Birds and Beer: lacebug

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NORTH NORFOLK: A walk on the saltmarsh

17th September 2022

I had originally intended to attend a fungus study group foray on this date, but instead decided to head to Warham saltmarshes where the Norfolk Flora Group were holding a meeting combined with a workshop on Sea Lavenders. Unfortunately the area we were surveying held only Common Sea Lavender and a hybrid with Lax-flowered, so I still haven't seen Matted or Rock Sea Lavenders - maybe next year!

The plant highlight for me was Corn Parsley, which I'd not seen before, whilst we also had the benefit of Alex Prendergast's Elm knowledge to point out a couple of different Elm species.

I checked some Sea Wormwood plants unsuccessfully in the hope of finding Scarce Pug larvae, but did find a consolation in with some Wormwood Case-bearer larvae (Coleophora albicans). Other invertebrate highlights included Coleophora atriplicis on Annual Sea-blite, the lacebug Parapiesma quadratum and Sea Lavender Aphid Staticobium staticis. I failed to find any Sea Lavender Weevils, but perhaps focussed to much on the flowerheads, as something I've since read online suggests that they are best found by turning over the basal leaves.

YARE VALLEY: A sunny day at Wheatfen

Late July 2022

My annual summer visit to Wheatfen was pleasant as always, with lots of insects and a large emergence of harvestmen, with four species noted, three of them in quite large numbers. Highlights included a Sulphur Beetle (rare outside the Brecks and coast), a Bronze Shieldbug, a lacebug Derephysia foliacea, a Three-lined Soldierfly (Oxycera trilineata) and some Yellow Loosestrife Bees.

NORTH NORFOLK: Templewood autumn fungi

6th October 2018

This was a return visit to the private Templewood estate near Northrepps, where the owner is building up a list of wildlife records. Our previous visit had been in spring, so many of the species we found were new to the site, and despite the tally initially seeming quite modest, with the help of Stewart's plant fungi records we got up to a respectable 118 species.

Before setting off we had a look at a few things that members had brought to show. Knowing that I hadn't seen many autumn moths Stewart had brought some, including Green-brindled Crescent &| Merveille de Jour, plus some Andromeda Lacebugs. Keith also had a Wood Hedgehog fungus to show.

Of the fungi species that we found there were a handful of new ones for me including Rooting Poisonpie, Mycena diosma and several Conocybes. A tiny yellow waxcap, Hygrocybe vitellina, and Physisporinus vitreus, a white jelly-like fungus covering liverworts. Many thanks to Eddie for hosting the group.