23rd February - Ruston

Today I visited the small linear plantation on my lunch break that I had previously visited at the weekend. This habitat consists of mature mixed broad-leaved woodland. I didn't check the areas I covered recently at the weekend so as not to contribute towards more disturbance. It was a productive session given I wasn't there long. Highlight included -

Coleoptera

This plantation has a lot of Beech and Lime both with retrenchment and standing deadwood. I had anticipated finding Pogonocherus hispidulus at the weekend but didn't. I was therefore delighted to find one today under a flake of a bark on a Sycamore today. This is my first longhorn of the year. A small and cryptic species which often overwinters as an adult in situations like this in deadwood and beneath bark. This could prove to be a very productive site for what is locally a seemingly scarce species.

Two Olibrus corticalis were in a similar situation beneath flakes of Sycamore bark. This is potentially a very interesting record and is perhaps the first vice county record, with less than 10 records in the entire county. A southerly species associated with floral rich grasslands with plants like Cats-ear, it is expanding north. Appreciably at 2mm this is likely very under recorded though.

Dromius quadrimaculatus is an attractive Carabid which is often found in arboreal situations. An active flier and good climber which can easily exploit vertical surfaces unlike many other ground beetles, flaking bark offers a great overwintering site as well as an area in which to hunt smaller invertebrates. This is a locally common species which again seems to be quite restricted in this part of the vice county.

Two larvae of Ctesia serra were one of the best finds of the year so far. This is a very scarce species in Northern England with a close association with spiders beneath bark on old trees, usually in ancient woodland. The tufty rear of the larvae is a defensive feature which prevents the spider predating them. They live off the frass and prey remnants within the spiders webs beneath the bark. Here they were associating with Amourobious fenestralis and Segestria senoculata, although they do not appear to be host specific. This species is related to the Varied Carpet Beetle commonly found in houses, with the larvae being much larger than those of the carpet beetles but similar looking.

Lepidoptera

Agonopterix heracliana was my first moth of the year and yet another species found beneath the Sycamore bark. This is a common species who's larvae feed on a variety of umbellifers including Cow Parsley and Rough Chervil. The adults overwinter beneath bark, in leaf litter and inside buildings. It is a nocturnal species frequently found at Ivy blossom in the autumn.

An Angle Shades larvae was found beneath bark on a log inside a hibernation cell. This mature larvae is probably close to pupation. An interesting moth in that it is one of few species with such overlapping generations where adults, larvae and pupae can be found together throughout the year. This is probably linked to the polyphagous nature of the species.

Dermaptera

Forficula auricularia is a species I give very little attention to, however I feel like it may be becoming more scarce. Certainly gardeners wont agree but I find it less frequently these days. Regardless it is still a very common insect which often doesn't warrant a further look whilst searching for rarer goodies. I included this as a highlight today though as this species will surely be overlooked for most of the rest of the year. Again found beneath flaked Sycamore bark, what a micro habitat!

Molluscs

Small numbers of immature Leopard Slugs were noted today from basal habitats I didn't find any large individuals but then I didn't really look that hard, with my attention more fixed on tree trunks. Its nice to get the species on my Wykeham Estate list. With them seemingly lacking from the younger plantations I usually check.

Mammals

The linear strip of plantation has a very defined Badger path running through it. I've not walked its entire length so far and am yet to find any associated setts. They cant be far away though given the levels of activity. Today a Badger latrine was present just off the main Badger path. Late February leading into March is a time of year when territoriality peaks, breeding occurs and males become quite transient. Unfortunately this often results in a peak of traffic accidents too, with dead boars common on the roadside in early spring.

Fungi

Xylaria carpophila is a very common species of fungus but also a very easily overlooked one. This is a tiny candle snuff species which grows on old fallen beech mast, particularly in slightly damp situations. This is a common species which is obvious limited in distribution to where beech occurs. I need to make an effort of recording it when I see it.