number 70 the newsletter of the kent field club august 2009 the

Number 70 The Newsletter of The Kent Field Club August 2009

1

THE NEWSLETTER

OF THE

KENT FIELD CLUB

The Natural History Society of Kent

Cynipid gall with parasitoid

photographed by Sue Poyser

Number 70Number 70Number 70Number 70 August 2009August 2009August 2009August 2009


2

Compiled and edited by

Laurence Clemons

14 St. John’s Avenue

Sittingbourne

Kent ME10 4NE

Boletus edulis

photographed by Daphne Mills


3

KENT FIELD CLUB PROGRAMME 2010

ow is the time to begin planning the field meetings for 2010. While it is

important that established nature reserves etc. receive continual monitoring

everyone likes to investigate somewhere ‘new’. Unfortunately it is no longer

(if it ever was) appropriate to simply turn up at a site unannounced and thus it is

essential that prospective leaders obtain full permission from landowners

before planning a field meeting.

For the programme card the following details are needed:

Day

Date

Site name

Object of visit

Name (including any road names) and grid reference of meeting place

Time of meeting (by default this will be 10.30 am)

Name of leader(s)

It is hoped that leaders will also include more information for publication in the

Newsletter e.g.

Saturday 16th. Darland Banks, Gillingham. An introduction to Spring Hoverflies and

other invertebrates. While at least twenty-six species of hoverfly are known from

Darland Banks none has been reported during May which is the best month for the

group. By the end of the visit beginners and experienced field workers should have

rectified this. Meet in Kingsway, off Darland Avenue TQ783661. Leader: Laurence

Clemons.

Joyce Pitt 17 Church Road, Crockenhill, Kent BR8 8JY. [email protected]

Laurence Clemons 14 St. John’s Avenue, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 4NE.

ITEMS FOR THE 2010 PROGRAMME CARD

MUST BE RECEIVED

BY

Thursday 31st DECEMBER 2009

N


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NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS

TO

THE BULLETIN AND NEWSLETTER

OF

THE KENT FIELD CLUB

ll original articles pertaining to the natural history of Kent will be considered

for publication. These may be submitted as hand-written or typed

documents, as Microsoft ® Word 97 compatible files on a 3½ inch virus-free

diskette or CD-ROM or, by arrangement, e-mail.

Whatever the format it is important that articles are written in clear and concise

English and, in the case of electronically-submitted items, with accurate use of

punctuation and ‘white spaces’. I am not too bothered about the trend of beginning

each new sentence with a double white space but do get frustrated at having to

correct things like In the beginning was the Word ,and the Word was with God,and

the Wordwas God .

Please do not try to format articles with pictures yourself- it will invariably need

changing!

As the Bulletin is essentially a scientific document I would urge all contributors to

include the binomial along with the vernacular e.g. The other day I arrived home to

find a female Slow-worm Anguis fragilis curled around a table leg in my dining room.

Authority names are also favoured by some, particularly where synonyms are

involved. When using abbreviated scientific names e.g. A. fragilis please insert a

white space between the full stop and species name.


ITEMS FOR BULLETIN 55

AND

NEWSLETTER 71

MUST BE RECEIVED

BY

Friday 5th February 2010

A


5

PROGRESS WITH RECORDING THE SAWFLIES

(HYMENOPTERA, SYMPHYTA) OF WATSONIAN KENT

f some five hundred and thirty six British species of sawfly three hundred

and thirteen are known by me to have been recorded from Kent. As of 8

June 2009 my database contains four thousand two hundred and forty-three

records but about eight percent of these do not have a full combination of date, site

name, grid reference and recorder/collector name. With old records an approximate

grid reference has been assigned for mapping purposes e.g. Darenth/Darenth

Wood has been given TQ5772, Dover TR3342 and Lewisham TQ3875.

Furthermore some of the localities explored by 19th century naturalists e.g. Birch

Wood (TQ502688) no longer exist. While some species recorded from Kent by the

earlier entomologists e.g. Orussus ?abietinus (Scopoli) and Tenthredo neobesa

Zombori have long been tantalising curiosities another seventeen without the

complete basic data have not been found since the beginning of the 20th century.

The known checklist with number of records and number of sites is Abia sericea

(Linnaeus) (14, 12); Aglaostigma aucupariae (Klug) (86, 75); Aglaostigma fulvipes

(Scopoli) (54, 46); Allantus calceatus (Klug) (6, 6); Allantus cinctus (Linnaeus) (19,

15); Allantus cingulatus (Scopoli) (9, 9); Allantus melanarius (Klug) (1, 1); Allantus

rufocinctus (Retzius) (11, 11); Allantus truncatus (Klug) (4, 4); Amauronematus

amplus Konow (2, 2); Amauronematus histrio (Serville) (2, 2); Amauronematus

humeralis (Serville) (1, 1); Amauronematus leucolaenus (Zaddach) (1, 1);

Amauronematus viduatus (Zaddach) (2, 2); Amauronematus vittatus (Serville) (1,

1); Ametastegia albipes (Thomson) (11, 9); Ametastegia carpini (Hartig) (6, 6);

Ametastegia equiseti (Fallén) (13, 12); Ametastegia glabrata (Fallén) (31, 28);

Ametastegia pallipes (Spinola) (4, 4); Ametastegia perla (Klug) (1, 1); Ametastegia

tenera (Fallén) (6, 6); Aneugmenus fuerstenbergensis (Konow) (5, 5); Aneugmenus

padi (Linnaeus) (53, 36); Aneugmenus temporalis (Thomson) (6, 6); Anoplonyx

destructor Benson (1, 1); Apethymus filiformis (Klug) (8, 7); Apethymus serotinus

(Muller) (1, 1); Aprosthema fusicorne (Thomson) (1, 1); Ardis pallipes (Serville) (3,

3); Arge berberidis Schrank (10, 9); Arge cyanocrocea (Forster) (45, 37); Arge

fuscipes (Fallén) (2, 2); Arge gracilicornis (Klug) (37, 34); Arge nigripes (Retzius in

De Geer) (12, 11); Arge ochropus (Gmelin in Linnaeus) (3, 3); Arge pagana

(Panzer) (19, 17); Arge ustulata (Linnaeus) (31, 29); Athalia ancilla Serville (3, 2);

Athalia bicolor Serville (20, 18); Athalia circularis (Klug) (33, 31); Athalia cordata

Serville (217, 146); Athalia liberta (Klug) (28, 24); Athalia lugens (Klug) (23, 18);

Athalia rosae (Linnaeus) (79, 62); Athalia scutellariae Cameron (1, 1); Birka

cinereipes (Klug) (1, 1); Blennocampa phyllocolpa Viitasari & Vikberg (43, 41);

Brachythops flavens (Klug) (1, 1); Calameuta filiformis (Eversmann) (31, 27);

Calameuta pallipes (Klug) (60, 50); Caliroa annulipes (Klug) (8, 8); Caliroa cerasi

(Linnaeus) (9, 8); Caliroa cinxia (Klug) (1, 1); Caliroa varipes (Klug) (5, 5); Cephus

nigrinus Thomson (8, 7); Cephus pygmeus (Linnaeus) (40, 29); Cephus spinipes

O


6

(Panzer) (66, 53); Cimbex connatus (Schrank) (1, 1); Cimbex femoratus (Linnaeus)

(6, 4); Cimbex luteus (Linnaeus) (1, 1); Cladius brullei Dahlbom (8, 7);


7

Cladius compressicornis (Fabricius)) (30, 27); Cladius grandis (Serville) (1, 1);

Cladius pectinicornis (Geoffroy in Fourcroy) (67, 57); Cladius pilicornis (Curtis) (56,

46); Cladius rufipes Serville (7, 5); Claremontia alternipes (Klug) (6, 6);

Claremontia brevicornis (Brischke) (1, 1); Claremontia puncticeps (Konow) (6, 6);

Claremontia tenuicornis (Klug) (1, 1); Claremontia waldheimii (Gimmerthal) (6, 6);

Craesus latipes (Villaret) (2, 2); Craesus septentrionalis (Linnaeus) (1, 1);

Cytisogaster chambersi Benson (9, 9); Cytisogaster genistae (Benson) (16, 10);

Cytisogaster picta (Klug) (1, 1); Dineura stilata (Klug) (22, 21); Dineura viridorsata

(Retzius) (8, 8); Diprion pini (Linnaeus) (2, 2); Diprion similis Hartig (1, 1); Dolerus

aeneus Hartig (55, 46); Dolerus anthracinus (Klug) (1, 1); Dolerus asper Zaddach

(2, 2); Dolerus bajulus Serville (30, 26); Dolerus cothurnatus Serville (5, 5); Dolerus

eversmanni Kirby (5, 5); Dolerus ferrugatus Lepeletier (11, 8); Dolerus fumosus

Stephens (59, 50); Dolerus germanicus (Fabricius) (11, 9); Dolerus gonager

(Fabricius) (29, 25); Dolerus haematodes (Schrank) (17, 15); Dolerus madidus

(Klug) (4, 4); Dolerus niger (Linnaeus) (35, 28); Dolerus nigratus (Muller) (73, 65);

Dolerus nitens Zaddach (5, 5); Dolerus pachycerus Hartig (1, 1); Dolerus picipes

(Klug) (56, 45); Dolerus possilensis Cameron (1, 1); Dolerus pratensis (Linnaeus)

(2, 2); Dolerus puncticollis Thomson (4, 4); Dolerus triplicatus (Klug) (3, 2); Dolerus

varispinus Hartig (4, 4); Dolerus vestigialis (Klug) (28, 22); Dulophanes morio

(Fabricius) (28, 24); Empria alector Benson (2, 2); Empria excisa (Thomson) (5, 5);

Empria immersa (Klug) (3, 3); Empria liturata (Gmelin in Linnaeus) (9, 9); Empria

longicornis (Thomson) (1, 1); Empria pallimacula (Serville) (5, 4); Empria pumila

(Konow) (2, 1); Empria sexpunctata (Serville) (2, 2); Empria tridens (Konow) (7, 6);

Endelomyia aethiops (Fabricius) (3, 3); Eriocampa ovata (Linnaeus) (8, 8);

Eupontania pedunculi (Hartig) (3, 3); Eupontania viminalis (Linnaeus) (8, 7);

Eutomostethus ephippium (Panzer) (42, 36); Eutomostethus gagathinus (Klug) (3,

3); Eutomostethus luteiventris (Klug) (37, 31); Euura atra (Jurine) (18, 15); Euura

mucronata (Hartig) (31, 26); Euura testaceipes (Zaddach & Brischke) (2, 2); Fenella

nigrita Westwood (4, 4); Fenusa dohrnii (Tischbein) (3, 2); Fenusa pumila Leach

(8, 8); Fenusa ulmi Sundewall (10, 10); Fenusella hortulana (Klug) (1, 1); Fenusella

nana (Klug) (8, 8); Halidamia affinis (Fallén) (15, 15); Harpiphorus lepidus (Klug)

(1, 1); Hartigia linearis (Schrank) (16, 15); Hartigia nigra (Harris) (2, 2); Hemichroa

australis (Serville) (3, 2); Hemichroa crocea (Geoffroy in Fourcroy) (4, 4);

Heptamelus ochroleucus (Stephens) (1, 1); Heterarthrus aceris (Kaltenbach) (11,

11); Heterarthrus nemoratus (Fallén) (1, 1); Heterarthrus ochropoda (Klug) (2, 2);

Heterarthrus vagans (Fallén) (3, 2); Hoplocampa brevis (Klug) (2, 1); Hoplocampa

chrysorrhoea (Klug) (16, 15); Hoplocampa crataegi (Klug) (27, 25); Hoplocampa

flava (Linnaeus) (4, 4); Hoplocampa fulvicornis (Panzer) (2, 2); Hoplocampa

pectoralis Thomson (25, 22); Janus femoratus (Curtis) (1, 1); Janus luteipes

(Lepetelier) (2, 2); Macrophya albicincta (Schrank) (9, 7); Macrophya alboannulata

Costa (8, 8); Macrophya annulata (Geoffroy) (66, 54); Macrophya blanda Fabricius

(3, 3); Macrophya duodecimpunctata (Linnaeus) (8, 6); Macrophya montana


8

(Scopoli) (15, 10); Macrophya punctumalbum (Linnaeus) (8, 7); Macrophya ribis

(Linnaeus) (39, 33); Macrophya rufipes (Linnaeus) (14, 8); Mesoneura opaca

(Fabricius) (3, 3); Metallus albipes (Cameron) (5, 5); Metallus lanceolatus

(Thomson) (2, 2); Metallus pumilus (Klug) (3, 3); Monophadnoides rubi (Harris) (3,

3); Monophadnoides ruficruris (Brullé) (4, 4);


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Monophadnus pallescens (Gmelin in Linnaeus) (25, 22); Monostegia abdominalis

(Fabricius) (3, 3); Monsoma pulverata (Retzius) (5, 4); Nematinus acuminatus

(Thomson) (2, 2); Nematinus fuscipennis (Serville) (2, 2); Nematinus luteus

(Panzer) (9, 8); Nematus bergmanni Dahlbom (9, 9); Nematus brevivalvis Thomson

(6, 4); Nematus fagi Zaddach (1, 1); Nematus flavescens Stephens (1, 1); Nematus

incompletus Foerster (2, 2); Nematus leionotus (Benson) (2, 2); Nematus

leucotrochus Hartig (4, 2); Nematus lucidus (Panzer) (28, 25); Nematus melanaspis

Hartig (2, 2); Nematus melanocephalus Hartig (1, 1); Nematus miliaris (Panzer) (1,

1); Nematus myosotidis (Fabricius) (26, 23); Nematus nigricornis Lepeletier (1, 1);

Nematus olfaciens Benson (5, 3); Nematus oligospilus Foerster (7, 7); Nematus

pavidus Lepeltier (6, 5); Nematus poecilonotus Zaddach (8, 7); Nematus ribesii

(Scopoli) (15, 7); Nematus tibialis Newman (1, 1); Nematus vicinus Serville (2, 2);

Nematus viridis Stephens (7, 7); Nematus viridissimus Moller (1, 1); Neodiprion

sertifer (Geoffroy in Fourcroy) (1, 1); Neurotoma saltuum (Linnaeus) (2, 1); Orussus

?abietinus (Scopoli) (1, 1); Pachynematus annulatus (Gimmerthal) (8, 8);

Pachynematus calcicola Benson (3, 3); Pachynematus clitellatus (Lepeletier) (13,

12); Pachynematus kirbyi (Dahlbom) (8, 7); Pachynematus lichtwardti Konow (3, 3);

Pachynematus obductus (Hartig) (1, 1); Pachynematus vagus (Fabricius) (1, 1);

Pachyprotasis antennata (Klug) (5, 5); Pachyprotasis rapae (Linnaeus) (48, 43);

Pachyprotasis simulans (Klug) (3, 3); Pachyprotasis variegata (Fallén) (2, 2);

Pamphilius betulae (Linnaeus) (2, 2); Pamphilius fumipennis (Curtis) (1, 1);

Pamphilius histrio (Latreille) (1, 1); Pamphilius hortorum (Klug) (1, 1); Pamphilius

inanitus (Villers) (4, 4); Pamphilius pallipes (Zetterstedt) (2, 2); Pamphilius

sylvarum (Stephens) (1, 1); Pamphilius sylvaticus (Linnaeus) (8, 8); Pamphilius

vafer (Linnaeus) (1, 1); Pamphilius varius (Lepetelier) (2, 2); Pareophora pruni

(Linnaeus) (1, 1); Parna apicalis (Brischke) (1, 1); Parna tenella (Klug) (2, 2);

Periclista albida (Klug) (2, 2); Perineura rubi (Panzer) (1, 1); Phyllocolpa coriacea

(Benson) (2, 2); Phyllocolpa leucapsis (Tischbein) (10, 9); Phyllocolpa leucosticta

(Hartig) (17, 15); Phymatocera aterrima (Klug) (25, 23); Platycampus luridiventris

(Fallén) (2, 2); Pontania bridgmanii (Cameron) (4, 4); Pontania proxima (Serville)

(25, 22); Pontania purpureae (Cameron) (1, 1); Pristiphora abbreviata (Hartig) (1,

1); Pristiphora aphantoneura (Hartig) (5, 5); Pristiphora appendiculata (Hartig) (4,

3); Pristiphora armata (Thomson) (44, 39); Pristiphora biscalis (Foerster) (4, 4);

Pristiphora compressa (Hartig) (1, 1); Pristiphora coniceps Lindqvist (2, 2);

Pristiphora conjugata (Dahlbom) (1, 1); Pristiphora denudata Konow (3, 3);

Pristiphora erichsonii (Hartig) (1, 1); Pristiphora insularis Rohwer (3, 3); Pristiphora

laricis (Hartig) (1, 1); Pristiphora maesta (Zaddach) (1, 1); Pristiphora melanocarpa

(Hartig) (5, 5); Pristiphora monogyniae (Hartig) (6, 6); Pristiphora pallidiventris

(Fallén) (10, 10); Pristiphora punctifrons (Thomson) (4, 4); Pristiphora ruficornis

(Olivier) (6, 5); Pristiphora rufipes Serville (5, 4); Pristiphora saxsenii (Hartig) (1, 1);

Pristiphora testacea (Jurine) (1, 1); Profenusa pygmaea (Klug) (4, 4);

Pseudodineura fuscula (Klug) (4, 3); Rhadinoceraea micans (Klug) (3, 3);


10

Rhogogaster chlorosoma (Benson) (16, 16); Rhogogaster dryas (Benson) (3, 3);

Rhogogaster punctulata (Klug) (12, 12); Rhogogaster viridis (Linnaeus) (58, 48);

Sciapteryx soror Konow (1, 1); Scolioneura betuleti (Klug) (4, 4); Selandria

melanosterna (Serville) (2, 2); Selandria serva (Fabricius) (154, 112); Sharliphora

amphibola (Foerster) (1, 1); Sirex cyaneus Fabricius (8, 4);


11

Sirex juvencus (Linnaeus) (1, 1); Sirex noctilio Fabricius (6, 6); Sterictiphora

angelicae (Panzer) (1, 1); Sterictiphora geminata (Gmelin) (5, 4); Stethomostus

fuliginosus (Schrank) (27, 24); Stethomostus funereus (Klug) (1, 1); Stromboceros

delicatulus (Fallén) (27, 19); Strongylogaster macula (Klug) (2, 2); Strongylogaster

mixta (Klug) (1, 1); Strongylogaster multifasciata (Geoffroy in Fourcroy) (33, 23);

Taxonus agrorum (Fallén) (1, 1); Tenthredo amoena Gravenhorst (13, 8); Tenthredo

arcuata Forster (30, 26); Tenthredo atra Linnaeus (13, 12); Tenthredo balteata Klug

(2, 2); Tenthredo brevicornis (Konow) (43, 35); Tenthredo colon Klug (25, 24);

Tenthredo distinguenda (Stein, R.) (1, 1); Tenthredo fagi Panzer (1, 1); Tenthredo

ferruginea Schrank (7, 7); Tenthredo livida Linnaeus (27, 25); Tenthredo maculata

Geoffroy (3, 3); Tenthredo mandibularis Fabricius (1, 1); Tenthredo mesomela

Linnaeus (70, 59); Tenthredo neobesa Zombori (2, 2); Tenthredo olivacea Klug (2,

2); Tenthredo omissa (Foerster) (2, 2); Tenthredo schaefferi Klug (57, 43);

Tenthredo scrophulariae Linnaeus (33, 29); Tenthredo temula Scopoli (50, 44);

Tenthredo thompsoni (Curtis) (16, 14); Tenthredo velox Fabricius (1, 1); Tenthredo

vespa Retzius (4, 3); Tenthredo zona Klug (5, 5); Tenthredopsis coquebertii (Klug)

(10, 10); Tenthredopsis excisa (Thomson) (7, 7); Tenthredopsis friesei Konow (1,

1); Tenthredopsis litterata (Geoffroy) (41, 33); Tenthredopsis nassata (Linnaeus)

(60, 50); Tomostethus nigritus (Fabricius) (8, 8); Trachelus tabidus (Fabricius) (4,

4); Trichiosoma lucorum (Linnaeus) (4, 3); Trichiosoma vitellinae (Linnaeus) (1, 1);

Urocerus augur (Klug) (1, 1); Urocerus gigas (Linnaeus) (20, 14); Xiphydria

camelus (Linnaeus) (5, 4); Xiphydria prolongata (Geoffroy in Fourcroy) (1, 1); Xyela

julii (Brebisson) (1, 1); Zaraea fasciata (Linnaeus) (14, 10).

The recorder/collector statistics, with number of records and number of species, is

shown below. An asterisk denotes an, as yet, unknown first name.

J.H. Allchin (1, 1); G.W. Allen (16, 13); P. Allen (8, 7); J.S. Badmin (10, 5); A.

Beaumont (65, 60); I. Beavis (2, 2); R.B. Benson (19, 19); K.G. Blair (1, 1); R. Bolton

(1, 1); F. Booth (1, 1); J. Brook (2, 2); D.A. Burrwin (1, 1); L.C. Bushby (10, 7); *

Butler (1, 1); * Cahaton (1, 1); P.J. Chandler (100, 64); A.J. Chitty (56, 44); D. Clay

(2, 2); A.N. Clements (2, 2); L. Clemons (2502, 236); J. Cobbold (1, 1); M. Cotton (1,

1); R.A. Crowson (68, 49); C.W. Dale (1, 1); W.H. Daltry (1, 1); P. Davidson (1, 1);

G. Davie (1, 1); O. Davis (2, 1); G.H.L. Dicker (22, 11); M.H. Dolling (1, 1); W.R.

Dolling (3, 3); H.St.John.K. Donisthorpe (2, 2); C.M. Drake (72, 46); C.A.W. Duffield

(48, 41); H. Elgar (105, 44); W.A. Ely (14, 11); M. Enfield (1, 1); * Ephick (1, 1); A.

Farmer (3, 3); J.C. Felton (187, 76); J.P. Fisher (1, 1); * Friday (1, 1); G.E. Frisby

(30, 28); J.W. Fryday (1, 1); A. Gaffry (1, 1); E. Godwin (1, 1); D.W. Grant (1, 1); F.

Grice (1, 1); L.A.R. Grove (1, 1); A.J. Halstead (1, 1); T.W. Harman (2, 2); A. Harris

(1, 1); N.F. Heal (8, 7); G. Hemington (11, 8); J. Hendey (1, 1); D. Hill (1, 1); B.

Hollands (1, 1); * Hooker (1, 1); G. Hughes (1, 1); S. Hunt (1, 1); D.W. Jenner (5, 5);

A. Keaton (2, 1); R.J. Knight (1, 1); C.G. Lamb (2, 2); H. Lamb (6, 3); * Leach (5, 5);

Mrs J. Lee (1, 1); P. Lee (6, 3); A.M. Massee (5, 3); C. McDermott (1, 1); A.V.

Measday (1, 1); S. Melville (1, 1); H.W. Miles (1, 1); D. Mills (1, 1); J.A. Moreton (1,

1); F.D. Morice (4, 4); 1 Morran (1, ); R. Morris (20, 20); R. Moseley (2, 1); R. Moyse


12

(2, 2); * Muggaridge (1, 1); J.T. Murphy (1, 1); E. Newman (1, 1); C.G. Nurse (2, 2);

P. Page (2, 1); K. Palmer (1, 1); L. Parmenter (1, 1); A.E. Patterson (1, 1); E.G. Philp

(158, 70); J. Pitt (1, 1); J. Poole (2, 1); J. Puckett (1, 1); D.N. Rampley (1, 1); R.

Reid (1, 1); J. Robbins (30, 16); R.B. Robertson (16, 16); D.T. Rolfe (1, 1); B.

Sampson (1, 1); E. Scott (1, 1); J. Shorter (4, 3); K.C. Side (332, 101); F.W.L.

Sladen (19, 17); * Smith (3, 3); R. Smith (2, 2); P. Sokoloff (1, 1); J.F. Stephens (31,

25); T. Stockham (2, 1); A.E. Stubbs (14, 11); R. Stutely (2, 2); F.V. Theobald (2, 2);

J. Tyler (17, 13); R.W.J. Uffen (4, 4); Unknown (88, 59); R.I. Vane-Wright (1, 1); E.A.

Waterhouse (1, 1); I.A. Watkinson (1, 1); I.M. White (1, 1); S.A. Williams (1, 1); N.E.

Winck (1, 1); B. Woodhams (22, 18) and J.W. Yerbury (1, 1).

So far about 43% of Kent has produced a sawfly record and the coverage is

shown below.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

41 - 68

36 - 40

31 - 35

26 - 30

21 - 25

16 - 20

11 - 15

6 - 10

1 - 5

No. species

Known distribution of Kent sawfly records

The four hotspots are Brook near Ashford with sixty-three species, Murston near

Sittingbourne with sixty-one species, Hothfield Common (now called Hothfield

Heathlands) with fifty-seven species and Birchett Wood near Hamstreet with forty-

three species. However, as with all insect groups, adult sawflies can have a very

limited flight period and to find ten or more species at a single site in one day should

be regarded as a “good bag”. For interest the Brook total was from thirty-one dates

by four recorders, Murston forty-six dates by two recorders, Hothfield thirty-one

dates by five recorders and Birchett Wood eight dates by two recorders.


13

The most widespread species is Athalia cordata Serville, adults of which may

commonly be found on and around Bugle Ajuga reptans. I have seen it visiting

cultivated varieties of the plant in garden centres.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

2000-present

1980-1999

1960-1979

1940-1959

1920-1939

Pre 1920

Date unknown

Known Kent distribution of Athalia cordata Serville

Two other garden sawflies include Arge berberidis Schrank and Phymatocera

aterrima (Klug) both of which are regarded as pests as their larvae defoliate

Berberis and Polygonatum species respectively. Adults of both species are heavily-

built black insects with darkened wings but whereas the larvae of berberidis are

spotted with black and yellow those of aterimma are glaucous with black heads.

Arge berberidis was first recognised as British from specimens found in 2002

although it had probably become established around 2000.


14

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

2000-present

1980-1999

1960-1979

1940-1959

1920-1939

Pre 1920

Date unknown

Known Kent distribution of Arge berberidis Schrank

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

2000-present

1980-1999

1960-1979

1940-1959

1920-1939

Pre 1920

Date unknown

Known Kent distribution of Phymatocera aterrima (Klug)


15

Several species are associated with ferns, particularly Bracken, and three

widespread Kent species are Aneugmenus padi (Linnaeus), Stromboceros

delicatulus (Fallén) and Strongylogaster multifasciata (Geoffroy in Fourcroy)

(formerly known as S. lineata). Aneugmenus padi is a fairly small, black-bodied,

insect with pale yellow legs, Stromboceros delicatulus a fragile, mainly pale green

species and Strongylogaster multifasciata an elongate dark-bodied species with

pale bands on the abdomen.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

2000-present

1980-1999

1960-1979

1940-1959

1920-1939

Pre 1920

Date unknown

Known Kent distribution of Aneugmenus padi (Linnaeus)


16

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

2000-present

1980-1999

1960-1979

1940-1959

1920-1939

Pre 1920

Date unknown

Known Kent distribution of Strombocerus delicatulus (Fallén)

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

2000-present

1980-1999

1960-1979

1940-1959

1920-1939

Pre 1920

Date unknown

Known Kent distribution of Strongylogaster multifasciata (Geoffroy in Fourcroy)


17

Antennal characters alone are rarely of use in determining species but males of

Cladius pectinicornis (Geoffroy in Fourcroy) may be instantly recognised by their

antler-like antennae. The larvae feed on the leaves of wild and cultivated roses.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

2000-present

1980-1999

1960-1979

1940-1959

1920-1939

Pre 1920

Date unknown

Known Kent distribution of Cladius pectinicornis (Geoffroy in Fourcroy)

Several species of Tenthredo have black and yellow banded abdomens and the

most spectacular is Tenthredo scrophulariae Linnaeus. Adults may be distinguished

by their large size and entirely yellow antennae and fly clumsily, dangling their

yellow legs downwards. The larvae develop on Scrophularia and Verbascum

species. The most widespread black and green species is the polyphagous

Tenthredo mesomela Linnaeus (erroneously called mesomelas in much of the

literature) and this is frequently observed running around on large leaves of, for

example, bramble and burdock.


18

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

2000-present

1980-1999

1960-1979

1940-1959

1920-1939

Pre 1920

Date unknown

Known Kent distribution of Tenthredo scrophulariae Linnaeus

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

2000-present

1980-1999

1960-1979

1940-1959

1920-1939

Pre 1920

Date unknown

Known Kent distribution of Tenthredo mesomela Linnaeus


19

The genus Macrophya also contains some conspicuous forms and the species

most likely to attract attention is Macrophya annulata (Geoffroy in Fourcroy). This is

black with a broad red band on the abdomen and in this respect resembles a robust

pompilid spider hunting wasp. While the larvae feed on Potentilla reptans adults

behave much like those of Tenthredo mesomela.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

2000-present

1980-1999

1960-1979

1940-1959

1920-1939

Pre 1920

Date unknown

Known Kent distribution of Macrophya annulata (Geoffroy in Fourcroy)

As yet there is no complete guide to the British sawflies and the standard works,

now out-of-print, remain Robert Benson’s Royal Entomological Society handbooks

i.e. Benson, R. B. 1951 Hymenoptera, Symphyta. Handbooks for the Identification

of British Insects 6(2a), 1-49, Benson, R. B. 1952 Hymenoptera, Symphyta.

Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 6(2b), 51-137 and Benson, R. B.

1958 Hymenoptera, Symphyta. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects

6(2c), 139-258. These contain so many errors, later acknowledged in erratum slips

or supplements, that some of the amended couplets in my copies have more

handwriting than original print. The 1951 Handbook, which keyed the smaller

families Argidae, Blasticotomidae, Cephidae, Cimbicidae, Diprionidae,

Megalodontesidae, Orussidae, Pamphilidae, Siricidae, Xiphydriidae and Xyelidae,

received a new treatment thirty years later with the publication of Quinlan, J. &

Gauld, I. D. 1981 Symphyta (except Tenthredinidae). Hymenoptera. 6(2a), 1-67.

This contained less detail than the original and there were also misleading couplets

and erroneous data. 1990 saw the publication of Adam Wright’s AIDGAP book,


20

reprinted from Field Studies vol. 7 No.3 pp. 531-593, entitled British Sawflies

(Hymenoptera: Symphyta) A key to adults of the genera occurring in Britain


21

(ISBN 1 85153 203 X). In addition to providing well-illustrated keys to the known

British genera (Monardis has been added since then) he gave reference details of

sixteen species added to the British list since Benson’s RES handbooks of which

three i.e. Macrophya parvula Konow, Pristiphora karvoneni (Lindqvist) and

Pristiphora micronematica Malaise have now been deleted due to misidentification.

To my knowledge thirty-one species not in Benson have now been recorded from

the British Isles and the references are given below.

Allantus laticinctus (Serville). Knight, G. T. 2006 First British records of the sawfly

Emphytus laticinctus (Serville) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae). British Journal of

Entomology and Natural History 19, 193-198.

Amauronematus godmani Benson. Benson, R. B. 1959 Sawflies (Hym., Symphyta)

of Sutherland and Wester Ross. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 95, 101-104.

Aprosthema fusicorne (Thompson). Vikberg, V. 2004 Seasonal head dimorphism

and taxonomy of some European species of Aprosthema (Hymenoptera: Symphyta:

Argidae). Beiträge zur Entomologie 54, 107-125.

Aprosthema tardum (Klug). Vikberg, V. 2004 Seasonal head dimorphism and

taxonomy of some European species of Aprosthema (Hymenoptera: Symphyta:

Argidae). Beiträge zur Entomologie 54, 107-125.

Arge berberidis Schrank. Halstead, A. J. 2004 Berberis Sawfly, Arge berberidis

Schrank (Hymenoptera: Argidae), a pest new to Britain. British Journal of

Entomology and Natural History 17, 131-135.

Caliroa tremulae Chevin. Liston, A. D. 1993 Caliroa tremulae Chevin in the British

Isles and Central Europe (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae). Entomologist 112, 67-68.

Claremontia uncta (Klug). Koch, F. 1988 Die Gattung Claremontia Rohwer

(Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae). Deutsche entomologische Zeitschrift 35, 311-330.

Endophytus anemones (Hering). Benson, R.B.1961. Endophytus anemones

(Hering), a new British leaf-mining sawfly (Hym., Tenthredinidae). Entomologist's

Monthly Magazine 96, 171.

Eupontania myrsiniticola Kopelke. Liston, A. D. & Blank, S. M. 2006 New and little-

known British Xyelidae and Tenthredinidae (Hymenoptera, Symphyta).

Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 142, 219-227.


22

Eutomostethus nigrans (Konow). Liston, A. D. & O'Connor, J. P. 2005 Records of

Irish sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) including eight species new to Ireland. Irish

Naturalist’s Journal 28, 159-161.

Euura weiffenbachii Ermolenko. Liston, A. D. & O'Connor, J. P. 2005 Records of

Irish sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) including eight species new to Ireland. Irish


Fenusa altenhoferi (Liston). Liston, A. D. 1994 Kaliofenusa carpinifoliae Liston

(Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), a newly recognized leaf-miner on Field Elms in

Britain. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 7, 15-18.

Heterarthrus cuneifrons Altenhofer & Zombori. Liston, A. D. & Blank, S. M. 2006

New and little-known British Xyelidae and Tenthredinidae (Hymenoptera,

Symphyta). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 142, 219-227.

Heterarthrus wuestneii (Konow). Altenhofer, E. & Zombori, L. 1987 The species of

Heterarthrus Stephens, 1835 feeding on maple (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae).

Annales historico-naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici 79, 185-197.

Macrophya alboannulata Costa. Liston, A. D. 1983 Distribution and Ecology of the

Sawflies Macrophya alboannulata Costa and M. albicincta (Schrank) in the West

Palaearctic. Faunistische Abhandlungen 10, 151-153.

Monardis plana (Klug). Gibbs, D. 2006 Rose Bud Sawfly, Monardis plana (Klug)

(Hymenoptera: Tenthridinidae), new to Britain, discovered in South Wales. British

Journal of Entomology and Natural History 19, 105-108.

Pachynematus glabriceps Lindqvist. Pachynematus glabriceps Lindqvist, a new

British Sawfly and a note on Empria liturata Gmelin (Hym., Tenthredinidae).


Pamphilius albopictus (Thomson). Shinohara, A. 1998 Pamphilius albopictus

(Hymenoptera, Pamphiliidae) and its Close Relatives. Bulletin of the National

Science Museum, Series A, Zoology 24, 225-252.

Parna apicalis (Brischke). Edmunds, R., Hind, S., Liston, A. & Palmer, K. 2007

Parna apicalis (Brischke, 1888) (Symphyta:Tenthredinidae), a leaf-mining sawfly

new to Great Britain. Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation 119, 223-226.


23

Pristicampus arcticus (Lindqvist). Benson, R.B. 1961. Pachynematus arcticus

(Lindqvist) comb. nov., a new British sawfly in Sutherland (Hym., Tenthredinidae).


Pristiphora coactula (Ruthe). Benson, R. B. 1959 Sawflies (Hym., Symphyta) of

Sutherland and Wester Ross. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 95, 101-104.

Pristiphora decipiens Enslin. Liston, A. D. 1981 Notes on little known British

Pristiphora Lat. (Hym., Tenthredinidae) of the abietina-group. Entomologist's

Monthly Magazine 117, 73-75.

Pristiphora insularis Rohwer. Lindqvist, E. 1961 Die Pontopristia-Arten Finnlands

(Hym., Tenthr.). Notulae Entomologicae 41, 69-79.

Pristiphora leucopus (Hellen). Grearson, K. J. 2006 A sawfly, Pristiphora leucopus

(Hellén) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), new to Britain. British Journal of

Entomology and Natural History 19, 1-5, 1 plate.

Pristiphora luteipes Lindqvist. O'Connor, J. P., Liston, A. D. & Speight, M. C. D.

1997 A Review of the Irish sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) including a checklist

of species. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 20, 2-99.

Pristiphora pseudodecipiens Benes & Kristek. Beneš, K. & Krístek, J. 1976 A new

species of the genus Pristiphora (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae) feeding on Norway

spruce. Acta entomologica bohemoslovaca 73, 404-415.

Pristiphora variipes (Lindqvist). Liston, A. D. 1981a Pristiphora (Lygaeophora)

lanifica (Zaddach, 1882) new to Britain (Hym., Tenthredinidae). Entomologist's

Gazette 32, 181-184.

Pseudodineura mentiens (Thomson). Liston, A. D. & Blank, S. M. 2006 New and

little-known British Xyelidae and Tenthredinidae (Hymenoptera, Symphyta).


Scolioneura vicina Konow. Liston, A. D. & O'Connor, J. P. 2005 Records of Irish

sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) including eight species new to Ireland. Irish


Xiphydria longicollis. (Geoffroy). Shaw, M. R. & Liston, A. D. 1985 Xiphydria

longicollis (Geoffroy) (Hymenoptera: Xiphydriidae) new to Britain. Entomologist's

Gazette 36, 233-235.


24

Xyela curva Benson. Liston, A. D. & Blank, S. M. 2006 New and little-known British

Xyelidae and Tenthredinidae (Hymenoptera, Symphyta). Entomologist's Monthly

Magazine 142, 219-227.

In some cases the galls are a better means of identity than adults and students will

find Redfern, M. & Shirley, P. 2002. British Plant Galls. Field Studies 10, 207-531

particularly useful. Several species form leaf mines and identification of these may

be facilitated from the website at www.leafmines.co.uk.

As always I will be happy to assist in the identification of any material from Kent

and also to receive records.



25

RABBITS! ORCHID FRIEND OR FOE?

s I write in late June 2009, the orchid season has been a very mixed one in

Kent. The Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora formerly Aceras

anthropophorum) in particular seems to have done well. Although now

officially regarded as “Endangered” on a national basis, the Man Orchid has always

been locally frequent in Kent, especially in the North and West of the county. This

year a count of over 7,000 was made on the Kent Wildlife Trust’s Darland Bank

Reserve and there were high counts on some Roadside Verges.

A

Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora)

7,000 + at Darland Bank 2009


26

Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea)

Flowering under a Beech near Cuxton.


27

Contrast the above happy picture with the poor flowering in 2009 of, for me Kent’s

“orchid glory,” the Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea). My closest substantial colony is

in a wood on the Ranscombe Farm nature reserve, near Cuxton, managed by

Plantlife. A few years ago, a scrub covered area under Beeches where a handful of

Lady Orchids had grown for a number of years, was opened up. Last year, some 30

plants flowered in this area, including several very fine specimens. This year,

despite a number of rosettes appearing, there were no Lady Orchid plants flowering

in the cleared area. The probable cause, and hence my title, RABBITS! Two fine

plants flowered close together under a large Beech a few metres away from the

main area (see picture), but every plant in the main opened-up area had been

chewed. Maybe the “opening-up” was overdone and resulted in exposing the Lady

Orchid plants to the ravages of the dreaded coney?

Likewise, Lady Orchids flowered poorly in East Kent. On the Kent Wildlife Trust’s

Reserve at Yockletts Bank, flowering plants were only in single figures, but this

could have largely been due to the extremely dry weather experienced in East Kent

this Spring and early Summer. However, rabbits were probably responsible for the

continued devastation of one of the largest Lady Orchid populations in the whole of

Kent. Here, in an East Kent Forestry Commission plantation, no more than 50

flowering plants survived in a colony which has held well in excess of 1,000 in a

good year. Few flowers actually survived here in either 2007 or 2008, but oddly in

those years, the individual florets appeared to have been neatly chewed off! Many

of the denuded stems were even left standing, whilst others could be seen scattered

over the ground. Who the culprits were is a matter for conjecture. Rabbits or deer

one feels would not have been so delicate or so sparing. If any reader has a

suggestion, I would welcome hearing from you. Anyway, back to 2009, when

whatever had done the chewing made a thorough job and ate everything, stems and

all! So, my favoured offender this year – yes the RABBIT!

As a footnote, it appears Lady Orchids, or “Fair Maids of Kent” as they are often

known, are particularly succulent morsels. I say this because Twayblades (Neottia

ovata formally Listera ovata) have always abounded in their thousands on the

above East Kent site, and none ever seems to be touched by the “predator”!

The introduction of myxomatosis in the 1950’s of course drastically reduced rabbit

populations, but it appears that this was only a temporary blip and that rabbits may

soon have developed some immunity. Certainly there has been a rapid increase

again in rabbit numbers over recent years. To walk on downland slopes without due

care and attention can now prove to be a hazardous pastime, lest, like Alice, we fall

down a rabbit hole! It is strange to think that when it was first introduced into Britain

by the Normans in the twelfth century from the western Mediterranean for its fur and

meat, the rabbit was so poorly adapted to life in this country that artificial burrows

had to be dug so that it could breed!


28

Botanists, and especially orchid lovers, must have been highly delighted when

rabbit grazing pressure was released by the introduction of myxomatosis. The

euphoria was to be short lived, however, because this sudden decline in rabbit

numbers soon led to scrub encroachment onto many orchid sites which a few years

earlier had been open downland. Inevitably a dilemma is created because rabbit

grazing is key to maintaining the close cropped chalk downland which is so

necessary for many orchid communities to survive, yet at what cost to the orchids

flowering?

Certain orchids seem to be favoured targets for rabbits, such as Lady Orchids,

mentioned earlier, Fly Orchids (Ophrys insectifera) and various downland species,

in particular the rare Monkey Orchid (Orchis simia). It seems to me no mere

coincidence that the Monkey Orchid was re-found in Kent just after the introduction

of myxomatosis had devastated rabbit populations.

The “Fair Maid of Kent”

A particularly succulent morsel.


29

So, where should an orchid lover’s sympathies lie? From a personal viewpoint, I

would like to have my cake and eat it. I would like to see fewer rabbits, and thereby

more flowering orchids. However, this may well mean scrub encroachment, so for

orchids to survive in the long term, it probably requires the re-introduction of grazing

schemes on a wide scale. I refer of course to grazing regimes such as those being

employed by the Kent Wildlife Trust on many of its reserves and the excellent work

on the Downs at Folkestone being undertaken by the White Cliffs Countryside

Project.

The Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) has been a significant feature of this article,

and I have to admit to its being my favourite orchid. Whilst musing on the stately

Lady, which can often be 2 feet or more tall, and its vulnerability to rabbits, my

thoughts turned to another orchid, which resembles a miniature Lady Orchid in

appearance, and seldom exceeds 6 inches in height. I refer of course to that little

gem the Burnt Orchid (Neotinea ustulata formerly Orchis ustulata) which has

become such a rarity in Kent. I think again this year it failed to flower anywhere in

the county.

The Burnt Orchid has always been a rarity in Kent. The 1982 Atlas quoted 4 sites

where only a few plants ever occur. This is possibly now down to 3 sites since none

has flowered at Queendown Warren for a number of years. The last Burnt Orchid I

saw in flower at Queendown was in 1988! In fact, the last Burnt Orchids I saw

flowering in Kent were at Wye NNR in late May 2000, when 7 of these tiny

downland jewels burst into life high up on the slopes above the Devil’s Kneading

Trough.

Although I do not know whether rabbits are partial to Burnt Orchids, I began to

contemplate that it would indeed be a disaster should flowering Burnt Orchids fall

victim to rabbits. It could well sound the death knell for this orchid species in our

county. So my final thoughts are that we could happily do without the introduced

rabbit, at least as far as our native orchids are concerned!

References :

Philp, E. G. (1982) Atlas of the Kent Flora. Kent Field Club.

All illustrations by the Author.

David Johnson. 5 John’s Road, Meopham, Kent. DA13 0LP.


30

Burnt Orchid (Neotinia ustulata)

A Kentish rarity. Lydden, 1990’s.


31

THE IDENTITY OF THE LEAF-CURLING MITE ON

CLEAVERS IN KENT

leavers, goosegrass, hairif or sticky willie, more correctly known as Galium

aparine is one of the most ubiquitous plants in Kent having been found in

1031 of the 1044 tetrads in the recent floral atlas (Philp, 1982). It is also

commonly a host to a small eriophyoid mite referred to as Cecidophyes galii

(Karpelles) which induces leaf inrolling and curling (Redfern et al., 2002). The

distribution of this gall inducing mite in Kent has yet to be fully mapped though

provisional data indicate it is locally widespread in the county.

Prior to the publication of Craemer et al. (1999) it was always assumed that the

eriophyoid mite in question in the UK was E.galii. However Cecidophyes rouhollahi

Craemer, a species known to occur on the same host plant in Britain induces the

formation of galls that are indistinguishable from those of C.galii. It seems that at the

present time the occurrence of these mites cannot be determined based solely on

the occurrence of the galls and morphological comparisons of the mites are

necessary for confirmation. To this end, Joe Ostoja-Starzewski of the Food and

Environmental Research Agency (formerly CSL) has requested samples of infested

Galium aparine to be sent to him from around the U.K.

Specimens sent by me from Whitstable and our home in Selling proved to be the

‘new’ species, C. rouhollahi Craemer, which can now be added to the county list.

Although the results of the UK-wide survey are far from complete (though cleavers

has largely died back by now and is not ideal for examining gall mites) it may well be

that C. galii does not occur in Britain. So strictly speaking both species remain on

the county list for the time being. It should be noted that Massee (1961) recorded

C.galii in his checklist of gall mites of Kent based on taxonomic characters of the

mites rather than the presence of galls. However, the existence of two obviously

closely related species was not known at that time.

References

Craemer, C., Sobhian R., McClay, A.S. & Amrine, Jnr, J.W. (1999). A new species

of Cecidophyes (Acari: Eriophyidae) from Galium aparine (Rubiaceae) with notes

on its biology and potential as a biological control agent for Galium spurium.

International Journal of Acarology 25:225-263.

Ostoja-Starzewski, J.C. (2009). Is the eriophyoid mite Cecidophyes galii truly

present in Britain? British Journal of Entomology & Natural History 21:100.

Massee, A.M. (1961). The gall mites (Arachnida: Acarina: Eriophyidae) of Kent.

The Transactions of the Kent Field Club 1:110-118.

Philp, E.G. (1982). Atlas of the Kent Flora. 211pp.

Redfern, M., Shirley, P. & Bloxham, M. (2002). Key to galls. Identification of galls

on plants and fungi in Britain. 317pp.

C


32

John Badmin Coppice Place, Perry Wood, Selling near Faversham, Kent ME13

9RP.


33

Cecidophyes galls on Galium aparine


34

OCCURRENCE OF A NEW EUCALYPTUS GALL IN KENT

ucalyptus gum trees have been imported to the UK for horticultural and

amenity use for well over a century. The genus comprises a mix of

evergreen trees and shrubs, grown for their combination of attractive bark,

flowers and aromatic foliage. Some such as E.globulus and E.gunnii are extremely

fast growing and these species have been grown for their timber, often in vast

plantations around the world. Despite many containing secondary compounds such

as Eucalyptus oils which you might expect to deter herbivores, the genus does host

a very large number of insect species. A few of these have followed their hostplants

as they have been transported around the globe. The psyllids, Ctenarytaina

eucalypti and C. spatulata are widely established in Europe, though only the former

is known from the UK and Kent. It used to be widespread. However the numbers of

this species have declined dramatically following the introduction of an encyrtid

parasitoid, Psyllaephagus pilosus for its control and there has been less reason of

late to check large Eucalyptus trees for insects (Badmin, 2008a).

When we were on holiday in Corsica four years ago (successfully searching for the

Corsican nuthatch) I could not stop myself looking at the foliage of some Eucalyptus

trees lining the roads along the west coast and to my surprise found nearly all of the

leaves were covered in small blisters or galls (fig. 1). They were so small I was not

entirely convinced they were arthropod-induced galls and thought they might have

the result of nutrient stress.

Then in 2006, Tilbury and Jukes reported the occurrence of a minute gall-forming

eulophid wasp, Ophelimus maskelli Ashmead new to the UK – causing exactly the

same symptoms. The first damaged plants were found in a garden in Lambeth in

2005 and I happened across a heavily infested tree in Gunnersbury Cemetery, west

London in 2007 (Badmin, 2008b). Andrew Halstead of RHS, Wisley kindly identified

the galls for me. I searched numerous eucalypts in north Kent subsequently but

found no evidence for their presence in the summer of 2007.

Then on June 4 this year I observed a large specimen of E.gunnii at Macknade,

Faversham (TR025603) with its leaves lightly infested with O. maskelli, the first

record for Kent. I have relooked at about five other eucalypt sites without further

success. However it can only be a matter of time before this gall-forming wasp

spreads right across Kent and the South-East in general. Further records of this

species should be sent to the Records Centre so we can plot its spread.

The wasp is minute (<2mm in length) and so difficult to identify using formal

taxonomic keys and its presence is usually recorded based on the occurrence of its

characteristic galls. John LaSalle, recently of the International Institute of

Entomology, London and now researching eulophid taxonomy in Australia is not

entirely certain of the wasp’s identity as it appears slightly different morphologically

from Australian O.maskelli. The wasp is therefore being referred to as O. ?maskelli

for the time being.

E


35

I am reminded of the recent spread of horsechestnut leafminer Cameraria

ohridella D. & D. across England. However, O. ?maskelli far outperforms C.

ohridella in the number of infestations per leaf, with up to 200 galls per leaf.

References

Badmin, J. (2008a). Eucalyptus parasitoid naturalised in Kent. British Journal of

Entomology & Natural History 21:100.

Badmin, J. (2008b). Spread of Ophelimus ?maskelli Ashmead (Hymenoptera:

Eulophidae) in south-east England. British Journal of Entomology & Natural History

21:147-148.

John Badmin Coppice Place, Perry Wood, Selling near Faversham, Kent ME13

9RP.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

ince the last Newsletter in April 2009, six new members have joined the Kent

Field Club. These are Ms J. Elwell, Mr. M. Fray, Miss V. Gilson, Mr. P. Grout,

Mr. I. Jackson and Miss H. Ward. S


36

Welcome to all new members and we hope that you enjoy participating in the

Club’s events. If you need to contact me with regard to any changes in your

membership details, then I would be happy to hear from you at the address below.

Kathy Friend, 2 West End Cottages, Doddington, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 0BZ or

[email protected]


37

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS OF THE KENT FIELD CLUB

ALL MEETINGS BEGIN AT 10.30 AM UNLESS SPECIFIED

OCTOBER

Saturday 3rd. Westerham Wood SSSI. Second visit this year to look at fungi etc.

Meet at farm buildings near Force Green TQ448553. Leader: Joyce Pitt.

Saturday 10th. Kent Wildlife Conference, Canterbury. Details are given below.

Saturday 10th. Oldbury Hill. Introduction to Leaf Miners. Meet at Styants Bottom car

park TQ578558. Leader: Keith Palmer.

Sunday 11th. Park Wood, Chilham Woodland Trust reserve and SSSI for fungi.

Meet/park in layby on A252 at TR047527. Leaders: Alick Henrici and Joyce Pitt.

Sunday 18th. Roundshill Wood, Sissinghurst for fungi. Meet in National Trust car

park TQ808383. Leader: Martin Allison.

Sunday 25th. Faggs Wood for fungi. Meet in car park at TQ986346. Leader: Joyce

Pitt.

NOVEMBER

Saturday 14th. Lichens at Woodchurch churchyard and Warehorne churchyard.

Meet at 10.30 am at TQ942349 and at 1.30 pm at TQ990326. Leader: Keith

Palmer.

NEW INDOOR MEETING. Sunday 22nd. Field Meetings Review. Reports of the

2009 season to include short presentations, exhibits and ideas for 2010. Meet at

Tyland Barn TQ752593 by 2 pm.

JANUARY 2010

NEW INDOOR MEETING. Sunday 17th. The History and Natural History of the

Tidal Thames. A talk by Ian Tittley. Short contributions on other aspects of the

Thames by other members are welcome. Meet at Tyland Barn TQ752593 by 2 pm.


38

BEES, WASPS AND ANTS OF KENT BY GEOFF ALLEN

Announcing a new publication from Kent Field Club.

ees, wasps and ants of Kent is a brand new publication which presents

information on the distribution of 448 species of bees, wasps and ants – the

aculeate Hymenoptera – which have been recorded in Kent. More than 440

distribution maps, drawn from a database of more than 55,000 records, show how

the distribution of many species has changed over time. Each map is accompanied

by an individual account of the species, together with information on synonymy and

the species’ status in the UK and Kent. A sample page is illustrated below (at

reduced size: the published book is in A4 format).

Background information is provided on aspects of the life history and behaviour of

the aculeate hymenoptera, and the book will provide a useful reference for those

with an existing interest in the group as well as those with a more general interest in

Kent’s natural history. The author, Geoff Allen, is Kent Field Club’s referee and

recorder for the aculeate hymenoptera.

Bees, wasps and ants of Kent is published in hardback and in A4 format. It has

120 pages, in full colour, and includes a series of superb illustrations by the author.

To be published in August 2009.

Bees, wasps and ants of Kent is available to Kent Field Club members at

£22.50 per copy, including postage and packing.

B


39


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THE KENT WILDLIFE CONFERENCE 2009

Improving Connectivity across our landscape: linking habitats and

populations

Saturday, 17 October 2009, 10:00am – 4:00pm

The Old Sessions Lecture Theatre

Canterbury Christ Church University College, Kent

Supported by Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre

he aim of this year’s conference is to look at how the interlinking of habitats

and populations across the landscape influences our local wildlife. First of all,

the flora and fauna need to be mapped on a site by site basis so we know

where all the species are and the results made centrally available. This relies

largely on the expertise and enthusiasm of the recording community. Further

quantitative or semi-quantitative studies then provide us with additional information

on where the largest, most viable populations occur and this is especially useful

when developing plans for the conservation of rare or endangered species. The

presence of suitable habitat on its own may not be sufficient for species persistence

long term and close linkage (i.e. connectivity) to other high quality habitats is seen

as increasingly important at a landscape scale in maintaining viable populations of

many high profile species. Planning initiatives at local district, county and national

levels have been implemented in an attempt to ameliorate the effects of habitat

fragmentation and deterioration and several examples of these initiatives will be

discussed during the conference. Counter-intuitively, motorways which normally

exacerbate habitat fragmentation may act as corridors for selected groups of wildlife.

T


41

THE KENT WILDLIFE CONFERENCE 2009

Improving connectivity across our landscape: linking habitats and

populations

Programme

9:30 - 10:00 Arrival and coffee

10:00 Welcome and Introduction. Richard Moyse (Kent Field Club)

Session 1

10:05 Wildlife and planning in Dover: the Green Infrastructure Approach. Nick

Delaney (Dover District Council)

10:25 Mapping Great Crested Newt metapopulations across Kent. Lee Brady (Kent

Reptiles & Amphibians Group)

10:45 Linking marine intertidal communities. Ian Tittley (Natural History Museum,

London)

11:05 - 11:30 Coffee and poster session

Session 2

11:30 Chiropteran Countryside commuters. Frank Greenaway (formerly, Natural

History Museum, London)

11:50 Landscape planning and Habitat networks in the Canterbury district. Richard

Andrews (Jacobs UK plc)

12:10 The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Kentish roadsides: botanical connectivity. Geoff

Kitchener (Kent Field Club)

12:30 Connectivity across a woodland landscape: lessons from the management of

Blean Woods and the Heath Fritillary butterfly. Nick Bourn (Butterfly Conservation)

12:50 – 2:10 Lunch and poster session

2:10 Project and record requests. (All)

Session 3

2:30 The role of ponds in maintaining freshwater habitats at the landscape scale.

Jeremy Biggs (Pond Conservation)

2:50 The role of Agri-environment schemes in restoring habitats and corridors. Dan

Tuson (Natural England).

3:10 Reconnecting wildlife in Kent. Sue Young (Kent Wildlife Trust)

3:30 -3:45 Discussion

3:45 Tea and Close


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The cost for the day will be £14.00 per person including all light refreshments and a

buffet lunch (vegetarian dishes included). Please enclose a cheque payable to the

Kent Field Club with the completed reply slip (below) and return by Friday 9th

October 2009 to: John Badmin, Kent Field Club, Coppice Place, Perry Wood,

Selling, nr Faversham, Kent ME13 9RP.

© 2007 Canterbury Christ Church University

How to find Canterbury Christ Church University and Old Sessions House


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BEES, WASPS AND ANTS OF KENT ORDER FORM

Please send me copies of Bees, wasps and ants of Kent at

£22.50.

I enclose a cheque for made payable to Kent Field Club.

Name

Address

Please send your completed form and payment to

Richard Moyse, Hon. Treasurer, Kent Field Club, 2 West End Cottages, The

Street, Doddington, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 0BZ.

∀------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KENT WILDLIFE CONFERENCE BOOKING FORM

I/We hereby enclose £ . . . . . . . . . to attend the Kent Wildlife Conference

2009

(Please make cheques payable to Kent Field Club).

Name(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Telephone/email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . .

If you require confirmation of your booking, or a receipt, please enclose a stamped,

self-addressed envelope.

To: John Badmin, Kent Field Club, Coppice Place, Perry Wood, Selling, nr

Faversham, Kent ME13 9RP.

number 70 the newsletter of the kent field club august 2009 the

Documents