Micro Time

The sun came out and so it was time to go and take a look round my favorite RSPB reserve. I decided that it would be great to look at all the micro wildlife that we tend to miss. I have become quite fascinated by the different insects that over the years I have ignored. Spiders, wasps, hoverflies and many others that I did find scary!

So to start us off here are some of my favorites. These were taken along the Woodland trail path that leads to you to the Fisher's Mill Bridge. For those that don't know the area click here and it will take you to the map of finding your way round the reserve.

Whilst to some they are very creepy, they do play an important role in nature. Fly's, which I must admit I am not a big fan of, are useful in the right conditions. But, if they get out of hand then they can cause many health problems.

I have discovered that the common green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata) seen here plays an important role in forensic and medical science. In forensic science they can use the maggots to relate to the time of death. How they do it is linked to when the fly lays their eggs in the exposed wound or a body that is decomposing. They have also used maggots for medical situations where there is a serious infection. By placing the maggot in the infected area it will devour the infection. Although please don't try this at home!!

Green bottle fly  -Lucilia sericata

The little chap below is a Flesh fly - sarcophaga carnaria. Like the green bottle they are very common in the UK. Plus they love anything that is decomposing, such dead animals,  faeces or any meat base food. They will use these as a food source for their eggs to ensure their survival. They can lay around 500 eggs in between 75 to 150 batches during a four day period.That's a lot of flies gulp.

Flesh fly - Sarcophaga carnaria

Look out for these quick darting hoverflies. They will move quickly from one plant to another looking for nectar or pollen.

Common Hover Fly Syrphus ribesii           

Dolichovespula Saxonica  -Wasp

I have always been wary of wasps, but I learnt you just need to respect and not panic when they buzz round you. Did you know that that in 1987 the first British record of this wasp was reported, it was spotted near Dorking, Surrey. Not many people know that!

Dolichovespula Saxonica - Wasp

If you love spiders, then do keep an eye out for hidden ones, they will make their spider web amongst the leaves, this way they can trap any moving insects for their supper, stay safe and sheltered

 

 

Spiders will often be found lurking in plants, so look out for their webs. I found this one by peering under the leaf, but I could not get that close with my camera, so the picture is a little on the small side.

                           

This is the same spider, but not taken by me. Cheers Tony Bucknall.

You will also see little snails that have crept up the stem of plants, either resting or eating their chosen preferred plant. In gardens they can destroy many plants although, there are many ways of preventing this. One suggestion is to put comfy leaves around plants, this will encourage the snails to eat these leaves instead of the ones you wished they didn't.  

Snails are an easy meal for some predators like leeches, beetles, and caterpillars. Including frogs, toads, snakes and some birds, such as ducks and geese. Snails must keep moist and so you will find that they spend a lot of time inside their shell. So don't always mistake them for sleeping.

Snail

Snail

One of my all time favourites as a child and I still get a lot of joy when I see them, is the Ladybird. Their bright colour of red will put some predictors off and if a predator does try to eat one they will soon get a bad taste in their mouth. 

 



They secrete a substance over their body that will leave a bad taste in the mouth of the opportunist. However,  swifts and swallows seem to be immune to this substance and will feed on the wings of ladybirds.

 
This is a yellow harlequin (succinea) ladybird. Up until 2010 it was in decline in the United Kingdom and it now seems to be making a come back.








Over by the Fishers Miller Pond I saw a small selection of butterflies making the most of the warm weather. like the yellow harlequin, the comma butterfly is making a comeback. In the 20th century it was almost in decline. So it's good to see another butterfly on the increase.

Comma - Polygonia c-album

Comma - Polygonia c-album

Meadow Brown- Maniola jurtina looking a little worn out

Possibly a Svensson's Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera ?

Not a 100% sure that this is a Svensson's Copper Underwing, looks very similair to a Copper Underwing, so the jury is out. If anyone knows then do let me know on here.



The range of flowers were also a sight for sore eyes and this is just a small collection

Whilst to some these may look like weeds they play an important role by helping our wildlife. Many beneficial insects rely on plants for nectar and pollen or shelter. If you plant wildlife flowers in your garden then you can attract insects that will act as a natural pesticide. Worth thinking about.

It has also been recorded that over the past 50 years declines have been noted in many groups of British insects, such as common butterflies, moths, bees and hoverflies  that need certain flowers to survive. So we do need to plant more.

One of the main reasons  that wild flowers are being destroyed is due to new building complexes being built all over the UK.

 Many plants need to have insects to pollinate so the flowers can become fertilised. If the insects are in decline this will have a knock on effect on wild flowers.
To attract the insects the flowers must provide food. They have two rich sources - nectar and pollen.

The nectar is a source of energy containing sugars. The pollen grains contain the much needed proteins and oils they will use for growth.

So you can see both do help each other. Without flowers no insects and without insects, no flowers.







I cannot finish without putting up one of my favourite spots. Over by the heronry there is a bird feeder and you will see various birds, such as the blue tit, greenfinch, goldfinch flying in and out to snack on the food put out for them. Here are a few of my favourites.

"Primates need good nutrition, to begin with. Not only fruits and plants, but insects as well"
                                                                                           Richard Leakey

References

Allen, G. W., and Archer M. E.  (1989) Dolichovespula saxonica (Fabricius, 1793) (Hym., Vespidae) found in Britain with a key to British Dolichovespula. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine, Volume  125, p. 103-105.

BioExpedition (ND) Lady Bug the facts. accessed [25.08.13] http://bioexpedition.com/lady-bug/

Butterfly Conservation (ND) Comma [accessed 30.08.13] http://butterfly-conservation.org

Entomology and Nematology (ND) Common green bottle fly. accessed [24.08.13] http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/flies/lucilia_sericata.htm 

 Entomology and Nematology (ND) Urban Flies Musca domestica Linnaeus  accessed [30.08.13]http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/flies/house_fly.htm


Phillips A & Roberts in Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording Society (2013)  Anthophora plumipes. Accessed [25.08.13] http://www.bwars.com/index.php?q=bee/apidae/anthophora-plumipes.

Rueda LC, Ortega LG, Segura NA, Acero VM, Bello F. 2010. Lucilia sericata strain from Colombia: Experimental colonization, life tables and evaluation of two artificial diets of the blowfly Lucilia sericata.Biol Res ;43(2):197-203

 Bennett SM (2006) Musca domestica  (The Common Housefly)

Snail world (ND) Information and facts about snails accessed [25.08.13]  http://www.snail-world.com/

UK Safari (ND) Flesh Flies. accessed [24.08.13] http://www.uksafari.com/fleshflies.htm

UK Ladybirds (ND)  Ladybird species in the U. accessed [25.08.13] http://www.ladybird-survey.org/species_list.aspx

Halstead A  in RHS (ND) Plants for pollinators. accessed [30.08.13]   http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Sustainable-gardening/Plants-for-pollinators