close,
ii. two galls in contact but arising from two contiguous acorns and
iii. two galls arising from a single acorn.
The times of emergence of A. quercuscalicis from each of these 'pairs' were sometimes different
even when arising from a single acorn. Thus in four such 'pairs' the A. quercuscalicis of one gall
emerged as expected in the spring of the second calendar year whereas its partner did not emerge
until one or even two years later (Table2.)
2. Cynipid inquiline.
Only one species of cynipid inquiline S. gallaepomiformis was reared from 29 (33 %) of the 88
galls in which the outer gall was reared. There were 106 S. gallaepomiformis (51 males, 55
females) with an overall mean infestation rate of 1.20 per gall. Individual galls generally
contained from 1 to 10 S. gallaepomiformis (Mean 3.7 per gall), but 28 were reared from a pair of
galls arising on a single acorn. There was considerable variation in the numbers of S.
gallaepomiformis reared from each of the three collections (Table 3.). The
8
emergence period of S. gallaepomiformis extended from 11th April to 1st June, although the
majority emerged between 25th April and 15th May. The times for emerging males and females
were very similar although a greater proportion (52.0%) of females than of males (27.9%)
emerged after 8th May.
3. Parasitoid.
Only one species of chalcid parasitoid, Mesopolobus sericeus, was obtained from the galls (Table
4). A total of 29 M. sericeus was reared from 15 of the 88 galls. There were from 1 to 4 (Mean
1.9±0.2) parasitoids per gall. All had been derived from the outer gall wall where they had
attacked the S. gallaepomiformis larvae. None had attacked the gall causer larva since an adult A.
quercuscalicis was accounted for in 13 of the affected galls and in the other two the inner gall had
been missing at the time of collection. There were 14 male and 12 female M. sericeus and 3 were
unsexed. They emerged between 6th February and 11th April. Males commenced emerging
before females on 6th February and continued to emerge until 31st March. Females began to
emerge on 4th March and continued to appear after the males had ceased, until 11th April.
4.Inquiline and parasitoid attack rates.
The number of S. gallaepomiformis reared does not equate with that for the number originally
present since those attacked by the parasitoid will have failed to survive. Since Mesopolobus
sericeus is a solitary parasitoid which attacks only the inquiline, then an estimate of the original
population of S. gallaepomiformis may be made by combining the numbers of emerging
inquilines and parasitoids. This is known as the 'Inquiline attack rate' in distinction from the
'Inquiline infestation rate' which refers to the inquilines which actually emerge from the galls.
(Strictly, a more accurate way to determine the initial number of S. gallaepomiformis is to dissect
the mature galls in autumn and determine the number of S. gallaepomiformis larvae present). In
the present study 88 galls gave rise to 106 S. gallaepomiformis and 29 M. sericeus and the
estimated original S. gallaepomiformis population is 135 giving an 'Inquiline attack rate' of 1.53
per gall. The proportion of the initial S. gallaepomiformis population attacked by M. sericeus is
21.5%. In the case of the 15 galls parasitised by M. sericeus the proportion of the initial
population of S. gallaepomiformis attacked varied between individual galls from 23% to 100%
(Mean 50.9%). The data for the three collections are summarised in Table 5. There did not appear
to be any relationship between the initial numbers of S. gallaepomiformis in a gall and the
likelihood of parasitism by M. sericeus. Thus in 15 galls which were parasitised the initial
population of S. gallaepomiformis comprised 57 with 1 to 13 (Mean 3.8) per gall, in comparison
with 18 non-parasitised galls with a total of 78 S. gallaepomiformis and 1 to 14 (Mean 4.3) per
gall (Comparison of Means P>0.10)
9
B.Gall measurements.
(i) Height and width. There was considerable variation in gall sizes. The height and width of 102
galls were measured. The results are given in Tables 6 & 7. The mean width exceeded the mean
height in all four collections and this difference is significant (P<0.001). The ratio width/height
exceeded 1.0 in the majority (80.4%) of the galls (Table 7.).
(ii) Size of exit hole in inner gall (attributable to A. quercuscalicis). The diameter of the exit hole
at one pole of the inner gall of 52 galls was derived from the mean of two diameters measured at
right angles. The mean diameter varied from 1.60 - 2.55mm (Mean ±S.E= 2.0 ± 0.3mm, S.D.=
0.23).
(iii) Size of exit holes in outer gall wall (attributable to S. gallaepomiformis and M.sericeus).
The exit holes measured in 49 instances varied from 0.4mm-1.0mm in diameter (Mean ±S.E.=
0.70 ± 0.03mm, S.D.= 0.18). In those galls with only S. gallaepomiformis or M.sericeus emerging
it was possible to relate the hole size to the species. In general the smaller holes measuring 0.4 -
0.6mm were made by M.sericeus and the larger holes by S. gallaepomiformis, but there was an
overlap since some S. gallaepomiformis were smaller than average.
(iv) Comparison of the sizes of galls with and without S. gallaepomiformis. There were
considerable variations in height and particularly in width of individual galls in both these groups
but the mean values for the height and width of galls attacked were greater than the corresponding
values for unattacked galls and this difference is significant for height (P<0.02) but not for width
(P>0.05). (Table 8).
Discussion
Gosforth Park Nature Reserve, occupying approximately 60 hectares is situated 4Km north of the
centre of Newcastle upon Tyne and includes a mature mixed plantation woodland component
originating in the mid-19th Century (Mitchell & Baker ,2000). Both species of oak Q. robur and
Q. cerris, necessary to support the agamic and sexual populations of A.quercuscalicis are present.
It is not known how long A.quercuscalicis has been in the reserve; I first became aware of it there
in October 1998.
The Gall and A. quercuscalicis
Although the anatomical features of knopper galls are well known it is worthwhile mentioning
one phenomenon that has received little attention, namely, variation in size of the aperture from
the main chamber. Occasionally the outlet fails to develop normally and is extremely narrow
(stenosed) or completely blocked and the adult A. quercuscalicis is trapped within the gall's main
chamber, where it eventually dies. In the present study two A. quercuscalicis had overcome this
problem by 'eating' their way through the main gall wall; one through the full thickness, the other
through the gall base where the wall is very thin. These exit holes in the outer gall wall are readily
10
distinguishable from those of inquilines or parasitoids by their significantly (P<0.001) greater size
(corresponding to that of the inner gall exit hole) and the fact that they extend through the full
thickness of the outer wall, whereas the smaller holes of inquilines and parasitoids lead to cavities
within the outer wall where their larvae have developed (Fig.1D). On one occasion I found a live
adult A.quercuscalicis trapped in the main chamber of an obstructed gall which was opened at the
time other A. quercuscalicis were emerging.
The lack of a base and inner gall in four galls was probably the result of predation by a small
rodent, the galls having overwintered on the ground before collection (Notton,1990).
The maximum number of galls arising from a single acorn was three in the present collections.
Others have reported up to eight galls on a single acorn (Schönrogge, Walker & Crawley,1994).
The sizes and shapes of knopper galls are variable, the width generally exceeding the height. At
other sites in some seasons I have noted occasional galls which are very much reduced in height
and with a prominent basal rosette of ridges as described by Phillips (1986). Schönrogge, Stone &
Crawley (1996b) measured galls obtained from sites throughout southern Britain, Ireland and
Continental Europe and found that the average height was greater in the south of the region than
in the north, and wider in the east than in the west.
Parasitoids attacking and destroying A. quercuscalicis larvae early in their development might
interfere with further gall growth (Schönrogge, Stone & Crawley,1996b). The presence of the
inquiline S. gallaepomiformis and/or its parasitoid M. sericeus is less likely to be associated with
changes in gall size or shape. Very occasionally I have noticed there is a localised small bulge in
the outer gall wall to indicate the presence of an underlying inquiline, but generally S.
gallaepomiformis or M. sericeus emerged at a point indistinguishable from any other on the gall
surface. Theoretically, the presence of S. gallaepomiformis could be associated with galls of a
certain type, either, because the ovipositing inquiline is attracted to galls of a particular size or
shape or, because their presence inhibits or stimulates gall growth. In the Gosforth Park
collections comparison of the values for the mean height and mean width of galls with and
without S. gallaepomiformis and/or M. sericeus revealed that the mean height and mean width
were greater in the galls with inquilines/parasitoids. Although the difference was statistically
significant in the case of height, the biological significance of this difference is uncertain since
some individual small galls had been attacked by S. gallaepomiformis and it is clear that small
size alone offers no protection against inquiline attack.
The timing of the collection of galls, in autumn or spring, had no influence on the time of
emergence of A. quercuscalicis. This is reassuring in that it indicates that rearing the galls in
captivity overwinter had no obvious untoward effect in comparison with overwintering amongst
the leaf litter in the wild. The A. quercuscalicis adults emerged in the spring about the same time
whether in
11
their second calendar year or after a delayed diapause, in their third or fourth calendar years. The
second calendar year galls emerged between 21st January and 7th March, a period strikingly
similar to that reported by Randolph (2003) in Bristol for galls reared during 2000-2002, namely,
20th January to 3rd March. After a year delayed diapause the Gosforth Park A. quercuscalicis
emerged between 30th January and 11th February and Randolph reported corresponding dates of
6th January to 5th March. The prolonged follow-up of galls in the present study has revealed that
diapause may be extended even further to the fourth calendar year. My experience is not in
keeping with the view expressed by Schönrogge, Stone & Crawley (1996a) that prolonged
diapause of A. quercuscalicis is unusual in British knopper galls. Extension of the length of
diapause has been reported for other Andricus species, for example, A. kollari Entwistle,1995).
It is generally assumed that an individual female A. quercuscalicis of the sexual generation lays
ova which give rise to larvae with a fixed diapause of several months; from the autumn of the first
calendar year to the following spring. From the present and other (Randoloph, 2003) studies it is
now clear that in Britain diapause is commonly extended for a further one or two years. The
staggered emergence of adult A. quercuscalicis from one season's galls, has a distinct survival
value for the species, enabling it to offset the untoward effects of any fluctuations in the annual
numbers of available host acorns. Prolonged diapause is not simply explicable on the grounds of
climatic conditions which prevail here in North-east England since it has been reported in Bristol
(Latitude 510 27’ North) which is 398 Km south of Newcastle upon Tyne (Latitude 550 2’ North).
It is unknown whether this staggering of diapause is achieved because in one season there are
different sexual females each laying ova giving rise to larvae with a particular predetermined
diapause or, whether there are some females capable of laying a mixture of ova which give rise to
different types of larvae; some of which have a 'normal' diapause whilst in others diapause is
prolonged for one or two years.
In this context the present observations made on paired galls are of interest. A. quercuscalicis did
not always emerge in the same spring from both galls of a pair even when these arose from a
single acorn. It seems likely that a pair of galls on a single acorn have been induced by larvae
from ova deposited by one female.
If this is the case then that female must have been capable of laying ova which gave rise to larvae
with predetermined different diapauses. This variability might reside in the ovum itself or be
derived from the male sperm at the time of mating. It is remotely possible that a female mates
with more than one male and the ova are fertilised with different sperm each with its own
particular diapause determinant.
Inquilines
There are four species of cynipid inquiline of the Synergus genus which have been reported to
attack knopper galls. These are S. pallicornis Hartig, S. gallaepomiformis (Boyer de
Fonscolombe), S. umbraculus (Olivier) and S.
12
nervosus Hartig (Hails, Askew & Notton, 1990; Schönrogge, Stone & Crawley, 1996a&b;
Schönrogge.& Crawley, 2000; Schönrogge, Walker & Crawley, 2000; Randolph, 2003). Of these
S. gallaepomiformis is now by far the commonest and most widespread. In the late 1980’s
inquiline attack rates were very low in Britain (less than 0.01 per gall) but had increased more
than twenty-fold by 1993 (Schönrogge, Stone & Crawley, 1996a&b). The increase in inquiline
numbers was most marked (values exceeding 1.0 per gall) in collections of galls made in South-
eastern England and East Anglia where A. quercuscalicis had been established and most abundant
for the longest period of time.
The geographical variation in frequency of S.gallaepomiformis is illustrated by the observations
of Schönrogge, Walker & Crawley (2000), who in 1994 recorded the numbers emerging from
knopper galls collected at four sites in Britain. Two of these, Silwood Park near Ascot and
Puttenham are in southern England where the S. gallaepomiformis infestation rates were 2.78 per
gall and 7.16 per gall, respectively. In contrast in the northernmost location at Tatton Park (near
Knutsford south-west of Manchester) there were only 0.02 per gall. Two other inquilines, S.
nervosus and S. umbraculus were found at Silwood only and in extremely small numbers.
More recently Randolph (2003) has reported the results of rearing knopper galls collected in
2001-2002 in Bristol. Apart from a single S. nervosus (0.008 per gall) the only inquiline emerging
was S. gallaepomiformis. The numbers of S. gallaepomiformis varied between several Bristol
sites over consecutive seasons, the mean infestation rates ranging from 1.08 per gall to 11.0 per
gall. In contrast, earlier in 1988, Rowlands (quoted by Hails, Askew & Notton, 1990) did not find
any S. gallaepomiformis in a large collection of 21,000 galls in Devon. It appears that in the last
decade S. gallaepomiformis has become a significant inquiline of knopper galls in southern
Britain west of its former stronghold in South-east England and East Anglia. My data show that S.
gallaepomiformis now also commonly attacks knopper galls much further north than was
formerly recognised. Tatton Park, the most northerly site in the studies by Schönrogge, Walker &
Crawley, (2000), is situated at Latitude 530 20' North, 187 Km south of Gosforth Park at Latitude
550 1' 44" North. The Gosforth Park S. gallaepomiformis mean infestation rate for 1999-2001 was
1.20 per gall in comparison with the Tatton Park 1994 rate of 0.02 per gall. Presumably current
infestation rates are higher in Tatton Park.
The times S. gallaepomiformis emerge from knopper galls differ in the reported studies. The
generally accepted view is that S. gallaepomiformis has two distinct broods, one in spring, the
other in summer (Eady &Quinlan, 1963). S. gallaepomiformis emerging in early spring would
need an intermediate host, whereas any emerging in summer could breed continuously utilising
only knopper galls. Schönrogge, Stone & Crawley (1996a) reported that in 1991 S.
gallaepomiformis began to emerge, from galls collected in Britain and Ireland, in early July and
50 per cent of the total emerged over the following two weeks, the last individual emerging by
mid-August. In 1992 emergence commenced three weeks earlier in May, 50 per cent had emerged
by the end of July and emergence continued till mid-August as in 1991. More
13
recently Randolph (2003) reported that in Bristol during 2000-2002 S. gallaepomiformis emerged
from knopper galls between 25th May and 13th June and that 99 per cent had emerged by 7th
July. Although this is earlier than reported by Schönrogge, Stone & Crawley (1996a), my data
indicate there is an even earlier emergence of S. gallaepomiformis from knopper galls in North-
east England. In Gosforth Park S. gallaepomiformis began to emerge on 11th April and the last
individual appeared on 1st June, 91.4 per cent emerging between 25th April and 17th May.
This marked difference in emergence dates may be explained by differences in the conditions to
which the galls were exposed in captivity in the several studies but there is at least one other
possible theoretical explanation. There was a delay of several decades before knopper galls were
attacked by S. gallaepomiformis even in South-eastern England where native S. gallaepomiformis
was already well-established and abundant utilising numerous other hosts such as the galls of
Biorhiza pallida (Olivier), Andricus curvator Hartig, A. kollari, Neurotus quercusbaccarum (L.)
and Trigonaspis megaptera (Panzer). It seems that the native S. gallaepomiformis required a
prolonged period of adaptation before it could exploit the new host. An alternate hypothesis
(Schönrogge, Stone & Crawley,1996a) is that the time-lag was due to the delayed arrival of a
continental strain of S. gallaepomiformis already accustomed to attack knopper galls and with a
late emergence period, the latter permitting the inquiline to avoid the use of other hosts to survive
from one year to the next. The early emergence observed in North-east England suggests the
possibly that here it is the native strain of S. gallaepomiformis which attacks knopper galls and
uses an additional host, whereas in southern England it is the continental strain which attacks
knopper galls and emerges later in the summer, thus avoiding the need for a second host.
The presence of the lethal inquiline Pammene fasciana in some galls at Gosforth Park (Ellis,2001)
is interesting. As far as I am aware there are no other published records of this micromoth larva
affecting knopper galls in Britain. A related species, Pammene amygdalana (Duponchel), has
been found as a lethal inquiline of knopper galls in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and
Italy but not Britain (Schönrogge, Stone &Crawley,1995).
Parasitoids
Up to the time of the report by Hails, Askew & Notton (1990) rates of parasitism of the gall
causer A. quercuscalicis were low. Since then the list of different species of parasitoids has
increased and rates of attack are now higher. For example, the frequency of Sycophila biguttata,
the commonest species, has increased tenfold (from 0.004 per gall to 0.05 per gall) (Schönrogge,
Stone & Crawley,1996a). There are still geographical differences however since at Gosforth Park
and at several other sites in North-east England to date I have not encountered a single parasitoid
attacking A. quercuscalicis and Randolph (2003) did not find any parasitoids which solely attack
A. quercuscalicis in rearings in Bristol. Much of the recruitment of new parasitoid species to the
knopper gall insect community or
14
guild in Britain is attributable to the dramatic increase in attack rates by inquilines (particularly S.
gallaepomiformis), the larvae of which provide a host for a variety of additional chalcid
parasitoids. The Gosforth Park and Bristol parasitoids belonged entirely to this category.
The present study has established that S. gallaepomiformis is now a significant inquiline of
knopper galls in the North-east and that its larvae have attracted the attention of the chalcid
parasitoid M. sericeus. To obtain some idea of the abundance of the Gosforth Park populations of
inquilines and parasitoids in comparison with those further south it is useful to consider the recent
data for the Bristol region for 2001-2002 (Randolph, 2003). These latter collections were made
from parkland sites within the city of Bristol which is about 398 Km south and 109Km west of
Newcastle upon Tyne. The most obvious difference is that only one chalcid parasitoid species, M.
sericeus, was reared in Gosforth Park whereas in Bristol there were six different species. Also in
Bristol 31.5 per cent of galls were parasitised compared with only 17.0 per cent in Gosforth Park.
However the mean number of M. sericeus per gall was higher in Gosforth Park (0.33 per gall)
than in Bristol (0.19 per gall). This apparent paradox is explained by the fact that M. sericeus in
the Bristol knopper gall population has been supplanted from its position as the dominant
parasitoid by the chalcid Cecidostiba fungosa (Geoffroy)and combining data for M. sericeus and
C. fungosa gives a value of 1.5 parasitoids per gall, almost fivefold the Gosforth Park value.
C. fungosa appears to have been first reported in Britain by Schönrogge, Walker & Crawley
(2000) in 1994 at Silwood Park, where already it was one of the dominant parasitoid species at
3.2 per gall compared with M. sericeus 0.8 per gall. C. fungosa was subsequentally reported from
knopper galls in Kent (Jennings, 2002). It will be interesting to carry out further observations on
the knopper gall population in Gosforth Park and elsewhere here in the North-east in a few years
time to ascertain whether there has been an increase in the number of different parasitoid species.
In particular to determine whether there is then any evidence that C. fungosa is supplanting M.
sericeus in North-east England as it has done in parts of South-east England and more recently in
South-west England.
Acknowledgements
I wish to thank Dr R.R. Askew for his continued help and for confirming the identities of
Synergus gallaepomiformis and Mesopolobus sericeus. I am indebted to Kevin R. Tuck of The
Natural History Museum, London for confirming the identity of Pammene fasciana and to
Karsten Schönrogge for providing copies of his published papers.
References
Claridge,M.F. 1962. Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf) in Britain (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae).
The Entomologist 95:60-61.
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Eady,R.D. & Quinlan,J. 1963. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Vol.VIII Part
1(a) Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea. Royal Entomological Society, London.
Ellis, H.A. 1994. Some records of plant galls. The Vasculum 78(4) :73.
Ellis, H.A. 2001. The larva of Pammene fasciana L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) as a lethal
inquiline of the agamic gall of Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf). Cecidology 16 (2):84-86.
Entwistle, P.F. 1995. Prolongation of the agamic stage of Andricus kollari (Hartig)
(Hymenoptera:Cynipidae) in the North of Scotland. Cecidology 10 (1):46-51.
Hails,R.S., Askew. R.R. & Notton, D.G., 1990. The parasitoids and inquilines of the agamic
generation of Andricus quercuscalicis (Hym.;Cynipidae) in Britain. The Entomologist 109
(3):165-172.
Jennings, M. 2002. Cecidostiba fungosa (Geoffroy) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae).A new
association with the agamic generation of Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf) (Hymenoptera:
Cynipidae) in Britain. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 15 (1): 23.
Mitchell, D.N. & Baker,J.A. 2000. The vegetation of Gosforth Park Nature Reserve. Transactions
of the Natural History Society of Northumbria 60:74-100.
Notton, D.G. 1990. Predation of the knopper gall Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf)
(Hym.,Cynipidae).Cecidology 5 (2):63-64.
Phillips, R.M. 1986. Abnormal knopper galls. Cecidology 1 (2):26.
Randolph, S. 2003. Parasitism by Cecidostiba fungosa (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on the
inquiline Synergus gallaepomiformis and observations on other community members of the
agamic (knopper) galls of Andricus quercuscalicis in the Bristol area. Cecidology 18 (2):42-50.
Schönrogge, K. & Crawley, M.J. 2000. Quantitative webs as a means of assessing the impact of
alien insects. Journal of Animal Ecology 69:841-868.
Schönrogge, K., Stone, G.N. & Crawley, M.J. 1995. Spatial and temporal variation in guild
structure: parasitoids and inquilines of Andricus quercuscalicis (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in its
native and alien ranges. Oikos 72:51-60.
Schönrogge,K., Stone,G.N. & Crawley,M.J. 1996a. Alien herbivores and native parasitoids: rapid
developments and structure of the parasitoid and inquiline complex in an invading gall wasp
Andricus quercuscalicis (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). Ecological Entomology 21:71-80.
Schönrogge,K., Stone,G.N. & Crawley,M.J. 1996b. Abundance patterns and species richness of
the parasitoids and inquilines of the alien gall-former Andricus quercuscalicis (Hymenoptera:
Cynipidae). Oikos 77:507-518.
Schönrogge,K., Walker, P. & Crawley, M.J. 1994. The distribution and abundance of alien, host-
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Schönrogge, K., Walker, P. & Crawley, M.J. 2000. Parasitoid and inquiline attack in the galls of
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Simpson, G. 1993. Some records of insects and fungi. The Vasculum 78 (1):8.
Collection reference Number of galls Gall season and
age(cy)
Date of collection
1. 9/2000 10 1999 (2nd) 11.ii.2000
2. 26/2000 17 2000 (1st) 28.ix.2000
3. 20/2001 49 2001 (1st) 30.x.2001
4. 22/2002 29 2001 (2nd) 2.iii.2002
Table 1. Dates of collection, numbers and age of 105 knopper galls from Gosforth Park
Nature Reserve, (cy)-calendar year.
Gall Reference Date A. quercuscalicis emerged
Pair on same acorn Pair on two acorns
9/2000 a(i) 7.iii.2000 (2nd cy)
a(ii) Spring 2000
26/2000 ii(a) 8.ii.2002 (2nd cy)
ii(b) 8.ii.2002 (2nd cy)
iii(a) 30.i.2002 (2nd cy)
iii(b) 5.ii.2002 (2nd cy)
iv(a) 30.i.2002 (2nd cy)
iv(b) 30.i.2002 (2nd cy)
vi(a) 30.i.2002 (2nd cy)
vi(b) 30.i.2002 (2nd cy)
20/2001 2(a) 21.i.2002 (2nd cy)
2(b) 9.ii.2003 (3rd cy)
3(a) 21.i.2002 (2nd cy)
3(b) 22.i.2002 (2nd cy)
9(a) 21.i.2002 (2nd cy)
9(b) 6.ii.2002 (2nd cy)
12(a) 23.i.2002 (2nd cy)
12 (b) 27.i.2002 (2nd cy)
13(a) 26.i.2002 (2nd cy)
13(b) 27.i.2004 (4th cy)
14(a) 28.i.2002 (2nd cy)
14(b) 27.i.2004 (4th cy)
15(a) 29.i.2002 (2nd cy)
15(b) 27.i.2004 (4th cy)
22/2002 x(a) 9.ii.2003 (3rd cy)
x(b) dead in inner gall
xii(a) 3.iii.2002 (2nd cy)
xii(b) 3.iii.2002 (2nd cy)
Table 2. Dates of emerging A.quercuscalicis from 14 'pairs’ of galls including 10 ‘pairs'
arising from single acorns. Cy= calendar year
17
Gall collection reference
9/2000 20/2001 22/2002 Combined
Total number of galls 10 49 29 88
Galls with S.
gallaepomiformis
(percentage)
0
(-)
19
(38.8)
10
(34.5)
29
(33.0)
Number of S.
gallaepomiformis
(Male and Female)
(-)
(-)
65
(29M & 36F)
41
(22M & 19 F)
106
(51M &55F)
Infestation Rate (no.
per gall)
0 1.33 1.41 1.20
Table 3. Numbers of the inquiline S. gallaepomiformis reared from three collections of
knopper galls
9/2000 20/2001 22/2002 Combined
Number of galls 10 49 29 88
Date collected 11.ii.2000 30.x.2001 2.iii.2002 --
Number of galls
with M. sericeus
0
(0%)
7
(14.3%)
8
(27.6%)
15
(17.0%)
Number of M.
sericeus
0 12 17 29
Number of M.
sericeus per
affected gall
0 1.7 2.1 1.9
Number of M.
sericeus per gall
overall
0 0.2 0.6 0.33
Sex of M.
sericeus
-- 7M, 2F, 3U 7M, 10F 14M, 12F, 3U
Emergence Date -- 6.ii.2002-
22.iii.2002
29.iii.2002-
11.iv.2002
6.ii.2002-
11.iv.2002
Table 4. Frequency, numbers, sex and emergence dates of the chalcid parasitoid M. sericeus
in three collections of knopper galls. M, male, F, Female, U, Unsexed
18
Collection 9/2000 20/2001 22/2002 Combined
Number of galls 10 49 29 88
Inquiline Attack Rate * 0** 1.6 2.0 1.53
Percent parasitism of original inquiline
population by M. sericeus
0 15.6 29.3 21.5
Parasitised galls only percent parasitism
of original inquiline population by M.
sericeus
-
-
-
7 galls
63.2
(range 50-
100)
8 galls
44.7
(range 23-
100)
15 galls
50.9
(range 23-
100)
Table 5. Inquiline Attack Rates by S. gallaepomiformis and percentage parasitism by the
chalcid M. sericeus in three collections of knopper galls
* Number of S. gallaepomiformis per gall including those attacked and replaced by the
parasitoid M.sericeus.
** No inquilines or parasitoids reared but in one gall there was a small exit hole in the
outer wall consistent with earlier emergence of inquiline/parasitoid.
Collection 9/2000 26/2000 20/2001 22/2002 Combined
Number 10 17 48 27 102
Height (mm)
Range 8.0-23.0 10.0-20.0 7.0-20.0 7.0-21.0 7.0-23.0
Mean ± S.E. 16.2±1.6 13.5±0.9 15.0±0.4 12.9±0.6 14.3±0.3
S.D. 5.0 3.6 2.9 3.2 3.5
Width (mm)
Range 11.0-19.0 12.0-20.0 10.0-25.0 12.0-25.0 10.0-25.0
Mean ± S.E. 17.0±0.8 17.4±1.2 18.4±0.4 18.3±0.6 18.2±0.3
S.D. 2.4 4.8 2.6 3.3 2.8
Table 6. Height and width of 102 knopper galls from Gosforth Park Nature Reserve
Collection Number of galls
measured
Ratio Width/Height
<1.0 =1.0 >1.0
9/2000 10 3 (30.0%) 1 (10.0%) 6 (60.0%)
26/2000 17 3 (17.6%) 1 (5.9%) 13 (76.5%)
20/2001 48 2 (4.2%) 7(14.6%) 39 (81.2%)
22/2002 27 1 (3.7%) 2 (7.4%) 24 (88.9%)
Combined 102 9 (8.8%) 11 (10.8%) 82 (80.4%)
Table 7. Values of the ratio Width/Height in 102 knopper galls
19
Height Width
Attacked Unattacked Attacked Unattacked
Number of
galls
31 44 31 44
Range mm. 10.0-21.0 7.0-20.0 12.0-24.0 10.0-25.0
Mean ± S.E. 15.3±0.54 13.5±0.46 19.0±0.40 17.5±0.62
S.D. 3.00 3.05 2.30 4.14
Table 8. Comparison of mean values for height and width of knopper galls in two groups.
‘Attacked by the inquiline S. gallaepomiformis’ and ‘Unattacked’. The mean height is
significantly greater in the ‘Attacked’ group (P<0.02)
Legend to Figure 1.
A. Single knopper gall with acorn present.
B. Pair of knopper galls.
C. Longitudinal section of gall:
i. inner gall where larva matures,
ii. air chamber of main gall, arrow indicates vent for emerging A. quercuscalicis.
iii. thick wall of main gall.
iv. vent.
v.acorn, stalk of gall arises from inside acorn cup,
D.lnset of part of main gall wall showing small exit hole of inquiline or parasitoid and subjacent
intramural larval chamber.
E.inner gall with larger exit hole of A. quercuscalicis at one pole.
20
Field Meeting Reports
Field Meeting 252 17th April 2004 Plankey Mill, west of Hexham,
The party crossed the river and walked downstream on the west side of the river before crossing
and returning upstream on the east bank. Nuthatch and Wren were calling. Other birds noted were
Blackcap, Chiff-chaff, Grey Heron, and Common Sandpiper.
Lepidoptera
Peacock Inachis io
Comma Polygonia c-album
Ferns
Polypody Polypodium vulgare
Hard Fern Blechnum spicant
Sexton Beetle
Oiceoptoma thoracica
Molluscs
Garlic Snail Oxychilus alliarius
Diptera
Bee Fly Bombylius major
Mammals
Deer rubbing
Female Roe in woods
Bees
Bombus pratorum
Bombus terrestris
Flowering Plants
Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum
Wild Privet Ligustrum vulgare
Greater Periwinkle Vinca major
Toothwort Lathraea squamaria
Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa
Pansy Viola tricolor
Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella
Dogs Mercury Mercuralis perennis
Celandine Ranunculus ficaria
Ramsons Allium ursinum
Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina
Barren Strawberry Potentilla sterilis
Amphibians
Toad-In dry stone wall
21
Field Meeting 253 May 22nd 2004 Witton-le_Wear (Knitsley Fell)
Permission to walk on Knitsley Fell was not forthcoming so the party moved to Low Barns,
Witton-le_Wear.
Lepidoptera
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas
Treble Bar Aplocera plagiata
Wall Lasiommata megera
Peacock Inachis io
Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages
Silver Ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata
Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana
Mayfly
Ephemera danica
Bryophytes (Dennis Hall)
Mosses
Brachythecium rutabulum
Bryum pseudotriquetrum
Calliergon cuspidatum
Ceratodon purpurius
Drepanocladus aduncus
Eurhynchium praelongum
Funaria hygrometrica
Hypnum cupressiforme
H. cupressiforme var resupinatum
Mnium rostratum
Plagiomnium cuspidatum
Rhizomnium puctatum
Pseudoscleropodium purum
Rhynchostegium confertum
Liverworts
Conocephalum conicum
Lunularia cruciata
Pellia endiviifolia
Lophocolea bidentata var bidentata
22
Field Meeting 254 June 26th 2004 Coxhoe
The weather was wet and threatening further rain so the party went straight to a piece of grassland
surrounded by woodland at GR NZ325363 This turned out to be an excellent patch of limestone
grassland so members were pleased to see a rich variety of flora and some interesting fauna.
Molluscs
Strawberry Snail Trichia striolata
Garden Snail Helix aspersa
Brown Lipped Banded Snail Cepaea nemoralis
Rounded snail Discus rotundatus
Garlic Snail Oxychilus alliarius
Copse snail Arianta arbustorum
Birds
Swallow Hirundo rustica
Blackcap
Chiff-chaff
Lepidoptera
Chimney Sweep Odezia atrata
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Shaded Broad Bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata
Grass Rivulet Perizoma albulata
Common Blue Polyommatus icarus
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
Silver Ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
Indefinite Marble
Latticed Heath Semiothisa clathrata
Yellowshell Camptogramma bilineata
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus
Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata
Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata
Fungi
Dryads Saddle Polyporus squamosus
Flowering Plants, Trees and Grasses
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis
Angelica Angelica archangelica
Burdock Arctium lappa
Mugwort Artemesia vulgaris
Wild Arum Arum maculatum
Kidney Vetch Athyllis vulneraria
Silver Birch Betula pendula
Yellow-Wort Blackstonia perfoliata
Quaking Grass Briza media
Black Knapweed Centaurea nigra
Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa
Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea
Rosebay Willowherb Chamaenerion angustifolium
23
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Hawthorn Crataegus mongyna
Crested Dogs Tail Cynosurus cristatus
Cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata
Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Vipers Bugloss Echium vulgare
Eyebright Euphrasia nemorosa
Beech Fagus sylvatica
Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca
Ash Fraxinus excelsior
Cleavers Galium aparine
Yellow Bedstraw Galium verum
Herb Robert Geranium robertianum
Wood Avens Geum urbanum
Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea
Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea
Ivy Hedera helix
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
Mouse Ear Hieracium pilosella
Perforated St Johns Wort Hypericum perforatum
Meadow Vetchling Lathyra pratensis
Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
Twayblade Listera ovata
Birds Foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Sea Plantain Plantago maritima
Hoary Plantain Plantago media
Milkwort Polygala vulgaris
Silverweed Potentilla anserina
Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans
Cowslip Primula veris
Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor
Bramble Rubus fruticosus
Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Goat Willow Salix caprea
Elder Sambucus nigra
Sanicle Sanicula europaea
Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea
Bladder Campion Silene vulgaris ssp. vulgaris
Woody Nightshade Solanum dulcamara
Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica
Thyme Thymus drucei
Large Leaved Lime Tilia platyphyllos
Hop Trefoil Trifolium campestre
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
Wych Elm Ulmus glabra
Nettle Urtica dioica
Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus
Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca
Greater Periwinkle Vinca major
24
Beetles
Rhino Beetle Sinodendron cylindricum
Under log at edge of woodland track
Officers and Council of the Union 2004
President
Dr. P. Gates
President Elect
Vice Presidents
Dr.H. Ellis, Dr. M. Birtle, G. Simpson, Mrs. J. Stobbs, Mrs G. Batey, Messrs. N. Cook, D. Hall,
M. Mann
Hon. General Secretary
Mr. C.L. Evans
Hon. Treasurer
C/o Durham Wildlife Trust
Hon. Editors
Dr. M Birtle
Dr. P. Gates
Hon. Field Secretary
Mr. L. Moore
Hon. Auditor
Dr E. Hinton-Clifton
LOCAL RECORDERS (recorders: please notify changes or additions to the editor)
Butterflies
Mike Hunter,17 Gilderdale Close,Faverdale,Darlington,DL3 0EE
Home: 01325 243022
E-mail: [email protected]
Moths
Durham:Terry Coult, 4 Officials Row, Malton, Lanchester, Co. Durham, DH7 0TH.
[email protected] B.R.C. recorder,
Northumberland: Mr N. Cook, 85 Lonsdale Court, West Jesmond Avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle
upon Tyne, NE2 3HF
Dragonflies
Durham, Northumberland: Harry Eales, 11 Ennerdale Terrace, Low Westwood. Co. Durham. NE
17 7PN.
Birds
Durham Bird Club: Tony Armstrong, 39 Western Hill, Durham City, County Durham. DH1 4RJ
(tel. 386 1519).
Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club: Nick Rossiter, West Barn, Lee Grange, Ordley, Hexham.
NE46 1SX.
Amphibia and Reptiles
Lee Stephenson, 12 Gainsborough Rd., Grindon Village, Sunderland SR4 8HU.
[email protected] (0191 5532323)
Mammals (general)
Northumberland: Mary Gough, c/o Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Garden House, St Nicholas
Park, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT. (tel. 0191 284 6884)
Durham: Kevin O'Hara, c/o Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Garden House, St Nicholas Park,
Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT. (tel. 0191 284 6884) email:
Bats
Northumberland Bat Group: Ruth Hadden, East Farm Cottage, Ryal, Northumberland. NE20
0SA.
Durham Bat Group:Ian Bond, 105 Davison Rd., Darlington DL1 3DS (01325 264296)
Badgers (Badger groups may be contacted via the relevant Wildlife Trusts).
Plants
B.S.B.I. recorder (Durham): G.G. Graham, 3 The Willows, Bishop Auckland, County Durham,
DL14 7HH.
B.S.B.I. recorder (Northumberland): Professor G.A. Swan, 81 Wansdyke, Morpeth,
Northumberland. NE61 3QY.
Algae: Dr F.G. Hardy, Dept of Marine Sciences & Coastal management, Ridley Building,
University of Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU.
Spiders
Isobel Baldwin, British Arachnological Society Recorder,14 Murrayfield Drive, Brandon,
Durham, DH7 8TG.
Geological
Contact: S.G. McLean, The Hancock Museum, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne.NE2 4PT.
THE VASCULUM
The Vasculum is a quarterly journal concerned with the Natural History of North-East England.
Founded in 1915 as a privately-published concern, since 1942 it has been the published organ of
the Northern Naturalists' Union. Any contribution on the Flora, Fauna and Geology of
Northumberland and Durham will be considered for inclusion. Short notes as well as longer
articles and simple records all fall within the scope of the journal. Space is also available for
secretaries of local societies to record their transactions and announce future meetings.
For preferred style, and particularly for the method of citing references, will contributors please
refer to previous issues. At least a four-figure grid reference should be supplied when referring to
sites.
Contributions are accepted on paper, computer disc, or e-mail: the address for
contributions is given on the front cover of this issue.
THE NORTHERN NATURALISTS' UNION
The Northern Naturalists' Union (NNU) was founded in 1924 to promote co-operation between
natural history societies, and to collect and collate local records. Membership currently stands at
around 200.
The NNU publishes The Vasculum, and several past publications included a series of
Transactions published between 1931 and 1953 and three separately published supplements to
The Vasculum: Sources of Information on the Natural History of County Durham (1972) and
parts I and II of T.C. Dunn & J.D. Parrack's The Moths and Butterflies of Northumberland and
Durham (1986 & 1992).
The NNU organises a series of field meetings each year, and arranges a speaker for an Annual
Invited Lecture, hosted by one of the constituent societies in November. An Annual General
Meeting of the NNU is held in March, and is addressed by a guest speaker.
The field meetings serve a dual purpose. First, the informal exchange of knowledge between
members and their guests, and secondly the recording of the flora and fauna of the sites visited.
Lists of the species seen during field meetings are published in The Vasculum. Subscriptions
Subscriptions are due on 1st January. Subscriptions are £7.00 for individuals, £9.00 for
societies/libraries and should be sent to
Northern Naturalists’ Union, C/o Office Administrator, Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton
Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6PU
1
THE VASCULUM
Vol. 89, No 3 September 2004
Subscription Reminder
Subscriptions were due on 1st January. Many thanks to those that have paid. Subscriptions
are £7.00 for individuals, £9.00 for societies/libraries and should be sent to-
Northern Naturalists’ Union, C/o Office Administrator, Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton
Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6PU
Seeking Past Volumes of the Vasculum
Dr. Hedley on 01434 605450, e-mail [email protected] is seeking back volumes
Vol. 25 part 3, Vol. 79 part 4, Vols. 80, 81, 82, Vol. 83 parts 1,3,4, Vol. 86 part 2, Vol. 87 part 4
and Vol. 89 part 2. Original copies are required rather than facsimiles. He has two spare
continuous runs from vols.1 to 21, preferably for exchange.
Dates for your Diary
Field Meeting 260 October 16th 11.00 am. Great High Wood, Durham
Meet at Durham Botanical Gardens. Joint meeting with members of the North East Fungi Study
Group.
2
Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera Hudson in Druridge Bay Country Park Northumberland (VC
67)
Hewett A. Ellis and Christine C. Ellis 16, Southlands, Tynemouth, North Shields, NE30 2QS
The Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera Hudson belongs to the Southern Eurasian geographical group of
orchids and, although widespread in England and Wales, until recently was not recorded as far
north as Northumberland (Summerhayes, 1968). However the species has now been found at
several sites in the south-east of Northumberland, Swan (1993) referred to a single known site at
Wallsend Dene and later (Swan, 2001) to a further four sites, including one on the course of a
dismantled railway near Shiremoor (Ellis, 1999; 2002). This was said to be the most northerly site
for the species in Britain, a view which should now be revised following our recent experience.
Whilst recording butterflies at Druridge Bay Country Park on the 13th June 2004 we met one of
the park wardens, a Mr Malcolm Scott. During our subsequent conversation about the local
butterflies and flowers he mentioned that, in addition to the numerous Common Spotted Orchid
Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soó, there were Bee Orchids in the park. Mr Scott told us where we
might see these and afterwards we were able to confirm their presence in considerable numbers.
We do not know the full extent of the species in the park, but the best place found was along the
south-west side of Ladyburn Lake over a stretch of about 150 metres. We counted 87 individual
flower spikes and there must have been in excess of one hundred. Many were fine tall plants with
many flowers and a delight to see.
The gridline (West to East) between the major grid squares NZ and NU passes through Ladyburn
Lake and close to the site where the Bee Orchids occurred. Most were at NZ 2686 9984, NZ 2678
9984 and NZ 2721 9994, but a few were at NU 2679 0001; thus covering two adjacent tetrads.
We do not know how long the Bee Orchid has been at this site or whence it came but it must have
been present for some time since it is said to take five to eight years to reach the flowering stage
after germination of the seed (Summerhayes, 1968).
Mr Scott was uncertain but thought the Bee Orchid had been present for one or two years and
might have been reported to some local natural history society. However, this is a new site for us
and, as we discovered later following correspondence, it represents a new record to Professor
G.A.Swan, the Botanical County Recorder.
The Druridge Bay Country Park site is at Latitude 550 17' 30’’ North which is about 30Km further
north than the Shiremoor site at Latitude 550 1' 30" North. It seems that the Bee Orchid is
increasing its range in Northumberland and it is interesting to note that the species has been
recently recorded further west in the county on the Northumberland side of the River Tyne at
Hexham in
3
June 2003 (Swan, pers comm., 2003). This location is more southerly than the others at Latitude
540 58’ 24’’ North.
References
Ellis, H.A, 1999. A new location for Ophrys apifera Hudson, Bee Orchid in Northumberland (VC
67).The Vasculum 84(3):20-21.
Ellis, H.A. 2002. Follow-up note on the status of the Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera Hudson at its
northernmost station in Britain. The Vasculum 87(4):2
Summerhayes, V.S. 1968. Wild Orchids of Britain, 2nd edition, London;Collins.
Swan, G.A. 1993. Flora of Northumberland. Newcastle upon Tyne; The Natural History Society
of Northumbria
Swan, G.A. 2001. A supplement to Flora of Northumberland. Transactions of the Natural History
Society of Northumbria 61(3): 71-160.
Notes and Records
As part of a project I am working on for the Biodiversity Partnership I am encouraging people to
form local environment groups. In mid August the members of one such group at Grange Villa
discovered a group of plants in the Twizell Wood which they did not recognise. The plants,
identified by Terry Coult from a photograph, were Broad Leaved Helliborine (Epipactis
helleborine), and were growing on colliery shale at the side of the Twizell Burn, below a willow -
NZ 269226. There does not appear to be a record for the species at this location.
Jim Cokill
On Friday 10th September 2004 a moth trap was held at Souter Point Lighthouse by kind
permission and support from the National Trust. The following moths were seen
Agrochola litura Brown Spot Pinion
Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing
Diarsia rubi Small Square Spot
Mesapamea secalis Common Rustic
Ennomos fuscantaria Dusky Thorn
Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades
Chloroclysta citrata Dark Marbled Carpet
Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet
Amphipyra tragopogonis Mouse
Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing
Lobesia littoralis Shore Doubtful Marble
An interesting micromoth found was Epiphyas postivittana (female light brown apple moth). This
is an introduction from Australia where they are regarded as significant pests of fruit orchards.
They seem to have acquired pesticide resistance there. It is thought to have introduced to
Cornwall in the 1930’s and has gradually spread northwards. Another specimen was found in
Billingham, Teesside at GR NZ444247 by Malcolm Birtle later the same night. This moth is not
mentioned in Dunn and Parrack.
4
White-letter Hairstreak Strymonidia w-album (Knoch) in Northumberland (VC 67)
Hewett A. Ellis and Christine C. Ellis, 16, Southlands, Tynemouth, North Shields,
NE30 2QS
On May 27th 2004, whilst looking for Comma larvae on elms alongside the River Blyth near
Bedlington (NZ 26 81), we were surprised to find a mature White-letter Hairstreak caterpillar
feeding on an elm leaf. Further search of the tree and other elms in the vicinity failed to reveal
any additional Hairstreak larvae. The collected larva ceased feeding after about twenty-four hours
and prepared to pupate on the underside of an elm leaf. The pupa was anchored by a single silk
girdle. The adult White-letter Hairstreak emerged in captivity, earlier than would be expected in
the wild, on the 15th June 2004 and was returned to the point of collection on 17th June.
Several subsequent visits to the site were rewarded when on the 20th July we observed a White-
letter Hairstreak flying in the elm where the larva had been found and in a second elm on the
opposite side of the path. There were probably two butterflies present but we cannot be certain
since at no time did we observe two together. The characteristic markings on the undersides of the
hind wings of the perched butterflies were clearly visible using binoculars.
This is the first time we have encountered the White-letter Hairstreak in Northumberland. Until
the early 1980' s the species was little known as far north as County Durham (Dunn & Parrack,
1986), but since then it has been recorded in increasing numbers of tetrads in County Durham and
less frequently in the southern part of Northumberland. Up to 2003 the species had been recorded
in only ten tetrads in Northumberland and frequently the records were of a single individual
(Hunter & Norman, 2003).
It is not known whether there has been a true expansion of the range of the White-letter Hairstreak
northwards or that increased interest and improved recording have played some part. The present
location near Bedlington must be one of the most northerly recorded in Northumberland and
possibly in Britain.
References
Dunn, T.C. and Parrack, J.D. 1986. The Moths and Butterflies of Northumberland and Durham
Part 1. Macrolepidoptera. The Vasculum-Supplement No. 2. Northern Naturalists' Union:
Houghton-le-Spring. P.10
Hunter, M. and Norman, R. 2003. Butterfly Summary 2003. North East England Branch Butterfly
Conservation: Wareham. pp. 25-26.
5
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria L. in South Northumberland (VC 67)
Hewett A. Ellis, 16,Southlands,Tynemouth,NE30 2QS
At 14.00hrs, on the 5th August 2004, whilst walking alongside the Seaton Burn in a wooded
section of Holywell Dene (NZ 330 747), I noticed a Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria L. flying
and basking on a bramble leaf. There were several tears in the left forewing and the whole
butterfly appeared 'faded' as a result of a general loss of scales. In spite of this the characteristic
wing markings of this species were unmistakable. The butterfly was in the same area of dappled
sunlight on my return walk, forty minutes later,
This is the first time I have seen the Speckled Wood in Northumberland since I began recording
here forty years ago. The species probably became extinct in North-East England as part of the
general nationwide decline which occurred in the late 19th century (Dunn & Parrack, 1986),
Although it has recently extended its range northwards again (Asher et al,2001), the Speckled
Wood remains a rarity here in the North-East of England; especially in Northumberland.
Recently there have been occasional sightings, mostly of single butterflies in the south of the
region, for example, in Ebchester Village Churchyard [ H. Eales, May, 2001], along the River
Tees and Winston [ M. Hunter, May, 2002], Greta Woods [ M. Hunter, May, 2002], Low Barns
Reserve, Witton-le-Wear, [D. Catchpole, September, 2003], and Norman's Riding Wood near
Winlaton [ D. McCutcheon, September, 2003] (Butterfly Conservation, North East England
Branch, Butterfly Summaries, 2001; 2002; 2003). Most of these butterflies were probably strays,
as was the Holywell specimen, judging by its much-travelled and worn appearance.
References
Dunn, T.C. & Parrack, J.D. 1986. The Moths and Butterflies of Northumberland and Durham.
Part 1. Macrolepidoptera. The Vasculum-Supplement No.2. The Northern Naturalists' Union:
Houghton-le-Spring.
Asher,J., Warren,M.,Fox,R.,Harding,P.,Jeffcoate,G. & Jeffcoate,S. 2001. The Millennium Atlas of
Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press:0xford.
Note: See Field Report for Hawthorn Dene
6
Ramularia lysimachiae Thüm on Lysimachia vulgaris - a new plant-fungus association for
Great Britain, found in County Durham.
AIan W. Legg, 36 Carleton Drive, Darlington. DL3 9QP
The wild native form of Yellow Loosestrife, Lysimachia vulgaris L., has been known in the
Darlington area since Stephen Robson recorded it by the River Skerne in 1777 (Graham, 1988),
and grows in some quantity at a number of sites along the middle reaches of the River Tees.
During a walk by the Tees near Low Coniscliffe (NZ241133) on July 11 2004, several clumps of
Yellow Loosestrife were seen growing at the edge of the stony river bank. An examination of
lower leaves showed that many of these were marked by reddish-brown leaf-spots usually about
5mm in diameter. With a hand-lens these lesions were seen to be sparsely covered with whitish
conidiophores of a fungus and so several were collected for microscopical examination later.
When so examined, the fungi were slightly immature but appeared to be the hyphomycete,
Ramularia lysimachiae Thüm (as R. lysimachiarum Lindroth in Ellis & Ellis, 1985).
The material was kept and compared with similarly infected leaves collected near the original site
on August 01 2004. By then the fungal conidiophores appeared slightly eroded but mature
Ramularia conidia were found, albeit somewhat broader than in the dimensions quoted by ElIis &
ElIis op. cit. Neither these authors nor the British Mycological Society's database indicated
British records on L. vulgaris but only on L. nemorum, Yellow Pimpernel, and L. nummularium,
Creeping Jenny. Therefore both collections were sent to Dr. Brian Spooner at Kew.
Dr. Spooner confirmed the identity of the fungus using the currently accepted name, Ramularia
lysimachiae Thüm. The Kew herbarium contains collections of this fungus only on L. nemorum
and L. nummularium. Dr. Spooner has himself looked for it on Yellow Loosestrife on Esher
Common but so far found only the coelomycete, Septoria lysimachiae Westend. Ramularia
lysimachiae is known on Lysimachia vulgaris elsewhere in Europe but no earlier evidence of the
association in Britain has been discovered. The two collections from near Low Coniscliffe have
been accessed separately at Kew as K(M) 124708 (11.07.04) and K(M)124709 (01.08.04).
Since then, further collections of R. lysimachiae on L. vulgaris have been made along the Tees as
far east as Blackwell, Darlington (NZ 273132) on September 01 2004. This association may quite
possibly have eluded notice at other sites in VC66 and should be looked for along the banks of the
River Wear.
References
Ellis, M.B. & Ellis., J.P., 1985. Micro fungi on Land Plants. London: Croom Helm.
Graham, G.G., 1988. The Flora and Vegetation of County Durham. Durham: Durham County
Conservation Trust.
7
Field Meeting Reports
Field Meeting 255 Sunday 11th July 10.30 am Bishop Middleham and Wingate
The party spent the morning in Bishop Middleham quarry nature reserve, had lunch at Hardwick
Hall country park, and the afternoon at Wingate quarry nature reserve. The flora and fauna of
these sites was as expected at this time of year. These sites have been well recorded in the past so
the following includes only the less frequently recorded species that were encountered-
Bishop Middleham
Bumblebees
Bombus lapidarius
B. lucorum
B. pascuorum
Other invertebrates
Coccinella 7-punctata 7 Spot Ladybird
Omocestes viridulus Green Grasshopper
Glomeris marginata Pill Bug
Galls
Aceria centaureae on Greater Knapweed leaves
Iteomyia capreae on Grey Willow.
Pontania pedunculi.
Fungi
Phragmidium sanguisorbae Rust on Salad Burnet
Melampsora lini Rust on Fairy Flax
Puccinia poarum Rust on Colt’s-foot
Auricularia auricula-judae Jew’s ear on Elder
Hardwick Hall Car Park
Xylaria carpophila Fungus on fallen Beech mast
Cryptococcus fagi Invertebrate on Beech trunks Felted Beech
Wingate Quarry
Bumblebees and Cuckoo Bees
Bombus lapidariusi
B. pascuorum
Psithyrus sylvestris
Hoverflies
Episyrphus balteatus
8
Eristalis pertinax
Galls
Eriophyes goniothorax Gall on Hawthorn leaves
Fungi
Rhytisma acerinum Tar Spot on living leaves of Sycamore
Puccinia punctiformis Rust on Creeping Thistle
Xenodochus carbonarius Rust on Greater Burnet
Erisyphe cichoracearum Mildew on Knapweed
Triphragmium ulmariae meadowsweet rust
Moths
Platyptilia gonodactyla Plume Moth
Dragonflies
Sympetrum striolatum Common Darter
The white form of Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea was also noted.
Field Meeting 256 July 24th 2.00 pm Fallowlees Leader: Nick Cook
The party met at Greenleighton Quarry car park (NZ 034 914) and walked northwards (by
permission) across very rough fell to Fallowlees SSSI. West of Fontburn Reservoir. This area is
very well recorded and many of the rare plants were seen. These included the white forms of a
number of plants including Fragrant Orchid, Lousewort, Marsh Thistle, and Self Heal. The large
hoverfly Sericomyia silentis was also found. The party then walked eastwards past Fontburn
Reservoir to the Fox Burn where a Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) and Chevron (Eulithis testata)
were found.
Field Meeting 257 August 21st 12.30 pm Whitburn. NZ 409 613
This excursion was to examine rock pool fauna and was described by Phil Gates in his Guardian
Country Diary in September.
Lepidopleurus asellus Coat of Mail Chiton
egg capsules of Nucella lapillus
Unidentified Flat Worm
Amphipholis squamata Brittle Star
Fish
Nerophis lumbriciformis Worm Pipefish
Blennius pholis Common Blenny
Scyliorhinus sp. Juvenile Dogfish
The worm pipefish (Nerophis lumbriciformis) might be a significant find. According to the
marLIN (Marine Life Information Network) web site, this species has only been recorded along
the North east Coast once, at
9
Lynemouth in Northumberland in 1999. It's very easy to overlook, so it might be more
widespread.
Crustacea
Macropipus puber Velvet Swimming Crab
Cancer pagurus Edible Crab
Carcinus maenas Shore Crab
Porcellana platycheles Porcelain Crab
Galathea sp. Squat Lobster
Seaweeds
Fucus serratus Saw Wrack
F. vesiculosus Bladder Wrack
Delesseria sanguinea Sea Beech
Gigartina stellata/Mastocarpus stellatus Batters Frond
Chondrus crispus Irish Moss
Dilsea carnosa
Laminaria saccharina Sugar Kelp
Delesseria sanguinea
Ectocarpus sp.
Hydroids on edge of wracks
Bristle Worm
Harmothoë impar
Nereis pelagica
Birds
Arctic Tern Cormorant
Sandwich tern Herring Gull
Redshank Black Headed Gull
Turnstone Swallow
Oystercatcher Pied Wagtail
Grey Heron Dunlin Greenfinch
Ringed Plover Starling
Although the purpose of the excursion was to examine marine fauna, the very small dune habitat
at Whitburn was found to be surprisingly rich for molluscs given it’s size and degraded
appearance
Cernuella virgata Striped Snail in abundance
Helix aspersa Common Garden Snail
Monacha cantiana Kentish Snail
Vallonia excentrica Eccentric Grass Snail
Pupilla muscorum Moss Chrysalis Snail
Suprisingly, Helicella itala (Heath Snail) and Candidula intersecta (Wrinkiled Snail) appeared to
be missing. The ground beetle Harpalus affinis was also found in the dune.
10
Butterflies
Lasiommata megera Wall
Lycaena phlaeas Small Copper
Field Meeting 258 August 29th. 11.00 am. Hawthorn Dene. GR NZ423459
A small party walked from the head of the Dene directly to Hawthorn Hive. The following
records are from the Hive except where indicated.
Molluscs
Trichia striolata Strawberry Snail
Discus rotundatus Rounded Snail
Lauria cylindracea Chrysalis Snail
Candidula intersecta Wrinkled Snail
Clausilia dubia Craven Door Snail -A species restricted to
northern England on limestone habitats
Clausilia bidentata Common Door Snail
Butterflies were abundant-
Vanessa cardui Painted Lady
Scotopteryx chenopodiata Shaded Broad Bar
Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral
Inachis io Peacock
Coenonympha pamphilus Small Heath
Maniola jurtina Meadow Brown
Polygonia c-album Comma
Lasiommata megera Wall
Polyommatus icarus Common Blue
Aglais urticae Small Tortoiseshell
Pieris brassicae Large White
Pararge aegeria Speckled Wood was noted in the woodland
along the northern margin of the Dene. A fresh
specimen.
Plants
Blackstonia perfoliata Yellowwort
Rhinanthus minor Yellow Rattle
Knautia arvensis Scabious
Geranium sanguineum Bloody Cranesbill
Euphrasia officinalis Eyebright
Monbretia
Lysimachia vulgaris Yellow Loosestrife
Clavinia purpurea Ergot was noted on grasses on a field margin
adjacent to the track to the Hive.
A Slowworm (Anguis fragilis) was found under an old rusty wheelbarrow on the foreshore.
11
New sites for Vallonia excentrica (Eccentric Grass Snail) and Pupilla muscorum (Moss
Chrysalis Snail) in County Durham (VC 66)
Dr. M. Birtle, 10 Avon Grove, Billingham, TS22 5BH ([email protected])
On Sunday the 18th July, 2004 a meeting took place of the Hartlepool Natural History Society at
the old Spion Kop cemetery, Hartlepool, GR NZ511349. This is a disused cemetery that was
developed on sand dunes and ballast heaps. Specimens of Vallonia excentrica and Pupilla
muscorum in the form of empty shells were found. Both species require dry, open calcareous
grassland, which exists in the cemetery. Although both species are regarded as being fairly
common nationally, they may be declining in north east England. Pupilla muscorum, in particular,
has a status that indicates a decline in Durham similar to Helicella itala, which was described by
Birtle (Birtle, 2002). The status of each species in the vicinity of the Spion Kop site follows-
Vallonia excentrica
The national distribution of this species shows it to be widespread in England and Wales,
becoming strongly coastal northwards into Scotland. Ralph Lowe (Lowe, 1989) recorded a total
of 19 10 km squares for this species in Northumberland (13 squares) and Durham (6 squares). The
only square near to Spion Kop cemetery was NZ4030
(probably the Crimdon Dene/Hart Warren area). It was
recorded by A. A. Wardaugh (Wardhaugh 2000) near Seal
Sands (NZ5125) on 22.7.94. Kerney (Kerney 1999) recorded
the same squares as Lowe and added 10 squares (7 mostly
coastal sites in Northumberland, 4 in Durham including
NZ5020 - probably South and/or North Gare). However, with
the exception of North/South Gare, the additional
records/squares in County Durham are pre-1965. A.A.
Wardhaugh (Wardhaugh 2004) did not record V. excentrica
on any coastal sites around North/South Gare, or on any other site around Teesmouth, in data
from a 2002 survey. The status appears to be one of decline in County Durham and maintaining
ground on coastal sites in Northumberland.
Pupilla muscorum
Ralph Lowe’s atlas (Lowe, 1989) showed the species in 10 10km
squares, 4 in Durham on magnesium limestone and a coastal site north
of Blackhall, and 6 in Northumberland of which 4 are coastal sites. A.
A. Wardhaugh (Wardhaugh 2000) recorded this species at North Gare
breakwater and dunes (NZ5328) on 31.7.1994 and near Seal Sands
(NZ5125) on 24.7.1996. Kerney (Kerney 1999) does not significantly
change the distribution described by Ralph Lowe and A.A. Wardaugh
for County Durham, but added some squares on the north
Northumberland coast-probably the sand dune areas. A.A. Wardhaugh
(Wardhaugh 2004) records Pupilla muscorum
12
around North Gare and Seaton Dunes again in data from his 2002 survey. The status appears to be
a little stronger than V. excentrica but the pattern is very similar.
The other species found on the site were-
Cernuella virgata (Striped Snail)-abundant, both shells and living specimens.
Candidula intersecta (Wrinkled Snail)- abundant, both shells and living specimens.
Helix aspersa (Garden Snail)-less abundant but many living and dead specimens apparent.
Vallonia excentrica (Eccentric Grass Snail) and Pupilla muscorum (Moss Chrysalis Snail) were
also found during the NNU Field Meeting 257 August 21st at Whitburn. NZ 409 613. Dead
specimens were found in the small remnant of sand dune. This site is in a 10 km square not
recorded by Kerney (Kerney 1999) or Lowe (Lowe, 1989).
Helicella itala has not been found at either site despite extensive searching.
The author would welcome any records of Vallonia excentrica, Pupilla muscorum, or Helicella
itala from Durham or Northumberland. These are species that have been more common in the
past (particularly so in the case of H. itala) and seem to be in decline in County Durham. In this
context the Spion Kop and Whitburn sites are important for the county. There are efforts currently
being made to secure the Spion Kop site as a nature reserve. Clearly, there are snails on these sites
that are important for the biodiversity of the county. They are completely dependent on the sand
dune characteristics being retained. This requires that no more soil should be tipped there from
other sites as has clearly happened in the past. It is hoped that the information provided here will
support efforts to conserve the sites.
References
Birtle M, ‘Helicella itala (the Heath Snail) in County Durham (V.C. 66) and Northumberland’,
The Vasculum, 87, No 3, September 2002
Kerney M., 1999, ‘Atlas of the Land and Freshwater Mollusca of Britain and Ireland’
Lowe R., 1989, ‘An Atlas of the Land and Freshwater Mollusca of Northumberland and
Durham’, Northumberland Biological Records Centre, Special Publication, No. 4, 1989
Wardhaugh A.A. ‘List of the Mollusca of the Cleveland District’, The Vasculum, 85, No 1, March
2000
Wardhaugh A.A, ‘Molluscs of Sand Dunes in the Teesmouth Area’, Bulletin of the Yorkshire
Naturalists’ Union, No. 41, 2004,
13
New, rare and scarce moth species recorded in the Northumberland and Durham database
since 2001. (20.8.04)
Terry Coult, Nick Cook, Durham Wildlife Trust
Northu-Northumberland
Rec-record
S-South
C-Central
Yorks-Yorkshire
Durham
Taxon Vernacular Records New
County
Rec
History National
status
Synanthedon
tipuliformis
Currant
Clearwing
2 n Last rec. 1973 Nat. scarce B
Malacosoma
neustria
Lackey 1 y Common S, C
Hemithea
aestivaria
Common
Emerald
2 n Second rec.
1985
Common S,
C
Eupithecia
intricata
Freyer's
Pug
7 y ? Common S, C
Discoloxia
blomeri
Blomer's
Rivulet
1 n Castle Eden
Dene only
Nat. scarce B
Lobophora
halterata
Seraphim 5 y 2 Northum recs. Local
Pterapherapteryx
sexalata
Small
Seraphim
1 n One only 1978 Local
Plagodis
dolabraria
Scorched
Wing
4 y One only in
North. 1970
Local
Menophra
abruptaria
Waved
Umber
3 Almost 2 Hartlepool
1874
Common
Hypomecis
roboraria
Great Oak
Beauty
7 y Nat. scarce B
Mimas tiliae Lime
Hawk-moth
5 Almost One only 1902 Local
Eilema depressa Buff
Footman
3 y Local to
Yorks
Euxoa cursoria Coast Dart 1 Almost Last in Durham
1876
Nat. scarce B
Agrotis cinerea Light
Feathered
Rustic
3 y One in Northu.
1981
Nat. scarce B
14
Agrotis puta puta Shuttle-
shaped Dart
1 Almost One in 1899 Common S, C
Heliophobus
reticulata
Bordered
Gothic
1 y Nat. scarce B
Lacanobia w-
latinum
Light
Brocade
2 y Possible Northu.
Recs.
Local
Mythimna
straminea
Southern
Wainscot
1 y Local to
Yorks.
Shargacucullia
verbasci
Mullein 1 n last rec 1987. Common S, C
Lithophane
hepatica
Pale Pinion 1 Almost Only rec 1898 Local S, C
Enargia paleacea Angle-
striped
Sallow
2 y Possible Northu.
Recs.
Nat. scarce B
Hyppa rectilinea Saxon 1 y Scarce in
Northu.
Nat. scarce B
Eremobia
ochroleuca
Dusky
Sallow
4 y Common S, C
Chilodes
maritimus
Silky
Wainscot
2 y Few Northu
recs.
Not N of
Yorks, Local
S,C
Heliothis peltigera Bordered
Straw
1 y Immigrant
Colocasia coryli Nut-tree
Tussock
1 y Rare in Northu. Common
Northumberland
Timandra comai Blood-vein 3 n Last in 1982 Common S,
C, (N)
Scopula
floslactata
Cream
Wave
1 n Scarce in
Northu.
Local N,W
Thera juniperata Juniper
Carpet
1 n One in Northu.
1972
Local N,W
Eupithecia
intricate
millieraria
Edinburgh
Pug
1 y One in Durham
1987
Common N
Eupithecia
simpliciata
Plain Pug 1 y One only in
Durham 1978
Local S, C
Eupithecia
dodoneata
Oak-tree
Pug
4 y Durham only To N. Yorks,
Common S,C
15
Euchoeca
nebulata
Dingy Shell 1 n Last in Northu
1985
Local s,c
Lobophora
halterata
Seraphim 1 n last in Northu
1979
Local
Acasis viretata Yellow-
barred
Brindle
1 n Rare in NE last
in Northu 1981
Local
S,C,NW
Biston strataria Oak Beauty 11 n Last in Northu
1984
Common
S,C,(N)
Deileptenia
ribeata
Satin
Beauty
1 n Very rare last in
Northu 1994
Common
Hypomecis
punctinalis
Pale Oak
Beauty
1 Almost One rec in
Northu 1922
Common S
Aethalura
punctulata
Grey Birch 2 y Rec in Durham Common
S,C,N
Euproctis
chrysorrhoea
Brown-tail 1 y 2 19th cent recs
in Dur
Local
S,W,C,(N)
Euproctis similis Yellow-tail 4 n last Northu rec
1992
Common S,C,
(N)
Atolmis rubricollis Red-necked
Footman
2 y Immigrant? Local S, WC,
(N)
Agrotis puta puta Shuttle-
shaped Dart
2 n Keilder 1974 Common S,C
Noctua orbona Lunar
Yellow
Underwing
15 n Belford 1929 Nat. scarce B
Eurois occulta Great
Brocade
3 n Last in Northu
1991
Nat. scarce B
Anarta myrtilli Beautiful
Yellow
Underwing
1 n last in Northu
1986
Day flyer,
common
Hadena luteago
barrettii
Barrett's
Marbled
Coronet
1 y Nat. scarce B
found only in
extreme south.
Orthosia populeti Lead-
coloured
Drab
3 n One at Keilder
1984
Local T
Mythimna
pudorina
Striped
Wainscot
7 y Local to
Yorks, Local
S,C
Lithophane
hepatica
Pale Pinion 3 y Twice in
Durham
Local S,C
Acronicta
megacephala ab.
nigra
Poplar
Grey
(melanic)
4 n last in 1985 Common
16
Acronicta tridens Dark
Dagger
3 y Twice in
Durham
Common S,C
Amphipyra
pyramidea
Copper
Underwing
5 Almost Possible in
Tynemouth
1995
Common S,C,
(N)
Ipimorpha subtusa Olive 3 n Last rec Keilder
1981 rare
Local S,C, (N)
Parastichtis
ypsillon
Dingy
Shears
4 n Last rec Wylam
1977
Local S,C,(N)
Chortodes elymi Lyme
Grass
1 n Last rec 1983
rare
Nat. Scarce B
Eremobia
ochroleuca
Dusky
Sallow
1 y Common
S,E,C
Catocala nupta Red
Underwing
4 Almost Lucker burn
1886
Common S,C
Fifty eight rare or newly record moth species in the North East of which 24 (41.4%)
are new county records for either Northumberland or Durham and four are Notable
B.
None of the 24 new county records are independantly determined, all are verified
only by the recorder.
Twelve Notable B records only two of which are independantly verified. (Between
31 and 100, 10km squares in the UK), 6 of which are new county records.
Six species not recorded for over 100 years are verified only by the recorder.
Officers and Council of the Union 2004
President
Dr. P. Gates
President Elect
Vice Presidents
Dr.H. Ellis, Dr. M. Birtle, G. Simpson, Mrs. J. Stobbs, Mrs G. Batey, Messrs. N. Cook, D. Hall,
M. Mann
Hon. General Secretary
Mr. C.L. Evans
Hon. Treasurer
C/o Durham Wildlife Trust
Hon. Editors
Dr. M Birtle
Dr. P. Gates
Hon. Field Secretary
Mr. L. Moore
Hon. Auditor
Dr E. Hinton-Clifton
LOCAL RECORDERS (recorders: please notify changes or additions to the editor)
Butterflies
Mike Hunter,17 Gilderdale Close,Faverdale,Darlington,DL3 0EE
Home: 01325 243022
E-mail: [email protected]
Moths
Durham:Terry Coult, 4 Officials Row, Malton, Lanchester, Co. Durham, DH7 0TH.
[email protected] B.R.C. recorder,
Northumberland: Mr N. Cook, 85 Lonsdale Court, West Jesmond Avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle
upon Tyne, NE2 3HF
Dragonflies
Durham, Northumberland: Harry Eales, 11 Ennerdale Terrace, Low Westwood. Co. Durham. NE
17 7PN.
Birds
Durham Bird Club: Tony Armstrong, 39 Western Hill, Durham City, County Durham. DH1 4RJ
(tel. 386 1519).
Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club: Nick Rossiter, West Barn, Lee Grange, Ordley, Hexham.
NE46 1SX.
Amphibia and Reptiles
Lee Stephenson, 12 Gainsborough Rd., Grindon Village, Sunderland SR4 8HU.
[email protected] (0191 5532323)
Mammals (general)
Northumberland: Mary Gough, c/o Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Garden House, St Nicholas
Park, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT. (tel. 0191 284 6884)
Durham: Kevin O'Hara, c/o Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Garden House, St Nicholas Park,
Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT. (tel. 0191 284 6884) email:
Bats
Northumberland Bat Group: Ruth Hadden, East Farm Cottage, Ryal, Northumberland. NE20
0SA.
Durham Bat Group:Ian Bond, 105 Davison Rd., Darlington DL1 3DS (01325 264296)
Badgers (Badger groups may be contacted via the relevant Wildlife Trusts).
Plants
B.S.B.I. recorder (Durham): G.G. Graham, 3 The Willows, Bishop Auckland, County Durham,
DL14 7HH.
B.S.B.I. recorder (Northumberland): Professor G.A. Swan, 81 Wansdyke, Morpeth,
Northumberland. NE61 3QY.
Algae: Dr F.G. Hardy, Dept of Marine Sciences & Coastal management, Ridley Building,
University of Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU.
Spiders
Isobel Baldwin, British Arachnological Society Recorder,14 Murrayfield Drive, Brandon,
Durham, DH7 8TG.
Geological
Contact: S.G. McLean, The Hancock Museum, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne.NE2 4PT.
THE VASCULUM
The Vasculum is a quarterly journal concerned with the Natural History of North-East England.
Founded in 1915 as a privately-published concern, since 1942 it has been the published organ of
the Northern Naturalists' Union. Any contribution on the Flora, Fauna and Geology of
Northumberland and Durham will be considered for inclusion. Short notes as well as longer
articles and simple records all fall within the scope of the journal. Space is also available for
secretaries of local societies to record their transactions and announce future meetings.
For preferred style, and particularly for the method of citing references, will contributors please
refer to previous issues. At least a four-figure grid reference should be supplied when referring to
sites.
Contributions are accepted on paper, computer disc, or e-mail: the address for
contributions is given on the front cover of this issue.
THE NORTHERN NATURALISTS' UNION
The Northern Naturalists' Union (NNU) was founded in 1924 to promote co-operation between
natural history societies, and to collect and collate local records. Membership currently stands at
around 200.
The NNU publishes The Vasculum, and several past publications included a series of
Transactions published between 1931 and 1953 and three separately published supplements to
The Vasculum: Sources of Information on the Natural History of County Durham (1972) and
parts I and II of T.C. Dunn & J.D. Parrack's The Moths and Butterflies of Northumberland and
Durham (1986 & 1992).
The NNU organises a series of field meetings each year, and arranges a speaker for an Annual
Invited Lecture, hosted by one of the constituent societies in November. An Annual General
Meeting of the NNU is held in March, and is addressed by a guest speaker.
The field meetings serve a dual purpose. First, the informal exchange of knowledge between
members and their guests, and secondly the recording of the flora and fauna of the sites visited.
Lists of the species seen during field meetings are published in The Vasculum. Subscriptions
Subscriptions are due on 1st January. Subscriptions are £7.00 for individuals, £9.00 for
societies/libraries and should be sent to
Northern Naturalists’ Union, C/o Office Administrator, Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton
Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6PU
1
THE VASCULUM
Vol. 89, No 4 December 2004
Subscription Reminder
Subscriptions were due on 1st January. Many thanks to those that have paid. Subscriptions
are £7.00 for individuals, £9.00 for societies/libraries and should be sent to-
Northern Naturalists’ Union, C/o Office Administrator, Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton
Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6PU
2
Some inhabitants of Diplolepis rosae (L. ) (Bedeguar) galls in south-east Northumberland
(VC 67)
Hewett A. Ellis, 16,Southlands, North Shields, NE30 2QS.
Introduction
Bedeguar galls, also known as "moss-galls" and "Robin's pin-cushion", induced by Diplolepis
rosae (Linnaeus,1758) (Hymenoptera:Cynipidae), are a common sight growing on wild roses
(especially Dog Rose Rosa canina spp.). The galls occur regularly in the North-east of England;
for example, I have recorded them in many locations within 25 different tetrads in the south-east
corner of Northumberland during the past decade. Numbers vary and in some years the galls are
quite rare (Bagnall, 1916); othertimes they are particularly common as in 2002 when I recorded
23 on a single branch of a Dog Rose growing along the course of a dismantled railway near
Middle Engine Lane, North Shields (NZ 322 693). Generally there are only 1 to 5 galls on any
one rose.
D. rosae is univoltine, emerging in the spring or early summer of the gall's second calendar year.
In addition to D. rosae the galls may be inhabited by other Hymenoptera. One of these is the
inquiline Periclistus brandtii (Ratzeburg,1832) (Cynipidae) and several different parasitoids may
also be present, especially Orthopelma mediator (Thunberg, 1822) (Ichneumonidae) and one or
more species of chalcids (Blair, 1943; Askew,1960; Boyd,1999; Williams & Randolph, 2002).
In the past decade I have reared the inhabitants from a small number of bedeguar galls collected
in south-east Northumberland and the purpose of the present paper is to document the numbers
and species of insects obtained.
Materials and Methods
Observations were made on 12 bedeguar galls collected from locations in 7 different tetrads in the
autumn of the first calendar year (I) or in the spring of the second calendar year (II). Each gall
was kept separate in a transparent glass or plastic container, in an unheated room and examined
regularly for any emerging insects. The cynipids D. rosae and P. brandtii were identified using
standard keys (Eady &Quinlan, 1963) and the parasitoids with the aid of the descriptions and keys
by Redfern & Askew (1992) and Williams & Randolph (2002). The II galls collected from 1996
onwards were retained and dissected in November 2004, in their fourth to tenth calendar years, to
check on the presence of any possible unemerged insects.
Results
The localities, dates of collection, gall sizes and numbers of each of the insects obtained are
summarised in Tables 1 & 2. AII the insects emerged in the early part of the second calendar year.
Overall, 632 insects were obtained including 15 dead larvae, pupae and adults cut from some of
the galls in November 2004 (Table 2.). Five species of Hymenoptera were obtained (Table 3.)
3
Diplolepis rosae
Excluding the one dead larva cut from one gall which was unsexed, then all the D. rosae obtained
were females (202 emerged as live adults and 3 dead pupae and 3 dead adults cut from galls). The
number of D. rosae obtained from individual galls (Table 2.) varied from 0 - 78 (Mean, 17.4 per
gall). In individual galls D. rosae accounted for from 0 - 100 per cent of all insects obtained
(Mean, 24.5 per cent). Overall D. rosae emerged between the 12th April and the 23rd June, but in
individual galls the emergence periods were shorter, for example, 30th April - 11th June (Rising
Sun Country Park) and 24th May - 23rd June (Cullercoats).
Periclistus brandtii
Only 5 P. brandtii were obtained and all were from one gall collected in Hartford Hall Wood in
2002 (Table 2.). A male emerged first on the 7th May followed by 3 females on the 13th, 15th &
18th May; a further dead female was cut from the gall in November 2004. P. brandtii accounted
for 16.1 per cent of the 31 insects obtained from this gall but overall for only 0.8 per cent of the
632 insects from the 12 galls.
Orthopelma mediator
The ichneumonid O. mediator was obtained from 9 of the 12 galls (Table 2.). Overall there were
367 (360 emerging live and 7 cut from galls in November 2004), making O. mediator the most
common inhabitant of the galls accounting for 58.1 per cent of insects obtained. O. mediator
accounted for 367 (87.8 per cent) of the 418 parasitoids present (Table 3.).
O. mediator emerged between the 12th April and the 12th June. but the emergence periods for
individual galls were shorter. For example, 12th April - 5th May (Holywell); 30th April - 13th
May and 1st - 12th May (Hartford Hall Wood); 12th May - 4th June (Rising Sun Country Park
and Bigwaters). The emergence periods for males and females overlapped with males tending to
emerge before females and females continuing to emerge after males had ceased; for example, 9
males and 27 females were reared from the gall collected from Bigwaters and the males emerged
between the 12th and 23rd May whilst the females emerged between the 17th May and the 4th
June.
Torymus bedeguaris
This chalcid parasitoid was found in galls from only three of the locations (Holywell, Hartford
Hall Wood and the Rising Sun Country Park) and occurred in only 5 of the 12 galls. There were
36 (23 males and 13 females) accounting for 5.7 per cent of all the inhabitants and 8.6 per cent of
all parasitoids (Table 3.). T. bedeguaris emerged between the 1st May and the 1st June.
Pteromalus bedeguaris
This chalcid parasitoid was obtained from only 2 of the 12 galls one from the Rising Sun Country
Park and the other from Bigwaters. The total number, 15, made this species the least common of
the inhabitants accounting for only 2.4 per cent of all insects and 3.6 per cent of all parasitoids
(Table 3.). P. bedeguaris emerged between the 30th April and the 4th June.
4
Discussion
It seems that bedeguar galls occur more frequently on small water- stressed rose bushes growing
on dry, sandy soils (Redfern & Askew, 1992) and my own limited experience supports this view.
In addition, for any given bedeguar gall it is reasonable to suppose that local environmental
conditions may determine which, if any, inquilines and parasitoids are also present. For example,
the bedeguar gall collected from the cliffs at Brown's Point, Cullercoats contained D. rosae only.
The site is exposed to the North Sea where conditions may well be unsuitable for inquilines and
parasitoids to survive. All five species emerged in the spring - early summer (of the galls' second
calendar year and the extended follow-up did not reveal any evidence that extension of the
diapause occurred in any of the species. The numbers of insects obtained from individual galls
were dependent upon the dates the galls were collected. Galls mature in the late autumn of their
first calendar year and were mostly left overwinter exposed to their natural environment before
collection in the spring of their second calendar year. In a few instances collections were made
late in April and May, and it is possible in these that some insects had already emerged. In the one
particularly late collection on the 1st June (Hadston) insects were already emerging at the time
and the subsequent rearings in captivity cannot be fully representative. My experience of the
emergence dates in Northumberland suggests that galls are best collected sometime between the
end of January and the end of March. In spite of these limitations the five species reared are
thought to be fairly typical representatives of the guild of insects which inhabits bedeguar galls in
Northumberland.
The gall-inducer D. rosae
D. rosae reproduces parthenogenetically and males are rarely found. Blair (1943), who collected
galls over a period of thirty years, mostly in Southern England, encountered males on only one
occasion- 2 males and 102 females emerging from a gall collected near Carlisle in 1940. I did not
obtain any males amongst the present 209 D. rosae in south-east Northumberland and Askew
(1960) had a similar experience with 57 females and no males from bedeguar galls collected over
the period 1956-59 from Gosforth, Old Hartley and Seaton Sluice. However, in Cornhill in North
Northumberland Askew obtained 5 male and 400 female D. rosae, giving a frequency of 1.2 per
cent for males. Combining his data for Northern England (North-west Yorkshire, Durham and
Northumberland), Askew found that males accounted for 4.2 per cent of D. rosae bred, there
being 51 males among 1,213 females. In contrast Callan, who reared insects from 815 galls
collected mostly in the south in Buckinghamshire (Callan,1944; Imms,1956), obtained 46 males
among 5,691 females, that is, only 0.8 per cent were males. These data, together with the fact that
Blair (1943), referred to above, only encountered male D. rosae in the north in Carlisle, support
the view (Askew,1960), that male D. rosae may be more abundant in the north. It will be
interesting to see if this hypothesis is confirmed once the results of the nationwide study of
bedeguar galls currently being undertaken by the British Plant Gall Society (Williams,2001), are
known.
5
The number of D. rosae obtained from any one gall depends upon gall size and the number of
chambers within its substance and upon the degree of any parasitisation. Some small galls contain
only one or a few D. rosae larvae; larger galls measuring up to 60mm. across (Redfern, Shirley &
Bloxham, 2002) may comprise up to 60 chambers according to Darlington( 1968). This is an
underestimate since two of the present galls gave rise to more than 60 D. rosae and in one of
these, measuring 55 x 45 x 40 mm collected in the Rising Sun Country Park, initially there must
have been many more in view of the large number of O. mediator parasitoids present. ln the
absence of parasitisation the full complement of D. rosae survives, as in the galls from Holywell
and Cullercoats. At the other extreme the attack rate of D. rosae by parasitoids may be high with
few, or even none, surviving, as in the two galls collected in Hartford Hall Wood, when only
parasitoids emerged.
The inquiline P. brandtii
The cynipid P. brandtii is generally an abundant inquiline in the majority of bedeguar galls (Blair,
1943), accounting for about 20 per cent of the insect community (Williams & Randolph, 2002).
The same inquiline may be found also in the similar galls of Diplolepis maryi (Schlechtendal,
1877) (Eady & Quinlan, 1963). Askew (1960) found the species was common in galls from
Southern and Northern England, including Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland. It is
therefore surprising that there were only 5 P. brandtii, all from one gall (Hartford Hall Wood),
and overall accounting for 0.8 per cent of inhabitants in the present study.
P. brandtii is subject to attack by certain chalcid parasitoids (see below), but this cannot explain
the paucity of P.brandtii reared since dissection of 11 of the galls failed to reveal the compact
masses of small thick-walled irregular chambers which are characteristic of P. brandtii, in all but
one. It seems that the majority of the present galls had not been attacked by the inquiline P.
brandtii.
The parasitoids
Several species of parasitoids are associated with bedeguar galls (Williams & Randolph, 2002)
and the interrelationships of the various gall inhabitants are complex (Blair, 1943; Imms, 1956;
Askew, 1960; Redfern & Askew, 1992). Only three parasitoids were obtained in the present
study- O. mediator, T. bedeguaris and P. bedeguaris. Of these O. mediator, an ichneumonid, is a
specific endoparasitoid of D. rosae larvae. It is the most regularly occurring and numerous
parasitoid in bedeguar galls, accounting for about 37 per cent of the insect community (Williams
& Randolph, 2002). In the present study O. mediator occurred in many of the galls and often in
considerable numbers. Overall it accounted for 58.1 per cent of inhabitants.
The other two parasitoids are chalcid ectoparasitoids. T. bedeguaris feeds mainly on the larvae of
D. rosae and sometimes also on the full-grown larvae of the ichneumonid O. mediator after these
have emerged from their D. rosae larvae hosts in late August (Askew, 1960). P. bedeguaris, in
addition to parasitising D. rosae, may, to a lesser extent, attack larvae of O. mediator and T.
bedeguaris (Redfern & Askew, 1992).
6
The guild of insects found in the present study is probably fairly characteristic of most bedeguar
galls in North-east England. However, additional chalcid species might be found, such as
Eurytoma rosae Nees, 1834 and Caenacis inflexa (Ratzeburg,1848). E. rosae inhabits only galls
of the Cynipid genus Diplolepis Geoffroy, 1762 Syn. Rhodites Hartig, 1840 (Claridge & Askew,
1960). In bedeguar galls it is a predator of P. brandtii larvae as described by Blair (1943) "biting
its way from one cell to another of the Periclistus and devouring the growing larvae" In turn E.
rosae may be attacked by C. inflexa, which also attacks P. brandtii. The failure to find E. rosae
and C. inflexa in the present galls is probably attributable to the small numbers of P. brandtii
overall and its complete absence from most of the galls. Askew (1960) bred both E. rosae and C.
inflexa from bedeguar galls collected from Northumberland but not from Durham. He also bred a
single additional chalcid Mesopolobus sericeus (Syn. M. jucundus (Walker, 1834) (Pteromalidae)
from a gall collected at Old Hartley Northumberland in 1958. Although M. sericeus is a common
inhabitant of several oak galls of Cynipidae (Askew, 1961), including knopper galls of Andricus
quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf, 1783) in Northumberland (Ellis,2004), it is rarely found in bedeguar
galls, accounting for only about 0.1 per cent of the inhabitants (Williams & Randolph, 2002).
Several other chalcids have been recorded inhabiting bedeguar galls, but these are all rare and/or
confined to Southern England (Askew, 1960; Williams & Randolph, 2002) and are unlikely to be
found in bedeguar galls collected in North-east England.
References
Askew, R.R. 1960. Some observations on Diplolepis rosae (L.)
Hym.,Cynipidae) and its parasitoids. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 95:191-192.
Askew, R.R. 1961. On the biology of the inhabitants of oak galls of
Cynipidae (Hymenoptera) in Britain. Transactions of the Society for British
Entomology, 14(11):237-268.
Bagnall,R.S. 1916. Talks about plant galls III, Gall-wasps other
than those affecting oak. The Vasculum 2(1):9-12.
Blair, K.G. 1943. On the rose bedeguar gall and its inhabitants.
Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 79:231-233.
Boyd, J. 1999. Prolific bedeguars: 426 insects from three galls.
Cecidology 14(1):4.
Callan, E.McC. 1940. On the occurrence of males of Rhodites rosae (L.)
(Hymenoptera, Cynipidae). Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society
London (A) 15:21-26.
Claridge, M.F. & Askew, R.R. 1960. Sibling species in the Eurytoma
rosae group (Hym., Eurytomidae). Entomophaga 5(2):141-153.
Darlington, A. 1968. The Pocket Encyclopaedia of Plant Galls in Colour
Revised Edition. Blandford Press Ltd.: Poole.
Eady, R.D. & Quinlan,J. 1963. Handbooks for the Identification of
British Insects. Vol.VIII Part 1(a) Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea. Royal Entomological
Society, London.
Ellis, H.A. 2004. Observations on the agamic (knopper) gall of
7
Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf) and its inquilines and parasitoid in Gosforth
Park Nature Reserve. The Vasculum 89(2): 5-19.
lmms, A.D. 1956. Insect Natural History. Second, revised edition.
Collins: London.
Redfern, M. & Askew, R.R. 1992. Plant Galls. Naturalists' Handbooks 17.
Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd.: Slough.
Redfern, M., Shirley, P. & Bloxham, M.2002. British Plant Galls.
Identification of galls on plants and fungi. Field Studies 10:207-531.
Williams, R. 2001. Insect and invertebrate group 2000-2001.
Cecidology 16(2):74-76.
Williams,R. & Randolph, S. 2002. Insect and invertebrate group. The
rose bedeguar project: rearing & recognising inhabitants. Cecidology 17(1);17-24.
8
Location Gall Grid Reference Date of
collection
Dimensions
(mm)
Age (cy) at time of
collection dissection
Hadston 1. NU 279 009 22.iv.1994 40x30x30 2nd -
Druridge
Bay
2. NU 279 009 1.vi.1996 34x25x25 2nd 10th
Dismantled
railway
Holywell
3. NZ 326 746 27.ii.1997 40x35x35 2nd 9th
4. NZ 326 746 27.ii.1997 25X20X20 2nd 9th
5. NZ 331 741 27.ii.1997 30x30x25 2nd 9th
Plessey
Woods
Hartford
Bridge
6. N7 235 796 2.iii.1997 35X30X30 2nd 9th
Hartford
Hall Wood
7. NZ 249 801 10.iii.1997 35X35X30 2nd 9th
Hartford
Bridge
8. NZ 249 801 10.iii.1997 35X20X20 2nd 9th
9. NZ 245 802 28.iii.2002 25x25x15 2nd 4th
Brown's
Point
Cullercoats
10. NZ 365 716 14.ix.2000 45X40X40 1st 5th
Rising Sun
Country
Park,
Wallsend
11. NZ 298 688 4.iv.2002 55X45X40 2nd 4th
Bigwaters
Brunswick
Village
12. NZ 231 733 5.v.2002 38X32X32 2nd 4th
Table 1. Locations, collection dates, dimensions and ages of twelve bedeguar galls from south-
east Northumberland, cy: calendar year.
9
Insect Numbers
Gall Total Diplolepis
rosae
Periclistus
brandtii
Orthopelma
mediator
Torymus
bedeguaris
Pteromalus
bedeguaris
1. 56 2 0 54
(22M, 32F)
0 0
2. 27* 1 0 26
(8M, 18F)
0 0
3. 59 11 0 32
(9M, 23F)
16
(12M, 4F)
0
4. 37 1 0 33
(7M, 26F)
3F 0
5. 78a 78 0 0 0 0
6. 43b 11 0 32
(10M, 22F)
0 0
7. 21c 0 0 15
(7M, 6F, 2Us)
6M 0
8. 10 1 0 0 9
(3M, 6F)
0
9. 31d O 5
(1M, 4F)
26
(5M, 19F, 2Us)
0 0
10. 31e 31 0 0 0 0
11. 196f 68 0 112
(17M, 93F, 2Us)
2M 14M & F
12. 43g 5 0 37
(9M, 28F)
0 1F
Totals 632 209 5 367 36 15
Table 2. Numbers of five species of Hymenoptera obtained from twelve bedeguar galls from
south-east Northumberland.
*insects emerging at time of collection; a including 3 dead pupae and I dead larva cut from gall; b
including 2 dead adult D. rosae and 1 dead male O. mediator cut from gall; c including 3 O.
mediator cut from gall; d including 1 dead female P. brandtii cut from gall; e including 1 dead D.
rosae cut from gall; f including 2 dead O. mediator cut from gall; g including 1 dead female O.
mediator cut from gall . Us:unsexed.
10
Species Number Percentage of
All
insects
Parasitoids
GALL-
INDUCER
Diplolepis rosae (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Cynipidae)
209 33.0
INQUILINE
Periclistus brandtii (Ratzeburg
,1832) (Cynipidae)
5 0.8
PARASITOIDS
Orthopelma mediator (Thunberg
,1822) (Ichneumonidae)
367 58.1 87.8
Torymus bedeguaris (Linnaeus,
1758) (Torymidae)
36 5.7 8.6
Pteromalus bedeguaris (Thomson,
1878) (Pteromalidae)
15 2.4 3.6
Table 3. Numbers and percentages of five species of Hymenoptera obtained from 12 bedeguar
galls collected in south-east Northumberland,
11
Field Meeting 259 September 11th Briar Dene Woods,
Plankey Mill NY795 621.
This meeting was a Fungus Foray organized and run jointly with the North Eastern Fungus Study
Group. One of its members, Dr. Gordon Beakes, who lives near Hexham and has known the
followed route well for many years, joined in the leadership of a party of 19 people. We crossed
the footbridge and covered a small area upstream of Plankey Mill.
After the wet summer, collecting conditions proved excellent and the total of 132 taxa was
remarkable considering the virtual restriction to deciduous woodland. Many common species
were found and so, rather than publish a bald list of these, we give here notes on the more
interesting fungi seen. Some of these have been found in VC67 before but do not appear on the
BMS database list and are formally recorded here for the first time.
Three were entirely new to the writer and have been checked at Kew by Dr. Peter Roberts and
retained in the herbarium. They are:
Lepiota grangei, a rare and beautiful green toadstool with no north east records at all; K(M)
125388
Scleroderma areolatum, a small, distinctive earthball, collected at this site from a sheltered mossy
wall, having a large number of British records but none from VC67. K(M) 125392
Lycoperdon echinatum, the Spiny Puffball, seen before here by Gordon Beakes but formally
recorded for the first time K (M) 125389.
Several large representatives of the genus Cortinarius, rarely seen in the north east, were also
recorded. Of these, Cortinarius alboviolaceus, C. purpurascens and C. triumphans (crocolitus)
appear newly-recorded for VC67. Other fungi apparently new to the vice-county were Conocobye
mairei, Lepiota magnispora (ventriospora), L. tomentella, Tricholoma columbetta, T.
sulphureum, Hapalopilus nidulans and Scutellinia cejpii. Lactarius volemus, newly recorded for
VC67 last year at Minsteracres, was again found. Also worthy of note were extensive fruitings of
the Death Cap, Amanita phalloides, and specimens of the large stalked ascomycetes Helvella
lacunosa and H. elastica. Plicatura (Plicaturopsis) crispa, once thought rare outside Scotland but
recently found by Hewett Ellis to be fairly common in South Northumberland, was also seen on
its preferred host, Corylus avellana.
Alan Legg
12
Field Meeting 260 October 16th, Great High Wood, Durham
Members of the North East Fungus Study Group, which organized the meeting, joined NNU
members and some of the public in the car park at Durham University Botanic Gardens and set
off across the road into the woodland in time for a veritable cloudburst. Even when the rain eased
later in the morning, trees dripped heavily upon the party until a second downpour deluged us.
Despite doing its worst the weather failed to dampen spirits and a substantial number were still
foraying when our task was completed in mid-afternoon.
The NEFSG had covered some of the ground in November 2003 and had then been encouraged to
arrange a lengthier visit-hopefully in less arid conditions. As a result, the 2003 total of 57 taxa
was increased to 111 for the site. Records of 82 taxa were made, of which 54 had not been
recorded the previous year.
Among the many common fungi seen, a selection of the more interesting is here extracted for
particular mention:
Ascomycetes
Hymenoscyphus rokebyensis Svrcek
This is the least often recorded of three species of the genus which fruit in the autumn on beech
mast. It can be distinguished from the common H. fructigenus by spore dimensions. Of local
interest is the fact that Svrcek named it from material collected by YNU mycologists in Rokeby
Park, Greta Bridge. This collection seems to be the first from VC66 though there is little doubt
that the fungus can be found elsewhere in County Durham.
Basidiomycetes
Cortinarius sanguineus (Wulf: Fr.) S F Gray
This collection is of interest in that it was found with Betula rather than one of its more usual
conifer partners. For that reason we first named it Cortinarius puniceus P.D. Orton before
discovering that this taxon has recently been lumped with C. sanguineus. Even so, there appear to
be no earlier published records of the fungus for VC66.
Grifola frondosa (Dicks: Fr.) S. F. Gray
This multi-capped polypore is always worth noting when found although it is not rare. It tends to
appear not infrequently for a few years only to disappear suddenly and reappear just as
unexpectedly several years later. Thus a group of local records in the late 1980s terminated in
1990 with one from Thorpe Perrow Arboretum (VC65) and the most recent set of collections
began in 2002 near Blanchland (VC66) (see Vasculum 87(3) 13). The fungus is most often found
on living trunks or on stumps of beech and oak (as here) but a late 2002 collection from
Darlington West Cemetery was at the base of living Castanea sativa.
13
Pholiota tuberculosa (Sch.: Fr.) Kummer
The writer has seen this fungus only once before. A collection he made in November 1987 at
Falling Foss near Whitby (VC62) was identified at Kew by Dr. Derek Reid. The specimens found
in the Great High Wood by a member of the public on an unidentified deciduous log were a little
immature but clearly not of any of the more common species. There are no earlier VC 66 records.
Alan Legg
The following molluscs were noted-
Trichia hispida Hairy Snail
Oxychilus alliarius Garlic Snail
Limax maximus Leopard Slug
Limax tenellus Lemon Slug
A scare species often found, as on this occasion, feeding on fungi in wet weather.
Capaea hortensis White Lipped Banded Snail
Capaea nemoralis Brown Lipped Banded Snail
Arianta arbustorum Copse Snail
Aegopinella pura/nitidula
A Smooth Newt was also seen.
Malcolm Birtle
Notes and Records
Harvest Mice in South Durham
A new record for the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) has been found near
Barmpton in Darlington (Grid Ref NZ316174)
The find was on 28th October 2004 and was of a single harvest mouse day nest in a
small 5m*5m patch of reed canary grass. In February 2004 I had found what I felt sure were the
remains of a harvest mouse nest in the same patch of grass, however it was in very poor condition
and had disappeared completely when I went back to take photos a couple of weeks later.
This is the first definite record of harvest mouse that I have been able to trace in VC
66 since the 1980s and possibly the first ever for Darlington. However it might have been beaten
to one of these records by some remains that Alistair McLee obtained from owl pellets. Alistair
has been collecting long-eared owl pellets from the Elementis site near Urlay Nook (Grid Ref
NZ4014). The pellets were analysed by Mr A. Love and harvest mouse remains were found in
some pellets from winter 2002/2003 and again from winter 2003/2004. As the Elementis site is
about 2km north of the River Tees, the remains probably represent an undiscovered VC66
population of harvest mice.
Ian Craft from RDS asked me to look at a couple of small patches (c 1 acre each) of
damp grassland, one of which had extensive areas of reed canary grass. These were on the
Coatham Beck at approx NZ377149. This is
14
only 2km from Elementis and about 500m from the boundary with Darlington. There
are blocks of woodland in between the site and Elementis which might encourage the owls to hunt
in that direction. After a lot of searching, I finally found the remains of a nest in a particularly
dense area of reed canary grass.
Although this site was quite an isolated pocket it is always possible that there are
other sites in that area where the mice still exist, though for the moment this is still only the
second, known, extant site between the Tyne & the Tees.
Ian Bond
Speckled Wood
A Speckled Wood butterfly was recorded by Ian Bond at the DLI Museum at Aykley Heads,
(Grid Ref NZ270434). The sighting was on Tues 5th October 2004 and the butterfly was looking
a bit worse for wear, as might be expected at that time of year. According to Mike Hunter,
butterfly recorder for the North East, this was the latest sighting of the species in this region, by
some margin. Writing in the newsletter of the North East of England branch of Butterfly
Conservation, Mike suggested that we might be able to put down 2004 as the year when the
colonisation of the North-East by Speckled Wood began, as there were at least 8 records this year
spread over a wide area.
National Moth Night
Butterfly Conservation would like to know whether anyone is willing to target Northern Dart on
the evening of July 9th. The only extant record is for a single specimen on top of Cheviot in the
1970s. It is however recorded at Moorhouse in Cumbria which is very close to Cow Green
Reservoir in Upper Teesdale. It would therefore be possible to run a trap in Durham at Cow
Green Reservoir and on top of Cheviot in Northumberland. This requires some willing and fit
souls to get up there and do it. The other target species we could try for would be Chalk Carpet in
the east of Durham. Clearwings are to be targeted during the day but that still leaves the evening
free for some more strenuous work. If anyone is sure they would like to volunteer to do this then
please let me know.
Terry Coult
15
British
Myriapod and Isopod
Group
Will hold their next
Annual Field Meeting and AGM at
Durham University
31st March – 3rd April 2005
The woodlice, millipedes and centipedes of Durham are probably under-recorded compared with
the midlands, the south and Yorkshire. We hope to collect from a wide rang of habitats within the
county and may well turn up some unusual species. We intend also to revisit Bagnall’s localities,
mostly in the Derwent Valley area to the north, in which case we should be able to make
comparisons with the fauna of the past.
Any NNU members interested in the field visits meet at Collingwood College, Durham
University at 9.30am Saturday 2nd April 2005. Participants will then travel on to various
interesting sites.
Anyone interested in the evening sessions or the workshop – please contact :
Val Standen,
Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences,
Durham University,
South Road,
Durham, DH1 3LE.
16
Officers and Council of the Union 2004
President
Dr. P. Gates
President Elect
Vice Presidents
Dr.H. Ellis, Dr. M. Birtle, G. Simpson, Mrs. J. Stobbs, Mrs G. Batey, Messrs. N. Cook, D. Hall,
M. Mann
Hon. General Secretary
Mr. C.L. Evans
Hon. Treasurer
C/o Durham Wildlife Trust
Hon. Editors
Dr. M Birtle
Dr. P. Gates
Hon. Field Secretary
Mr. L. Moore
Hon. Auditor
Dr E. Hinton-Clifton
LOCAL RECORDERS (recorders: please notify changes or additions to the editor)
Butterflies
Mike Hunter,17 Gilderdale Close,Faverdale,Darlington,DL3 0EE
Home: 01325 243022
E-mail: [email protected]
Moths
Durham:Terry Coult, 4 Officials Row, Malton, Lanchester, Co. Durham, DH7 0TH.
[email protected] B.R.C. recorder,
Northumberland: Mr N. Cook, 85 Lonsdale Court, West Jesmond Avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle
upon Tyne, NE2 3HF
Dragonflies
Durham, Northumberland: Harry Eales, 11 Ennerdale Terrace, Low Westwood. Co. Durham. NE
17 7PN.
Birds
Durham Bird Club: Tony Armstrong, 39 Western Hill, Durham City, County Durham. DH1 4RJ
(tel. 386 1519).
Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club: Nick Rossiter, West Barn, Lee Grange, Ordley, Hexham.
NE46 1SX.
Amphibia and Reptiles
Lee Stephenson, 12 Gainsborough Rd., Grindon Village, Sunderland SR4 8HU.
[email protected] (0191 5532323)
Mammals (general)
Northumberland: Mary Gough, c/o Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Garden House, St Nicholas
Park, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT. (tel. 0191 284 6884)
Durham: Kevin O'Hara, c/o Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Garden House, St Nicholas Park,
Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT. (tel. 0191 284 6884) email:
Bats
Northumberland Bat Group: Ruth Hadden, East Farm Cottage, Ryal, Northumberland. NE20
0SA.
Durham Bat Group:Ian Bond, 105 Davison Rd., Darlington DL1 3DS (01325 264296)
Badgers (Badger groups may be contacted via the relevant Wildlife Trusts).
Plants
B.S.B.I. recorder (Durham): G.G. Graham, 3 The Willows, Bishop Auckland, County Durham,
DL14 7HH.
B.S.B.I. recorder (Northumberland): Professor G.A. Swan, 81 Wansdyke, Morpeth,
Northumberland. NE61 3QY.
Algae: Dr F.G. Hardy, Dept of Marine Sciences & Coastal management, Ridley Building,
University of Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU.
Spiders
Isobel Baldwin, British Arachnological Society Recorder,14 Murrayfield Drive, Brandon,
Durham, DH7 8TG.
Geological
Contact: S.G. McLean, The Hancock Museum, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne.NE2 4PT.
