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PRESENTED [|
| GENERAL LIBRARY |
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The Reading Naturalist

No. 40

Published by the Reading and District
Natural History Society
1988

Price to Non-Members £1.50

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THE READING NATURALIST

No. 40 for the year 1987

The Journal of
The Reading- and District Natural History

Society

President:
liiss £.F. Holly

Hon. General Secretary: Hon. Editor:

Whitfield lirse HeD. Lambden
74 Beech Lane

lLirse Sela

Ashdown
Basingstoke Road Earley
Spencers Wood, Reading Reading

Editorial Sub-Committee:

The Editor, 3B. Baker, H.li. Carter,
LilSe Bielie tlewman, Dr. Ae Brickstock,

Dre H. Bowen

Honorary Recorders:

irs. Bei.. Newman, tarley Cottage, 25 Beech Lane, Earley, Reading

Jotany:
-ntomology: lite BeR. Baker, 25 liatlock Road, Caversham, Reading
Vertebrates: lire Hell. Carter, 82 Kennylands Road, Sonning Common, Reading

“ungi: Dr. A. Brickstock, 25 Cockney Hill,.Tilehurst, Reading

CONTENTS

Page

Editorial
Meetings and Excursions 1986-87 1
Obituaries Z
Presidential Address 1987 hiss E.F. Holly 2
Woodlice Dr. S. Hopkin 8
Fungus Forays _ Dre Ae Bricietoek 13
B.S.B.I. Scheme Dr. HeJ.t.. Bowen 15
Natural History in Place-Names Daphne Phillips 18
Caterpillars X- Ramsdale | ; 20
Honorary Recorder's Reports:

Botany Report Beit. Newman 28

Entomology Report Bek. Baker . 36

Fungi Report Dre Ae Brickstock 45

Vertebrates Xeport HeH. Carter 50
weather Records Dr. RD. Thompson 52

Editorial

This is rather a 'luseum Piece’! During 1987 Shirley Townend and Brian
Baker retired from the staff of ieading t.useum. Shirley had been responsible
for the setting up and maintenance of the Schools’ Lending Service based

at Yeomanry House. S8rian has been a member of staff since 1947 and Deputy
Director since 1956. Both have over the years served as members of the
Committee of our Society, as iresidents and as members of the iEditorial
Sub-Committee - they have given us a long and valuable service.

The Reading liuseum and Art Gallery have long been ‘home’ to our Society and

we are grateful to all past and present members of staff for their co-operation
in our activities. Even though we are at present holding our winter meetings
at the ..bbey Room of the Library we still depend upon the storage facilities

of the liuseum. Hugh Carter is still a member of the i.useum staff and we

look forward to our happy relationship continuing in the future.

lirs. Nan Sandels was a member of the Luseum staff for many years and an
active member of our Society. After living for some years in Chipping
Norton, shehas returned to reside in this area. We give her a hearty welcome
and it is a pleasure to see her at our winter meetings once again.

we are grateful to both Hugh and Brian for their help in making available to
me the museum specimens used for illustrating the diagnostic features of
caterpillars in the article in this number. Thanks to all past and present
members of staff of the Reading i.useum and also to all who have contributed
articles, to our recorders, our typist, duplicator and collators.

a, hers

Neetings and Excursions

The Annual General Meeting held on October 9th 1986 was followed by the
Presidential Address given by Dr Alan Brickstock entitled 'Tadley-God-
Bless-Us or Nothing is Forever’ (Attendance 54). Other talks given during
the winter of 1986 were:- on October 23rd It Seems Like Yesterday by Brian
Baker (50);0n November 6th A Japanese Cherry Journey - Japan 1986 - Reading
1986 by Catherine Olver (48); An African Safari by Florence Rigg on November
20th (43) and Deer of Great Britain by Brian Barton on December 4th (41).
Winter talks continued on January 8th on Acid Rain by Humphry Bowen (38);

on January 22nd Norman Hall gave a most interesting account of bird-watching
in Turkey as the speaker arranged for the evening was unable to attend (41);
on February 5th Rocks and Wildlife by Ann NcCord (45); on February 19th
Baynes Reserve and Bowdown Wood by Dick Hornby (43); finally an Introduction
to the Work of the Meteorological Office by Peter Bate (43).

On December 18th 1986 and March 19ti: 1987 Nembers' Evenings were held, both as
usual ably organised by Hugh Carter with refreshments kindly supplied by

Ivy Brickstock. Our thanks to all who contributed to these two popular and
enjoyable events (42 & 49).

Walks and Excursions - organised by Brian Reed.

Irs. Hack led the first Fungus Foray to Hook End,' Checkendon on October

3rd (20); and Alan Brickstock and Neville Diserens led the second foray

at Kingwood Common with attendances of 15 in the morning and 20 in the
afternoon. Sheila Ward led for general interest around Pangbourne on .
15th November (15); on 13th December with Brian Reed a walk along the Thames
in Reading for general interest (8) and for liosses and Liverworts at
Yoodcote with Dr Watson (24).

Two full day excursions were held - on 13th December for birds at vagham
Harbour with iiartin Sell (10); for birds at Arundel on February 7th with
Norman lIlall (17).

lalf-day Summer Excursions

These started in extremely wet conditions to Sulham toods - leader

Neville Diserens - for general interest (5); on 25th April to Srimpton

for Purple Toothwort, i:eadow Saxifrage and i.arsh Marigold (29); on 2nd lay

to Remenham Pastures for Loddon Lily and other spring flowers (24); on

30th i:ay - leader iartin Sell - to Aston Upthorpe, a B3CIHT Xeserve, for

Chalk l.ilkwort and other chalk grassland plants (25); HZileen !lolly led at
Turville ileath on 27th June (27); on1st. August led by Doug Hambleton to
Silchester for general interest (18); Roland Ramsdale first led at North Lake,
Bracknell for fringed Water Lily and sheila ward led on to <nglemere Lond for
some pond dipping (14); ..artin Sell led to ilook Common for |.-arsh Gentians (25).

Evening {xcursions

The first was to Burghfield Gravel pits for listening to birdsong 14th l.ay (20);
to 10th June to iJellington Country Park for bats - leader l.ike Hardy (10); on
July ist an evening stroll by the Kennet with Brian Reed (12). The annual
Barbecue and iothing Evening was held at California Country Park. It was
organised by Humphry Bowen and Brian Baker but was preceded by a late afternoon
stroll led by liumphry. Altogether a popular and enjoyable event attended by

42 members.

Full-Day Excursions

The Annual Coach Excursion was to Durlston Head Country Park at Swanage. This
_ has a wide variety of habitats - woodland, downland, cliffs and farmland. We
' found Early Spider Orchids, Horseshoe Vetch, Pale Flax, hilkwort and Green-
veined Orchids and also saw many sea birds (53).

On June 6th a visit was made to Charles Flower's farm at Shalborne - this was
a followup of his talk the previous year. Later Hugh “nnion gave a guided tour
of Ham Hill (25). lr Helyar was the leader to Tadley and Ashford Will on June
14th - mothing traps had been set up the previous evening by kind permission
of Mr Ron Ward (24).

ee

Obituaries

Bruce Penman who died on December 8th 1986 was a member of the Natural
History Society for many years and is greatly missed by all who knew

him and walked with him on the many Field-outings especially during the
last two years of his life, when despite his illness (Parkinson's Disease)
he carried on with admirable elan to look for the rare flower or dragon-
fly in the wettest of water meadows.

Botany was one of his many interests. Professionally he was a cartographer,
linguist and a successful translator of Italian, German, Dutch and other
foreign literature.

His. extensive travels took him to a good many countries. Hence his wide
knowledge of places and things including the Fine Arts, all of which came
out in his conversation and made listening to him such an interesting
experience.

Walter Dunn

l.rs. Beatrice iay died last June at the age of 87. She had been,until
very recently, our membership secretary, and a most regular attender to
all the lectures. -

Beatrice Kay studied botany. and did an l:Sc at Leeds, leading to a paper

in collaboration with J.H. Priestley in 1924 on "Plant cuticle structure,
distribution and function" which is still of relevance today in the field
of plant surfaces. Her love of plants manifested itself in an intense
interest in her garden, the birds that came to it, and all the detail of
its climate and seasons. Her love of beauty extended to art, and most
especially to music. Until her recent illness she had a quick, intellectual
mind and it was a delight to converse with her; we listened to records
together, discussed books and paintings and natural history. I was always
the receiver and she the giver, her friendship has been a valued part of
my life.

Jocelin Whitfield

Presidential Address 1987

Conservation Here & There

what does conservation mean to us? = to me it means the preservation, for
the next generation, of all that enriches our lives by its beauty, interest.
and ease by which it is enjoyed.

l.uch has been lost botanically, species have disappeared and many more
are threatened. This decrease was accelerated in the Victorian era by
(a) Great bursts of interest in amateur natural history

(b) The coming of the railways and later buses which made holidays and
day expeditions possible and popular. Ferns suffered greatly.

I myself was encouraged at school to make flower collections. On my
bookshelf I have the Rev. John's Flowers of the Field awarded to me in
1923 for the best collection of wild flowers, Iscoured the countryside
for specimens to take into Xeading luseum for their nature table.
Again as a young teacher I had my nature table for my pupils. Happily
this was not lasting and a different attitude followed.

ALG

In photography the colour film has been a great asset - there is much
delight during dreary November in revelling in the beauty of a bluebell
wood, a field of cowslips or reliving the thrill of looking at a rarity -
all there in our slide collection.

What is a rarity? According to the Red Data Book it is a species which

is found only on fifteen or fewer ten kilometre squares. Quite a few

of our orchids are not found on fifteen squares. What can be done to
protect not only the rarities but also those which are rapidly decreasing?
Individually, are we doing enough? We are in an era of great development -
“with the ease of air travel we go further afield to enjoy our natural
history - fields of orchids in France, the flowers of Alpine regions etc
all linked with geology, archaeology etc. But are we careful enough when
we have a camera in our hands? Enthusiasm often causes much damage in

the neighbourhood of a much photographed specimen:

When I first joined flower parties I was told I could obtain a permit
allowing me to bring back specimens. These could be obtained with the
utmost ease - just one or two families barred because of horticultural
associations - I had mixed feelings about this:

The remainder of my address I will devote to measures taken in a few
countries I have visited. Yesterday I noticed an article in Natural World
doing just this. Luckily for me - not referring to my countries. One
realises how much there is to do when one sees all the orchids, fritillaries
etc on sale in foreign markets, the evidence of liming of birds in Cyprus
and other l:editerranean countries. However we must be hopeful. In the

past many small efforts have . created bigger efforts. Some tour
operators running flower and bird tours are devoting a percentage of their
profits to conservation.

Eastward to Bulgaria now. On a recent visit I found it had much to conserve -
3,300 plant species in this small country. This included ash, beech and
European. grasses brought in by Atlantic influences from the north west and
floral relics from the distant past.

It has many natural regions owing to its varied relief and climate.

With reference to relief - 50%, of the country consists of mountain ranges
and overlapping young valleys making up a young Alpine-Himalayan

folded mountain system.

Another 49° consists of

(a) Last European platform of flat topped hills and old massifs.

(b) 21:. a hediterranean type region around the Black Sea to the east.
(c) «An inland area of Euro Asia to the north and north west.

So climatic conditions vary between continental and i.editerranean.

The river flow shows sharp fluctuations - there are some floods in summer
and autumn due to

(a) Small catchment area

(b) A cold climate in parts

(c) Deforestation from Ottoman domination period.

Bulgaria's love of nature is apparent in the thousands of folk songs
and tales and in the works of more recent writers and poets.

In the revival period of the past century there has been sharp criticism
of forest clearance after the liberation from the Ottoman domination as
well-as underlining the need to preserve what was left. The first
organised act was passed in 1928. 1933 saw the formation of the Union
for Natural History l'reservation. The first National vark - i.ount Vitosa-

came into being as well as some forest reserves. .icts immediately followed

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to protect water resources, arable land etc and to endeavour to prevent
air, water and soil pollution.

In 1977 came the production of Guidelines for the Protection of the
Natural Environment - al] were approved by the State Council. Realising
conservation relies on public co-operation, nation wide movements such
as the Hikers Union sprang up. This body gives publicity to major natural
sights, characteristic landscapes etc with the aim "To know and to care".
More reserves were created - often protected by (a) buffer zones

(b) putting them under the patronage of some public organisation and thus
making them responsible for maintenance as well as protection.

In reserves which are natural scenic territories and often characterised

by rare plant and animal communities, studies in the Natural Environment are
carried out. Admittance along strictly defined roads and paths is only
permitted by approval of the committee. There are about 80 reserves

out of which 61 are forest.

The National Parks - 8 of them are different. They are often large
_areas for tourism and recreation with paths, trails, resting places,
spots for camping, bonfires, garbage etc. There are the usual rules as
well as those forbidding (a) collection of eggs, larvae, pupae, pursuit,
catching, transportation, killing, destruction of hiding places, nests,
lairs of protected animals. All rules are definitely set out.

As well as these parks there are protected landscapes often along roadsides,
railways etc.

The Ropotoma National Park by the Black Sea at the mouth of the River
Ropotoma is a unique area - a veritable jungle,quite tropical in its
density of trees and creepers. I gave up trying to penetrate it - there
was very little light - hence no photographs - but certainly interesting.
Nearby is or what has been a threat to the Black Sea coast - the Balkan
Tourist development - Golden Sands, Sunny Beach. I was quite impressed
by the way the hotels had been set back among the trees of the area.
Frequently there was a tree lined road between them and the sea. Here
were areas which on exploration provided one with many wild flowers such

as Cephalanthera epipactoides, Consolida orientalis etc. further
destruction is now negated by a government ruling.

For Cape Kaliakra reserve I have no praise - it has been made into a
landscaped park with a restaurant in one of the caves, I mention it
because although the flora is poor, Bulgaria's two colonies of seals
are found in the caves below the Red Cliff. On the other hand .
Frigradsko Zydrelo Gorge is to be admired. Balkan Tours Committee

look after this gorge which has been selected as being of particular
interest. It is a deep and beautiful gorge with a very fine cave - it
is one of the refuges of Haberlea rhodopensis, which is a living fossil.
It has persisted for millions of years in areas where its relatives
disappeared - near relatives can be found in the foothills of the
Himalayas as well as in Greece etc. Nearby Kastrantii Sabatica provides
sone of the finest and wildest forests of black pine ana spruce.

Geologically there are some well looked after natural phenomena. For
‘example -

1. Pobitite Kamini - the standing stones which are enormous columns
of grey rock up to five metres high with a diameter of 50 cms - 3m,
standing erect above the sands. There are several hundred of them
stretching for 2 kilometres. They are of course due to soil and wind
erosion.

2. Skalmiti Gubi - the rock mushrooms. The name describes many
although some are just columnar. They are formed from volcanic tuffs

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of different compositions and again erosion has played its part.

3. At the Erkyrapria Reserve erosion has resulted in the formation of
three natural marble bridges - the largest and most beautiful is 95 metres
long and 43 metres high and 45 metres wide.

Bulgaria is also contributing much to the preservation of relics from
bygone ages for example the Aladjo i:onastery. In 1901 Varna Archaeological
Society was founded and one of its first tasks was the restoration of this
monastery which belongs in history to the era of large groups of cave
dwellers who dug into the soft clay. It had a chequered history up to the
11th century when its known history begins.

Then there is the Bachova monastery. The bulgarian government has been
generous to the upkeep of religious relics. Bachova is only second to

the A2ila monastery. Its chapel dates back to the 11th century and is
lavishly decorated with frescos and external murals. [From being practically
in ruins the government have provided its restoration and there is a general
effect of great dignity and peace. It is situated deep in the valley of
Asenitsa.

To me the greatest interest is the area above the monastery and its
surrounding tree covered slopes. liere are the rocks of Cervenata Stena,
the Red ‘jall - formed of palaeozoic marble and rising to 1500 m. The
summit is covered with black pine.

-In 1962 under the i-inistry of forests it was made a Botanical ieserve.
There are rough paths through the forests but the rarest plants are found
among the mioss covered boulders on the cliff faces. The very special
plant is llaberlea rhodopensis the living fossil which I have already
mentioned. I was in Bachova 25 days after daster when the inhabitants
nearby carried an icon of the Virgin l.ary up to the monastery. Afterwards
old and young went on up to the reserve with their simple picnics - a
great effort for many but it was impossible not to be impressed by their
great enjoyment as well as respect for their surroundings.

Now from east to west - to California which is a land of plenty in the
botanical world, 7,700 species which is more than in Central ENE. UeSexr
and Canada together. It has so many varied habitats. Why?

1. It was covered by shallow seas, the climate was moist and warm and

so gradually tropical forests dominated the land species.

2. As the climate cooled and drier conditions prevailed the forests
gradually became restricted to the northern, coastal areas with a moderate
temperature and higher rainfall. During the warmer and drier periods
woodland and desert plants from the south replaced forest species throughout
Southern California.

3. Then volcanic activity and mountain building changed California's
shape. iligh mountains intercepted rain clouds between east and west

so new habitats developed - moisture dependent forests on the west side
and rain shadow deserts on the east. So species evolved to fill new
habitats with the older species being restricted to certain pockets.
Unique habitats are the Vernal Pools which fill during the winter rains
and dry out in the summer. They form only in areas where clay soils

leach to make hard pan layers beneath the surface. This restricts
percolation and then evaporation takes place in the springe So the poot
is first flooded, then moist for a few months, after which it becomes

bone dry.

There are many rare plants which geminate underwater then flower round
the edges of the drying pool and the seed is stored in the dried mud until
the next season.

Vernal pools are isolated from one another so different species evolved in
different places.

a -

A striking feature about California's vascular plants is that almost
50% are endemic with some now restricted to half a dozen plants

e.g the mahogany tree. Others are heading to extinction and some have
still to reach the limit of natural bio-barriers.

What is being done to preserve all this? In 1968 the President of California's
Native Plant Society collected a list of 520 for the first C.N.P.S list.

In 1973 and 1974 more lists,with photographs, photocopies of labels at
herbaria, locations etc were done, &botanists employed, were arranged

and funded by the Office of Planning and Research in the State of California.
1974 saw the gathering of botanists at the University of California for
evaluation, mapping etc, resulting in a rare plant data book.

1) The main list consisted of 704 plants, rare and endangered.
2) Second list of 556 plants which were rare but not presently endangered.
3) . Third list of 134 not rare or endangered but of limited distribution.

In 1979 a second University Conference took place with a stack of

cards - it had become the largest rare plant base in the U.S.A.

The information was overwhelming. A voluntary organisation could no

longer cope and the university was not willing to continue with the

housing entailed. A new organisation was formed with a full time botanist.

Its role was set out to educate its large number of members:

1) To be aware that world conservation must be linked with economic
development.

2) Without becoming involved in politics there must be an awareness of
political processes.

Discussions were held on topics such as

1) Who pays for creating and maintaining world reserves

2) Who will pay for alternative livelihoods for displaced people

Cut of this came suggestions such as

1) The consideration of transfer of money from developed countries to

Third \lorld countries

2) Cancelling debts in exchange for projects

3) The contribution from developed countries to a conservation fund in
exchange for access to genetic sources.

A last word - Line 90 on California's taxpayers form is'Tax deductible.
contributions to State forests and reserves for

1) Outright purchase

2) Land exchanges

3) lanagement agreements :
4) Gifts of land

5) Conservation officers working with management’

So far I have not been north = so to Iceland.

again the love of nature runs through countless sagas. Iceland states
that the protection of nature is one type of land use. Specific areas
are protected to encourage the intercourse of man and nature so that
life on land may not be needlessly wasted nor sea, freshwater or air
polluted. Access is given to these areas with special laws exhibited
and enforced. Added to the usual ones are those forbidding

1) The breaking of branches of trees, 2) Uprooting stones and rock,
3) Pouring of hot water on vegetated land.

Iceland has a small flora of 470 vascular plants which are chiefly

N.- European. This paucity is due to isolation. 50% are survivors of
the last glaciation.

Now for a look at some of the protected areas

1) 1975 Skaftafell was made a National Park. It is looked after by the
Nature Conservation Council which employs a resident warden. It contains
two farms and the glacial snout of Iceland's largest glacier.

= if =

2) Myrdalsunder is a desert of black sand due to a terrific eruption

200 years ago. Here the beginnings of new life are studied.

3) Mamaskard is a high temperature region administered by the Nature
Conservation Council. Here there are boiling springs, still blue pools,
the edges of which are covered with colourful mineral deposits.

4) Landmannlaugar = a protected area for enjoyment with its warm natural
- bathing pools.
5) Lake Nyvatn in the north west is one of the protected areas for
Iceland's exciting bird population. Various headland areas are also

- protected.

6) Black Castles is a public park with very dramatic lava formations.
7) North west of Husavik is a protected fossil cliff looked after by
farmers of the neighbourhood. Rock climbing is forbidden.

8) Surtsey - the island which was destroyed by a recent eruption, is
“being carefully watched for the beginnings of new life by the Surtsey
Research Society.

To conclude - other countries are trying to conserve their heritage -
what about ourselves? The support of an illegal black market where
Yarities have fetched very high prices and there has been little need
for concealment has not helped. There are stricter controls now.

90 countries ratified the Convention of International Trading in
Endangered Species. Now horticulture is genuinely trying to propagate
rare species.

Then there has been smuggling from l:exico to U.S.A. and re-exporting
under a U.S.A. nursery certificate. Turkey sent cyclamen and other
bulbus species to the Dutch fields. Now consignments are checked before

auctions.

In the end all depends on the goodwill of man which is not given until
basic social and economic needs are satisfied. So we must look at
people trying to get a balance.

What about weed control? The British Agricultural Association (B.A.A)

has linked with the Nature Conservancy Council and the Cereals & Game
Birds Research (C.G.R.P) to mount one of the biggest projects in the
E.£=.C. Year of the Environment. B.AeA.e is the principal sponsor -

the object being to search out wild flowering plants on the rich fields

of Britain's arable farms. A researcher at C.G.R.P's iianydown site
spotted pheasant's eye, a common enough plant 40 years ago. Then four more
vanished species turned up. Trials followed as part of C.c.R.P's headland
initiative. In this herbicides to control wild oats and competitive broad
leaved plants are used in the autumn followed by specific weed killers

in the spring, thus allowing noncompetitive plants to continue growing.

B.AeAts director welcomes the liaison of expertise. He has said that
environmental research has figured prominently in the development of

new products. The industry now presented with exciting new facts must
research further so that farmers can have the necessary advice to conserve
flora and fauna on their land with pesticides still a valuable tool.

In 1986 C.G.R.P enlisted the help of the Nature Conservancy Council to
commission trusts to survey 19 famas in 7 counties which had adopted
Headland Conservation lianagement. Of the Botanical Society's list of

25 endangered species, 15 were found on surveyed farms - 12 of them at

tanydown.

C.G.n.P. suggests that intensive farming may suppress but not eradicate.
Certain individual firms are also running projects - Bayer has spent
over £1684 million on environmental protection measures in the last ten
years. The organisers of National Farm Trails competitions state that
maximum production from every last square yard is not the be all and

end all of farming.

Doubtless much of this is done to improve images but in my opinion this
is helpful in various ways to a cause which is dear to us all.

READING URBAN WILDLIFE GROUP
BERKSHIRE BUCKINGHAHSHIRE & OXFORDSHIRE NATURALISTS TRUST
READING WOODLOUSE WATCH 1987

Aims of the Survey

The ‘Reading Woodlouse Watch 1987' was carried out from March to
September 1987 with the following four objectives:-

1. To record the distribution of a group of invertebrate animals in an
urban area for the first time anywhere in the world.

2. To educate school children and the general public as to the diversity
of an apparently uninteresting group of animals.

3. To obtain scientific information which could be linked to the
National ‘loodlouse Survey Scheme run by the Biological Records
Centre at the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology.

4. To provide publicity for the Reading Urban Wildlife Group.

iow was the Survey carried out?

1000 circulars, briefly describing the purpose of the Survey, were
distributed to schools, teachers’ centres, local radio and newspaper
offices, and were included in the BBONT Spring mailing to addresses in
the Reading area. This first circular contained a tear-off slip which
people were invited to return if they were interested in participating.

135 slips were returned. These people were sent a letter describing how
the Survey was to be carried out, a couple of recording cards which
listed all species of woodlice in Britain (supplied by the Biological
Aecords Centre), and a simple guide to the identification of: the five
most common species of woodlice in the U.K. Common names were introduced
for the so-called ‘famous Five' (and all other species) for the benefit
of non-scientists (i.e. most of the people involved in the sSurvey:).
These species were the Common Pill Slater (Armadillidium vulgare),

Common Shiny Slater (Oniscus asellus), Common Striped Slater (Philoscia
muscorum), Common Rough Slater (Vorcellio scaber) and Common Pygmy Slater
(Trichoniscus pusillus). -articipants were asked to indicate on the

card which of these five species were present in their garden, school
playground etc., together with their name and address and the exact
location of the site from which they had collected the woodlice. Of the
135 people who were sent record cards, 51 individuals returned a total

of 103 cards.

liost people had no difficulty in recognising the Famous Five. ilowever
a more comprehensive guide to the other 14 less common species which it
was thought might be ‘turned up’ by the Survey was produced, and this
was requested by 27 of the 51 people who eventually sent records.
Nevertheless, all records for species other than the famous Five, the
Rosy Slater (Androniscus dentiger) and the Ant Slater, (Platyarthrus

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DEPRESSUM | . PYGMAEUS

- ANDRONISCUS . CYLISTICUS
DENTIGER CONVEXUS

HAPLOPHTHALMUS LIGIDIUM
DANICUS HYPNORUM

Saher

hoffmannseggi) which are easy to identify with the naked eye, had to
be supported by specimens which I insisted on checking.

Results of the Survey

The records are presented as presence or absence of a species from each

1 km square of the Survey area. Solid black shading indicates at least
one record from somewhere in the square. Some squares contain up to four
records for a single species. 88 of the 200 squares had at least one
record, a quite respectable coverage under the circumstances.

-It is clear that the most common woodlice are Armadillidium vulgare,
Oniscus asellus,-Philoscia muscorum, Porcellio scaber and Trichoniscus
pusillus. These "Famous Five' species were found by almost all respondents
to the Survey and must be present in large numbers in every 1 km square

in the Reading area.

‘Androniscus dentiger,Platyarthrus hoffmannseggi and Trichoniscus pygmaeus

were found much more frequently than I had anticipated. These three
species are also probably present throughout the Reading area although
they were not recorded from as many squares as the Famous Five because
they are more difficult to find.

Three more species, Ligidium hypnorum, Porcellio spinicornis and
Haplophthalmus danicus, are probably fairly common in the region but were
very rarely found because of their retiring habits. for example, one
morning I found a single Porcellio spinicornis in my bathroom sink but
despite extensive searches at night by torchlight, I have not found any
further specimens of this nocturnal species either inside or outside the
house.

The remaining nine species are apparently very rare although they must
certainly be present in several more squares than are indicated on the
mapse All the sites for Armadillidium nasatum, Cylisticus convexus and
Torcillionides pruinosus were synanthropic (i.e. associated with human
activity) and when found, these three species were quite abundant.
Trichoniscoides albidus was found in very damp habitats on the banks of
the Aiver Thames and iver fang where it was rare. Single specimens
of Trachelipus rathkei and Vorcellio dilatatus turned up among rubbish
behind i'rospect Vvark i-ansion House (where Yorcellionides pruinosus was
xtremely abundant) and two Porcellio laevis and .rmadillidium depressum
were found in eee Gardens in the middle of reading. Several of these
records are 'firsts' for Berkshire. ‘Furthermore, the north bank of the
River Thames east of Goring is the only known inland site in South East

angland for lfaplophthalmus mengei.

Conclusions

The four aims of the Survey have been accomplished thanks to the
enthusiastic support of the Reading Urban Wildlife Group and the
schoolchildren, teachers and members of the public who sent in records.
It is hoped that the ‘Reading ‘Joodlouse Watch 1987" will stimulate other
urban wildlife groups to conduct similar surveys of invertebrates in
their own areas.

Dr. Steve liopkin
Department of Pure & Applied Zoology

University of ineading.

December 1937

ay <

How Typical Are Our Funqus Forays?
Alan Brickstock

Looking back over our fungus records for the last ten years, how variable
are they, and how typical are they?.

The frequency of most species varies quite markedly from year to year, as a
result of climatic variations. Since the total number of species likely to
be found in any one family is relatively small, one would expect the actual
numbers to- fluctuate widely. However, the numbers per family are, with a
few exceptions, not that variable; mostly the range is within a factor of
two or less. This is despite the fact that a species present in one
location in abundance one year may be absent there for several years
subsequently, and then appear again.

I then tried adding together the total number of species in twelve major
families, and expressing these as a percentage of the total number of
species found that year. The percentages for the first three years, average
51.4, are noticably higher than those for subsequent years. This is not
surprising, as the twelve families chosen are the ones we would have known
best, in what I regard very much as ‘learning years' - but aren't they
all!. For the last seven years, the percentage is surprisingly constant,
varying only from 42.6 to 46.7. The mean value for these seven years is
44.5, with a standard deviation of 1.2. Next year...?.

The grand total for the ten years is 711 species, of which 315, or 44.2%,
are in the chosen twelve families; this percentage being virtually
identical to the mean of the yearly percentages.

This constancy is interesting, as it means that there is little variation
in the balance between these well-known families and all other families:
one might perhaps have expected the Polypores to be much more or much less
frequent than gill fungi in some extreme seasons, but there is no evidence
of this.

How does our list of species compare with the British species as a whole?.
This is not easy to answer, as I am not aware of any comprehensive British
list. Some feel can be obtained by looking at Roger Phillips book in which
the 12 families selected have, by my count, 397 representatives, out of a
total of 884 species in the book, a percentage of 44.9, virtually identical
to that for local forays.

Another figure can be obtained from the BRC check card, which has 318
species in the twelve families, out of a total of 832 , a rather lower
percentage of 38.2.

Looking at the mean number in each family averaged over the seven years, as
a percentage of those in Phillips, we seem to be very low on Agaricus
(27%), Cortinarius (21%), Lepiota (32%) and Tricholoma (28%), the figures
for the other families mainly lying between 40 and 50 percent. Agaricus and
Cortinarius are two genera whose species are not easy to distinguish, so
this might be expected to keep their counts on the low side; or do we just
not have so many in our area?.

However, the numbers of species of Agaricus, Cortinarius and Lepiota on the
BRC check card are much smaller than those in Phillips, so comparison
against this list would bring our figures up to about the 50% level in
these genera also.

So what?. These numbers may not prove anything, but I think they are
interesting, and suggest that our forays may be reasonably typical of those
over the country as a whole. Perhaps next year will be different...?.

a Ay <=

TABLE ONE
Numbers of species in twelve major families, 1978 to 1987.

Family 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985, 1986 1987___ Mean _ Total

81-87 78-87

Agaricus 1 4 6 e Mm 11 1 5 5 4+ 7 19+
Ananita 6 ee 9 9 10 12 10 "1 9 |
Boletus* "1 14 48 7 22 26 19 18 18 20 20 42
_ Clitocybe 5 "1 7 8 8 7 10 8 10 5 8 5
Collybia 4 B 8 eer: 6 7 9 pte
Copr inus 6 6 7 8 8 9 11 ? 8 18
Cortinarius 4 16 18 12 19 13 12 15 10 22 14 47
Lactarius 10 12 7 18 20 7 18 13 16 7 7 32
Lepiota 3 B 4 11 9 6 1 4 a 8 8 19
Mycena 7 12 "1 20 16 49 23 5 B 99 18 32
Russula 9 19 19 7 24 32 22 21 21 26 23 45
Tricholoma 0 3 7 11 8 8 6 5 4 7 7 19

Total above 66 120 132 142+ 161+ 164 162 129 128 196+ 148 315+
Years total 134 227 254 320+ 365+ 362 347 303 285 351+ 332 711+
4 of total 49.3 52.9 52.0 44.4 44.1 45.3 46.7 42.6 44.9 44.4 44.6 44.2

TABLE TWO.
Species in each family on various lists.

Family Phillips BRC Card Forays Forays/ Forays/

(mean ) Ph's % BRC %

Agaricus 27 13 7 AL 56
Amanita 20 16 10 49 62
*Boletus 53 32 20 38 62
Clitocybe 20 17 8 42 50
Collybia 14 17 7 52 43
Coprinus 16 21 8 51 39
Cortinarius 69 36 14 21 40
Lactarius 43 36 aly, 39 47
Lepiota 24 16 8 32 47
Mycena 31 41 18 58 44
Russula 55 52 23 42 45
Tricholoma 25 Za 7 28 33
Total 397 318 148 37 46.5

* Including Boletus, Leccinum, Suillus, Tylopilus.

+ Pat Andrews also recorded a number of additional rare Agaricus, not
otherwise on our lists; 16 in 1981, 14 in 1982, and 3 in 1987. I have,
rather arbitrarily, omitted them from the totals and percentages, for
comparison purposes. If they were included, the percentages for 1981, 1982
and 1987 would become 47.0, 46.0 and 44.9 respectively.

Pt we
1987 =- The First Year of the B.S.B.I. Scheme to Record Plants in Berks
Humphry J.M. Bowen

During this year and the next the Botanical Society of the British Isles
is organising an intensive collection of plant records from selected 10 km

"x 10 km Grid squares, and from 2 km x 2 km tetrads within them. The results

for the large Grid squares will be compared directly with the data collected
for the Atlas of the British Flora (1962). The tetrad records will be useful
baseline data for future exercises of this kind. The results of this year's
efforts are summarised below for vice-county 22 (Berkshire).

Grid Sq./Tetrad Initials of recorders No of species seen in
1987
su "29 Faringdon . CC, HJMB, JS,°HL, SE 430
2298 Buscot GC, ME, iS 211
2892 Little Coxwell C¢,; HUME, SE 304
SU 59 Wittenham CHB, HJK, HJMB, JPB, RCP 563
5090 N. Didcot HJK, RCP 306
5298 Radley CHB, HJK, HJMB, JPB 298
5892 Shillingford RCP 305
SU 56 Aldermaston AB, HJHUB, SEv 591
5268 Turners Green HJUB 254
- sU 86. Sandhurst CJH, HJNB, SO 528
8268 St Anns CJH, EF, JA, SLJ, SC 264
8862 Deer Rock Hill So 209

These results are encouraging in view of the fact that the total number of
species recorded in most Berkshire Grid squares is around 750. The seven
new vice-county records (NCRs) show that there is still much to be learnt
about the county's plants.

The fraringdon area, now administratively in Oxfordshire, has been worked

- by Kisty Creighton, Susan irskine, lary Loukes and others. The meadows

of the upper Thames valley still have such characteristic plants as Black
Poplar, Fritillary, Greater Burnet and Early liarsh Orchid, but all too
many have been ‘improved’ by ploughing and resowing. The old sponge gravel
pits here are often interesting. liany of the better records are aliens or
casuals such as Burnet Rose (NCR), Bulbous Corydalis (C.solida), Field
Voundwort, Peppermint and the weedy grass Phalaris paradoxa.

The square including Radley and N. Didcot is shared with v.c.23 (Oxon),

and much work has been done here by John Killick, Richard Palmer and others.
Loddon Lily still occurs by the Thames, and other scarce wetland species
seen in the survey are Azolla, Elodea nuttallii (NCR, covering acres in old
gravel pits), } oy us ee 's peltata in one pond, the water buttercup Ranunculus
trichophyllus, and three hybrid sallows (Salix x calodendron, S x forbyana al and
S. x smithiana). Good records from the drier soils are Yellow liilk-vetch,
Clary, Fiddle Dock and two rare vetches, Vicia bithynica (an NCR) and

V. tenuissima. One clump of the hybrid grass Festuca arundinacea x gigantea
was seen, and several of the fast-declining cornfield weeds (Corn Gromwell,
Corn Parsley (Petroselinum segetum) and Weasels Snout. The rare willowherb
Epilobium lanceolatum occurred as a casual near Didcot, near the newly
planted tree Alnus cordifolia (NCR).

The Aldermaston square has been thoroughly worked by Alan Brickstock and
others, as its high total score shows. However, I received no records for
the Turners Green tetrad by mid-November, when a flying visit logged 254
species. This square is relatively well-wooded, with records for the Durmast

=) oe

Oak, (Quercus petraea), Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage, Herb Paris,

Heath Cudweed and the woodrush Luzula sylvatica. No less than 23 Carex
species were found here. Of particular interest are the records for the
spurge Euphorbia stricta, a casual here but an NCR, the aliens Yellow Figwort
and American Duckweed (Lemna minuscula), and the welcome colonisation by the
Royal Fern and Greater Spearwort.

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somewhat fewer species have been recorded near Sandhurst, where the spadework _
has been carried out by Carol ilora, Sean G'Leary and others. The terrain is
acidic, and one tetrad is especially monotonous in its vegetation.
Nevertheless there are a lot of interesting plants to be found, such as

the Pillwort fern (Pilularia globulifera) in pools, the tiny perennial
Sagina_subulata by tracks, and the grass-like Zleocharis acicularis forming
swards by some old pits. lost of the characteristic plants of heath and bog
were refound,notably Agrostis curtisii, two sundews, Genista anglica,

Bog St Johnswort, Bogbean, Bog Asphodel, Sweet Gale, i.arsh Cinquefoil,
Radiola linoides, and also the very scarce sedge Carex elongata. The alien
shrubs Gaultheria shallon, \almia polifolia and Pernettya mucronata are

more or less naturalised on heathland, and several showy aquatics have
escaped from cultivation near Sandhurst. The normally maritime Scurvygrass
(Cochlearia danica) and the inconspicuous grass iuccinellia distans (both
NCAs) are successfully colonising certain heavily salted roadsides.

a SI a

Comparing the records with those in the Flora of Berkshire (1968), a few
native plants such as Cuercus petraea and Ranunculus circinatus appear to
be more common now, probably because they were not recognised in earlier
years. hany aliens (e.g. Elodea nuttallii, Galanthus elwesii, Hordeum
jubatum, Juncus tenuis, Impatiens spp. leconopsis cambrica and Veronica
filiformis) have certainly extended their range since 1968. On the other
hand some wetland species and especially many arable weeds have declined
considerably. Corn Cockle, Cornflower, Corn Gromwell, Corn Parsley,
Flixweed, both Kickxias and Torilis arvensis were seen in 1987, but
Bupleurum rotundifolium, Galium tricornutum, Scandix pecten-veneris and
~Valerianella carinata have not been reported for some years.

hore records are needed in 1988. Record cards can be supplied by the
BeS»Be.1. vice-county recorders, who also collate and referee all records
before sending them to the schemes originator, Tim ich, at l.onks ‘ood.

Local recorders are:

Berks: Humphry Bowen, 8 Glebe ntoad, Reading, Berks, G2 7/.G
Bucks: Aevtse imipe, Abbeyford, Xotten Row, Dorchester,
Cxon, OX9° 8LJ

Oxon: lleJ.e Nillick, Courtfield House, Drayton oad, i:ilton,
Abingdon, 0X14 45U

ilants: Lady Anne Brewis, Benhams liouse, Benhams Lane,
Greatham, Hants, GU33 632

ae males a=
Natural History in Place-Names
by Daphne Phillips

For the naturalist a study of local place-names can shed a great deal of
light on the early character of Berkshire, itsvarious kinds of terrain, and
the animals, birds, trees and plants which gave their names to some of the
places.

The meaning of place-names is, however, a complex subject, beset with traps
for the unwary, as anyone who browses through Margaret Gelling's absorbing
three-volume work The Place-Names of Berkshire will quickly discover. The
earliest known spellings, usually Old English, all too often-indicate very
different meanings from those suggested by modern spellings. Swallowfield,
for instance, does not mean ‘the field where swallows flew’, and neither has
Aldermaston anything to do with alder trees. The first is derived from
"Swealwe', an early name for the stream formed by the union of the Blackwater
and the Whitewater, and meaning ‘rushing water’. The second means ‘farm

of the ealdormann', a chief officer of the shire.

In spite of all the efforts of modern research and scholarship the meaning

of many names is still uncertain, including that of the county itself.
Berkshire may have taken its name from Berroc or Barroc Wood, where,

according to Asser writing in the llth century, box trees grew in abundance.
The location of this wood has not been ascertained, although a later reference
to it suggests somewhere in the ‘Jantage area. Another possible derivation

is from the Celtic word, ‘barrog' meaning hilly, which certainly fits the
western part of the county.

lLiore certain are the frequently used elements of place-names describing

the kind of terrain or land use in early times. Usually the second part of
a name, these include -hurst, -ley, -wood, -field, -don, -bourne, -mere,
-marsh, and -well. Hurst (Old English ‘hyrst') meant a wood or wooded hill,
as in Tilehurst, Sandhurst, St Nicholas Hurst. Ley (0.£. leah) indicated

a clearing in a wood, later a meadow, as in Earley, Hurley, Farley,

Riseley, Woodley and others. As befits a county heavily wooded in ancient
times there are other names, such as Kentwood, ‘Jestwood, \ioodspeen, which
include 0.5. ‘'wudu', a wood, forest or timber.

Field (0.£. feld) was a unit of land used for cultivation, and there are
several adjoining parishes in central Berkshire - Arborfield, Shinfield,
Swallowfield, Stratfield i-ortimer, Burghfield, nglefield and Bradfield -
whose names show that they contained rich fama lands for early settlers.
In contrast to these low lying areas the uplands of west Berkshire often
have place-names including -don or -down, meaning hilly, open country.
Ashdown, Bowdown, Faringdon, Lollingdon, Langdown Ilill, Cgdown are some of
these.

Places taking their names from water sources include those with 0.E. "burna',
a stream, as in fangbourne, Lambourn, iiagbourne, Enborne, “interbourne; and
O.u. ‘wiella', a spring or well, as in Brightwell, Sotwell, Harwell,
Sunningwell, Trunkwell, etc. O.£. ‘mor', a marsh or barren waste, is found
in lioreton, Snelmore, Southmoor, The lioor (Cookham); while O0.£. 'mersc', a
marsh, occurs in Tidmarsh, Bulmershe, !:iarsh Benham and Larsh Hill (Remenham)
‘nm unusual but straightforward descriptive name is Bray, derived from Old
French 'braye' meaning mud.

The names of a few animals, birds, trees and other plants have been used
by man to identify certain places. The importance of sheep farming in
west Lerks is recorded in Lambourn, perhaps the place where lambs were
washed, and Great and Last Shefford, where flocks forded the stream.
Pigs gave their 0.2. name ‘swin' to Swinford on the Thames and Swinley,

- 19 -

a woodland clearing for pigs in the Winkfield parish. The eastern part of
Berkshire, once largely covered by Windsor Forest, has several names
including 'baer' (misleadingly spelt 'bear' in modern times). The Old
English meaning was woodland feeding place for swine’ and this was the
origin of Bearwood, Billingbear, Bear Grove and Bear Hill, all near Wokingham;
and Bare Leys and Bere Court in Pangbourne. Animals whose names were less
commonly used were the wild cats at Catmore, boars of Boars Hill, the wolves
of iloolley, and the badgers whose O.£. name ‘graeg’ forms the first part of
Grazeley. Foxes and frogs were, perhaps, so common that no place of ;
importance was distinguished by their presence, but their names occur in
locatities such as Foxhill in Earley, Foxcombe in Sunningwell, Foxley in
Kintbury, Frogmoor Farm in Bradfield, and Frogmore in Windsor.

Among birds who inspired place-names were the cranes at Cranbourne, the crows
at Crowthorne, a name originally given to a solitary tree at the junction of
the Bracknell and Wokingham roads, the dove (0O.£. ‘'culfer') in Culver Lane,
Earley, and the eagle whose 0.2. name ‘earn’ occurs in Earley. Finchampstead
charmingly describes a homestead frequented by finches, and Purley a place
inhabited by snipe (0.£. pur). cast and test Hendred took their names from
the water hen, while East and West Hanney took theirs from ‘hana’ the cock.
"Ened* the duck was clearly prominant at Enborne, and ‘gos' the goose at
Goosey, which means ‘goose island', perhaps from its situation between two
brooks.

Only one fish contributed to local place-names: the River Cck derives its
name from a Celtic word for salmon.

Throughout the ages trees have been an obvious choice for naming places,
landmarks, and in more recent times houses, as the hundreds of names indexed
by iargaret Gelling show. Some tree-inspired names which can be traced back
several centuries are ‘ppleford and Appleton, the ford and the farm where
apple trees grew; Ashampstead, Ashbury, Ashdown, Ashridge; beech liill;
Barkham (from 'beorc', birch tree); Boxford and Welford, fords where the box
and the willow grew. Ilumbler plants gave names to Beenham and Beynhurst
(the bean); Binfield (bent grass); Broomhall (broom); Cockney Hill (coccel=
tares); Faringdon, Farley Hill, Fernham, Farnborough (ferns); Heathfield
(heather); Leckhampstead (leek or garlic).

The many names of more recent origin for fields and other localities,
e.g.e Crazies Hill recalling a dialect name for buttercups, would make an
interesting study, but it is too large to be dealt with in this short
article.

=) ZO

Caterpillars

Roland Ramsdale

Caterpillars are the larval stages of butterflies and moths. This article
will show how the caterpillar stage fits into the life cycle and attempts to
show something of the diversity of forms that the caterpillars take. A key
is provided to enable most caterpillars of the larger moths and butterflies
to be placed in their correct families. Finally a brief summary of reference
works on caterpillars is given.

Life History

Butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera for the more technically minded) start their
life as eggs. These consist of a nutrient solution in which the embryo develops,
surrounded by a tough leathery protective covering with a waxy lining to retain
the fluid. In British species they vary in size from a small fraction of a
millimetre up to about 2mm. Whilst the eggs of most of the larger moths are
roughly spherical or hemispherical, some of the micro moths have eggs which are
almost disc shaped, and some of the butterflies have wine-bottle-shaped eggs.
Some specics' eggs are smooth whilst others have raised patterns on them -
those of some of the Blues being especially intricate when looked at under a
low power microscope. The colour of the eggs also covers a great range.

Nost are green and blend in‘well with the leaves on which they are laid.

Others are creamy, some brown, some deep navy blue (almost black). Cthers

have one or more coloured bands around them, or spots of contrasting colour.
iiany of the lighter coloured eggs darken about a day or two before the young
caterpillars are ready to emerge.

Different species also differ as to where they lay their eggs. i.any moths
and butterflies lay them on a leaf of the foodplant, sometimes singly, sometimes
in clusters of up to 200 to 300 eggs depending on the species. Those that
lay clusters often arrange the eggs very neatly in hexagonally packed rows,
or some arrange them in neat bands around a plant stem. Cthers lay them in
a relatively amorphous lump. Certain species insert the eggs into the plant,
especially grass feeding species. Others broadcast their eggs widely whilst
flying over areas of foodplant. Some lay their eggs away from the foodplant
but high enough up so that the young caterpillars can be blown away by the
wind when they let themselves dowm on a silken thread. This method of
ballooning is similar to that practised by some species of spider.

Saterprl lars

The first thing that most caterpillars do on emerging from the egg is to

eat the eggshell. Sor many species this first meal is vital to their survival.
The caterpillar is the main feeding anc growth stage. In order to grow they
shed their entire skin. i-ost caterpillars do this from 4 - 6 times. They

are mainly herbivorous (plant-eating) but a few notorious species such as the
Orange Tip and the Dun Sar are cannibals. It has even been suggested that the
Dun Bar caterpillar might actively seek other caterpillars to devour. Whilst
we normally think of caterpillars as eating the leaves of plants, some species
prefer the flowers, others feed on the roots or nibble the stems at ground
level. Some live inside the stems, and quite a large number of the micro
moths' caterpillars eat inside leaves forming leaf mines which are often easier
to identify than are the adult moths themselves.

Chrysalids

Cnee the caterpillar has finished growing it sheds its skin for the final
time and turns into a pupa or chrysalis. The chrysalids of most moths are
very uninteresting, ranging in cotour from an ochreous-brown to a very dark
brown (almost black), and a shape resembling an egg that has been elongated

to almost a point at one end. ‘/hilst some species are long and slender

= 2 te

others are short and dumpy. Outlines of where the legs and wings of the
adult moth are going to develop are usually visible, but there are very

few features for distinguishing individual species. The chrysalids of

most moths are enclosed in a cocoon. In species that pupate underground this
is often only a flimsy lining to the hole in the ground that the caterpillar
has produced by wriggling about, whereas in species such as the Burnets that
pupate high: up on grass stems the cocoon is of a tough papery consistency and
provides considerable support for the chrysalis, species that pupate low down
amongst vegetation or between leaves usually have cocoons that are fairly soft
and dense, but retain their shape reasonably wéll. The cocoon of the Puss
lioth is reinforced with chewed tree bark and hardens to a lump that is hardly
softer than the bark of the tree trunk on which it pupates. lost stem. miners
and wood borers pupate in the safety of the stem or branch in which the cater-
pillar has been feeding.

The pupal stage is one of tremendous reorganisation of the bodily structure -
the leaf-eating walking caterpillar has to be transformed into a flying insect
that will take only liquid food and must be capable of reproduction. The

hard outer skin of the chrysalis acts as a kind of mould inside which the
larval body is broken down into fluid and then recomposed into the adult

moth or butterfly. ‘This recomposition resembles, in some respects, the initial
development from a fertilised egg into a caterpillar - almost a second
embryogenesis in the moth or butterfly's life cycle.

The time spent in the chrysalis is very variable - some species spend only a
few weeks in this stage whereas others such as the Goat i.oth may remain as

a chrysalis for several years. In some multiple brooded species such as the
Large ‘Jhite, it varies according to the time of year - during the summer
about 3 weeks will be spent in the chrysalis, but during the winter it will
be 5 or 6 months. In some species the moth forms within the chrysalis in the
autumn but does not emerge until the spring. This enables species like the
Common Cuaker to get off to an early start during i.arch or early April.

The -.dult or Imago
It is hardly necessary to describe butterflies and moths, but it is worth
pointing out a few aspects of their biology.

The majority of butterflies and moths are characterised by the possession

airs of wings which are covered in scales. ilowever in a few species
es of the female are reduced to mere stumps and the female moth never
he.vicinity of the cocoon, and often lays her eggs on it. Most

s and moths feed almost exclusively on nectar, but some species do

t all. Sutterflies like the ied ‘dmiral are partial to rotting

lst one family of micro moths has chewing mouthparts and eats pollen.

re
@
fa
<
(@) .
n

4 I~ ct 69

not feed
Sentti,, wh

ep)

structure of Caternillars

Figure 1 (nave 22) snows the structure of a typical caternillar. ‘This
mied with biting
e

&.
consists of a head followed by 13 segments. The head i

mouthparts or mandibles capable of cutting nieces off 1 and crushing
them somewhat before they are taken into the body. The head bears a number
of sensory organs connected with feeding - enabling some species to be very
fussy as to what they eat - some being limited to a single species of
foodplant. Caterpillars possess only simple eyes called ocelli. These are
not capable of forming an image, but only of telling light intensity. In
most speéies there are 6 on each side of the head. Caterpillars can be
startled by a passing shadow such as might be caused by a hungry bird, but they
are also sensitive to vibrations of the foodplant. i-ost caterpillars possess
a silk producing gland. The silk has a variety of uses - a rope on which

to escape in an emergency, a strand on which to go ballooning through the

air for dispersal, a rope ladder for getting a better grip on smooth surfaces

Cr€ac

g Bae pate

V4
Oecelli or
f Simple eyes
= Handibles

Spivecle oy
]
| ees or cushion fact epee acu
| or false (eqs
ce bead se.

*
DIAG RAN To 1eeusTPRATE Structure of A CATERPILLAR

guy ropes to form leaves into a protective tent, and the material to form
a coon or bind together the walls of soil in its pupation chamber.

The first three segments of the caterpillar's body correspond to the thorax
of the adult insect. They each bear a pair of segmented legs referred to
as true legs or thoracic legs.

Segments 6 - 9 and 13 usually each bear a pair of prolegs or cushion-feet,
These are not segmented and give the impression of being suckerlike. towever,
when looked at under the microscope, it can be seen that their adhesive power
is due to the possession of a large number of minute hooks - so the action

is more like that of Velcro than of a rubber sucker. The prolegs on segment
13 are often referred to as the anal claspers. Im some families especially
the Geometridae the number of prolegs is reduced. See the key for details

of this.

\sS with nearly all other insects, caterpillars obtain their air supply
through a number of branching tubes within the body. The external

openings to this system of tubes consist of round or oval spiracles found

on sesments 1 and 4 - 11. <uite often there is a spiracular or subspiracular
line - its top passing through the middle of the spiracles and extending a
little way below them. ‘Jhen nresent this line usually contrasts quite
strongly with the body colour, and may serve to break up the caterpillar's
shape anc thus makine it less easy for a bird to snot.

lost caterpillars possess some hairs on their body, and the distribution of
these is an important factor in identifying certain families. Some have
hairs arising from small flat plates, some have tufts of hairs, and some
have the hairs growing from wartlike lumps on the body. The hairs themselves
vary from being so small as to be hardly visible to quite thick ones and in
some instances they are barbed or plumed, and may even carry poisons.

Some caterpillars have glands capable of emitting disagreeable or in some =: ;
cases harmful liquids, whilst caterpillars of Lycaenidae produce a sweet
liquid attractive to ants.

= 23°-

Reference Works

Whilst the caterpillars of British butterflies are covered more or less
adequately in most of the standard reference works on British butterflies,
there is no book currently in print which covers anywhere near all the
British moth caterpillars. I believe that the following list covers the
most important works in English.

Wilson, S. & Wilson, E., 1880. The Larvae of the British Lepidoptera.

Reeve, London.

The illustrations in this book are often better than those in Buckler, but it
is a very rare book. I gather that its current price secondhand is in the
region of £120.

Buckler, 'J., (editors Stainton, H.T. & Porritt, G.T.) 1886-1901. The Larvae
of the British Butterflies and hoths.e. Vols 1-9. Ray Society, London.

This is the standard work, but if you can find a complete set it will cost
you £600. Individual volumes sell for £35-£40. The plates are hand coloured
and often quite good, but the accompanying descriptions are not always as
comprehensive as I would have liked.

Haggett, G.li. 1981. Larvae of British Lepidoptera not figured by Buckler.
British Entomological & Natural History Society. London.

A useful supplement to Buckler (assuming you have Buckler) and it should only
cost about £16 new. For a-new work I feel that the quality of the plates
leaves a lot to be desired.

Stokoe, W.J. & Stovin, G.H.T., 1944. The caterpillars of the British
Butterflies. ‘Jarne. London.

About £15 or £16. The plates usually at least a little faded or blurred by
damp.- I would prefer to spend my money on llowarth 1973 and get the butterflies
and their caterpillars illustrated.

Stokoe, WeJs & Stovin, G.H.T., 1948. The Caterpillars of British Loths
(2 vols). Warne, London.

The printing of the plates is usually quite abysmal, ané the descriptions
are of variable quality. The pair of volumes will cost £50-£60, and is
the work that I would recommend as providing the best compromise between
quality, comprehensiveness, and price. -

Carter, D.J., 1979. The Gbserver's Book of Caterpillars. larne, London

This is the cheapest book on caterpillars to provide coverage of a large
number of species. It is by no means comprehensive, the descriptions are too
short, and often the illustrations too small. It is, however, affordable - at
£4 new, and is pocketsized for field work.

Carter, D.J., and Hargreaves, 3., 1986. A Field Guide to Caterpillars of
Butterflies and lioths in Britain and Europe. Collins, London.

This is the best book currently in print. It is a lovely book with caterpillars
artistically arranged on their -:foodplants and miniature illustrations of the
adult butterfly or moth opposite. Unfortunately,the illustrations are
arranged in botanical order of foodplant, so it is not always easy to compare
closely related moth species as they may be scattered across widely separated
pages, and, of course, many species don't feed on just a single foodplant,

or will occasionally be found on the “wrong" plant. The book covers over

500 species, and probably includes all the reasonably common British species.
At just under £10 this is a far better buy than the Observer's Book.

aah

SIMPLE KEY TO THE FAUILIES OF SOME BRITISH CATERPILLARS

This key does not claim to be exhaustive - to make it so would defeat the
aim of keeping it simple and would be beyond the author's experience. A
number of caterpillars look quite different in their younger stages and most
of the reference works only illustrate the fully grown caterpillars but I
think this key will work on most of the younger caterpillars as well. The
key departs from being strictly dichotomous in its structure - as it is
sometimes easier to filter off several major characters in parallel.

For the purposes of the key the anal claspers are not regarded as prolegs.

1. liore than 4 pairs of prolegs Sawfly larvae - not caterpillars

Only one pair of prolegs and anal claspers
i-e. looner GEOMETRIDAE

4 pairs of prolegs but no anal claspers DARSPARIDAE
aL) o
2 pairs of nrolegs, and anal claspers NOCTULIA2 te lusiase =

silver ¢ Golden Ys,
Burnished Drass,etc.)
of proless, hairy caterpillars HeLIOAS

S
s of prolegs and anal claspers 2

lo
"Oo
%)

|
HOH

Xe. las a Cistinect hort at tail, enc SiG Fae iovknet hi

el } \ \ © 9 iting

Taam

distinct tails (contain- HGTCSGHUPIDAS
Cc e 4

Cdd shape with two or more large I
protuberances . ;

- 25 -

Has a pair of horns at the head end .

(Lobster, Pebble Prominent)

No pronounced oddities of bodily shape

Covered in spines

i

NYMPHALIDAE
(Purple Emperor)

NOCTUIDAE
(Grey & Dark Dagger)

SATYRIDAE

ICTODONTIDAE

YNPHALIDAE

Segments 4-7 each bearing a thick LYL:ANTRIIDAE

shaving brush-like tuft of hairs

“\ pair of large paddle-shaped
hairs on each segment

AO Nege

ce

(Tussock & Vapourers)

NOCTUIDAE
(Alder Hoth)

- 26 =

Very hairy - hairs arising from 4.
distinct warts
Quite hairy - hairs not arising 5
from warts
Short sparsely haired or not 6
hairy at all

4. Relatively short hairs arising from SATURNIIDAE
warts in a straight line round the (Emperor Moth)

centre of each segment

Hair bearing warts in a staggered ARCTIIDAE
line or clumped arrangement. Usually (Tigers, -Ermines, Footmen)
dull coloured. .

Caterpillars with orange or red LYLLANTRIIDAE
markings, often with noticeable

raised glands on segs 8 and 9 (Yellow tail, Brown tail

etc.)
De Densely covered with short hairs, PIERIDAE
often with small raised bases.
Feeding on CRUCIFERAE
|
tiedium to large caterpillars, long LASIOCAL.PIDAE
dense hairs on body and head. l.ay be (Eggars, mee Fox etc.)

brightly marked

- 27

Short, stout caterpillars tapering at both
ends. Long, soft hairs arising from tiny
wartse

bafenbatr Ll! eo te
Ot Le
Wigner seeee ee

Mou

Others

Small, sluglike, short, stout often humped
in centre. Covered with short, fine hairs

Small caterpillars with large heads and
contricted necks. Covered with short,
fine hairs.

Others

“i.
2 cr

ow

ZYGAENIDA
(Burnets, Foresters),

Mainly NOCTUIDAE

LYCAENIDAE
(Blues, Coppers,
Hairstreaks)

ITSL ER a™?
ino ERLI Pen

iiainly NOCTUIDAE

or acknowledges that sections 4 - 6 of the a are rather weak, and
ew te any Suse es tiene for Bip rOve iente pate Frou, Che NOCLULD AS
a

fF obedcwe! Bauieet ene families - eheye are ee easy to tell apart
little exnerience. The key has deliberately omitted some of th
families, stem miners, root feeders, and all the nicros.

= ig
_ The Recorder's Report for Botany 1987

B.M.Newman

The nomenclature and order used in the report this year are those of

the "Flora of the British Isles" by Clapham, Tutin & Moore, 1987. An
alien taxon is indicated by an asterisk (*). The English names are from
"English Names of Wild Flowers" by Dony, Jury & Perring, second edition
1986, the recommended list of the Botanical Society of the British Isles.

The Recorder thanks members for thé many records of plants found within a
twenty mile radius of Reading, some of them with a note of the numbers
seen and the habitat, which adds to the interest. All records received
are kept for reference and a selection is listed below.

List of Members’ Records for 1987
OPHIOGLOSSACEAE

Ophioglossum vulgatum L. Adder‘ s-tongue
In grassland, Whiteknights Park, Reading. (HJMB).

ADIANTACEAE

*Pteris cretica L.
Surviving as an escape at Reading University, London Road. (HJMB).

CUPRESSACEAE

Juniperus communis L. ' Juniper
One tree surviving on Watlington Hill, 18. 10. 87; two in Peppard

Common chalkpit now nearly smothered by more aggressive species (HHC);
Aston Upthorpe, 30.5.87 (AB).

RANUNCULACEAE

*“Eranthis hyemalis (L.) Salisb. Winter Aconite
Benham Park, near Newbury, 2.87 (R &CG).

*Consolida ambigua (L.) P.W.Ball & Heywood ’ Larkspur
A weed in Wallingford church entrance (HJHB).

Ranunculus lingua L. Greater Spearwort

Brimpton Pit, a recent arrival (HJiB); Carbins Wood near Woolhampton,
17.5.87; Ron Ward meadow, Tadley, 14.6.87 (AB).

Thalictrum flavum L. Common |:eadow-rue
Shiplake College 12.7.87 (R & CG).

NYE PHAEACEAE

“Nymphaea odorata Ait.
A pale yellow-flowered waterlily established in Trilakes pits, Sandhurst

(1ITiB).

CRUCIFERAE

Iberis amara L. Wild Candytuft
liany plants in short grass on Watlington Hill, 18.10.87 (HHC); Warburg
Reserve, Bix, 4.7.87 (AB).

Cochlearia danica L. Danish Scurvygrass
Established along several kilometres of road near Rapley (HJiB).

An unusual record for Berkshire, this plant is usually found by the sea.
It is said to have been eaten by sailors to prevent scurvy.

e

- 29 «=

*Bunias erucago L. Southern Warty-cabbage
Established on roadside near Winchbottom, Bucks (HJLB).

Cardamine amara L. Large Bitter-cress
Remenham, Berks, 29.4.87 (KMH).

Erysimum cheiranthoides L. Treacle Nustard
Binfield. leath, Oxon. 31.10.87 (KMH).

Sisymbrium officinale (1.) Scop. Hedge Nustard

Wallingford, Berks. 31.5.87 (KIiH); Brimpton 25.4.87; Sulham 19.7.87;
by’ the.canal between Burghfield Bridge and lioatlands Pit; Savacentre/
Pincents Lane 26.7.87 (AB).

VIOLACEALE

Viola arvensis l.urray Field Pansy

Remenham, Berks. 29.4.87 (KIMH); Brimpton 5.4.87; Remenham 2.5.87; ada
near Park Farm, Coldash 9.5.87; Sulham 10.5.87; Savacentre/FPincents Lane
° 26.27.87 (AB).

HYPERICACEAE ;
Uypericum pulchrum L. - Slender St John's-wort

Pissen ‘Jood, near Shepherd's Green, 4.7.87; New Copse, near Sonning
Common, beside logging track, 27./7.87;. Flowercroft Hood, near Sonning
‘Common, 31.8.87 (HHC).

liypericum hirsutum L. % Hairy St John's-wort

'.Pissen Viood, near Shepherd's Green, 4.7.87 (ILiliC).
CARYOPHYLLACEAE
“Agrostemma githago L. per peach te

Planted on soil heaps in Whiteknights Park, with Chrysanthemum segetum
and Centaurea cyanus (HJ:B).

Sagina procumbens L. Procumbent Pearlwort

Wew Copse, near Sonning Common, beside logging track (HHC); wood near
Park Farm, Coldash (AB).

Sagina subulata (Swarz) C.Presl Heath Pearlwort
In wet heathland, Broadmoor Bottom (IlJi:B).

“Arenaria balearica L. isossy Sandwort
rlentiful in conifer ‘ad Benham Park near Newbury 6.87 (R & CG).

Spergularia rubra (L. ) J& C Presl Sand Spurrey

Benhan Fark, near Wewbury i 87 (2 & CG); wood near Park Farm, Coldash,
O25 567" CAB).
GERANL: A CEA 1S

Geranium pratense L. iieadow Crane's-bill
North bank. of Thames just downstream of Sonning Bridge 7.87 (R & CG).

Savacentre/Pincents Lane 26.7.87 (AB).
BALSANINACEAE

“Impatiens glandulifera Royle Indian Balsam
Abundant at Sedgehill Spring, Sonning Common (HHC); Old ill, Aldermaston

2405087. CAB)

LEGUL::INOSAE

*sLaburnum_anagyroides 1.edicus Laburmnum
By the A4, Aldemmaston, Berks. 17.5.87 (KIN).
Ulex minor Roth Dwarf Gorse

1.4 roadside bank, west of Greathouse ood, near Bradfield (IiB).

= 30 =

*Dorycnium rectum (L.) Ser.
A planted shrublet near St Patrick's stream (HJMB).

*Coronilla varia L. Crown Vetch
Near the Grand Union Canal, Slough (HJMB).
ROSACEAE

Potentilla anglica Laicharding Trailing Tormentil
Benham Park, near Newbury 20.8.87 (R &CG).

“xAlchemilla mollis (Buser) Rothm.
A garden throw-out on roadside near Elmore Park Wood, Woodcote, Oxon. (HJLB).

Sanguisorba officinalis L. Great Burnet

In uncut grassland near the Blackwater, south-east of Sandhurst (HJMB);
canal between Burghfield Bridge and !.oatlands Pit 25.7.87 (AB).

Resa tormentosa Sm. Harsh Downy-rose
Bockmer End, Bucks. 30.6.87 (KhH).

*rrunus. laurocerasus L. Cherry Laurel
Remenham, Berks. 27.4.87 (ki).

*Cydonia oblonga tiller Quince

Four ancient trees in abandoned orchard near Fadworth church (liJi:B).
SAXIFRAGACEAE
Ssaxifraga granulata L. i.eadow Saxifrage

In Brimpton churchyard; by the 1:4 near Frilsham (HJi.B); Remenham,
2s Set Uae

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium L. Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage

In alder-carr, Benham Park, near Newbury 5.87; i.aiden Erleigh sioods,
1.687) (2 &-CG).

DROSERACEAL

Drosera rotundifolia L. Round-leaved sundew

Spreading on wet heath near Caesar's Camp (HJiB).

ONAGRACEAE

ipilobium parviflorum Schreber Hoary Jillowherb

New Copse, near Sonning Common, beside logging track 27.7.87 (HHC).

Epilobium roseum Schreber Pale Willowherb

By stream in Greathouse ‘Jood, near Bradfield, uncommon in Berks (HJ.B).
New Copse, near Sonning Conmnon, beside logging track 27.8.7 (FHC).

*Spilobium ciliatum iiafin. american Willowherb

New Copse, near Sonning Common, beside logging track 27.7.87 (HIHC).

LORANTHACEAE

Viscum album L. histletoe
Chivedén 6287 (86. cc).

UL: BELLIFERAE

yeuiee odorata: (L.) Scop Sweet Cicely
Pissen ood, near Shepherd's Green, cut down but surviving 4.8.87 (HHC).
*xSmyrnium Qlusatrum L. Alexanders

Still by Southcote farm Lane, despite suburban building work (HJ.B).

Sison amomum L. stone :arsley
dadstock Lane, Earley 18.7.87 (2 & CG).

iS

*Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier Giant Hogweed
On the verge of Swallowfield by-pass, Three-mile Cross. The flowering
stem was. cut down at an early stage, the plant was later cut down to
ground level (JA).

_. EUPHORBIACEAE
‘Euphorbia lathyrus L. ; Caper Spurge
In ditch along Radstock Lane, Earley 18.7.87 (R & CG).
CANNABACEAE
“Cannabis sativa L. Hemp.

- hedmenham. Yrobably from birdseed left by anglers (JAN).

BETULACEAZ
“Alnus incana (L.) loench Grey Alder
Planted in quantity. in a wood south of Padworth College (HJI‘B).

TR ASVA nat
: PAGACE: has

*“Mothofagus procera Oersted Southern Beech
Planted for forestry at lionkton Wood, Bucks. (IlJIB).

SALICACEAE

“Salix daphnoides Vill.
Planted by new road through Broadmoor Bottom xeserve (HJ:B).

ER z CACBA i

Vacciniun myrtillus L. Bilberry

Ownham plantation, south of Boxford (HJi.B); wood near Park farm, Coldash,
9.5.87; Fence ‘lood, Hermitage 16.5.87; Carbins \Jood, near Woolhampton,
Mieseo? CAD).

Calluna- vulgaris (L.) Hull Heather
Scarce, Nipper's Grove, Oxon (HJI.B); wood near Park Farm, Coldash 9.5.87;

Carbins ‘Jood, near ‘ioolhampton 17.5.87; Baynes Keserve 18.7.87; Tadley
Common 23.9.87 (AB).

Erica cinerea L. Bell Heather
scarce, Nipper's Grove, Oxon. i.ay be increasing due to acid rain (HU-.3);

Tadley Common 8.7.87; Baynes Xeserve 18.7.87 (3B).

“Cyclamen hederifolium “iton Cyclamen
Long established in i.idgham Park (llJi:B).

Lysimachia vulgaris L. Yellow Loosestrife
Wear Whiteknights Lake 25.7.87 (RX & CG); Ron Ward meadow, Tadley 14.6.87 (AB).

“Lysimachia punctata Ll. Dotted Loosestrife
Increasing as a garden escape near iioor Copse (liJi.B).

APOCYNACEAE

Vinca minor L. Lesser Periwinkle
Remenham, Berks 26.3.87 (KhH).

GENTIANACEAE

Gentianella amarella (L.) Borner Autumn Gentian
l.any in short grass on 'atlington [ill 18.10.87 (HHC); Turville llill
20.6.87 (AB). ,

ge
BORAGINACEAE

_ *Lappula_squarrosa (Retz) Dumort. : Bur Forget-me-not
Redhatch Drive. Identified by Dt. H. Bowen (N & MD).
-- Amchusa-arvensis (L.) Bieb. Bugloss
On waste ground néar the railway station, Reading, 30.10.87 (KMH).
- Lithospermum officinale L. Common Gromwell
. Pissen Wood, near Shepherd's Green, 4.7.87 (HHC).
SOLANACEAE
Atropa: bélladonna L. Deadly Nightshade

Yatlington Hill, under trees, (HHC); Aston Upthorpe 30.5.87 (AB).
“*Browallia speciosa Hooker

Introduced into the Botanical Garden, Whiteknights Park in 1979 and
maintaining itself as a weed ever since (iiJ:B).

SCROPHULARIACEAE

“Verbascum blattaria L. loth i:ullein
Wasing, 30.8.87 (N & ND).

*Linaria purpurea Lz Purple Toadflax
In the {Jilderness, Whiteknights Park, 17.7.87 (R & CG).

“sLinaria: repens. (L.) Pale Toadflax
liany in short grass on Watlington Hill 18.10.87 (HHC).

Linaria vulgaris l.iller Common Toadflax
Form with 3-spurred flowers near Reading railway station (HJiB).

Linaria x-sepium Allman (L. repens x vulgaris)

In disturbed soil near ieading railway station, with parents (HJi.B).
Chaenorhinun minus (L.) Small Toadflax

‘lew Copse, near sonning Common, beside logging track 27.7.87 (NHC);
. Tuxv¥idle? HELL, 20.6687 -CAB)<

Hickxia spuria (L.}-Dumort, ~ Round-leaved Fluellen
‘eed by new roadside, Crownarsh by-pass (10.3).

Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort, sharp-leaved Fluellen
tlook Common, Hants NUS walk 12.9.87 (Ki:H). :
“Cymbalaria muralis Gaertner, i.eyer & Scherb. ivy-leaved Toadflax
iiew Copse, near sonning Common beside logging track, 27.7.87 (HilIc).
Remenham, Perks, 2.5.87 (AB)

-Seronphularia auriculata L. Vater Figwort
ilayhatch chalkpit, several plants on steep well-drained bank of chalk
rubble, an unusual habitat, 8.12.87 (ilUi.3).

“Scrophularia vernalis L. Yellow Figwort
In a hedge,the Slade, Bucklebury (liJi:B).

Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. Blue wWater-speedwell
‘Benham vark, near Newbury, 27.7.87 (2 & CG).

Veronica montana L. Wood Speedwell
l.oor Copse, Tidmarsh, Berks. NHS walk 17.5.87 (iH).

STOW IPAT Ta
V done te ie bas

Verbena officinalis L. Yervain
“any plants in short grass on ‘iatlington iill, 18.10.67 (hiicj.

= 350 =

LABIATAE

Calamintha‘syivatica Bromf. ssp ascendens (Jordan) P.W. Ball.
Common Calamint
Traveller!s Shaw, near Nuffield, a single plant 19.7.87 (HHC).

‘Melissa officinalis L. Balm
Withy Copse, near Sonning Common, a single plant 1985-87 (HHC).

Stachys arvensis (L.) L. Field Woundwort
A scarce weed near Greathouse Wood, Bradfield (HJMB).

: Lamium hybridum Vill. Cut-leaved Dead-nettle
A weed at’ Pingewood pits (HJMB).

PLANTAGINACEAE

Plantago coronopus L. Buck"s-horn Plantain
On a roadside near Rapley (HJMB).

CAN PANULACEAE

_Campanula trachelium L. Nettle-leaved Bellflower
Traveller's Shaw, near Nuffield, many plants 19.7.87 (HHC); Warburg

Reserve, Bix 4.7.87 (AB).

Campanula glomerata ie . Clustered Bellflower
Many’ in short grass on Watlington Hill 18.10.87 (HHC). :
Campanula rotundifolia L. Harebell
Many in short grass on ‘latlington Hill 18.10.87 (HHC).

]
Legousia -hybrida (L.) Delarbre Venus' s-Looking-glass
Weed by new roadside, Crowmarsh by-pass (HJIiB); Swyncombe Downs, Oxon,
i RUBLACEAE
Cruciata.laévipes Opiz Crosswort
SS EEE -
Travellet's Shaw, near Nuffield, many plants 19.7.87 (HHC).
- CAPRIFOLIACEAE

Viburnum opulus L. Guelder-rose
Traveller's Shaw, near Nuffield 19.7.87 (HHC).

A TA ODA TY?
ADOKACZEAE

Adoxa moschatellina L. lioschatel
Benham Vark, near lewbury 4.87 (2 & CG).

Dipsacus fullonum L. Teasel
On roadside verge Lower Earley (BIN).
COL: POSITAE

“Helianthus petiolaris Nuttall

On the !4 central reservation south-east of Reading (HJMB). .
Bidens tripartita L. Trifid Bur-marigold
Several plants by Maiden Erleigh lake (BIN).

“Galinsoga ciliata (Rafin.) SF. Blake Shaggy Soldier

4 garden weed in lienley, Cxon., 25.10.87 (KiiH).

“Guizotia abyssinica (L.fil.) Cass.
In Whiteknights Yark, probably from birdseed (IJi:B).

Pilago minima (sm.) Vers. Small Cudweed

On old ashbed, ‘iasing pits (ilJi-B).

- 34 -

' Achillea ptammica L. Sneezewort uh
Whiteknights Park 17.7.87 (R & CG). es xsi
Onopordum acanthium L. Cotton Thistle
Roadside near Cookley Green Oxon.; Whiteknights Park, Reading (HJMB).
Cichorium intybus L. Chicory

About 100,000 plants in the corner of a grass field on Chalkhouse Farm,
not seen in previous years. (CIN says "The plant is sometimes included

in seed mixtures on shallow chalky soils in England, both because cattle .
readily eat its leaves and for the effect of its deep tap-root in breaking
up the subsoil.") The soil on Chalkhouse Farm is eravells but the chalk
lies close beneath the surface (HHC).

*Hieracium brunneocroceum Pugsley
- In lawn turf, Henley, Oxon. (HJMB); Copperdale Close, Earley 31.8.87,
on rough grass near garages, mown the next day (R & CG).

HYDROCHARITACEAE

*Elodea nuttallii (Planchon) St John Nuttall's Waterweed
Dominant in gravel pits near Radley, should be looked for in the
Reading area (HJNB).

LILIACEAE

Polygonatum multiflorum (L.) All. Solomon’ s-seal
Plentiful in conifer plantation, Benham Park, near Newbury 6.87 (R &CG).
* JUNCACEAE

Juncus effusus L. Soft Rush

New Copse near Sonning Common, beside logging track 27.7.87 (HHC).
Juncus conglomeratus L. Compact xush-

New Copse near Sonning Common, beside logging track 27.7.87 (HHC);
Ashford Hill 14.6.87 (AB).

Juncus bufonius L. Toad Rush

New Copse near Sonning Common, beside logging track 27.7.87 (HHC).
Luzula sylvatica (Hudson) Gaudin Great Wood-rush
Frilsham Common Woods; Grims Ditch, Honkton Wood, Bucks. (HJiiB).

Luzula forsteri (Sm.) DC- Southern Wood-rush
Pissen ilood near Shepherd's Green 4.7.87 (HHC).

CRACHIDACEAE

Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz Broad-leaved Helleborine
Several plants in Midgham Park; one plant near Fadworth College (HJM3).

Dactylorhiza majalis ssp. practemisss (Druce) D.lioresby lL:oore & Sod

Southern liarsh Orchid
Abundant in sallow carr, Brimpton pit (HJMB); Ashford Iill 14.6.87 (AB).

Dactylorhiza fuchsii x praetermissa (Druce) Soo
Scarce in Midgham Park (HJMB).

CYPERACEAE

Scirpus sylvaticus L. Wood Club-rush
Wet meadow, Woolhampton; edge of gravel pits, Trilakes, Sandhurst (HJMB).

Carex muricata L. Prickly Sedge
Sole Common, on heathy tracks (HJNB).

Carex ovalis Good. : Oval Sedge
In old pond sites near Brimpton Common (HJMB); Ron Ward meadow, Tadley
14.6.87; Ashford Hill 14.6.87 (AB).

= 35 te

' Carex laevigata Sm. Smooth-stalked Sedge
Scarce in alder gully, Inwood Copse (HJMB).

GRAMINEAE

Festuca arundinacea Schreber x F. gigantea (Lie) VLLIs
A large-clump at Little Wittenham. This is very rare in Britain (HJMB).

Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl. ; Reflexed Saltmarsh+grass
Spreading along the edge of the 1:4 and-at roundabouts, as at St Anns and
mear junction 13 (HJMB).

Briza media L. Quaking-grass
Buttlers Hangings, a form lacking purple anthocyanin (HJ3B).

Bromus benekenii (Lange): Trimen Lesser Hairy-brome

In Tight shade at Turville Hill, a rare and overlooked plant (Il0iB).
‘*Bromus-carinatus looker & Arnott California Brome
’ Established in roadside near Blackmoor Wood, Watlington, Oxon. (HJHB).
“Hordeum. jubatum L. Foxtail Barley

A North American species spreading along the 1:4 as at junction 11 south
of Reading, and near Greathouse ood. It lines highways in central

~ «USA too (H2:B).

-Trisetum flavescens (L.) Beauv. Yellow Cat-grass

Bockmer End, Bucks. 30.6.87 (luli).

- *Panicum.mileaceum L. ; . Common liillet

Apparently planted as a crop with Sweet Corn (Zea mais) near Greathouse
Hood (iLEiB).

“Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. Cockspur

In a garden on the outskirts of Ilenley, possibly of wild birdseed

Contributors:-

DreJ. andrews (JA), Dr.H.J.M. Bowen (UJ:B), Ore-A. Brickstock (45),
Hesciislia Carter (iC), ix. and iirs. Diserens (N &\i0), Dr. R. Grayer
end ir. C. Grayer (XR & CG), Lr. Kit. llorswell (KL:H), brs. 3B.i:. Newman
(Sia), ite JAeisewnan (JAN).

| - 36 - : 2 oe
The Recorder's Report for Entomology 1987
B.R. Baker : . SM: 5% Se ;

The order and nomenclature used in this Report are those given in Elliott

and Humpesch, Ephemeroptera, 1983; Kloet and Hincks, A Check List of British
Insects, Part 13 Small Orders and Hemiptera, 1964; Part 2: Lepidoptera,

1972; Part 3: Coleoptera, 1977: Part 4: Hymenoptera, 1978 and Part 5: Diptera,

EPHEMEROPTERA _ Mayflies

_ Ephemera danica Null. :
River Pang, Moor Copse Nature Reserve, 4.6.87, 2.7.87 (P & JA).

E.lineata Eaton
- Warburg Nature Reserve, 1 female, 4.7.87 (P & JA); Caversham, 1 male,
1 female to mercury vapour light-trap, 13.7.87 (BRB). .

Habrophlebia fusca (Curt)
River Pang, Moor Copse Nature Reserve, 2.7.87 (P & JA).

Ephemerella ignita (Poda)

Warburg Nature- Reserve, about a dozen females, many carrying a ball of
eggs, 4.7.87; Greenham Common, 2 females, 18.7.87 (P & JA); River Pang,
Moor Copse Nature Reserve, (P & JA); 4,19.6.87, 2.7.87, 6.10.87 (P & JA).

Caenis horaria (L.)
Warburg Nature Reserve, 4.7.87 (P & JA).

Celuctuosa (Burm.)
Dinton Pastures, 14.6.87 (P & JA).

Baetis rhodani (Pictet)
River Pang, lioor Copse Nature Reserve, 6.5.87 4.6.87, 21.8.87,6.10.87.(P&JA).

Be scambus Eaton
River Pang, ltloor Copse Nature Reserve, 19.6.87 (P & JA).

Bevernus Curt.
River Pang, Moor Copse Nature Reserve, 2.7.87, 6.10.87 (P & JA).

Centroptilum luteolum (itull.)

River Pang, i:ioor Copse Nature Reserve, 6.5.87, 4,19.6.87, 2.7.87, 21.8.87,
6.10.87 (2 & JA).

C. pennulatum caton

River Pang, l:oor Copse lature Reserve, 1956.87,..2.fe07 (P & SAYS

Rhithrogena semicolorata (Curt.)

Aiver Vang, l.oor Copse Nature Reserve, 6.5.87 (2 & JA).
CDONATA Dragonflies

Pyrrhosoma nymphula (Sulz.)
Englemere Pond, 30.5.87 (N & ID).

Ischnura elegans (van der Lind.)
Englemere Pond, SUE teo le (N & MD).

Coenagrion puella (L.)
Englemere Pond, 30.5.87 (N & MD).

Lestes sponsa (Hanse.)
Wasing Gravel Pits, 30.8.87 (N & MD).

Aeshna grandis (L.)
Wasing Gravel Pits, 30.8.87 (N & HD).

A. juncea (L.) :
Wasing Gravel Pits, 30.8.87 (N &-iD).

ae sy a

-Cordulia linaenea Fraser = aenea (L.)
Englemere Pond, 30.5.87 (N & iD).

Libellula quadrimaculata Le :

Englemere Pond, 30.5.87; Wasing Gravel Pits, 30.8.87 (N & ND).
- Sympetrum_scoticum (Don.)

Wasing Gravel Pits, 30.8.87 (N & HD).

S. striolatum (Charp.) -
- Wasing Gravel Pits, 30.8.87 (N & MD).

HEMIPTERA Plant-bugs, ‘ater-bugs, Leaf-hoppers, Aphids, Seale-insects

. Dicyphus stachydis Reuter
Baynes Nature Reserve, 8.6.87 (HHC).

Calocoris quadripunctatus (Villers)
‘Bird Wood, Sonning Common, 2.6.87 (iHC).

Evacanthus acuminatus (fabr.) : ;
Baynes Nature Reserve, 13.7.87, last recorded at Wytham and Cothill

ce 1920 (HHC).

Psylla-melenoneura Forster
Kennylands, 24.3.87 (HHC)

LEPIDOPTERA ~ Butterflies and toths

Apoda limacodes (ilufn.) The Festoon

~burghclere, 9.7.87 (GGE=F) 2
Thymelicus lineola (Cchs.) Essex Skipper

Near. Swallowfield Bypass 1.8.87 (STP); common on the. roadsides there,
B.0,07 ° (Br3).
This butterfly continues to spread westwards and it paoard be worthwhile
looking for it in rough grassy roadside sites between Theale and Newbury.

iesperia comma (L.) Silver-spotted Skipper
Christmas Common, common there, 16.38.87 (ili.B).

Colias croceus (Geoffr.) Clouded Yellow
Dramshilil, 1,5.8.87 (STF); Brimpton Pit, 2, 31.8.87- (JENS).

mthocharis cardamines (i.} Crange-tip

Warburg llature Aeserve, 4.7.87 (iWi.D, iiGD). A very late date for this
springtime butterfly and probably a reflection of the unseasonable weather
conditions in June.

Selastrina argiolus (Lei liolly Slue

meadine, 27.4.87-(idi:3)3-25 itatlock Road, Caversham, 5.4.87, 12.7.87;
44.38.87 (GB).

‘Vanessa atalanta (L.) Red Admiral

Inkpen Common, 24.5.87, Gwlsmoor, 20.9.87 (iiJi.B); Ashford Hill, 14.11.87 (DAY);
25 fatlock Road, Caversham, 5.7.87, 16, 23.8.87, 20.9.87 and continuing to
be seen in small numbers on ivy blossoms and fallen fruit until 6.11.87 (iGB).

Cynthia cardui (L.) Painted Lady
Reading, 31.38.87 (ili/3); Burghclere, (GGE-i).
Uymphalis polychloros (L.) Large Tortoiseshell

Wittenham ‘Iood, at sallow bloom, 17.4.37 - probably this species but

difficult to observe ma very tall bush (liJi:B). Last seen in the County in
1948 but the butterfly is renowned for reappearing after many years of absence
and springtime always offered the best chance of secing one, invariably at
sallow after hibernation (B53).

rgynnis aglaja (abba Dark Green fritillary

SPER vature .eserve, several on 4.7.87 (iWi.b, BAZ).

= eee
Lasiommata megera (L.) The Wall

Wasing Gravel Pits, 1 male, 30.8.87, the first seen for 2 years (N& HD)...

Following the note in last year's Report several members kept a careful
watch for this butterfly but the Wasing specimen was the only one seen.

Trichiura Crataegi (L.) Pale Eggar
Aldermaston, 9.9.87 (AB, PS).

Gastropacha quercifolia (L.) : The Lappet
Aldermaston, 9.7.87 (AB, PS).

Tethea or (D & S) Poplar Lutestring
BurgheLere, 1%. 126 087s 6, 5.7 to 15.7.87 (GGE-F): Warburg Nature Reserve,
4.7.87 (BRB); Ashford Hill, -26.6.87 (DAY). :

Idaea sylvestraria (Hb.) : aris tna Dotted Border Yave
Greenham Common'18.7.87 (NH, 3RB); Bowdown ‘Jood Nature Reserve, 11.7.87
(GGi-F, RJH).

Rhodometra sacraria (L.) The Vestal
Burghclere, 2 on 21.8.87 (GGz-r): Caversham, 1 on 21.8.87 (33).

. Lampropteryx otregiata (l-etc.) Devon Carpet

: Burghclere, 4-from 28.8.87 to 4.9.87 (GGE-F).
Chloroclysta siterata (llufn. ) ned-green carpet
Burghclére, -17.4<87, 4.5087, 19, 23.9.87,-1,12,15,16.10.87. (GGE-F)
Triphosa dubitata (L.) The Tissue m
Aldermaston Park, 27.4.87 (GGE=-F, PS). :
Perizoma bifaciata (Haw.) - Barred Rivulet
Aldermaston, 11.8.87 (43, BS).
cupithecia irriguata (ib.) harbled Pug
Burghclere, 51 recorded from 26.4.87 to 29.5.87 (GGE-i).
Ezindigata (ib.) Ochreous Lug

-‘Burghclere, 25.5.87, 20.6.87 (GGE-F).

_Semiothisa alternaria (Ib.) Sharp-angled Peacock

-. Burghelere,; 28,29.5.67, 57087, 20.8287 (GGE-F).

‘mgerona prunaria (L.) The Crange !.oth

ishford iUill, common at dusk and at mercury vapour light, 26.6.87.
25 recorded with 2 form corylaria (DAY).

Boarmia roboraria ().& 5.) Great Cak Beauty
Wellington Country Park, 1.7.87 (DAY).

Dyscia fagaria (Thunb.) . Grey Scalloped Bar
Jellington Country rark, 6.7.87 (DAY).

Ftilodontella cucullina (D. & 5S.) ' Laple Prominent

mamer Green, 24.6.87 (JUIN); Warburg Nature Reserve, 4.7.87 (Bi3);
Bowdown ‘iood Nature Reserve, 11.7.87 (GGi-F, RJH).

Clostera pigra (ilufn.) Small Chocolate-tip
Aldermaston, 16.8.87 (AB, FS).

Leucoma salicis (1L.) White Satin !.oth
emmer Green, 30.6.87 (JHFi); Burghclere, 2.7.87, (GGE-F); Aldermaston,
17 recorded during the season (AB, US).

-Rhyacia_ simulans (lun. ) Dotted Rustic
immer Green, 16.8.87 (JIN).

Cucullia chamomillae (D. & S.) Chamomile Shark
Aldérmaston,- 17.25.87 (AB, PS).

Lithophane socia (llufn.) ; Pale Vinion
Durghclere, 3.4.87, 3.10.87 (GGi-!); Aldermaston, 8.11.87 CAB, TS)

- 39 -

Leornitopus (Hufn.) Grey Shoulder-knot
Padworth, 1 female, 28.4.87 (PS). EP aR OSA

Craniophora ligustri (D. & S.) ' The Coronet

Burghclere, 28.6.87 (GGE-F); Warburg Nature Reserve, 4.7.87 (BRB).
hiormo maura (L.) The Old Lady |
Aldermaston, 11.8.87 (AB, PS).

Ipimorpha retusa (L.) es Double Kidney
Burghclere, 17, 20.8.87 (GGE-F).

Cosmia trapezina (L.) The Dun-bar
Burghclere, 1 form nigra Tutt, 1.8.87, 1 form badiofasciata Teich, 7.8.87

(GGE-F). 3
Both of these forms quoted are seldom recorded.

_ Apamea sublustris (Esp.) Sime Reddish Light Arches
i Emner Green, 306.87 (JHFN).
Lygephila pastinum (Treit.) : : The Blackneck .

Emmer Green, 5.7.87 (JiliN); Burghfield Common, 10.7.87 (DAY); Burghclere,
13.7.87 (GGE-F);

Trisateles emortualis (D. & S.} The Olive Crescent

Caversham, 1 female at mercury vapour light, 6.7.87 (BRB). The beechwoods
beyond Stonor were thought to be the main-centre of distribution for
emortualis in Britain, but this record now raises the possibility of a
breeding ground closer to ieading.

COLECPTERA Beetles

_HUC has again kindly selected the following records from the detailed
list supplied by i-r. T.J. ilarrison of Leighton vark - the complete list
is available from the !.useum's Biological Records Index.

Tachys parvulus Dejean

Leighton. rark, 9 to 11.4.85. Three. specimens in crevicies of an old red
brick wall. Identification confirmed by Dr. i.. Luff (in 1987). This.is the
second modern record for the U.ii.3; first record for Berkshire.

~Haliplus flavicollis Stumm

Near fingewood, 16.9.57, amongst submerged water plants in a water-filled
gravel pit (TDI).

i. immaculatus Gerhardt

uear.:ingewood, 16.9.57, amongst submerged water plants in a water-filled
gravel pit (TDH).

iis obliquus (-abr.)

lear .ingewood, 15.9.87, amongst submerged water plants in a water-filled

5 Seige
gravel pit (Ti).

cercyon ustulatus (vreyssler)

Leighton Lark, 28.10.86, on the bank of a pond (TDi).

reranus bimaculatus (L.)
Near vingewood, 16.9.87, in rotting straw (TDI).

Ptomaphagus subvillosus (Goeze)
Leighton Park, 20.4.87, in pit-fall trap in garden lawn (TDI).

Catops fuliginosus “richson

Leighton Park, 5.11.86, in pit-fall trap in compost heap in a garden (TDI).

l:icropeplus fulvus Erichson
Leighton Park, 8.10.86, in a compost heap (TDII).

Dropephylla ioptera (Stephens)
Thiteknights, 15.10.86, under bark of felled tree (TDII).

= 649 =

‘Anotylus tetracarinatus (Block)
Leighton Park, 13.7.87, attracted to mercury vapour lamp in garden (TDI).

Stenus clavicornis (Scopoli)
-Near Streatley, 29.10.86. At the base of grass plants on the grass verge
of a track in area of arable farmland (TDH).

Lathrobium fovulum Stephens
Near Shinfield Grange, 23.12.86, under bark of rotten fallen willows.
Identification confirmed by P.l. Hammond (TDH).

; L..fulvipenne v. letzneri Gerhardt

Near Shinfield Grange, 23.12.86. Under bark of rotting fallen willow (TDH)

Se geninun Kraatz
Near Arborfield, 23.12.86. Under bark of rotten fallen tree (TDH).

Lithocharis nigriceps Kraatz
Leighton Park, 8.4.87, in compost. heap (TDH).

Leptacinus‘ intermedius Donisthorpe
Leighton Park, 5.4.87, in compost heap (TDH).

L. pusillus (Stephens)
Leighton Park, 5.4.87, in compost heap (TDi).

Erichsonius cinerascens (Gravenhorst)
tieckfield Heath, 31.3.87, in sphagnum moss on bank of a pond (TDH).

Philornthus fimetarius (Gravenhorst)
Leighton fark, 8.10.86, in compost heap (TDH).

Ye rectangulus Sharp’

Near Lingewood, 16.9.87, in rotting straw (TDH).
‘. sordidus (Gravenhorst)

Leighton Park, 5.4.87, in compost heap (TDI).

vtaphylinus ater Gravenhorst

Leighton Fark, 10.7.87,under piece of wood in a garden (TDH).

3. brunnines i‘abr.

Near Arborfield, 23. 12.56, under bark of rotting fallen tree. Identified
by P.hisilammond (3.l.us.ilat.ilist.) (TDi).

5. winkleri Bernhauer

liear Lingewood, 16.9.87, in a mound of loose gravel beside water-filled
gravel pit (TDiI).

Neterothons .dissimilis (Gravenhorst)

Leighton iark, 5.4.87, in compost heap (TDH).

‘uedius curtipennis Zernhauer

Near Tingewood, -16.9.87, under a stone on bank of water-filled gravel pit

sepedonhilus testaceus (Yabr.)
Near Burghfield Common, 25.3.87, under bark of rotting conifer tree stump

Tachinus laticollis Gravenhorst
Leighton Park, 5.7.87, in pit-fall trap set up in corner of grass lawn
beside a compost heap (TDii).

Zyras libatus (Vaykull)
Leighton Park, 20.4.87, in pit-fall trap in ant-infested lawn (TDi).

Euplectus sanguineus Denny

(TDH).

(TDH).

Leighton vark, 8.10.86, in compost heap. Identified by ¥.!.. Hammond (TDI).

Lacon cuerceus(ilerbst )
Windsor Great Vark, i.ay 1987, bred from dead oak (JAC).

= Git) =

Cantharis lateralis L.
Whitek nights, 29.5.87, by sweeping meadow (TDil).

Scymnus auritus Thunberg
Leighton Vark, 24.5.87, by sweeping stinging nettles (TDI).

Cis bilamellatus Wood
Leighton vark, 8.10.86, in compost heap (TDH). :

Ennearthron cornutum (Gyllenhall)
Near irborfield, 23.12.86, inside woody bracket fungus (TDH).

Anthicus formicarius (Goeze)
Leighton vark, 12.10.86, in compost heap (TDI).

thyllotreta ochripes (Curtis)

Leighton iark, 24.5.87, by BS i Alliaria petiolata (TDH).

Loneitarsus ballotae G-arsha:
i.oulsford aes 29610 S65. on Ballots: nigta. Identification confirmed by
bythraria salicariae (faykull)

Child Beale, near Lower Basildon, 2555. 87, resting on Epilobium sp. (TDIl).

Epitrix pubescens (Koch Jui)
Near <\rborfield, 1.7.87, on Solanum nigrum (TH).

Apteropeda eclobosa (Illiger)

Baynes lature Aeserve, 8.6.37 (illic).

Sarynotus moerens (Fabr.)

“Bowdown ‘Jood iiature Reserve, 18.4.87 (per ihc).

-‘noplus roboris Suffrian

Baynes lature icserve, 1986 (TD).

-Acalles roboris Curtis

““Dayties Uature Aeserve, 1986 (TDil).

Crthochaetes insienis (ubé)

Leighton fark, 210.56, in pit-fall trap in an overgrown weedy vegetable
Se in garden (PDE) «

thynchaenus.pilosus (Fabr.)

eee aeon vark, 9.9.87, on washing on a line (T)H).

TYE SOS T AA Sawflies, Ichneumons, Bees, ‘nts and ‘asps

Meurotoma saltuum (7..}
baynes lature .eserve, 1984 (xii).

strongylogaster xanthocera (Stephens)
Raynes Nature Aeserve, 1983 (..i1).

Scolioneura betuleti (Glug)
Baynes lature Reserve, 1983 (.4H).

iiessa nana (iilug)
Baynes lature Reserve, &.6.87 (illic).

lieaichroa australis (Lepeletier)
Baynes Mature Reserve, 1984 (Ail).

Euura atra (Jurine)
Baynes ilature Aeserve, 1983 (..il).

Nematus beremanni Dahlbon :
Ransbury Drive, sarley, bred from Salix (DT).

iasius brunneus Catre)

Clayfield Copse, “mmer Green, 16.4.87. . characteristic species of ancient

woodland, in our area known hitherto only from Ascot (iNiC).

ay ee

Crossocerus walkeri (Shuckard)
i.oor Copse Nature Reserve, 18.4.87, cocoons in rotting oak and adults bred. (BRB). ~

DIPTERA True Flies a : : 7
j

Thaumastoptera calceata Nik
Baynes Nature’ Reserve, 1987 (KP).

‘olophilus pleuralis De leijere
Baynes Nature ieserve, 13.7.87 (IHC).

4ericotopus lucens (Zett.)
82, Kennylands Road, Sonning Common, 10.2.87, from water butt (IIIHC).

“

'Trichosia viatica (Jinnertz)
bird Yood, Sonning Common, 31.3.87 (IHC).

Lycoriella leucotricha Tuomikoski
To

Dird ‘iodd, Sonning Common, 8.4.87 (HC).

DBradysia brunnipes (i-eigen) .
Baynes Nature teserve, 12.5.87 (IIiC).
Scatopsciara cf. edwardsi Y*reeman

Cld Town liall cloakroom, 25.3.87 (CHHC).

neichertella geniculata (Zett.)
TW

Birches ‘lood, Crowsley Forest, 2.10.79 (iC); 2, College toad, ieading,
10 51.0+70 .(23)..

vylomyia marginata (i-eigen)
Brimpton Mill, 1985 (DG).

\

Atherix ibis’ (‘abr.)
Aiver Snborne near Crookhan, aggregations of ovinositing females (.\D).

suthyneura myrtilli iacquart

Baynes iiature Reserve, 12.5.87 (lic).

Dolichopus arbustorum Stannius

Daynes Nature deserve, 13.7.87 (iC).

uercostomus germanus (iiednann )

Daynes uature ieserve, 13.7.87 (iilc).

iiyGrophorus litoreus allen

Sonning Comuon Sewage orks, 14,9.87- Ciuic).
1.edetera abstrusa Thunebers

Dird ‘ood,., sonnins Connon, 27.5-07 Ciuc).

hat Existas.. Cette.)

iennylends zaddock, sonning Common, 19.5.G7 (illic).
ivibrissa vittata (j-eigen)

haynes lature Aeserve, 17.56.87 (iiiCc). ,

1

lenyia profuza (Stein)

Bird ood, Sonning Common, 15.6.87 (illic).

lydrophoria divisa (. eigen)

conning Common Sewage Viorks, 1459.87 (CIC). .
gle brevicornis {Zett.) oa

Saynes Nature. ieserve, 10.4.87 (tic).

vannia atra (3tein)

: as lature Neserve, 6.6.G/mh4i=) 6

ze NS
aa SSA ° 44 ‘ 9 (2, 9 as
tidee over) <avershan¢ Mili ostream, 24.9.567, (ucc).

’

a

a eS ee
The Society's Entomological Evening, 4th July 1987

After a’periodofcool, rainy weather, summer really happened and 4th July
must have been one of the hottest. days of the year. Insects responded to
the change and it was almost unsettling to see both orange-tips and dark
green fritillaries on the wing at the same time. Alan Brickstock and
Sheila Ward listed some 65 species of moths recorded at the sheets and

the following half a dozen appear to be new to the Warburg Reserve List :-
poplar lutestring, July highflyer, green pug, swallowtail moth, minor .

- shoulder-knot and clouded-bordered brindle. Our best thanks are due to

the Reserve Warden, Nigel Phillips, for making us so welcome at Bix -

we shall have pleasure in sending him an up-dated Reserve Lepidoptera List.

» Contributors:-

Dr.P & Dr.J. Andrews (P & JA), lirseH.G. Baker (HGB), Dr.H.J.t:. Bowen (HJMB),
Dr.A.: Brickstock (AB), the-late Dr.E—. Burtt (EB), HH. Carter (HHC),

A. Driver (AD), N. & h..Diserens (N & hD), Lt. Col. G.G. Eastwick-Field (GGE-F),
D. Gibbs (DG), Net. Hall (N:H), A. Halstead (AH), T.D. Harrison (TDH),

Dre ReJ. Hornby (RJH), J.ueF. Notton (JHFN), Prof. J.eA. Owen (JAO),

B.T. Parsons: (BT), Ke Porter (KP),:°P. Silver (PS), hrss S. Ward (SW),

D.A~ Young (DAY). The xecorder thanks all those mentioned above for their
contributions, also the Director of Reading :useum and Art Gallery for
allowing- us to incorporate any relevant records from the l.useum's collections.

ARACENIDA spiders, Harvestmen

Pardosa nigriceps (Thorell)
Baynes Nature Xeserve, 1985-(SH).

iGicurina cicur: (Fabr.)

Baynes iiature teserve, 1985 (SI!).
Smaurobius terrestris (.Jider)
“Baynes Nature Xeserve, 1985 (sil).
Dicymbium nigrum (Slackwall)

5t. LLaurence’s Churchyard, Reading, 2.4.87, pair in cop. (HHC).
Nemastoma bimaculatum (fabr.)

ry 7 ) c fa es tee
Baynes Nature Aeserve, 1985 (sii).
Lesabunus diadema (vabr.)

Saynes Nature Aeserve, 1983 (Cir).

latybunus triangularis (iierbst.)
Baynes tiature iieserve, 1983 (CIP).
CHILCFOD.. Centipedes
ilaplophilus subterraneus (Shaw)
Baynes Nature Keserve, 1985 (SH).
Strigamia crassines (C.L. koch)
Baynes Nature Aeserve, 1985 (Si).
Necrophloeophagus longicornis (Leach)

Baynes Nature Xeserve, 1985 (SH).

Lithobius microps l.einert ;
Daynes Nature Aeserve, 1985 (sii). (But note that Lason (1964) makes this

a synonym of L. duboscqui Brolemann).

LYALAPODA i:illipedes

Brachydesmus superus Latzel

Baynes Nature ieserve, 1985 (Sli).

Glomeris marginata (Villers>

Baynes Nature aeserve, 1985 (SH).

Proteroiulus fuscus (Am Stef)
Baynes Nature 2eserve, 1985 {Sil).

Tachypodoiulus niger (Leach)

Baynes Nature weserve, 1985 (SH).

Contributors:-

Seb Hopkin (Sh)5:. Ceile Blan’ (Cue)

“ os = ve 7

oe

Pro

- The Recorder's Report for Fungi 1987
Alan Brickstock

The 1987 season was a fluctuating one Mycologically, starting off very well,
‘then going through a bad patch in a long dry spell, and finally having an
excellent late flourish at the end of October and the beginning of November.
The total number of species was 354, 69 more than last year, and these —
-included-a number of very good finds.
An outstanding one, on Judith Hack's foray at Hook End on October 3, was
. Pulveroboletus lignicola, the only Boletus species which grows on wood.
Identification of this specimen was confirmed at Kew. There are very few
British records for this fungus, with only one.site where it is regularly
‘found. ,

Another excellent find was. Phylloporus (Boletus) rhodoxanthus, found on the
Mycological Society foray- at Virginia Water on October 17. This very rare
_ Species, which grows in Beech woods, has golden yellow pores, which become
bright blood red.

The uncommon Melanophyllum (Lepiota) eyrei. was another nice find. This

species has blue-green gills and pale green spores, the latter being a very

unusual feature.

- What at first looked like some rather odd Amanita-species in ‘bud‘ form, at
.Sulham; proved on closer examination to be the very uncommon Lycoperdon
mammiforme, a deep flesh-pink Puff Ball, with white cottony scales.

A single specimen of Rozites caperata, which is illustrated on the front
cover of ‘Hora', and said in Phillips to be ‘virtually unknown in Southern
England', was -found at Woodcote, and it was-also found at Kingwood Common.

sStropharia aurantiaca, an attractive orange-red species, described as ‘rare'
in Phillips, were found in considerable numbers on pulverised bark in the
Heather. garden at Virginia water.

A number of species have been unusually abundant. Wood Blewits (Lepista
nuda) and Shaggy Parasols (Lepiota rhacodes) have appeared in great numbers
in. numerous places, and have ‘provided some excellent meals. Clitocybe
nebularis were particularly abundant in early November, forming many large

rings, up to 16m in diameter at Sulham.

The -viscid, yellowish-fawn Mycena epipterygia, usually found in small
numbers, have appeared in hundreds at Ufton Nervet, Five Oaken and other
places.

The very attractive Cystoderma_amianthinum have also been found in large
groups, whereas two or three are usually considered a nice find.

The interesting little Calocera pallido-spathulata (‘pale and _ spoon
shaped'), discovered only about 15 years ago, ana which probably only
appeared in Berkshire last year, now seems to be widespread in the county,
and was found in five locations.

The Society had two very enjoyable forays, 84 species being found on Judith
Hack's outing at Hook End, and a superb 101 species on the all day outing at
Kingwood Common, led by Neville Diserens and myself. Congratulations to the
diligent searchers on these forays.

Thanks to the faithful few who have contributed to these records, especially
Mary and Neville Diserens. There are others among our members who ‘fungus’,
and never send in records; it would be nice to hear from them next year.

ae 2060 cos

Agaricus luteomaculatus.
Roadside at Farley Hill, 27.10. 87 (PA).

Agaricus maleolens
Roadside .at Farley Hill, 20.11.87 (PA).

- Aqaricus spissicaulis
Shinfield, 27.10.87 (PA).

Agaricus xanthoderma
Silverdale Road, Earley, 31.10.87 (D).

A large ring.

Amanita rubescens var. annulosulphurea
Virginia Water, 26.9.87 (B&D).
Like the type, but with a yellow ring.

Amanita solitaria
Wellington Country Park, 24.10.87 (PA).

Boletus albidus ;
Virginia Water, 26.9.87 (B&D).
A very uncommon species, whose cut flesh goes a beautiful pale blue colour.

Boletus calopus
Wasing, 3.10.87 (D).
A bitter and inedible species; stipe bright red with white reticulations.

Boletus luridus
Sulham, 30.8.87 (D).

Boletus porosporus
Whiteknights Park, 22.9.87 (B).

‘Chroogomphus rutilus
Newtown Common, 10.10.87 (B&D).

/Collybia distorta ‘
Padworth Common, 30.9.87 (B); Whiteknights Wilderness, 4.10.87 (UW).
- An uncommon species, with dark brown cap. Gills white, staining reddish-brown

Cortinarius bulbosus
Burghfield Gravel Pits, 26.10.87 (B).

‘Cortinarius croceofolius
Virginia Water, 17.10.87 (MS).

Cortinarius phoeniceus
Kingwood Common, 18.10.87 (NH).
A rare, striking species with red-brown cap and blood-red gills.

“Cortinarius puniceus
Kingwood Common, 18.10.87 (NH).
A rare, purplish blood-red species.

Cortinarius torvus
Tadley Water Tower, 14.10.87 (B).
Bottom two thirds or more of stipe covered with white, sheathing ‘ring’.

Entoloma_ rhodopolium
Owlsmoor, 29.9.87 (B).

Gomphideus roseus
Owlsmoor, 29.9.87 (B).
An attractive species, cap coral darkening to brick-red, gills greyish.

Inocybe griseo-lilacina
Hook End, 3.10.87 (NH).

Sie

Lactarius britannicus
Whiteknights, 9.11.87 (PA).
Identified by R. Roper.

Lactarius volemus

-Wasing, 10.10.87 (B).

2

One of the few edible and good Lactarius, but beware of confusion with other

‘similar species.

Lactarius --zonarius

Virginia*Water, 26.9.87 (B&D).

“© Teccinum holopus

Owlsmoor, 29.9.87 (B); Virginia Water, 17.10.87 (MS).

Like a pale L. scabrum, flesh white, but blue-green in base of stipe.

Lepiota castanea
AWE, 23..10.87 (B).

. Lepiota ochraceofulva

Garden in Earley, 4.11.87 (PA)
Identity confirmed by D. Reid.

Lepiota puellaris
Roadside at Earley, 12.11.87 (PA)

* Leptonia euchroa ;

Newtown Common, .10.10.87 (NFC).
A small species with a beautiful violet cap. Gills deep violet with a darker
edge.

Leptonia serrulata

Virginia Water, 17.10.87 (MS).

A small blue-black fungus, becoming brown with age..

Marasmius recubens
Harpsden, 11.10.87 (D).

‘A small species with hair-like stipe, which is red-brown with a white apex.

Melanoleuca arcuata
Sulham, 27.9.87 (B).

Me lanophyllum eyrei
Bottom Wood Mapledurham, 19.9.87 (B).
Has pale green spores, a very unusual feature.

Mycena .epipterygioides

Newtown Common, 10.10.87 (NFC); Virginia Water, 17.10.87 (MS);
Ufton Nervet, 25.10.87 (B).

Larger-and brighter yellow than the more common M. epipterygia.

_..Nolanea hirtipes

Virginia Water, 26.9.87 (B&D).

Phylloporus rhodoxanthus

Virginia Water, 17.10.87 (MS).

A very uncommon species, cap reddish-—pink, covered in purplish-grey slime.
Pores golden yellow, becoming bright blood-red.

Pholiota adiposa
Virginia Water, 17.10.87 (MS); Lambridge Wood, 11.10.87 (D).

Pholiota lenta
Rumerhedge Wood, Hook End, 31.10.87 (D).

Pholiota ochrochlora
Whiteknights Park, 22.9.87 (B).

Mie es

Pluteus lutescens
Sliding Hill Swyncombe, 31.10.87 (D).

Pulveroboletus lignicola

“ Hook End, 3.10.87 (NH).

. Very rare, seen regularly in only one British site. The only Boletus which
grows on wood.

Rhodotus palmatus
Burghfield Gravel Pits, 26.10.87 (B); Ufton Nervet, 7.11.87 (B).

Growing only on dead Elm. Once rare, becoming common after the ravages of
Dutch Elm disease. Now becoming rarer again.

, Rozites caperata .
Woodcote, 11.10.87 (CW); Kingwood Common, 10.10.87 (PA)

. Rare in Southern England.

Russula alutacea
Padworth Common, 30.9.87 (B).

-Russula sanguinea
Hook End, 3.10.87 (NH).

Stropharia aurantiaca
Virginia Water,-17.10.87 (MS).
An uncommon orange-red species.

Tricholoma ustale
Kingwood -Common, 18.10.87 (NH). —
viscid, chestnut brown, poisonous.

_ APHYLLOPHORALES .

Clavariadelphus: fistulosus
Kingwood Common, 18.10.87 (NH); Sulham, 15.11.87 (D)

Clavulinopsis luteo—-alba
Blacknest, 21.10.87- (B);.-AWE, 28.10.87 (B).

A bright yellow. "Fairy Club' with a white tip.

Hericium coralloides
-Virginia Water, 26.9.87 (B&D).

Hydnellum scrobiculatum

Sulham, 30.8.87 (D).

This species belongs to the Hydnum family, and has spines instead of gills
or.pores.

' Hymenochaete fructigenus
Newtown Common, 10.10.87 (B&D).

O rus ulinus
Ufton Nervet, 25.10.87 (B).
A greyish-white bracket fungus, growing in tiers on deciduous trees.

Phellodon melaleucus
Virginia Water, 26.9.87 (B&D).
Another ‘spine' fungus, usually clustered and fused together.

Polyporus ciliatus
Whiteknights Wilderness, 4.10.87 (UW).

A ‘mushroom shaped' polypore growing on dead logs.

Radulomyces confluens
Virginia Water, 17.10.87 (MS).

Radulomyces molaris
Virginia Water, 17.10.87 (MS).

=- 49 «

-GASTEROMYCETALES. |

Sparassis crispa
Ufton Nervet, 3.10.87 (B); Ufton Nervet, 25.10.87 (B);

Wasing,10.10.87 (B&D)
Pistillaria quisquiliaris

Newtown Common, 10.10.87 (NFC); Virginia Water, 17.10.87 (MS);
Wasing, 3.10.87 (D). y .

Langermannia gigantea
Sulhamstead Bannister, 13.9.87 (D).

4 Lycoperdon mammi forme
Sulham, 27.9.87 (B).

HETEROBAS IDIOMYCETES

Calocera_ pallido-spathulata :
Wasing, 10.10.87 (B&D); Newtown Common, - 10.10.87 (B&D); Tadley Water
Tower, 14.10.87 (B); Virginia Water, 17.10.87 (MS); Five Oaken, 1.11.87 (B).

Rapidly spreading in Berkshire. Unknown about fifteen years ago.
- ASCOMYCETES

Cyathus striatus
Bottom Wood Mapledurham, 19.9.87 .(B).

A tiny ‘birds nest’ fungus; small cups full of ‘eggs’.

Geoglossum- cookeianum
Fairwater Drive, Woodley, 30.10.87 (D); Watlington Hill, 8.11.87 (D).

Otidea alutacea .
Wasing, 10.10.87 (B); Newtown Common, 10.10.87 (B&D).

-- Otidea onotica

Kingwood Common, 18.10.87 (NH).

Trichoglossum hirsutum
Woodcote, 11.10.87 (CW).

‘One of the family of black
‘Earth Tongues’.

Contributors.

Ivy and Alan Brickstock (B);
‘Chiltern Discovery’ walk (CW);
Mary and Neville Diserens (D);
Mycological Society foray (MS);
Newbury Field Club (NFC);
Society forays (NH);

Pat Andrews (PA);

Urban Wildlife Group foray (UW);

Mamsmius Ofeades |!;

Illustration: Paul Jinks.

Fai Ring Mushroom (Marasmius oreades

~- 50 -

Recorder's Report for Vertebrates 1987

H. He Carter

FISH

Leuciscus cephalus (L.) Chub
Several young fish up to 250 mm long, Holy Brook by Reading Central

Library 17.6.87

AMPHIBIANS
Rana temporaria L. Frog

‘No records of breeding received this year. 1 dead outside 38 Kennylands -
Road, Sonning Common 9.10.87.

Bufo bufo (L.) Toad

Many crossing Bottom Lane, Sulhampstead 24.3.87 (.IF per BRB). 1 dead on

- Kiln Roady. Emmer Green 26.3.87. None in pond at Coach and Horses, Binfield
Heath 24.3.87, a few there 30.3.87. 1 dead in 3infield Heath Lane 21.4.87.
2 -dead on roads in Sonning Common area June 1987. 1 in Bird Wood, Sonning
Common ce. 7.7.87 (MJC). Many at Xeddish l.anor, Sonning Common 10.7.87 (KH).

REPTILES
Anguis. fragilis Le Slow Worm

1 dead in Blackmore Lane, Sonning Common 31.8.87.

' Vipera berus (L.) Adder
-3 at Pamber 15.3.87 (ND). 1 dead at Reddish Lanor, Sonning Common

10.787 KH}.
E:ANMALS
Talpa europaea i hole

Skinners Green, Newbury 27.1.87, Peppard 7.2.87, Nutbeam Farm, Farley
Hill 25.2.87,-Inwood Copse, Brimpton 15.3.87, 2 dead oor Copse 17.6.87 (HMJiB)

Erinaceus europaeus L. Hedgehog
Blackmoor wood, Watlington 9.8.87, frequent. elsewhere (HJ:B). 3 alive,

6 dead on roads in and around Sonning Common lay to November 1987.

1 dead Westfield Road 1.6.87. A torpid juvenile, Earley end December 1987,
very late and unlikely to survive.
Vulpes vulpes (L.) Fox

Large fox with white-tipped tail Hardwick 8.2.87 (hJC). 1 Nutbeam Farm,
Farley Hill 23.2.87, 1 dead on i.4 near Naltham Great Wood 22.3.87 (HJi:B).
1 crossing 44074 near Woodcote first week June 1987 (E£:C). 1 in garden,
Cockney Hill 15.6.87 (AB). 1 calling Kkidmore End 15.9.87, 1 crossing
Horsepond Road near Cane End 24.10.87.

eles meles (L.) Badger
1 dead by t.ill Lane, Cookham 10.5.87. 1 dead on Swallowfield by-pass
400m south of River Loddon 6.6.87 (JA). Dead juvenile Hennerton (FF).

Mustela erminea L. Stoat
1 at Whiteknights 25.4.87 (HJMB)
Dama dama (L.) Fallow Deer

8 does Skinners Green, Newbury 27.1.87 (HJIMiB). 4 Baynes Reserve,
Thatcham 10.4.87.

Capreolus capreolus (L.) Roe Deer
1 Stoke Row 20.12.86 (ND). Inwood Copse, Brimpton 15.3.87 (HJMB)..

2 groups of 3 Aldermaston Fark 12.4.87 (BRB); abundant in the Fadworth
area where they are being shot (per 8RB).

aS) ae

Huntiacus reevesi Ogilby huntjac

-.1 in field by Waltham Great Wood 22.3.87 (HJMB). 1 Tilehurst woods 20.5.87,
1 Nettlebed woods -31.10.87 (NND). 1 calliag Kennylands, Sonning Common
14.6.87, Kidmore End 15.9.87.

Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) . = | Rabbit

_65 alive or dead in and between Sonning Common and Emmer Green, maximum
8 Chalkhouse Green 16.4.87. 11-.Hardwick, 1 at south Stoke viaduct 3.6.87.
1 north of Stonor 25.12.87 (iJC).

_ Lepus capensis Pallas Hare
“1 Nuffield 3.1.87, 2 Lockinge 25.1.87 (ND). 1° Skinners Green, Newbury,

27.21.87 (HI.B). 1 west of Moor Copse c. 8.7.87 (NJC). 1 dead on Binfield
Heath Lane by Bishopsland Farm.

Arvicola amphibius (3 Water Vole
Inwood-Copse, Brimpton 15.3.87 (HJIB).
icrotus agrestis (L.) Short-tailed Vole

1-killed by See Soe (probably cat) Kennylands Paddock, Sonning Common
11.5.87.

Apodemus sylvaticus acs . Wood fouse

‘1 dead north of Sonning Common 14.4.87

_ Micromys minutus cE) Harvest l.ouse
An corn by Blackmoor Wood, Watlington 9.8.87 (lHJLB).

* Rattus norvegicus Berka Brown Rat
1 on Peppard toad by Bishopsland Farm c. 8.9.87, 18. 11. BF: (LIC).

Dead ones there 21.1.87, 23.3.87, 5 dates in August 1987, 15.9.87, 11.10.87.
. Dead ones on other roads in and around Sonning Common 23.9.87, 2.11.87,

- 31.12.87. 1 at Ceversham l-arina 26.2.87. One crossing road at Benson

PT talOsaba

ius musculus L. House i.ouse
~Aubbish bags in Old Town iiall several dates in January 1987.

Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin Grey squirrel
-1.Feppard 2.2.87 (iiJi.3). 1 dead on road, immer Green 28.5.87, 5.6.87.

1 ilighmoor_ Aoad, Caversham Ueights 14.6.87 (ic). Female carrying young,
liighmoor ioad 16.9.87; the juvenile was riding upside down under the
mother's abdomen, clasping her body with all four feet (the Ulysses
position) (323). 1 Coppid Hall, Binfield tieath 13.12.87, 1 north of Stonor
25,12.87 (MJC).1 ..ennylands ~addock, Sonning Common 30.6.37. 1 ieades
Lane,- sonning Common, 1 Vhitchurch i:ill 28.12.87. wead-.ones on road
Binfield heath Lane 20.9.87, Sonning #ye 26.9.87, feppard 2oad near
Chalkhouse Green 30.10.87.

izy thanks are due to the following contributors:-

Dr Joyce indrews (J); Srian Baker (323)3. Humphry Bowen (HJ.3);

Dr Alan Srickstock (413); Zlizabeth Carter (2hC); Lary Carter (i:JC);
Neville and lary Diserens (N.D); Vatricia Fermour (2F); Ian Francis (IF);
Katharine llardy (KH).

Dts
The Weather at Reading during 1987

Dee
Dre ReD. Thompson F.R. Ket. Soc.
Department of Geography

University of Reading

-

1987 made a mockery of climatic means because, despite all the recorded
weather extremes (like the severe January cold, the dismal June coolness
and rains and the October gales and floods), the year ended up pretty
'close to normal. As far as rainfall is concerned, the very wet June and
October (which together recorded almost 40. of the. year's aggregate)

were completely counteracted by the very dry months of January, ‘August,
September and December. Even the devastating gales of Cctober had little
effect on the mean annual windspeed which was the lowest for 26 years,
to-confirm the view that all means are meaningless since they conceal
such vital extremes:; The major weather deviant was again sunshine since,
for the third year running, the hours of sunshine were well below normal.
In fact, these values were a miserable 14% below and 222 hours of sunshine
"lost" over the year gave us the third dullest year since 1956.

The following monthly weather summaries are based on the table of ‘ieather
Records provided:-

January continued the winter-less conditions until about the 7th when the
infamous blocking high began to dominate our weather to give bitterly cold
conditions for the next two weeks, with freezing easterly winds from the
. continent. Consequently, we had the third consecutive "big freeze" with
317 hours below 0°C, which turned out to be the ninth coldest month since
1940. tlowever, this was only about half as bac.as the 567 hours recorded
in the No.1 “big freeze" of January 1963, which was then followed by
another 344-hours in Tebruary. Gverall, the mean temperature for the
month was 3°C below normal (compared with 6°C below in February 1986)

and on the 12th, the daily mean temperature (-8:3°C) was the lowest
recorded since observations began in 1921. The dominant anticyclone

gave very dry conditions (despite 6-days of snow) with thé aggregate
precipitation some 85°. below normal. In spite of the high pressure and
dryness, the weather was also dull with 14 consecutive sunless days, the
most for 30 years. ;

~cbruary recorded overall average temperatures with marked variations
from above average early on, to a cold 10-day spell which was followed by
very milé weather, with the warmest day (14.4°C) and: night (10° 2) on the
26th the highest temperatures for 12 years and 27 years respectively.

The month remained dry (27,. below normal) and, coupled with January, made
the winter the fourth driest since 1921 (after 1963, 1964 and 1973).
ounshine was about average but was still only 23.. of the maximum hours
possible.

i-arch took us back to winter with temperatures about 19°C below nomal,
the extreme maximum temperature the lowest recorded for 27 years and the
number of air frosts (14) the highest for 17 years. The month was also
windy and dull (sunshine some 9. below average) but precipitation was
about average overall, despite very wet weather early and late in the
month.

“pril started cool and. wet but ended up very warm, dry and sunny to give

us the best spring weather since the early 1950's. Overall, the temperatures
averaged 2.5°C above normal and the second half of the month recorded

seven days with maximum temperatures in excess of 200C. Indeed, the 22.6%

+

maximum on the 28th was. the highest for any April day since 1952.
Precipitation was most variable and although the monthly aggregate was
34%, above normal, most of this was recorded in the first 10 days since
an absolute drought (ie. 15 consecutive days with less that 0.2mm

*precipitation) occurred between the 11th and 27th. Sunshine was a little

above average and was some 38% of maximum possible, which turned out to
be the best of the year.

Nay was a disappointingly cool month, especially early on with a minimum
temperature of -1.4°C on the 4th and 12 ground frosts recorded in the

~~. first three weeks (the highest number since 1980). Precipitation was very

close to normal, following a very dry first half, mainly because 36%, of
the monthly aggregate (18.5mm) was recorded on one day (30th). It was a
dull month since sunshine was 13). below normal which meant a daily "loss"

of almost an hour.

June turned out to be a disaster weather-wise and was cool, very wet and
yery dull. Temperatures were well below normal and indeed only recovered in
the: last five days with a maximum of 27.1°C recorded on the 29th (the warmest
day of the year so far). xainfall was 47). above normal and the number of

tain days/wet days was the highest since 1921. Sunshine totals were 33;

below average, the -lowest since 1956, and the amount received was a pathetic

277%, of the maximum possible, so that we "lost" about 2 hours per day.

‘July gave us summer weather at long last, particularly during the first

half of the month which was hot, dry and sunny. The warmest day of the.
year (so far) was experienced on. the 6th (27.9°C). during a short-lived

’ “heat wave" and indeed the maximum temperatures exceeded 22°C on ten

occasions during the first two weeks. The second half of the month saw a
rapid change to cool weather and a minimum temperature of only 7°C on the
26th, with 3°C recorded-.on the grass. ‘The rainfall patterns were similar,

-with a very dry first half (and an absolute drought ending on the 14th) then

very wet, with nine consecutive rain days. OGverall, the rainfall aggregate

‘was very close to normal which completely masked the extremes. Sunshine

totals were disappointing and despite a sunny first half (averaging 15 hours
per day between the 3rd and 5th), ended up 17%. below normal due to a very
dull second half of the month (with the highest number of sunless days for

- 10 years).

jugust was a reasonable month with average temperatures, apart from a

hot spell mid-month when the warmest day of the year (28.4°C) was recorded
on the 21st. ‘The month was very dry with rainfall an incredible 60% below
normal, although there were only 6 consecutive dry days observed. It was
also calm and very dull (again) with sunshine totals some 15, below average.

September was also quite reasonable with temperatures well above average

for the first three weekgwith 17 days recording maxima over 19°C). iowever,
the weather turned cold during the last week and the 1.2°C minimum on the 29th
was the lowest for 18 years. The aggregate rainfall was again small, some

40°. below normal but ironically, the number of rain days was the highest for
11 years despite the generally dry conditions experienced. The month was

dull again (for the fifth month running) being 10%, below normal.

October was an exceptional weather month to remember with over 3 times the

- nomal rainfall (making it the third wettest October since 1921 or even

1727 occording to the Met. Office) and the infamous hurricane-like stom

on the 16th. Temperatures were close to normal, apart from cold conditions
in the last week when ground frosts were common. The month was very wet
witha record-number of rain days and with the daily totals both on the

9th (31.7mm) and 15th (31.3mm) not far short of the monthly mean aggregate.
They were also the 3rd and 4th highest rainfall totals (respectively)
recorded on any Uctober day since 1921. The storm of the 16th with gusts

mr oo

up to 77 m.peh.e, caused widespread damage to buildings and trees, and

the lowest pressure recorded was 952mb, which equalled that of a modest
hurricane. As the deep depression quickly passed eastwards, the associated
warm and cold fronts caused spectacular temperature changes from 7.2°C at

1800 hrs on the 15th up to 16.2°C by 2300 hrs and back down to 7°C by 0400 hours
on the 16th. Despite all the cloud and rain during the month, sunshine hours |
were slightly above average and indeed were very close to the mid-summer (June)
total.

November was reasonable on the whole in terms of temperature and precipitation,
but was again very dull. Indeed, temperatures were generally above average

» for the first three weeks-or so, with the extreme maximum (13.1°C) on the 16th
the highest for.a decade. The last week or so was much colder than normal
with a minimum temperature of -4°C’on the 29th, and 3 air frosts/7 ground
frosts recorded in the last ten days. The month was dry with the aggregate
precipitation some 16% below normal and most (64%) of this rainfall was
recorded on two days, namely the 8th (14.5mm) and 11th (17.6mm). Sunshine

was a rare event, about half of the normal expected and a pathetic 15% of the
maximum possible. To aggravate the dullness, it was the foggiest November .
since 1961.

December continued dull, dry early winter weather with sunshine only 23% of
normal and precipitation some 67%. below normal, the lowest aggregate for
24 years and the sixth lowest since 1921. Temperatures were generally above
average, especially in the second half of the month.when no air frosts were
recorded, only 2 ground frosts occurrec and the maximum temperature exceeded
11.9°C between the 27th and 30th. Conversely, the-first half of the month
had temperatures well below nomal, with 7 air frosts, 10 ground frosts and
minimun of -4,.6°C on the 11th. The first snow of the winter fell on the
9th, which survived until late morning.

Cverview. The extreme weather events of 1987 in the teading area appear
to. be simply a symptom of a world-wide change in climate. ‘The global
weather really has becone more extreme anc variable over the last two decades
or so in particular, with record droughts, floods, storms, heat and cold.
Some. weather experts consider these extremes to be well within the boundaries
of expected random fluctuations, with no cause for alarm. iiowever, athers
consider them as indicators of a dramatic change of climate in the future, -
which could go either way and produce a hot time ahead (with melting ice
sheets/rising sea levels) or another ice age. The former trend is currently
the most popular one (and is explained in terms of increasing carbon dioxide
and the so-called “greenhouse effect'') but there is still considerable
debate about the timing of this devastating event. ilowever, the U.S.
“nvirfonnental irotection gency predicts the changes by the year 2100 which
is rather too clése for comfort, even if the Chilterns will remain high and
ary. at. thathtimes

WEATHER RECORDS: 19 87

STATION: READING UNIVERSITY (WIITEKNICHTS)

[oan | rev. | maven.[ apria | may | Sune | suty | aug. | sepe. | oee. | nov. | ove. | Year

Mean
Daily

Temperatures
°C

Extreme Max.
Extreme Date
Temperatures} Extreme Min. -9.8
*€ Date 12/1
Extreme Grass_ -14.0
Min.
Date 12/1
Days with air frost 58
Days with ground frost 126
Q fe below 0.0° 599
Sunshine Sum 1366
Hours % of possible 30
Daily Mean 3.74
Precipitation Amount in mm 613
Rain Days 164
Maximum rain in one day " re 8.3 | 31.7

Date

15th | 9710 |

Longest run-of consecutive
Tain days

Longest run of consecutive
dry days .

Phe EE EE :

Snow or sleet days

Days with snow lying

Days with fog
at 0900 CMT

Visibility

Thunderstorm] Days of thunder

Activity Days of hail

Mean
Highest
Date

Barometric
Pressure

Lowest
Date

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