twenties e* eee F Seca ; aeons eee Connie : = he ee ah Sree 7 e ee Ne ens ‘ 25 Ae Sa eaad Pash KORTE soa i nS iE y's eet ee oars BE is aaa ita ors Ce TS ance tage eras Foe ‘JS Wey eee ar attn te a ease aay? e ; ie ¥ i reeks matt oes Sean Im lie te a ae AAR on. pene 5 " era Fi ety —s We Ava sue VIS : : Spe Tas edna se soncn onan fe: pees Serer ay cig eat et ma ti A an nA tI tm PS a sare omen emnaaon 9 ym setath apSe n ald Re ae f y aur oO ea ulletin of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society Volume 65 *° Number 464 ——Eebruary 2006 ie NAT OR en i = HISTORY MUSEUM aD, —~ SDC See, & Dr P. Wilkins Editors: Dr P. Suttan ISSN 0266-836X Founded in 1935 The AES ¢« PO. Box 8774 « London * SW7 5ZG http://www.amentsoc.org Officers of the Society President: | Mike Majerus Secretary: Martin Hough Treasurer: Peter May Registrar: | Nick Holford Bulletin Editors: Peter Sutton & Phil Wilkins General Editor: Fiona Merrion-Vass Habitat Conservation Officer: Peter Sutton Advertising Secretary: Peter Hodge Exhibition Secretary: | Wayne Jarvis Youth Secretary: Kieren Pitts ICN Editor: | David Lonsdale Wants & Exchange: Peter May SUBSCRIPTIONS: First subscriptions should be accompanied by an additional £2 entrance fee, except for Bug Club members under the age of 13 to which this charge does not apply. Renewal charges Ordinary AI7ZESO Ordinary Overseas £21.00 Bug Club (Junior) £10.00 Bug Club (Junior) Overseas £21.00 Family £24.00 Family Overseas £30.00 ADVERTISING RATES: Rates for advertising in the body of the Bulletin are: Full page £60, Half page £40, Quarter page £25. Series discounts and insert charges are available from the Advertising Secretary on request. NOTICE It is to be distinctly understood that all views, opinions, or theories, expressed in the pages of this Journal are solely those of the author(s) concerned. All announcements of meetings, financial grants offered or sought, requests for help or information, are accepted as bona fide. Neither the Editor, the Officers and Council of the Society, nor its Trustees, can be held responsible for any loss, embarrassment or injury that might be sustained by reliance thereon. Worldwide Butterflies MOONLANDER moth TRAP Completely New Principles ‘al innovation — developed by Robert Goodden Now NEW ELECTRICS Available with MERCURY VAPOUR or | Special new 12V SAFE and powerful# 40W actinic lamp. Use ANYwhere @ Vioths enter from 30TTOM of trap! Please refer to website www.wwb.co.uk for full details and prices 3enefits of observation sheet as well as Trap. Mloths fly upwards and annot escape. Jse with mains or battery. Nhite top flouresces ont violet with UV. ‘rap contents stay dry. dang or stand. | \nchors — withstands nost weather. | | “hree sizes — choose for sortability or volume. “ull details — also -vestock specimens nd equipment on mww.wwb.co.uk ) a 7 Tel 01579 384050 Worldwide Butterflie a 01579 384430 PO Box 101 Liskeard PL14 3ZS eales Cwwb.couk www.wwb.co.uk ATROPOS ANTIQUES’ PURVEYORS OF FINE COLLECTOR’S CABINETS Many of you will have met us at the AES London Fair where we regularly show entomological cabinets for sale We are specialist dealers in fine collector’s cabinets. We can offer a choice of at least 30 cabinets, varying in purpose, construction, quality and price. We can supply both restored and un-restored cabinets and will undertake to restore and paper cabinets for clients. We are always interested in the purchase or exchange of cabinets, with or without a collection. Callers to our showrooms are always welcome by appointment. We offer a specialist collection and delivery service throughout the UK and have full expertise in the safe transportation of cabinets and collections. George Morgan 97, West Street, Hartland, N. Devon EX39 6BQ T: 01237-441205/984 M: 07973 302190 E-mail: george @ atropos.wanadoo.co.uk * We are an independent dealership of 30 years standing and have no association with any similarly named business. A NEW BOOK FROM id (rai Experience the lighter side of field entomology with Torben Larsen as he describes his experiences from around the world. There must be a Hazard for every occasion? £11.99 (inc. UK p&p) ® £13.99 (overseas) ORDER YOUR COPY NOW FROM Cravitz Printing Company Limited 1 Tower Hill, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4TA. Tel: (01277) 224610 © Fax: (01277) 262815 ¢ E-mail: CravitzPrinting@btconnect.com Natural History Books (Pemberley Books) Specialist in Entomology and related subjects Also Zoology, Ornithology, Botany etc. CATALOGUES — Second-hand, Antiquarian and New books — free catalogues available on request. SPECIALIST BOOKSHOP at Richings Park, Iver, just to the West of London - easy to reach by car or train. Visitors are welcome to visit and view our stock, but please telephone first to confirm opening times. * By car: only 10 minutes drive from the M25 via the M4 (Junction 5), or M40 (Junction 1). 15 minutes from Heathrow Airport. * By train: 20 minutes from London Paddington to Iver Station on the Paddington-Slough Thames Trains service (2 trains every hour). We are 1 minute’s walk from Iver Station. WEBSITE — view our stock on our website: www.pembooks.demon.co.uk BOOKS BOUGHT — We are always interested in purchasing books in our specialist field, particularly antiquarian, academic and scholarly works on insects and other invertebrates. 18 BATHURST WALK, RICHINGS PARK, IVER, BUCKS SLO 9AZ Tel: 01753 631114/Fax: 01753 631115 © e-mail: ij@pembooks.demon.co.uk Do you want to cuddle a Cockroach, stroke a Stick Insect or hug a Harvestman? The AES Bug Club is for young people or the “young at heart” who find insects and other creepy crawlies interesting and even fascinating. As the junior section of the AES we are devoted to promoting invertebrates to the younger generation who, afterall, will be the entomologists of tomorrow! You can: help us in a number of ways, for example: by joining the Bug Club yourself, getting someone else to join the Bug Club, promoting the Bug Club and AES to your jocal school/Scout or Guide Group etc, running a Bug Club event or writing an article for our exciting newsletter. If you can do anything to help then please write to us: AES Bug Club, PO Box 8774, London, SW7 5ZG. Membership details can be found in the front of this Bulletin. Sefton speciality ‘$e The eS eS The cover of the Bulletin shows a Bulletin a? specimen of the rare and threatened of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society Northern Dune Tiger Beetle, Cicindela Volume 65 * Number 464 February 2006 hybrida, (RDB2, Vulnerable), which is now confined to a handful of colonies from Cumbria to south Lancashire on the northwest coast of England. (For more details and a distribution map for this species, see the article on British Tiger Beetles in Bulletin 434, pp. 21-35). The Northern Dune Tiger Beetle has suffered primarily from habitat loss through human activity, but can still be occasionally be found in good numbers where suitable habitat remains. This specimen shown was found hunting and flying actively on the Ainsdale Sands dune system on the Sefton Coast in August 2005. ISSN O0266-836X Photograph: David Browne HISTORY MUSEUM The - 7 MAR 2006 _ PRESENTED 27 O28 6 BN GB OB BoMovocy viprary of the Amateur Entomologists’ Socie ; Volume 65 ¢ Number 464 February 2006 Editorial This, my final issue as editor, is devoted to the entomological fauna of Bushy Park in Middlesex. The more I have studied Bushy Park, the more I have been astonished by its importance in terms of its flora and fauna, and its social history which, in addition to its royal heritage, includes its role as the headquarters for the coordination of the D-Day landings. Regarding its royal heritage, I can remember offering my apologies to colleagues during a conference on saproxylic insects at the Royal Holloway in 2002, in order to race across country from Berkshire to Middlesex to get a picture of the Queen during her golden jubilee Figure 1. The Royal Park Party. There was a fantastic atmosphere as HRH Queen charmed the crowds in Bushy Park during the Golden Jubilee tour in June 2002. 2 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society 34 tour of Bushy Park (Figure 1), and complete the royal history for a forthcoming work, 7he History and Natural History of Bushy Park. The sheer volume of people present on that special day exemplified the problems faced by the Royal Parks authorities when attempting to accommodate the needs of thousands of visitors to the Park, while at the same time balancing the requirements of its nationally important flora and fauna. Fortunately, it appears that the pressure of public demands has not unduly affected Bushy Park’s wildlife, and ironically, some species are, to a large extent, dependant on the public for maintaining important bare ground habitats. However, regarding Park management for the public, operations including the inappropriate removal and destruction of vital deadwood habitats (even during the current survey), through perceptions of public safety and ‘tidiness’, have undoubtedly had an impact on available habitat for many scarce and threatened species, although this situation, I understand, is now being addressed admirably by the Park’s wildlife team. Bushy Park has been described as the “Sleeping Beauty” of London’s Royal Parks and it is hard to understand why so many entomologists have overlooked it. Until recently, much of its entomological fauna was simply unknown. | As I surveyed the fauna of Bushy Park, I documented all manner of observations, including the behaviour of the considerable number of non-native species that live in the Park. Whilst attending a lecture by Mike Salisbury, the producer of Sir David Attenborough’s Life in the Undergrowth, at Cambridge University earlier this year, I was intrigued by a sequence showing the feeding activity of a Lantern Bug (Fulgoridae), which taps into the sap of a tree with its sharp mouthparts. As it extracts protein from the sap, the excess sugary fluid is removed from its body with the aid of a terminal abdominal appendage, which flicks the droplets away from its body and so prevents an accumulation of sugary liquid, which may attract ants. (Remarkably, there is a moth that takes advantage of this activity and sits behind the bug, catching these flicked droplets on its coiled proboscis.) It occurred to me that I had observed the same feeding activity whilst watching a species of Homopteran bug in Bushy Park, the Rhododendron Leafhopper, Graphocephala fennahi, or, as it is known in its native North America, the Candy-striped Leafhopper'. Two adults were lined up, one behind the other on a leaf stem, and had tapped '] have given several talks on the fauna of Bushy Park, and recalled an embarrassing moment regarding the above observation whilst addressing the Twickenham RSPB group last year. Unbeknown to me, on the other side of this particular Rhododendron bush were two topless ladies, who were singularly unimpressed by my explanation, having questioned me as I appeared from behind the bush, camera in hand. Volume 65 * February 2006 3 Figure 2. Two Rhododendron or Candy-striped Leafhoppers ejecting fluid while sap-feeding. into the flowing sap of a Rhododendron bush in the Woodland Gardens. I was amazed, firstly, by the quantities of liquid that were being expelled by each insect, and secondly, that the droplets were being flicked rhythmically away from the insects, like pulsating garden sprinklers. These droplets of sugary fluid were collecting a fair distance from the insects, with one leafhopper flicking droplets to the left, and the other flicking them to the right, as shown in Figure 2. Regarding my departure from this post, I would like to thank all who have helped to oil the wheels along the way, particularly Phil Wilkins, all at Cravitz Printing Co. Ltd, and Nick Holford. Particular thanks also go to those members whose articles I have had the privilege of processing for the Bulletin. Regarding my successor, I would like to welcome Martin Hough to the post and wish him a thoroughly prosperous and enjoyable term in office. _ As a final thought, I have pondered the fact that, if I had been given a pound for every editorial gaff that I had made during my few years as editor, I would surely have acquired enough folding material to take up residence under the table at my local hosteiry for several weeks to come. That said, as I amble back to the clubhouse to hang up my bat, I hope that my innings has been of some small worth. My very best wishes to you all. Peter Sutton 4 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society 34 AES RES ee th l N y O R kK O. 06 we, lextadlonionm 4 Oy 3 at 4 La oe y> ROYAL > AES/RES Exhibition York Racecourse 8th April 2006 by Malcolm Simpson (4859) Harvest Lodge, Foxenfields, Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire, PE28 2PW. This new exciting exhibition, organized in conjunction with The Royal Entomological Society, is almost upon us. We look forward to seeing as many of you who can attend and please bring your friends as there will be something of interest for everyone. Members exhibits will be on display for you to enjoy and a good number of dealers will be in attendance to supply your entomological requirements. The exhibition also provides members with the opportunity to dispose of surplus books, specimens and equipment. Table spaces are available for as little as £14 and details of these are available from Wayne Jarvis. If you have only a small number of surplus items these can be sold for you at the exhibition on the Society’s ‘Wants and Exchange’ table, with a small donation from the proceeds going to either Society of your choice. All you have to do is clearly mark the item or items with the price you want and we will offer them for sale on your behalf. This is a great opportunity for you to clear your unwanted items and at the same time assist your Society financially. I shall be organizing the ‘Wants and Exchange’ table and I look forward to meeting you on the day and helping you to dispose of your surplus material. If in the meantime you need clarification on any point please do not hesitate to contact me. Remember, if you want the Exhibition to become an annual event, then you must support it — it is your exhibition. So Volume 65 * February 2006 5 The history of entomological recording in Bushy Park, Middlesex: a personal perspective by Dr Peter G. Sutton (7388) AES Habitat Conservation Officer, 2 Fir Tree Close, Flitwick, Beds. MK45 1NZ. In 1999, I began to search available literature for records made previously by other entomologists in Bushy Park. It did not take long to reach the conclusion that, with the notable exception of the aculeate Hymenoptera, almost nothing had been published about the entomological fauna of this remarkable site. I can remember thinking at the time, having found a considerable number of noteworthy species that year, “Why has nothing been written about this place?!” The lack of available literature was exemplified by the Invertebrate Site Register for Bushy Park (ISR database, 1991) held by English Nature, which contained only four literature references, all of which related to the aculeate Hymenoptera of Bushy Park: Felton (1967), Guichard (1972), and Yeo, (1955 and 1957). The ISR provided details of four RDB3 (Rare) species and 15 Nationally Scarce species of aculeate Hymenoptera’. To my knowledge, the only other published entomological records for Bushy Park were: Cooter, (1965) describing the presence of the subterranean ground beetle, Laemostenus terricola, Ollevant and Felton, (1964) listing the presence of aculeates in general collecting notes; and Townsend, (1982) describing the occurrence of the Stripe-winged Grasshopper, Stenobothrus lineatus in Bushy Park. By chance, and while discussing the discovery of an unusual ladybird? with Peter Hodge, I learnt that he had made three visits to Bushy Park in August and September 1992 to evaluate its invertebrate interest, culminating in the production of a very useful report (Hodge, 1992). The report was supplemented by records from two previous visits by the author in August 1986 and October 1988, and also contained additional records collated from the observations of several other entomologists. The report listed two RDB1 species (although one, Pandivirilia (Psilocephala) melaleuca remains unconfirmed), ' Surprisingly, in spite of the obvious value of the site for aculeates, and the fact that there was clearly an ongoing continuity of veteran deadwood habitat (and all that it entailed), in 1991, Bushy Park’s designated ISR status was given as a lowly and somewhat inappropriate “D”. > This ladybird, which was found in the Canal Plantation (07.vi.00; Sutton, 2002a), turned out to be the recent colonist, the Bryony Ladybird, Epilachna (Henosepilachna) argus. At the time, it was believed to be the first record for Middlesex. However Prance (2001) revealed that he had found a specimen almost three weeks earlier (20.v.00) at Sunbury-on Thames, and a subsequent note (Sutton, 2002b) showed that the first Middlesex record was in fact recorded by Mr. James Ranger, who discovered this species at Kempton Park in May 1999, two years after its first discovery in the U.K. by Alysia Menzies at a garden in West Molesey in Surrey (Menzies and Spooner, 2000). 6 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society Se including the only modern (1986) record for the endangered carabid, Dromius quadrisignatus, and 16 nationally scarce species. It also indicated that Bushy Park had much to offer, particularly with regard to the possible dead wood fauna likely to be found in its veteran tree habitats. However, the report goes on to remark: “it is quite safe to state that it (Bushy Park) is unlikely to compare favourably with Richmond Park”. In 2000, an updated ISR (2000) was kindly provided by English Nature, and reflected the work of Peter Hodge. It also provided several records from other recorders (D. Lott, I. Menzies, and D. Hackett). The report listed the RDB1 and now BAP Priority species, Dromius quadrisignatus, the same four RDB3 aculeates, the thirty previously known Nationally Scarce species, and usefully, seventy Local species. The majority of these Local species came from the now dated surveys of aculeate Hymenoptera by Yeo, Felton and Guichard. Virtually all of the remainder came from Peter Hodge’s report. Regarding my own observations in Bushy Park, I was keen to inform the appropriate body, and discuss the presence of a number of scarce and threatened species. In 2000 I made contact with the Royal Parks Wildlife Group and was invited to attend one of their meetings at the Stockyard premises in Bushy Park. I discussed my observations at the meeting and an official permit’ was arranged to allow general access to previously inaccessible areas of the Park, and to allow for the collection of species to confirm identification where necessary. By the beginning of 2003, I had accumulated an extensive collection of slides documenting the wildlife of Bushy Park. Among these photographs were the spectacular metallic green and red jewel wasp, Hedychrum niemelai (RDB3), and the digger wasp, Cerceris rybyensis, which I had observed catching a bee*. During a discussion with David Baldock regarding these findings, we decided to continue the work of the three hymenopterists, Yeo, Felton and Guichard, and undertake a survey of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Bushy Park. This survey culminated in a paper (Sutton and Baldock, 2003), which used the complete historical list of these previous recorders to place the modern list of aculeate Hymenoptera into perspective. It also highlighted the importance of Bushy Park’s BAP Priority Habitats (Lowland Dry Acid Grassland and Lowland Woodland Pasture/Parkland) in the context of the national resource. The 2003 paper offered a possible explanation for the observed species richness in Bushy Park, in terms of its close * A permit is required from The Royal Parks authorities before survey work can be undertaken. ‘ Both observations are recorded in Plates 1 and 2 respectively of the article by Sutton and Baldock (2003). (Unfortunately, the demand for this issue (No. 451) has meant that it is now almost completely out of stock.) 36 Volume 65 « February 2006 7 proximity of a number of important wildlife sites (including Richmond Park NNR and Wimbledon Common) within a comparatively small area of west London, which was referred to as the “Ham Radius”, and the “unique combination of climatic, geographical and ecological factors” (per Peter Harvey) that have enhanced the biodiversity of the Thames Terrace invertebrate fauna across this region. By late summer 2003, and after some intense recording, it was apparent that Bushy Park (unlike Hampstead Heath, a formerly excellent site for aculeates that had progressively lost its species richness as site quality, for a variety of reasons, had diminished) was still a site of considerable importance for aculeate Hymenoptera. Moreover, it was clear that in addition to the Red Data Book and Nationally Scarce species that were still present, the number of species in Bushy Park had clearly increased owing to the arrival of new species e.g. the Bee Wolf, Philanthus triangulum. In September 2003, I was again invited to attend a Royal Parks Wildlife Group meeting and provided an update of progress regarding the Hymenoptera survey and other aspects of Bushy Park’s natural history. It was becoming clear that Bushy Park was a site of national importance. During the course of this ongoing survey, several more additions to entomological literature were made. On one occasion (25.iv.04) whilst recording near a drainage ditch, I found that a small gathering of Snakes-head Fritillaries, Fritillaria meleagris, which had been deliberately planted in the adjacent flood meadow, had attracted the attentions of the Lily Beetle, Lilioceris lilii, sparking a debate about the threat to our native populations of this rare plant from this destructive species (Sutton, 2004a). Regarding the orthopteran fauna of Bushy Park, several observations were made including: the discovery of the Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Chorthippus albomarginatus, in Bushy Park Cwhich coincided with its first appearance at the well recorded Wandle Meadow Reserve at Merton in Surrey in 2003) (Sutton, 2003); the continuing presence of the Stripe- winged Grasshopper, Stenobothrus lineatus, (and the Long-winged Cone-head, Conocephalus discolor, for which there had been no previous records in Bushy Park), and the observation of sustained flight for the macropterous form of Roesel’s Bush-cricket, Metrioptera roeselii f. diluta (Sutton, 2004b). The regular predation of Roesel’s Bush-crickets _ by Kestrels in Bushy Park was also reported Gin Widgery, 2001). In 2004, a concerted effort to record early season aculeates was made, thus building up a more detailed picture of the complex aculeate communities that exist in Bushy Park. 8 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society se Later in the year, Dr Jonty Denton undertook a survey of the terrestrial invertebrates, and David Leeming investigated the aquatic invertebrates. These surveys, together with surveys of: grassland and woodland plant communities (Land Use Consultants — LUC); aquatic plants (LUC); Water Vole (LUC); reptiles and amphibians (LUC and David Leeming); and bats (Dr Paula Cox and the London Bat Conservation Trust), which were mainly carried out in July 2004. were collated to form the LUC report. This report concluded that there were, to date, 28 Red Data Book species of invertebrate residing in Bushy Park. In 2003 we described Bushy Park as “the forgotten Royal Park” (Sutton and Baldock, /oc. cit.), and it was stated that: “In London's Natural History (Fitter, 1953), Bushy Park is mentioned only for its famous avenue of Horse Chestnut trees planted by Sir Christopher Wren, and Wildlife in the Royal Parks (Simms, 1974) provides but the briefest details of non-avian fauna to be found in the Park.” Prior to that, Bushy Park had not been recognized by Castell (1947) during an evaluation of sites of wildlife conservation importance in the London region, and since then, it has essentially (with the notable exception of the three hymenopterists described) been overlooked by entomologists for half a century. In contrast, Bushy Park has now been included in the Mayor of London’s Biodiversity Strategy (2002): Connecting with London's Nature, and appears prominently on the map of Greater London as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. The content of the additional articles in this journal is testimony to the national (and for the saproxylic invertebrates, international) importance of Bushy Park, in terms of the array of habitats that it provides, and the corresponding richness of its invertebrate fauna. References Castell, C.P., (1947), Nature conservation in the London area, The London Naturalist, 26, pp. 17-41. Cooter, J., (1965), Laemostenus terricola Herbst. in Middlesex. Bull. Amat. Ent. Soc., 24, p5zZ. Felton, J.C., (1967), Notes on the Hymenoptera of the Bushey Park Area, Middlesex, The London Naturalist, 46, pp. 105-109. Fitter, R.S.R., (1945), London’s Natural History, 282 pp., London: HMSO. Guichard, K.M., (1972), The Aculeate Fauna of Bushey Park — 1971 additions and further records including a note on Mimesa bruxellensis, Entomologist’s Gazette, 23, pp. 243-247. Hodge, PJ., (1992), A Preliminary Survey of the Insects of Bushy Park, pp. 1-21, Privately commissioned report. ae Volume 65 « February 2006 9 Invertebrate Site Register database: Bushy Park, Middlesex (Grid reference: TQ 1570, information updated in 1991, and 2000), Site number 36 in unpublished ISR report number 43, English Nature, Peterborough. Mayor of London, (2002), Connecting with London’s Nature. The Mayor’s Biodiversity Strategy. Greater London Authority. Menzies, I.S. and Spooner, B.M., (2000), Henosepilachna argus (Geoffroy) (Coccinellidae, Epilachninae), a phytophagous ladybird new to the U.K., breeding at Molesey, Surrey. The Coleopterist, 9, pp. 1-4. Ollevant, D. and Felton, J.C., (1964), Collecting notes — August 1964, Bull. Amat. Ent. Soc., 23, pp. 77-80. Prance, D.A., (2001), Henosepilachna argus (Geoffroy) (Coccinellidae), in Middlesex. The Coleopterist, 10, p.4. Shirt, D.B. (Ed.), (1987), British Red Data Books: 2. Insects. xliv + 402 pp. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. Simms, E., (1974), Wildlife in the Royal Parks, 47 pp., London: HMSO. Sutton, P.G., (2002a), The Bryony Ladybird Epilachna argus (Geoffroy, 1785), a recent UK colonist, Bull. Amat. Ent. Soc., 61, (No 443), pp. 161-164. Sutton, P.G., (2002b), New records of the ladybird, Epilachna argus (Geoffroy, 1785), in Middlesex, Bull. Amat. Ent. Soc., 61, (No 444), pp. 183-184. Sutton, P.G., (2003), British Wildlife Report: Grasshoppers and relatives, British Wildlife, 14 (No. 5), pp. 358-359. Sutton, P.G. and Baldock, D., (2003), The Aculeate Hymenopteran Fauna of Bushy Park, Middlesex, Bull. Amat. Ent. Soc., 62, (No 451), pp. 216-239. Sutton, P.G., (2004a), Are native British populations of the Snake’s-head Fritillary Fritillaria meleagris threatened by the Lily Beetle Lilioceris lili?, Bull. Amat. Ent. Soc., 63, (No 454), pp. 113-114. Sutton, P.G., (2004b), British Wildlife Report: Grasshoppers and relatives, British Wildlife, 16 (No. 1), pp. 54-56. Townsend, B.C., (1982), The Stripe-winged Grasshopper Stenobothrus lineatus (Panzer) in Bushy Park. London Naturalist, 61, p.64. Widgery, J., (2001), Kestrels feeding on Orthoptera, Orthoptera Recording Scheme for Britain and Ireland — Newsletter27, p. 10. Yeo, P.F., (1955), Microdynerus exilis (Herrich-Schaeffer) (Hym. Vespidae) in Middlesex and Kent, 7he Entomologist, 88, p. 60. Yeo, P.F., (1957), Bees and Wasps in Bushy Park and at Hampton Hill, Middlesex, The London Naturalist, 36, pp. 16-24. 10 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society ae The Larger Brachycera and Conopidae of Bushy Park, Middlesex David Baldock BWARS Coordinator, Nightingales, Haslemere Road, Milford, Surrey, GU8 SBN. Dr Jonty Denton (12500) Pentire, 29 Yarnhams Close, Four Marks, Hampshire, GU34 5DH. email:jontydenton@aol.com Dr Peter G. Sutton (7388) AES Habitat Conservation Officer, 2 Fir Tree Close, Flitwick, Beds. MK45 1NZ. Introduction The Larger Brachycera (Soldierflies and their Allies) is, arguably, the most popular group of flies to be studied after the Syrphidae (Hoverflies). The term, Larger Brachycera, provides a somewhat arbitrary umbrella for the Families: Acroceridae (Hunch-backed Flies), Asilidae (Robberflies), Athericidae (Water-Snipeflies), Bombyliidae (Bee-flies), Rhagionidae (Snipe-flies), Scenopinidae (Windowflies), Stratiomyidae (Soldierflies), Tabanidae (Horseflies), Therevidae (Stiletto-flies), Xylomyidae (Wood Soldierflies), and Xylophagidae (Awl-flies). Like the Hoverflies, the Soldierflies and their Allies count among their number some very attractive species. Some of these-are truly impressive, like the magnificent Hornet Robberfly, Asilus crabroniformis, our largest Robberfly, and the so-called Ornate Brigadier, Odontomyia ornata, a rare and colourful Soldierfly confined to freshwater grazing marshes in the British Isles. In spite of this, the group, as a whole, remains comparatively under- recorded, and there are a number of reasons for this. Many species have short emergence times, which require entomologists to have an accurate knowledge of their life histories to ensure that they are in the right place at the right time. This is easier said than done for those species whose life histories are still poorly known. The recorder must then contend with the fact that the adults of many species are difficult to find, because unlike the Hoverflies, they rarely visit flowers, reflecting the fascinating and often extraordinary nature of their biology and ecology. Those species that can be found nectaring at flowers include, of course, the Bee-flies (e.g. Bombylius major, Plate 1), some Soldierflies and male Horseflies, but it is interesting to note that, as far as is known, the nectar-feeding members of the Larger Brachycera, unlike the Hoverflies, cannot digest pollen to obtain protein (Stubbs and Drake, 2001). t Volume 65 + February 2006 11 Until recently, there was a lack of available keys for some groups, making the identification of species in notoriously difficult Families such as the Tabanidae problematical. Information regarding the distribution of many species was limited or unavailable. This situation changed with the publication of the Provisional Atlas of the Larger Brachycera (Drake, 1991), British Soldierflies and their Allies (Stubbs and Drake, 2001), which contains a wealth of knowledge regarding these species including keys for adults and larvae, and the progression of knowledge facilitated by the Larger Brachycera Recording Group (which produces a newsletter). Collecting Specimens may be actively collected using hand-held nets, and again, a knowledge of which species can be located at flowers, basking on foliage, are likely to be found in highly localized swarms, or can be found visiting water and wet mud, may lead to a profitable visit to a site. Alternatively, there are two traps, water traps and malaise traps, which are very useful for building up knowledge of the Dipteran fauna of sites. These and other trapping methods are described in Stubbs and DrakeiQOOie 10E. cit). Methods used to record specimens in Bushy Park included the use of the above two traps, manual capture using nets, and where identification was unambiguous, photography of specimens 77 situ. In recent years, recording the presence of species that might otherwise have remained undetected has been greatly facilitated by the development of methods to locate their larvae. Indeed, some species have only been recorded in Britain as larvae. In addition to knowing how to search for larvae in various habitats, from mud and sediment sieving, to moss picking and algal mat lifting, one method that has been described as “a major breakthrough in finding both aquatic and terrestrial species” has been the use of grapefruit skins as a lure (Stubbs, 1987). These are apparently very attractive to the larvae of the’ Stratiomyidae, some of which, e.g. the larvae of Stratiomys singularior (Plate 1), according to Rozkosny (1982) have attained lengths of up to 62 mm. The Larger Brachycera and Conopidae of Bushy Park To date, and for reasons described above, there have been relatively very few published lists of Larger Brachycera for sites in Britain, although this situation is now changing as a result of the renewed interest in this group generated by recent publications. Society ists’ Bulletin of the Amateur Entomolog 12 ‘punoy Ajuound5 sounpunqy [USIOATUL) auON dofou sniyjAquiog uonnqiuisiq, | snyeys GoneAgasuoy | sa1oads ——— dEpUAquog COOT/VO/8E punoy oyeq UOWNG' LY POOC/LO/SI (1M) SuopiRy MOY pue ye puoUTYdry uF jos sdeay 1007/90/51 opr’ Md OSIU|RLU LUOIY POPsOo4 Ud99q SRY Sotdods sy], ‘puNnoy AjuoNbosyuy (1661 ‘481G) TAU pypUulBavu palo punoy oped JOPAOODY| sourpunqy SNS UONBAIOSUO’) aupuduopdX y “SPjOL) JOM pue soysseus UL UOLR}OdOA JO o8eq OY) WE PNUL JOM OY) UT Pooug oBAe] OY, JUONbosy Aypeoo] ci "spa yuddoel ul UaNbosy O4OUU SULOD9q SALY O} Skoddy ‘spuod puke sueds JO Sodpo oy) YIM poyeroosse ore oBAIE] OY] puNoy A;juaNbosyuy ig Peel pee eae: Jeyseoo Ayyjensn £007/L0/11 POPE M'd SOUdY “SOYOMP YSP~oRAG YM payeloossy ‘punoy Apjusnbay Ajjeoo] 1007/60/01 ‘UONE}IA DUI}IOI 002/80/S1 yoopreg' M' UI OAT] OBAILT 'suIdreUL puk;poOOM Jo soloods y ‘punoy Apuonbos,, vO07/80/5 I v007/90/S | AOPTPA MC vO07/80/S I b00Z/90/5 | YOPILA AV vOOZ/LO/OE uoywuacy'S'f POLYSOY ‘Ws9yINOS aoun9g Ayjeuonen Ssiusooinuay DIAOUD A peosdsopr ‘WIOYyNOS peoidsopi ‘UIDYyINOS aorrog Ajpeuoneny paroynsey ‘woyinog Ea ed ‘peoidsapi ‘WIDYINOS ouoN « 1661 9484) TAU a01k9g Aypeuonen ‘peoidsopi ‘PIyOLsoy “WIOYNOS hee ee Sr@UONT: | muojospu Sdost40y) ‘JBSIDAIU) ouON psousof piduosojy) pester [ator ico vVOO?/LO/87C Uoyac] Sf 9O1R9S ppiupjod skwoinnas AOLADINBUIS: SAMOIJDAIS Ajyeuonen snjojoundig snBavg nyoda) (DIAMODA gd 4ajspBAYID J WOHRIIGOA Burpjos ut dojaaop owAsey oy] ‘punoy Ayuonbo.,4 ‘UOHRIDTIA duijyo1 ul dOpoAop seAse] oY ‘punoy Ajuonbos,4 ‘souo ysiyoeig duripnypour ‘syeyiqey pueyjom Jo Ayouea eB ut oNenbe ose oBALe] Oy] ‘puNoy ApUoNbos.4 ‘SoIpOg JoyBM JO sodpo oy) ye pue pueyssesd Jom ul oNenbe-iwuos ose oeAsey oy] punoy Apuonbosyuy DAID da|SDBAYID DIDAUI] 14] DABIAXCE) uojusq'S'f pesidsopi Ay woynos peosdsopi ‘}BSISATU/) DADA DABIAX(C) soysieul pue sodedoos ur punoy Ayuonbaayuy “UOIR}OGOA HSTMAOU DABIAXC) v007/S0/S I YOOPIPE MC b007/80/S I bOO?/LO/S | YOOPIPE MC bOO?/L0/S | yopled Md 0002/90/90 uonNsS'DO'd v002/90/S I YOOPIPA MC ¥002/90/S I YOPIREA M'C v007/90/S | ‘peoidsapi YOOPleA MC +00Z/S0/S I ‘suidieu pueypoom diweq ‘punoy Ajuonbas4 ‘WayyNos ouoN woowuomme | (Ow S | pumoy Rwounnoy [asian [UN | Brno ra0g vOOcILO/KE wONCTS' oy Awoununoy [estonia | manage a0 Sao I SEE NS PB TTA wonmanisicy | swes-uoneaesuey [sarod deplAWONe.1S odpo-qnios pue sopli pueypoom ut punoy Ajuonbas4 HSIMIOU S14ag xoso[ppIW “Yled Aysng Jo eiooAyorig Josie] ou, “LT aqeu 13 February 2006 Volume 64 “‘siapids Jo oyisesed e si Bre] OY] ‘2OUdSIOUIO SSeUI 0} oNp £002/80/SI Pent ea Ajqissod ‘uous Ayjeso] Ajjeuorsesd0 ysnoyyye punoy Apuonbayyuy “peaidsapi Ay “WIayNOS QUON DIDINI1G40 DABIOAIP wonnquasig | smeswoneNBSIOD [SaaS | JBPlLIII019V FOOCOOET PORT pany MuoumoS [se [ON EOOC/BOVTI oped Md arioy wou | “Yestanti. [20 [10S 9SOO] UI SAAT] BAIL] OY] ‘Spuejssesd AIp WIM €00Z/L0/1I yoopreg Md payersosse uayyjo “Ay plAdiay | JsoUOWUOD ay ‘puNoy ApUanbes4 Sas ea v00C/L0/S I “peaidsapi yy €007/80/t1 yOPIePa M'd "WayNoS v002/90/S I “peaidsopi €007/80/b1 4OPIPa Md “WI9YINOS “peoidsopi ¥007/90/S1 YOPIPa M'd SnadvdO]OIS O1BDYY ploaul o1sDyy saioads aVpluoiseyYy DID]1J1GOU DAadaY J sarsads JUPlAatoy y c “yeO AT[eIdadsa ‘pue[POOM uUsdo puke saspa Pue[PoOoOM YM pojeloossy ‘punoy Ajuanbayuy “qnuos pue syjeoy “spuelssesad Aiq ‘a194yMas]a Juanbasyul ‘uopuo7T Jo unos punoy AjuouWIOD uojuaq's'f snanupdo snupjioan SNDjNsu1D snuiyoopy snjpidoo1ajo snuiyooyy poiapurjao ‘qnios pue spuesseis Aig ‘punoy AjuowW0D “sseid duo] ul punoy Ajuanbal4 “WI9yINoS 4ajSD30j]daT ¥0/S0/02 uonns'D'd +002/S0/SI yoopreg Md ‘punoy Ajjuanbary [BsI9AIUA) sadifna 114J201q “puejpoom “peaidsapi JO adpa ay) ye syyeoy pur seose Asses3 ‘Aiq ‘punoy AjuoWWOD +002/90/S I yoopleg AG “syyeoy pure seose Asseid ‘Aig ‘punoy AjuowW0D “WIayynoS “peaidsapim “WIayNoS uoRNqinsiq tuanpyunng v14J20IG Dijidvo1410 DiAjo01G saisads aepiisv 1007/L0/£0 uoHNS'D'd +002/80 -€007/L0 yopled Md b002/90/S I €OOZ/LO/II oped’ MC ‘sMOpeaw duep pue puejpoon ‘punoy Apuanbayyuy “poyosoy “WisyNoS Snimo4g Snuvqgn | S1jpiAnja pjodojowanpyy “pNul Ul OAL] DBAIL] OY] ‘punoy AJUOWUOD "sualjnzavI “FD UY} PURT}ONS Ul JJUOWILIOD “SpUR]POOM J9M YBIM Payeloossy ‘punoy Ajuanbo14 SC 1007/L0/€0 uonNS'D'd ‘SNJIIJA4 “) UY) SaTBA\ pue puelsug +00Z/80/SI yoopyeg Md Ul JQUOUILUOD “SpUB[POOM J9M YIM payeloossy “‘punoy AjuoWWOD ‘JeSIOAIUA) snjoijaa sdoskuy) suaijnzav9 sdostuy) 14 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society t Fortunately, for comparison purposes regarding the Bushy Park fauna, we have been lucky enough to benefit from the work of Roger Morris, who has provided details of the Surrey fauna (Morris, 2000), including that of Mitcham Common and other sites in Surrey, (Morris, 2003, 2004), some of which are similar in nature (/.e. acid grassland on Thames Terrace gravels) to Bushy Park. David Baldock has also provided lists of records resulting from his surveys of Kew Gardens, Richmond Park and other Surrey sites. In accordance with Morris’s work, we have also provided the lists of Conopidae from Bushy Park and other sites, which, although still under- recorded at present, (e.g. to date, only three species of Conopidae have been recorded from Bushy Park: Conops quadrifasciatus (Plate 4), Sicus ferrugineus, and Physocephalus rufipes), will benefit from future surveys by those willing to search for these species. 34 species of Larger Brachycera were recorded in Bushy Park between 2003 and 2004, and these are summarized in Table 1. Plate 1 shows the Robberfly, Dioctria rufipes with prey, Chloromyia formosa, which was recorded in early June near the Waterhouse Pond; the Deer-fly, Chrysops caecutiens, with its stunning iridescent eyes; the Horse-fly, Tabanus bromius, (which can be a persistent and painful nuisance to humans in hot weather!); the Bee-fly, Bombylius major, a common sight on Primroses along the wooded areas of the Longford River in April and May; and the impressive larva of a Stratiomys species. One Stratiomys species, the so-called Flecked General, Stratiomys singularior, is of interest because, in accordance with Bratton’s observations (1995), it does not appear to require brackish water sites in Bushy Park. This species, which appears to be increasing its range in Britain, exploits a wider range of habitats on the Continent, and may be benefiting from the relaxation of its habitat requirements in response to climate change. A comparison of the number of species of Larger Brachycera found in Bushy Park with those of Surrey sites (Table 2) shows that Bushy Park is well represented by this group. (Although there appears to be a correlation between species-richness and acid grassland, it should be remembered that other habitats present in Bushy Park, e.g. freshwater habitats and dead wood resource, will also have a bearing on the number of species present.) Table 3 provides a summary of the number of species represented in each Family for the Larger Brachycera and Conopidae of Bushy Park and six Surrey Sites. % ed Volume 65 « February 2006 15 Table 2. Number of species of Larger Brachycera recorded from Bushy Park and Surrey Sites. Site | Habitat Brachycera Conopidae RHS Wisley _ Acid grassland Mitcham Common Acid grassland (Bushy Park, Middlesex) Acid grassland Milford garden Country garden Elstead, Thundry Meadows | River meadows Kew Gardens _ Acid grassland Richmond Park | Acid grassland Thursley Common Heathland Elstead, Somerset Bridge Seepage, river meadow Mare Hill Common | Heathland Ash Ranges Heathland Bagmoor Common Damp heathland Chobham Common Heathland Table 3. A comparison of the Larger Brachycera and Conopidae of Bushy Park with the known fauna Surrey sites. Number of spp. (Surrey) Somerset Bridge Thundry Meadows A) 5 5h 0 0) ry Hy Stratiomyidae Acroceridae OS Sy SS Sh Se eal NO = SEO SIE ISS IEN©) 1h SSS Sa ROTTIN GI etal N — Q N nN ions 16 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society 36 Conclusions Regarding the future recording of Larger Brachycera and Conopidae in Bushy Park’, the Park provides an opportunity to observe some of our superb Dipteran fauna, e.g. the Soldierflies, Stratiomys singularior and S. potamida, and also add to the current list of species, particularly the Conopidae. (The Syrphidae should also be studied and may offer some pleasant surprises. For instance, in addition to other bee-mimics, a possible (unconfirmed) late season specimen of the rare rot-hole specialist, Pocota personata, (for which there are old records from sites close to Richmond Park) was observed by P. Sutton near the Willow Plantation on 11.vii.04). The RDB1 therevid, Pandivirilia (Psilocephala) melaleuca, a species for which modern records have only been forthcoming from the Windsor area of Berkshire (Stubbs and Drake, 2001), may also have been recorded from Bushy Park. Peter Hodge (1992) reported that: “a larva of what was thought to be this species was collected from dry frass and wood mould in a cavity in a large fallen Oak by Professor J.A.Owen. Unfortunately the adult failed to emerge and therefore this record should be regarded as provisional.” To date, 34 species of Larger Brachycera, representing more than one fifth of the British fauna, have been recorded from Bushy Park in a comparatively short space of time and by recorders who were primarily searching for aculeate Hymenoptera and Coleoptera. In recent years the list of Larger Brachycera and Conopidae for Surrey, one of the best recorded counties in Britain, has increased from 99 (Morris, 2000) to its current total of 114, and it is clear that there is still scope for additional work at many sites, particularly Richmond Park NNR. It is likely that work undertaken in Bushy Park will be of considerable interest regarding both the comparison of fauna with its prestigious neighbour, Richmond Park, and the provision of a representative County list of Larger Brachycera and Conopidae for Middlesex. The importance of recording the Larger Brachycera for conservation purposes should not be underestimated. To quote from Stubbs and Drake (Coc. cit.): “Here we have one of the highest concentrations of Red Data Book, nationally scarce and declining species among the British insects. This comes about because of their very specialized life styles and their requirement for habitat niches which are especially vulnerable to deterioration or loss.” ' A permit is required to undertake field work in Bushy Park, and may be requested from: The Royal Parks, White Lodge, The Stockyard, Bushy Park, Hampton Court Road, Middlesex TW12 2E]. 3d Volume 65 * February 2006 17 It is clear that the specific habitat niches occupied by many of the Larger Brachycera make these species particularly useful indicators of site quality. The assemblage of Larger Brachycera observed during this survey demonstrates the value of Bushy Park in terms of the variety of important habitats that it provides. References Bratton, J., (1995), Stratiomys singularior not restricted to saline localities. Larger Brachycera Recording Scheme Newsletter, No. 13, pp. 1-2. Drake, C.M., (1997), Provisional Atlas of the Larger Brachycera (Diptera) of Britain and Ireland, p.1-131, Huntingdon: Biological Records Centre. Hodge, PJ., (1992), A Preliminary Survey of the Insects of Bushy Park, pp. 1-21, Privately commissioned report. Morris, R.K.A., (2000), A provisional checklist of the larger Brachycera and Conopidae (Diptera) for vice-county 17, Surrey, The London Naturalist, 79, pp. 143-159. Morris, R.K.A., (2003), The larger Brachycera, Syrphidae and Conopidae (Diptera) of Mitcham Common, The London Naturalist, 82, pp. 173-1860. Morris, R.K.A., (2004), The larger Brachycera, Syrphidae and Conopidae (Diptera) of Mitcham Common — some corrections and revisions, The London Naturalist, 83, pp. 159-160. Rozkosny, R., (1982), A biosystematic study of the European Stratiomyidae (Diptera). Volume 1. Introduction, Beridinae, Sarginae and Stratiomyinae. Series Ent. 21, W. Junk, The Hague. Stubbs, A.E., (1987), A stampede of strat larvae - to grapefruit skins. Larger Brachycera Recording Scheme Newsletter, No. 4, pp. 4-5. Stubbs, A.E. and Drake, M., (2001), British Soldierflies and their Allies, p. 1-512, British Entomological and Natural History Society, London. 18 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society 34 The Saproxylic Coleoptera of Bushy Park, Middlesex by Dr Jonty Denton (12500) Pentire, 29 Yarnhams Close, Four Marks, Hampshire, GU34 5DH. email:jontydenton@aol.com Introduction In the 21st Century it is both amazing and worrying to find a site of such importance so close to the capital, and yet so poorly known, and without any statutory protection for it’s wildlife. The dead wood (saproxylic) beetle assemblage found in oy Park is described, and compared with others both locally and nationally. Study area Bushy Park (TQ1569) lies in a loop of the Thames in Middlesex. Richmond Park is 2 km to the east over the river, and the Esher Commons lie 2 km to the south. The park covers some 450 hectares of flat ground on free draining Thames gravels. Deer are allowed to graze over most of the site, which is open parkland with scattered trees and abundant avenues mainly of Lime trees, with the notable avenue of Horse Chestnut trees. Several enclosures where deer are excluded support more diverse ground floras, with more nectar sources for flying beetles. Ivy is also more abundant away from the deer. The western part of the site consists of paddocks and meadows with species rich hedgerows (with Elm) and scattered veteran trees. Most of the important records come from the veteran Oaks, which are particularly frequent in the south half of the Park. Lime is also abundant and planted in regimented avenues along the north-south road. Beech is scarce and many of the larger trees have died in recent years. Hawthorn is also frequent across the site, but many trees are dead or dying, possibly as a result of attack by Agrilus sinuatus. Methods In addition to standard field methods of beating, sweeping etc., subterranean traps of a similar design described by Owen (1997) were used. Some funnel traps were made by inverting the spout end of two-litre plastic drinks bottles partly filled with a mixture of cider, apple juice and sweet vinegar, and buried at the base of trees with several small Openings ( Yo}dMpY SS bl i Soy puvpsisoor, pURGIBht oe yy Pipetos. j ys Be ; y ye Sig iy yiVd 2M —— syzoppba jvhoy sig ip HY 1 go 7 ee Z J ™ 7 y, Zp y Pm: g apo any ~ Li... JOaGINa eS NOLSONIN A \ AYLN3D NOILVINGIA Loy SS > j puvhys0js Sk TO shod HOMO ; Seay Ga . yj ru ‘ 4 ow + Gi us Uy z/ ppd NOiWLNs 4, NOLLVIS ig ot DIM 1 | NOldWWH \ mia s0yssva \\ \ GYIH $7400 \ f \ 4 % 400d \\ e GUIWIULINS : uo}aMivi4 \\ ® \ € \ tee via ike NOJLYAYSSNOD 3F11GIIM spjal4 asnoymasg (auyuaeay) sng Zs © G218SVSIOAYVMQVON 28s a2 ss GITAVSIC DNINYVE hd SOVOY YVINDIH3A DI7aNd 5 ONDYVd¥vo RE g ne ete SS329V Q3LDIVISAY [9 siziol fy YW NOUVINYIG 3NOHd31aL ADN3OVINT. ¥ sonlod Re NOILWLS a NOLONIGGSL S| it | Yh) EES OVO" GYOSONVIE a2 Volume 65 + February 2006 39 Saturday the 17th April 2004 was a pleasantly warm spring morning. I arrived at the car park on Upper Lodge Road opposite Bushy House and walked to the Canal Plantation. The aquatic life of the pond was briefly sampled and the decaying leaves below the surface were teaming with crustaceans, including Water Hog Louse, Asellus aquaticus, and Freshwater Shrimps, Gammarus sp., and corixids, which probably accounted for the large populations of fish and amphibians in the water body. On this occasion there were plenty of Smooth Newts, 7riturus vulgaris, Common Frog, Rana temporaria, spawn and tadpoles, and the Three-spined Sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, were in full breeding colours. On previous visits to the Canal Plantation I had observed a Fox that used to sleep in the afternoons in a clearing below the Lombardy Poplars, and Mandarin Ducks that were occasionally harried by the bold Carp that milled about under the surface. (These Carp were recently netted to reduce their impact on invertebrate and amphibian populations. ) The Yellow Meadow Ant mounds to the west of the enclosure known as Broom Clumps were alive with aculeate activity. Large bumblebees were emerging from their nests hidden beneath the mossy grass and the mounds, which were now covered in tiny spring flowers, spread before me like a parade of elaborately iced cakes. ieremimncd=to the ant mounds -a week later @5‘iv.04), and was surprised to find that although it was unseasonably hot, there was very little aculeate activity. I noticed several specimens of the finely patterned click beetle, Prosternon tesselatum, flying above the mounds, and also a number of colourful Nomada and Sphecodes sp. of bee flying among the Stitchwort and Speedwell flowers. The frenetic activity of a fairly large red and black spider-hunting wasp was met with a @uick sweep-or the net to Observe this species. 1 examined the specimen through the net at what I thought was a safe distance, but an unfeasibly long sting shot out through the fine mesh and jabbed into my finger like a white-hot needle, delivering an injection of instant fire. For a few seconds, a searing pain cramped the finger that had been so effectively punished, but remarkably, it subsided within half a minute, with no noticeable after effects. Along the banks of the Longford River near the Willow Plantation, the Primroses played host to a number of bee-mimicking flies, including Volucella.bombylans and the Beefly, Bombylius major. Two Grass Snakes were seen swimming in the wildlife ponds near the Education Centre, and many Slender Ground-hoppers, Tetrix subulata, were found in damp areas around these ponds. 40 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society 36 Nearby, on the path between the iron bridge and the Duke’s Head Passage Gate, White Bryony was beginning to flower. In May and June this plant is pollinated by the rare bee, Andrena florea, (RDB3), which has long been known from the Park. A recent development regarding this species has been the appearance of the Bryony Ladybird, Epilachna argus, which, in May 2003, was observed in some numbers feeding on these plants. Whether their impact on the plant and its pollinator in Bushy Park will be significant, has yet to be seen. Grasshopper country The beginning of July opens another chapter in the wildlife year of Bushy Park, heralded by the song of its orthopteran fauna. In July 2000, the Roesel’s Bush-crickets, Metrioptera roeselii, had developed early, and adults could be heard singing in the large prairie-like expanses of long grass, which was already developing a straw-yellow crown. On the 5th of July 2000, I witnessed a breathtaking aerobatic display above the singing bush-crickets that I had not seen before, or since. At midday it was very hot and humid, and a flock of perhaps 30- 40 Swifts were flying low at great speed above the grassland, catching insects, and on occasion, flew so close to me that I could feel the beat of their wings, as per the entry below. OS ieee, pe peek, aig a tig sf thy sé Volume 65 « February 2006 41 The Roesel’s Bush-crickets were a source of food for young Kestrels', and I regularly observed them perched on the low branches of Hawthorn trees, waiting to drop down into the grass to catch these sizeable insects. Whilst looking for Roesel’s Bush-crickets on one occasion, I became aware of a looming shadow above me that immediately halted the song of the cricket that I had been observing. “Lost something have we Sir?” came the voice from above, and I turned around to find two members of the Royal Park’s Constabulary silhouetted against the azure blue sky. I explained that I was looking LOomousm-epekets. Of course you-are Sir” the constable replied, appearing to discretely fumble for handcuffs whilst maintaining calm eye contact. Suddenly, his colleague, who had maintained a quiet presence behind him burst into life. “I can see one!” she said, pointing to the finely marked cricket among the grass stems. “Ah yes”, replied the constable, his voice and raised eyebrow now hinting at a degree of interest. By this time a small crowd of interested onlookers had gathered on a nearby path, but the situation was now firmly under control, and satisfied that I represented no danger to the public, I was allowed to continue with my observations. That month, grassland butterflies were everywhere, and it was a good year for beetles, including, Galeruca tanaceti, which seemed to be on every path in the Park, the longhorns, Anoplodera livida and Grammoptera ruficornis, the uncommon Phyllobrotica quadrimaculata (Plate 4) which was found on its foodplant at the edge of the Heron Pond, and the chafer, Hoplia philanthus (Plate 5). This latter species was often seen flying in early afternoon, and when observed at the right aspect, revealed a sky blue pearlescence on its underside, not unreminiscent of that shown by its dazzling European cousin, Hoplia caerulea. The unmistakable wheezing song of the Stripe-winged Grasshopper, Stenobothrus lineatus, (Plate 3) marked the edges of the grassland in certain areas of the Park, and a good colony was found, between the Heron Pond and the Leg-of-Mutton Pond. The first colony of Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Chorthippus albomarginatus, was also found here in 2003 (Sutton, 2003). Surprisingly, the Long-winged Cone-head, ' Whilst discussing the remote possibility of finding the grey form of the Wartbiter Decticus verrucivorus, with John Shaughnessy at the annual Orthopterists meeting in 2002, I recalled my observations regarding the predation of bush-crickets by Kestrels to him. John informed me that the grey form had not been seen for many years, and that the last recorded observation came from the remains of a Kestrel kill. He also revealed that some Kestrels, which appeared to have specialized on Tettigonia and Decticus, were very good at snatching specimens from the top of vegetation. In fact, predation by Kestrels has been a big problem regarding both the conservation of the remaining handful of extant British colonies of this handsome bush-cricket, and the introduction of colonies to new (and former) sites through the species recovery programme. 42 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists'’ Society 36 Conocephalus discolor, which was present in grassland habitats across the Park in 1999, had not previously been reported from the Park, and is likely to have arrived after 1990. Sand bank aculeates Near the Warren Plantation (23.vii.04) the steep sides of one bare path that had been a blank canvas a few months previously, had now become a honeycombed metropolis of aculeate activity. The unmistakable high-pitched hum of the bee, Anthophora bimaculata, a species with incredible turquoise-blue eyes, betrayed its, presence above the innumerable burrows, and three beautiful species of jewel wasp were busy shadowing the activities of their respective hosts. On a bare path near the Leg-of-Mutton Pond I stopped to observe one of these jewel wasps and came across the unlikely looking yellow form of the Blue-tailed Damselfly, Ischnura elegans f. rufescens-obsoleta (formerly infuscans-obsoleta), at rest on the sun-bleached grass (Plate 4). I had seen and photographed the various colour forms (violet, green, reddish-pink and blue) of this species on the river near Sandy Lane Gate, where the Chinese. Mitten Crabs congregate to begin their exodus from fresh to estuarine water in spring, but prior to finding this form, I had not appreciated the sequential nature of certain colour forms, which is explained in Brooks and Lewington (2004). In this case, f. rufescens-obsoleta begins adult life as the reddish-pink f. rifescens. On one of the banks I saw the sphecid wasp, Oxybelus uniglimis plunge into the sandy soil, and having located what appeared to be a colony, I tried to get a photograph of an adult. This species preys on flies and returns to its hidden nest burrow with the fly impaled on its sting. Unfortunately, this task was made all the more difficult because the wasp hides the entrance: to its burrow, and the speed with : , ; : which it arrives, uncovers the as ee VE eee burrow and plunges inside, Be 7 fly in tow, all occurs within a matter of seconds. I found myself waiting for an adult to arrive, then waiting for its head to disappear, (moving in before this resulted in the wasps rapid exit) and trying LO LOCUS fo, Seta spichune. lia i Z Figure 2, it is just possible to ‘ eabee ei tae Figure 2. Oxybelus uniglumis with prey. ET 17 RS Ee sé Volume 65 « February 2006 43 see the spotted abdomen of the wasp on the left, and the large impaled fly being dragged into the burrow behind it, on the right. Oak wood days Sunday the 6th of June 2004 turned out to be a particularly productive and enjoyable day for the observation of insects in Bushy Park. The Common Green Grasshoppers, Omocestus viridulus, (Plate 3) were already in song, quietly clicking like sewing machines in lush grass that grew amongst the Bracken. A few Skylarks were singing high above as I observed the metallic green jewel wasp, Trichrysis cyanea, on a fallen Hawthorn tree on my way to the Warren Plantation. At once, my eye caught sight of a larger metallic bronze-green species as it flew towards me and landed on a branch. It was the beautiful Oak Jewel Beetle, Agrilus biguttatus (formerly pannonicus) (Plate 6). Formerly an extreme rarity confined to a few ancient woodland refugia in southern England, this exquisite species had been, on occasion, considered to be on the verge of extinction in Britain, and was still regarded to be a vulnerable (RDB2) species worthy of protection in 1987 (Shirt, 1987). Indeed, in 1957, A.A. Allen wrote, (of its presence at Bishop’s Wood, Batchwood in Herts.), “...unless early action is taken to preserve what is left of this historic locality, the loss to our fauna of this handsome insect, the largest of our few indigenous Buprestids...can hardly be long delayed’.” However, for reasons that probably, collectively, involve the creation of habitat through storm damage and Oak die-back disease (Alexander, 2003), and climate change, this species has recently spread across south-east England, and has apparently become almost common in some areas (Alexander, ibid.). Its current status is Nationally Scarce A (found in 30 or fewer 10 km squares) although this may need to be revised, and remarkably, it is no longer considered to have any value as an indicator of ecological continuity (IEC = 0, Alexander, 2004). I first encountered this species while walking through woodland on the outskirts of Crawley in West Sussex in 1997. I had always recognized the rarity of this species, and had read the accounts of its discovery at Windsor Park in 1972 (A.A. Allen, 1973), Windsor Forest in 1984 @€Godirey, 1937) and Hampstead Heath in 1984 (Foster, 1987). Consequently, I was stunned to find this flashing blue-green jewel alighting on my arm, and stared at it in disbelief. My second encounter was in Bushy Park on a hot day in June (29.vi.03) when an adult male flew onto the bark of an Oak tree in the Warren Plantation, and subsequently, I have found several specimens flying in fine weather. * This is far from being the only premature prediction regarding the declining fortunes of certain members of our native fauna. In 1949, one of our most celebrated London naturalists, Richard Fitter, (regarding the Heron) stated that: “It can be asserted with a fair degree of certainty that neither the Heron or the Spoonbill will ever again breed in London outside the Zoo.” 44 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society 34 I walked into the Warren Plantation, and was immediately greeted by the loud shrieking of Ring-necked Parakeets that were busy rearing their young in the tree cavities above. At the base of one Oak tree, I found a specimen of the clerid beetle, Til/us elongatus (Plate 6), a saproxylic species that is a good indicator of ancient woodland habitat. The remains of a horde of Stag Beetles were found next to a log, and on the log were several specimens of another saproxylic species, Bitoma crenata, a tiny but distinctive species which has red banding on its elytra. After the heat of my exertions photographing a variety of species in the Park, I decided to get a cup of tea from the kiosk in the car park next to the Model Boating Pool, and I walked around the Pool to sit under a large Willow tree near the Heron Pond. As I sat watching some young Egyptian Geese being shepherded by attentive parents, I caught sight of what looked like a very thin praying mantis as it whirred past my ear, its wings held at an angle above its body. It landed on the still, mirrored surface of the pond, where it wrestled with the mercurial plane in its bid to trade realms, and seek the sanctuary of the pondweed below. It was a specimen of the Long Water Scorpion, Ranatra linearis, and in all probability, the largest I had ever seen. Immediately, polystyrene cup still in hand, I balanced on one elbow and reached from the bank to pluck the insect from the reflections. The large female specimen (which is life-size in Plate 4), attracted the attention of several families who had observed the capture, and their inquisitive children, wide-eyed and open mouthed, questioned me about this impressive aquatic assassin for just enough time to allow my tea to go cold. Another impressive bug that can be found in Bushy Park is the Fly Bug, Reduvius personatus (Plate 6). This species is also known as the Masked Hunter on account of it’s superbly camouflaged predatory nymphs (see Plate 8). The Fly Bug is usually found in hollow trees but is not averse to living alongside humans in buildings if the opportunity arises. It will bite if handled and its rostrum can pierce the skin with ease, but it is, apparently, harmless’. However, having been bitten by the diminutive nymph of the Common Flower Bug, Anthocoris nemorum, whose toxic saliva caused a small, acutely irritating and weeping wound for several days, and knowing that its colourful ’ The Fly Bug is closely related to another Reduviid, the so-called the “Kissing Bug” of Latin America, which, like the Fly Bug, will inhabit human dwellings in the absence of its natural habitat. This species gets its name because it prefers to target the soft skin around the sides of the mouth when it bites humans, and is a vector for Trypanosoma cruzi, the flagellate protozoan that causes Chagas disease. Charles Darwin was believed to have suffered from this disease, having been bitten by one of these triatomine bugs during his famous visits to South America on the Beagle. He was plagued by many undiagnosed health problems in later life, which were similar to those suffered by patients afflicted with chronic Chagas disease. 34 Volume 65 ¢° February 2006 45 European cousin, Rbinocoris iracundus, has a bite that is as painful as a wasp sting, I chose not to handle this species when I took its photograph! The living Hawthorns At the end of Ash Walk between the Woodland Gardens, the Longford River (which now becomes the Queen’s River, and is only several feet wide at this point) flows under a small hump back bridge known as Red Brick Bridge. Before the river leaves the Gardens, its well-reeded margins hold populations of various insects, including reed beetles (Donacia sp.) and the Banded Demoiselle, Calopteryx splendens (Plate 4). A quiet approach will allow the observation of some very large Chub swimming in the shade of the trees next to the bridge, where dappled sunlight will occasionally reveal their huge netted backs. Nearby are a number of Hawthorns, some of which are dead but still standing. These Hawthorns are alive with activity, and the burrows, which long since produced the beetles that probably led to the demise of the tree now provide homes for a myriad of aculeates. The first time I found these trees I could not believe the number of solitary wasps and bees using the holes. It was on these Hawthorns that the Ichneumon wasp, Ephialtes manifestator, (Bulletin 463 cover picture) was photographed drilling to | locate the burrow of a wood nesting aculeate. @n_onezon the trunks; 1 observed the spider _ hunting sphecid wasp, Trypoxylon figulus, returning _ to its burrow with a white spider (Figure 3) | I remember the day well, for the sheer number of | aculeates that I had seen, and also for a less | satisfactory reason. After another fiercely hot day, I Sn ed nies | had all but run out of food and drink, and I was mney, at burcow _ looking forward to the mouth-watering tang that a entrance. | bite from the solitary apple that remained in my bag _ would provide. After a fruitless search, it slowly dawned on me that the _ commotion I had heard earlier, a squabble between two crows that had ' occurred close by as my camera clicked quietly above the spider carrying _ Trypoxylon wasp, concerned the fate of that apple, a fact betrayed by the few remaining ant-tended fragments left in the grass, that had browned in the late afternoon sun. Figure 3. 7rypoxylon Nevertheless, it had been another halcyon day in Bushy Park, and it left me with the belief that the Park still had many more secrets left to reveal. 46 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society ee Figure 4. The Warren Plantation. The bare sandy paths in the foreground become a hotbed of aculeate activity from spring onwards. Acknowledgements Sincere thanks to: David Baldock and Dr Mark Shaw, Nigel Reeve, Ray Brodie and Royal Parks Wildlife Group, the Royal Parks Authority for continuing provision of annual permits to work in the Park, and kind permission to use the map (Crown copyright) shown in Figure 1, Peter Hodge, Jonty Denton, and Mike Edwards. References Allen, A.A.,11973), Agrilus biguttatus F. (Col: Buprestidae) at Windsor; with some account of its history in Britain, Entomologist’s Record, 85, pp. 12-14. Allen, A.A., (1988), Notes on Agrilus pannonicus Pill. & Mitt. (Col: Buprestidae) in 1985, Entomologists Record, 100, pp. 25-28. Alexander, K.N.A., (2004), Revision of the Index of Ecological Continuity as used for Saproxylic Insects, English Nature Reports No. 574, 1-60 pp., English Nature, Peterborough. Alexander, K.N.A., (Ed.) (2003), Provisional Atlas of the Cantharoidea and Buprestoidea of Britain and Ireland, Huntingdon: Biological Records Centre. Brooks, S. and Lewington, R., (2004), A Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland, 1-138 pp., British Wildlife Publishing, Dorset. Foster, A.P., (1987), Agrilus pannonicus (Piller and Mitterpacher, 1783) (Col., Buprestidae) and other noteworthy insects recorded from Hampstead Heath in 1984. Entomologist’s Record, 99, pp. 153-155. Fowles, A.P., Alexander, K.N.A. & Key, R.S. (1999), The saproxylic index: evaluating wooded habitats for the conservation of dead wood Coleoptera. The Coleopterist, 8 (Part 3), pp. 121- 141. Godfrey, A.R., (1987), Agrilus pannonicus (Pill. And Mitt.) (Col., Buprestidae) in Windsor. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine, 123, p. 40. Shirt, D.B. (Ed.), (1987), British Red Data Books: 2. Insects. xliv + 402 pp. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. 3 Volume 65 + February 2006 47 From The Registrar Data Protection Act — In order to fulfil the requirements of this act I must advise members annually of the details held on the computer database and the use made of them. Currently the information we hold comprises — name, address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, interests, payments made, and membership category. Additional information is held regarding mailing details, correspondence, invoices, receipts etc. If any member objects to these details being held, would they please get in touch with me. The information is used for the following purposes:- ® To prepare mailing labels for the Bulletin and Bug Club Newsletter. Also labels for other mailings and correspondence as required. ® For the preparation of statistics for use by the Council. @ The publication of Membership Lists. These will only include details=of mame, address, interests, and, in the case of Junior Members, the Membership Class. Please note that telephone numbers and e-mail addresses are ONLY passed on to Council and Committee members when a specific request is made. Such details are not passed to other members. Individual members may request specific lists, such as names and addresses of members in a specific area, with or without interests included. A minimum charge of £1.50 is made to cover the additional costs of stationery and postage involved. Please note that:- @® | am unable to give out member details over the telephone. @® | never divulge phone numbers without the individual member's express permission, except to Council members for use on Society business. @ | do not give member details to non-members without the individual member’s express permission. Membership List — I would like to produce one, and it would be easy to do. There are constraints upon it from two sources:- | 1. Production costs — it would cost well over £2,000.00 to produce and | the Society does not have that level of funds to spare. he: | 48 Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society 34 WN Data Protection Legislation means that every member must give their written consent before their details may be included in the list. (Please note that this applies only to a published list, not a private list requested by an individual member.) It is for this reason as well that I do not produce any electronic lists (except pdf files). I do produce a photocopy list, as an A5 booklet, for use by Council Members only and for archive purposes, every two years. These are destroyed when a new one is produced. The actual production is easy, apart from cost and the legal implications. A published list would include an alphabetical list of names, addresses and up to three interest categories (space prevents the inclusion of more). Also it would include a list of members’ names under specific interests, and members’ names in individual countries and UK counties. (It is for the latter reason that county name is always included in the address, despite it not being essential in most cases, though it may be stripped off when producing mailing labels). The restriction to only three named interests is to make the interest lists manageable, since these will help members communicate with others of similar main interest areas. | must emphasise that the ONLY reasons a list has not been produced in the past have been cost and now the law. Change of Address — the mailing labels are produced a month in advance in order to notify the printer the number of each publication that need be printed and to allow sufficient time for the envelopes to be prepared. (This is a more tedious task than previously because there are at least three different categories of mailing — Bulletin alone, Bulletin plus Bug Club Magazine together (for family membership), and Bug Club Magazine alone. These are further separated into Overseas and UK.) This can mean that if Iam notified of the change of address AFTER the mailing labels are produced, then the mailing will go to the previous address and there is no way of preventing this. It also means that if a redirected envelope is used to notify change of address, by the time I receive it via the PO Box, which can take up to four weeks, or even more, the next mailing label will also have been produced for the previous address! It is therefore in members’ interests to notify me as to the new address, and the date for which it becomes effective, as soon as possible after the details are known to the member. Members may notify me directly to my home address, if they wish — Nick Holford, 8 Ruddle Way, LANGHAM Rutland, LE15 7NZ. (Tel: — 01572 723532). I can also be contacted by email (aesregistrar@btinternet.com). In notifying change of address, 36 Volume 65 « February 2006 49 please be certain to include your membership number, which is printed after the name on the mailing label. This makes finding your record much easier. First names — | am trying to make communications more personal by using first names. This is already done in most cases. Please try to remember to write it onto the renewal slip before sending it in. Payment by cheque — when paying by cheque, if the member’s family name is different from that on the cheque, please write the member’s mame on the back as this helps considerably when checking that PAymenuss Mave meen entered. correctly. It would be helpful if the membership number was written on the back as a matter of course. PLEASE do not staple cheques to the form, these require a considerable amount of time to remove, and when dealing with about 1400 cheques in the space of two months, any saving in time is a great boon! Thank you. Nick Holford, Registrar A NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY MOLE VALLEY COUNCIL Sunday 25th June 2006 River Mole Local Nature Reserve Leatherhead Surrey This is a public event to celebrate the opening of this new reserve along the river Mole from Fetcham Splash to Thorncroft. AES Councillors will be present and hope to organise some entomological events, including perhaps moth trapping after dark. The Royal Entomological Society hopes to list this event as part of National Insect Week. Details from Rod (tel. 01306 879247 or e-mail rod.shaw@molevalley.gov.uk Amateur Entomologists’ Society PRACTICAL HINTS FOR THE FIELD LEPIDOPTERIST by J.W. Tutt Written at the turn of the century, this book has been reprinted because it still represents the most comprehensive field guide covering both macro and micro lepidoptera. ....... £22.80 AN INDEX TO THE MODERN NAMES FOR USE WITH J W TUTTS PRACTICAL HINTS FOR THE FIELD LEPIDOPTERIST by B.0.C. Gardiner A valuable cross referencing guide between the scientific and English names used in the early 1900’s and the present time £ 4.00 A LEPIDOPTERISTS HANDBOOK by R.Dickson A practical book on the breeding, collecting, storing, conservation and photography of Lepidoptera. ................. £ 7.70 A GUIDE TO MOTH TRAPS AND THEIR USE by R. Fry and P. Waring A concise guide on the type/construction of moth traps available in the UK, their use and limitations in the field BREEDING THE BRITISH BUTTERFLIES by P.W. Cribb A practical handbook covering all aspects of butterfly breeding, including general techniques, equipment plus hints on how to breed British butterflies AN AMATEURS GUIDE TO THE STUDY OF THE GENITALIA OF LEPIDOPTERA (16pp.) ....... £ 2.40 BUTTERFLIES OF CYPRUS 1998 Observations of 44 species of butterflies found on the island during 1998, including notes on each species A SILKMOTH REARER’S HANDBOOK by B.0.C. Gardiner This completely revised 3rd Edition looks at the study, breeding and systematic of the worlds silk moths. Includes 32 pages of colour plates (74 colour photographs of larvae and adult moths) 26 pages of black and white plates, numerous figures £1 KILLING, SETTING AND STORING BO HTEREES AND MOTHS (19 pages) £ THE STUDY OF STONEFLIES, MAYFLIES AND CADDIS FLIES A comprehensive guide to collecting and studying the biology and ecology of these aquatic insects £ THE HYMENOPTERISTS HANDBOOK by Dr. C. Betts et. al. A completely revised 2nd Edition dealing with their family history, classification and structures; natural history; studying; collecting; breeding; attracting and perserving Hymenoptera 9.25 REVISED FLIGHT TABLES FOR THE HYMENOPTERA Illustrates wherever possible, times, locaticns, flower visits and some indications for distribution and abundance of Hymenoptera REARING PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA by M. Shaw This booklet provides details on the general biology of parasitic wasps, rearing principles, efficient rearing practices and detailed methods on how to deal with adult wasps £ HOST PLANTS OF BRITISH BEETLES Supplement to 3rd edition of the Coleopterist’s Handbook listing a wide range of plants in alphabetical order, together with the beetle species which have been recorded as being associated with them A DIPTERIST’S HANDBOOK by A.E. Stubbs, P.J. Chandler and others A practical handbook for the beginner and initiated on collecting, breeding and studying two-winged flies, includes a detailed chapter on larval stages, with an illustrated key to families £10.75 REARING AND STUDYING STICK AND LEAF-INSECTS by P. D. Brock This new book is especially intended for beginners, although also suitable for experienced phasmid enthusiasts. It is one of few rearing guides that feature the majority of culture stocks available with 22 species in detail. The informative text is complemented by 8 colour plates, 14 black and white plates and 29 figures THE AMAZING WORLD OF STICK AND LEAF-INSECTS by P. D. Brock A superb comprehensive guide for all those intrigued by these groups of insects. Topics covered in detail include life history, development and behaviour, defence, enemies, collecting, breeding and much more. Part 3 outlines the major known species around the world on a regional basis, plus a section on fossils is also included REARING CRICKETS IN THE CLASSROOM (12 pages, 2 plates) SOME BRITISH MOTHS REVIEWED Aid to identification of some of the more difficult species reprinted from Amateur Entomologist Vo!. 5 (1941) and a guide for the critical species of Lepidoptera from Entomologists Gazette 1969-72, (64 pages}6) plates) Sas eens ee. et nee Sore £3.50 LARVAL FOODPLANTS OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND by P. May. A comprehensive compilation of the known larval foodplants of our native and immigrant butterflies. Also including How to Encourage Butterflies to Live in Your Garden by the late Peter Cribb. 62 pages (2003) COLLECTING LACEWINGS COLLECTING HET-BUGS COLLECTING CLEARWINGS ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED All the above publications sent post free to U.K. addresses. Outside U.K. please add 10% to order value for postage by surface mail. For postage by air-mail outside Europe please add 30% to order value. Please allow 28 days delivery. Please make all cheques/postal orders payable to 'AES Publications’ and send to: AES Publications, 1 Tower Hill, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4TA. Telephone 01277 224610 * Fax: 01277 262815 « E-mail: aespublications @ btconnect.com a AURELIAN BOOKS DAVID DUNBAR Butterflies, Moths and Entomology View stock on-line at www.booksatpbfa.com (Click on sellers and search Aurelian Books) — Antiquarian, out-of-print and new reference books — — Butterflies, moths, dragonflies, beetles and other insects — — British Isles, Europe and rest of the World — — Free book finding search service — — Catalogues available on request — — Browse our stock — by prior appointment — — Collections and good individual books and journals bought — Phone, fax, e-mail or snail-mail for all enquiries which are always welcome 31 LLANVANOR ROAD, LONDON NW2 2AR (Telephone and fax) 020 8455 9612 e-mail: dgldunbar@aol.com Midlands Entomological Fair — Kettering — The Above Fair, due to held on Sunday 2nd April 2006 has been cancelled, owing to the retirement of the organisers, Jack and Sue Harris. We would like to thank all visitors and exhibitors for their support in the twenty-seven or so years the Fair has operated in Leicester and Kettering and hope they will keep the provincial flag flying by supporting the AES/RES Fair in York. Cheerio! it’s been a lot of fun. Jack, Sue and David Harris STOP PRESS: It has been announced that members of the ELG will run the Fair on Sunday 2nd April 2006, 10.30am at the Kettering Leisure Village AES RES sth april VORK 2006 EExd nition Building on the huge success of the AES Annual Exhibition in London the AES/RES have decided to organise a similar event in York Saturday 8th April 2006 10.30am - 4.30pm York Racecourse York * Many varied dealers * Rare and Recent Books =~ oa * Caterpillars and Butterflies »* Meet other enthusiasts f * Praying Mantids * Stick insects i | * Exotic Pets * Tarantulas and Scorpions * Bug Pottery and Toys * Nets, Traps and Equipment * Antique Boxes and Cabinets * Netting and Cages * Insect Identification Guide * Mounted Specimens * Join Clubs and Societies * Leading Insect Artists For further details contact the AES at: PO Box 8774, London SW7 5ZG or alternatively visit the Society’s Website at http://www.amentsoc.org or use the link from RES site www.royensoc.co.uk ‘ork has many attractions on offer — information is available from your local Tourist Information office. /¢k Racecourse has good communications with the rest of the UK and within h city:- _By Road — there is an outer ring bypass with the A64 to the south and east and the A1237 to ihe west and north. The A64 joins with the Ai at junction 45. The A59 leaves the A1 at junction 47 and meets with the A1237. There is ample free car parking available on the approach road ‘Knavesmire Road), though some places require a bit of a walk to the racecourse. Adjacent Jrass car-parking areas should be available as well. The Racecourse is to the south of the city, and is best approached from the A64, there being no need to drive through the city. _ 3y Rail — York is on the eastern main ine, with GNER trains between Kings cross and Scotland, and Virgin trains yetween Euston and Scotland. The ourney time on GNER from King’s cross to York is only 2 hours. yoot it takes about 20-30 minutes to a. from the station to the Racecourse /€, we did time it!) umber 11 (Indigo Line) bus can be aded at the station. This stops right by \eXacecourse. Buses run half hourly. oul Taxi firms are:- Ace — 01904 638888 Station Taxis — 01904 623332 Streamline — 01904 638833 Local Taxis — 01904 641341 e are ample cashpoints in the city. i nearest ones to the Racecourse ) areas are about 5 mins drive) are:- 1e south of the Racecourse:- ‘TESCO, Askham Bar, Tadcaster “Road, YORK. ‘Just before TESCO is Knavesmire Service Station. »1e north, further into town:- Going into the city on Bishopthorpe Road there are two more cashpoints. | if Racecourse Website — -yorkracecourse.co.uk A1(M) 8 are café facilities on site and ample toilets! A19 to Thirsk A64 to Scarborough A59 Harrogate A1079 to Hull Ad © Railway Station @ York Racecourse A19 Tadcaster/Leeds to Selby A1(M) York Centre to Scarborough Bishopthorpe from Leeds Village Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society Volume 65 ¢ Number 464 February 2006 | CONTENTS Editorial 204: 2... .dcce.c.cosscogee cca cvaaen das ceeabeanedesoteg ew dincrc sata vesieet te see ota cee eee eee 1 Simpson, :M. AES/RES York: Exhibition: ...<5..226.-2-c0..csecu02 s0ceees- este eee ee 4 Sutton, P. G. The history of entomological recording in Bushy Park, Middlesex: a persOnalsperspeCtiVve c...c.....:icccche tela. Gl towlecganeceuedeosseeuaneescstzaues scue eee earn re eae 5 Baldock, D., Denton, J. & Sutton, P. G. The larger Brachycera and Conopidae of Bushy Park, Middlesé@x:..x.c5. 6c ei ee 10 Denton, J. The Saproxylic Coleoptera of Bushy Park, Middlesex..............:ceesceeseeeeeeeeeeees 18 Baldock, D. & Sutton, P. G. Additions to the list of Aculeate Hymenoptera for Bushy Park; Middlesex ficoic.. 2 iadeucbabes ods teste cooeutur sek oovec easdssc cee geese ae eee 29 Sutton, P. G. Diary Notes: Bushy Park, Middlesex (1999-2005)...........:::cseeceesseesseeeseeeees 37 From the Registrar Wren’s candles. Sir Christopher Wren’s famous avenue of Horse Chestnut trees provides an exquisite spectacle when flowering in May. This mile-long display extends from Teddington Gate, past the famous Diana fountain (originally commissioned by Charles |, and moved from Hampton Court to its present position in Bushy Park in 1713), to the Hampton Court Gate. The importance of old Horse Chestnut trees in terms of their value for invertebrates, particularly for species associated with sap runs, is now being realized. © 2006. The Amateur Entomologists' Society. (Registered Charity No. 267430) All rights reserved. f Printed by Cravitz Printing Co. Ltd., 1 Tower Hill, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4TA. Volume 65 ¢ Number 465 SRT eR A Oy RD TE PMR ETE ¢ ‘i