The Reading Naturalist
Noy 33
Published by the Reading and District Natural History Society 1983
Price to Non-Members £1.00
TIE READING NATURALIST
No. 35 for the -year 1981-382
The Journal of The Reading and District Natural Hiscory
Society
President:
Mees Mie Rio. Wis SELL BA.
Hon. General Secretary: Hon, Editors: Mrs. S. J. Whitfield Miss L. E. Cobb Ashdown 55 Northcourt Avenue Basingstoke Road Reading Spencer's Wood Reading
Editorial Sub-Committee: The Editor, B. R. Baker, H. H: Carter,
Miss E. M. Nelmes, Miss S. Y. Townend
Honorary Recorders:
Botany: Mrs. B. M. Newman, Earley Cottage, 25 Beech Lane, Parley, Reading. Entomology: Mr. B. R. Baker, 25 Matlock Road, Caversham, Reading. Vertebrates: Mr, H. H. Carter, 82 Kennylands Road, Sonning
Common, Reading.
Fungi : Dr. A. Brickstock, 25 Cockney Hill, Tilehurst, Reading.
Contents
Meetings and Excursions, 1981-82
Presidential Address: How to renew an interest in Carpentry
Hymenoptera in the Reading Area
Wildlife Conservation at AWRE, Aldermaston
Albinism in Frogs (Rana_temporaria L.) 1978-82
Looking forward to:the Spring
bY
Kenfig Pool and Dunes, Glamorgan
Mosses of Central Reading: Update
Agaricus around Reading, 1982
Honorary mecoradetee Reports: ~ Fungi Botany Entomology
Vertebrates Weather Records Monthly Weather Notes
Members! List
R. Baker
H. Carter
Brickstock
Price Ward: J. M. Bowen
V. Fletcher
Andrews
Brickstock M. Newman R. Baker
H. Carter ‘2 Parry
Parry
Page
10
12
15
20
23
27 32 ie Ted oe
52
53
Meetings and Excursions 1981-82
The Annual General Meeting on 15th October 1981 (attendance 52) was followed by Mr. B. R. Baker's Presid- ential Address entitled ‘How to Renew an Interest in Carpentry'. A Natural History 'Brains Trust' (54) was held on 29th October under the chairmanship of the President, the members of the panel being Mr. Nigel Phillips, Mr. Martin Sell, Mr. Hugh Carter and Dr. Humphrey Bowen. Lectures given during the winter were 'Farming and Wildlife', by Mrs. D. Herlihy and a farmer (50); 'Plant/ Aninal Interactions', by Professor J, Harborne (49); 'Bats', by Mr. M. Hardy (32): 'The Mysteries of Mushrooms and Toadstools' by Dr. F. B. Hora (78) ‘Continental. , Contrasts —- plants of Malaysia and South Africa', by Mr. C. J. Leeke (59)3 'Huropean Dragonflies', by Mr. G. S. Vick (52), and 'Town Centre Plants', by Mr. M. V. Fletcher (38). Members' Evenings of films, talks and exhibits, at which coffee and biscuits were served were held on 7th January (52) and 18th March (51).
There were winter excursions to study fungi on 7th November (28), lichens on 5th December (17 )s5 birds at Burghfield Pits on 6th February (24) and mosses and liver- worts at Mortimer and “Pamber on 6th March (19).
Summer field excursions were to woods in the Hambiedon area on 17th April (46), and at Goring Heath on 1st May ae both for spring flowers; Munday Dean Bottom, Marlow
BBONT Reserve ) for gveen-winged orchids on 15th May (30): Kennet Valley for birdsong including nightingales, on the evening of 19th May (26); Aston Upthorpe BBONT Reserve for burnt orchids and other chalk flora and Lepidoptera on 22nd May (23 NHS members and 7 BBONT members }) 3 Hartslock (BBONT Reserve ) for chalk flora and mamm::1s on the evening of 26th May (15); Buttlers Hangings (BBONT Reserve) for butterflies and chalk flora on 5th June (16) Burghfieid area for waterside flora and bats on the evening of 9th June. (19)3 Dinton Pastures Country Park for water flora, on the evening of 16th June (18): Hampstead, Norris woods and disused railway line on 19th June (20); Watlington Hill (with BBONT } for ecolcgy of chalk grassland on Sunday 27th June (19 NHS and 11 BBONT members ); Kenfig Burrows, South Wales, by coach, for dune flora on 3rd July (54); Wellbarn, Estate for moths on the evening of 9th July (26)3 Snelsmore Common Country Park. for heathland flora and birds at nightfall, with a barbecue, on 17th July (38): Waterperry and Shabbington Woods for butterflies on Sunday 1st August (13) Wellington College area on 14th August (c. 16)s Warren Bank (BBONT Reserve) for chalk flora and Great Green Grasshoppers on 28th August (26); and Shirburn Hill and Bald Hill for Chiltern gentians and other chalk flora on 11th September (25). There were Fungus Forays at Heckfield Heath on 25th September (28), Kingwood Commen on 9th October (22) and Five Oaken, Mortimer, on 23rd October (18).
mt Dee
How to renew an interest in carpentry
‘The Presidential Address to the Reading and District Natural History Society
15th October, 1981 B, R, Bakér
I find myself this evening in something of:a dilemma . for it has occurred to me that some of you may not wish to renew an interest in carpentry being already fully profic- ient. You may therefore be thinking of leaving early, but before you do so perhaps I could draw your attention to the implements that I use because it may be that to see them would give you one or two new ideas.
First, a good strong mallet, not you will note a hammer, which would only damage your chisel of which you will need two sizes, a half-inch and an inch-and-a-half.
Of saws a variety are useful - a small hand-saw, a strong tenon, for rougher work one with a removable blade is very handy, and last of all, if really up against it, a power- saw has often saved the day. <A good strong knife, boy-scout type, is also required, a rasp or surform and, finally, the wire brush, absolutely essential. Now, had I not gone through that short list of tools, how many of you would have forgotten the wire brush? If we are honest with ourselves most of us would have had to put our hands up.
Now I hear you say "What has this to do with natural history?" or "Am IT in to the wrong lecture?",
Well then, let us look at that classic book by Ricnard South on British Moths, arid on page 339 of the second volume, 1961 edition, you will find the beginning of his account of the Sesiidae or Clearwing Moths, and clearwings and carpentry go well together. In fact, without the careful use of some of the tools listed above we would very rarely see any of these ee eee and colourful moths.
The clearwings are all dayP ade moths so it is not surprising that we have never encountered any of them on our numerous annual mothing nights, but even on daytime field excursions, unless one is able to recognise the signs made by clearwing larvae, one could be walking through a colony without being aware of the fact.
The. moths themselves are very distinctive~looking creatures with very narrow forewings, for the greater part clear’as their name ‘implies, and several of the species © bear a tolerable resemblance to: certain species of wasp, . though of course being moths they are incapable of stinging. They possess a unique method of coupling of the fore and hind wings, the fore-wing hind margin being folded down and the hind-wing anterior margin folded upwards, both folds
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interlocking by a series of recurved spines. With their abdominal patterning of black, red, white or yellow banding they make superb subjects for colour photography; the blue- black scaling often appears iridescent and lends further support for the claim that clearwings are among the most beautiful members of the Lepidoptera.
The eggs are sometimes laid on certain leaf surfaces or on to a fairly smooth face of bark, more typically they are inserted into bark crevices, old adult emergence holes or stem bases or fully exposed on twigs. From the eggs round to the adult moths again is never a shert cycle of events, the shortest life cycle takes a year, the longest may exceed three, several species adopt the middle grceund and undergo two-year life cycles.
The caterpillars spend this lengthy period tunnelling within the wood of certain trees or, less typically, mining the roots of various low-growing plants. Clearwing larvae have their enemies, not the Least of which are birds, and, in order to maintain an uncertain balance and to perpetuate clearwing colonies, females lay a large number of eggs. These give rise to caterpillars having no requirement for protective colouration, living as they do in the dark, but well endowed with powerful jaws for tackling woody plant tissues. This mode of life is bound to leave its mark upon the host-plant whose stem, in the case of young saplings can become a Labyrinth of tunnels. These tunnels can best be seen after coppicing work in woodlands or when birch scrub is being cut back on our heathlands. In early springtime the larvae make ‘their own tell-tale signs by pushing out large quantities of 'sawdust': which collects into little heaps at trunk bases. It is signs such as these that the field worker looks for when prospecting sites at which to indulge in a little careful carpentry. This is not such a drastic operation as may be feared by the conservationist for more often than not we are concerned only with the stump left after forestry operations. Without doubt freshly cut stumps are highly favoured egg-laying sites for clearwings. When such stumps are not available other places must be used, though these may be less obvious to our eyes,
‘It is one of the attractions of clearwing hunting that much of the work can be undertaken in the depth of winter when other fieldwork for the lepidopterist may be at a low ebb, it pays however to do a little homework before setting off with our toolkit, for no self-respecting larva is going to push out 'sawdust! when the mercury is low -— indeed the larva itself will be low, low down in the roots!
My interest in the clearwings goes back to before the last war when a former president of this Society would invite me to accompany him on winter-time cycle visits to the heathlands and damp gullies of Burghfield and Padworth. There appeared to be virtually no information available to help novices find these elusive clearwings, but we would look for birch or alder stumps and begin: operations with
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enthusiasm. We would spend secemingly endless hours putting very precise chisel cuts into the stumps, we would saw very accurate slices from birches and alders,.our carpentry was superb and by the end of the day we would have accumulated enough firewood to last us round to April! I have no. recollection of actually discovering any. clearwings on those early excursions, and I deemed all of them to be great rarities. This idea was not dispelled by delving into old issues of some of the entomological journals. For instance, in the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London for the year 1906 there is a paper on the discovery of the larva of the Orange-tailed clearwing entitled Notes on the larva of Trochilium andrenaeforme, Lasp., by Eustace R Bankes ..ee-. "On July 26th last I received, through the generosity of the Hon. N. Charles Rothschild, a portion of a stem of Viburnum lantana that he knew, by deduction must contain a feeding larva of the extremely rare Trochilium andrenaeforme.....".
Then in 1946 the Amateur Entomologists' Society issued an invaluable and inexpensive illustrated leaflet entitled. "Collecting Clearwings" compiled by a panel of -half-a-dozen experts. I can do no better: than quote briefly from the introduction: "The scarcity of even the common species of Clearwing Moth in the average beginner's collection is a plain indication, not so much of lack of interest in the group, but of lack of knowledge of the habits and life- histories of these insects", "It is the aim of this Leaflet to dispel some of the air of mystery and prevalent belief in the scarcity of the members of the family and so make them commoner inhabitants of the amateur's cabinet and storebox", Dispel the air of mystery the leaflet certainly does and a copy should be in the pocket of any naturalist who seriously intends looking for signs of clearwings in the field.
Nevertheless the legend of scarcity dies hard and the prototype Lepidoptera Record Card issued by the Biological | Records Centre in the 1960's was devoid of any clearwing names. Happily this was rectified following an open meeting held in L ndon when comments were invited upon the compos- ition of the cards before they went out on general release.
Although there are at least 1000 species of clearwing known to science worldwide. and about 100 in the Palaearctic Region only 15 of these are at present known to occur in the British Isles. Of these 15 we have records of 12 within our County of Berkshire.
The President illustrated his address with a series of coloured slides which related to all the species of British clearwings. The adult moths were almost all photographed from life, many of them in the field There were akso slides of the immature stages of several species and distribut- ion: maps which had been prepared for inclusion in
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a forthcoming volume of The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland.
Also exhibited in the Art Gallery were five . drawers of the Museum's entomological collections which illustrated the biology of clearwings and a further two drawers containing examples of all the British species.
Localities for clearwings in the Reading area and other information on this Family are given in a paper which appeared in Reading Naturalist no. 17, 1965. The records for several species mentioned in that paper have now increa- sed as a result of fieldwork undertaken over the intervening sixteen years.
Hymenoptera in the Reading Area
H. ...Garter
It is not my purpose in this paper to give a full account of the Hymenoptera so far as they are known in our area. For one thing, our knowledge is still woefully incomplete, for reasons which will become apparent. For another, the bare listing of names, with dates and local- ities, in the files of the Biological Record Centre runs to 18 pages and covers 583 species, a small number perhaps when set ‘beside’ our 1675: known local Diptera but still far outside the scope of a short article. Instead I propose to introduce my readers to a group that is well represented here, and the members of which are conspicuous and from the behavioural aspect unquestionably the most fascinating of all insects, which is as much as to say, of all inverteb- rates, but which have been greatly neglected by our members, If as a result, some of us are moved to devote some attention to the worst areas of neglect (and coverage of the order is extremely uneven as I shall show) I shall not have written in vain.
Structurally, Hymenoptera are distinguished from other insects by highly modified wing venation, of a type which remains remarkably constant in basic pattern throughout the order, apart from extreme reduction in some families of Parasitica, but is reconcilable only by much ingenuity with the pattern found in insects generally. They also charac= teristically possess a strong piercing ovipostor which may be barbed or saw-toothed. This is used to penetrate the tissues of the host plant or animal when egg-laying, and usually introduces a seeretion which causes a characteristic
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reaction in the host - gr11-formation in plants and tempor- ary or permanent paralysis in animals. True parasitism, unknown in Hymenoptera, involves marked disparity in size between large host and small parasite, which is enabled to feed on the host without doing it much damage or prevent-— ing it from completing its life cycle. (One might perhaps describe the relationship between phytophagous Hymenoptera and plants as parasitism, but it does not essentially aiffer from that of any other plant-eating insect such as
a caterpillar which feeds on a plant without destroying
Lt. ) The carnivorous members of the order in their immature stages very frequently adopt a mode of feeding intermediate between predation and true parasitism. The prey is compar- able in size with the adult hyinenopteran or its full-grown larva, and although completely consumed it is not disposed of at a single meal but lasts a larva through the whole of its larval iife.
On three separate occasions the social way of life has arisen in the order, whereas it has appeared only once, in a fully developed form, among other insects. This is undoubtedly due to the unusual method of sex determination. There is no male or Y chromosome. instead, females produce eggs, each with a single X chromosome, Unfertilised eggs hatch into males, inheriting a single X chromosome which is passed on to their sperms. Fertilised eggs receive an additional X chromosome with the sperm and hatch into females. The laying female can decide whether or not an egg is to be fertilised and so determine the sex of her offspring, which makes socicl organisation practicable.
The order is subdivided, both by structure and life- style, into three sub-orders. Most primitive are the Symphyta (Wood Wasps and Sawflices) in which the abdomen is broadly attached to the thorax as in other insects, and the ovipositor is stout and saw-toothed for cutting into tough plant tissues where the eggs are deposited. One primitive sawfly, Xyela julii, which I have taken on Wokefield Common, lays eggs among the scales of male pine cones, where its larvae feed on the protein-rich pollen which these anemophilous trees produce in great quantity; this is believed to be the original diet of the whole order, and many more developed species have reverted to it at some stage of their existence. Many sawfly larvae are external feeders and closely resemble caterpillars, having abdominal prolegs but being distinguished by large eyes. Others bore in stems and trunks or inhabit galls. The adults, usually black but often relieved by markings of yellow, red or white, can be found on flowers of Ranunculaceae, Umbelliferae and: Compositae which produce abundant pollen. As they lack sucking mouthparts they cannot take nectar. Of the 483 species of this group that have been recorded in Britain, 151 are known from the Reading area,
The second and by far the largest suborder is the Parasitica. In this group the powerful biting mouthparts of the sawflies are retained, but the abdomen is attached by a slender waist for mobility when egg-laying, and this
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may be enhanced by the waist being drawn out into a stalk. These insects are ‘parasitic’ in the special sense that applies to Hymenoptera. Their prey consists largely of the immature stages of other insects which undergo metamorphosis and have relatively immobile soft-—bodied larvae. Lepidop- terous larvae are great favourites, and members of the family Ichneumonidae are often bred from caterpillars. Several members of the genera Ichneumon, Cratichneumon and Diphy's (better known under its old name of Amblyteles ) are common in the Reading area. Other prey includes beetle larvae and spiders; and one species, found in the Lambourn at Bagnor, attacks caddis larvae in their underwater homes. Many of the families of smaller Parasitica prey on aphids. The smaller Parasitica present difficulties to:the collector because keys are not readily available and their determin- ation is a matter for specialists, who are few in number and rarely have leisure to examine the chance captures of amateurs. One family however is easier to deal with and exceptional in its habits in that its members are gall- makers on Rare tis These are the Cynipidae or Gall-wasps. Members of the genera Andricus, Cynips and Neuroterus inhabit galls on Quercus. robur (strangely enough Qs petraea is by comparison almost unaffected). In some years - including 1982 - the galls may be present in such profusion as to cover the lcaves of the affected trees, These in turn may be the majority of those present in an area. The galis are probably easier to identify than the adult insects, which are less often captured than one would expect. These species show alternation of generations. Members of the sexual generation | are adult.in early summer when the oak leaves are fully expanded. They lay fertil- ised eggs on thom, forming leaf galls which fall to the ground in autumn. These give rise in early spring to females only, which have no males to mate with. Some lay unfertilised eggs which develop into males, others lay eggs which undergo no reduction division and so have a full complement of paired chromosomes including two X chromo- somes and thus produce females, As no leaves are present so early in the year, the galls are formed on bark, buds or roots and are quite different in appearance from the leaf galls. The known British Parasitica number 5594, and many more await discovery. So far in the Reading area I know of only 178, 113 being from the Ichneumonidae, of large size and well-keyed, 41 Cynipids ard a mere 24 from the thousands of smaller Parasitica.
Phe third suborder and the one to which most attention has been paid in our area is the Aculeata. These have the same wasp-waist as the Parasitica but the ovipostor has become a sting and no longer transmits the egg. <A few small primitive families form a connecting link between the two suborders and have retained the 'parasitic' mode of life. The rest, including the familiar ants, wasps and bees, have gone further in various differing ways, culmin- ating in social behaviour. The first step has been, instead of leaving the prey in its natural environment where it can continue to feed but may itself become food for a predator along with the larva within, to hide it away
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in a sheltered environment where the young aculeate can feed undisturbed though the:host cannot. To obviate the danger of the prey wandering off or using up its energy resources on the one hand, or dying and becoming. desiccated or decayed on the other, it is paralysed by the use of the sting. This is the practice of the solitary wasps. The most primitive of these first kill their prey, then excav- ate a burrow where it can be stowed away, risking its removal by some. other predator meanwhile. More advanced. species first excavate a burrow - or locate a hollow stem or an abandoned beetle tunnel or some similar refuge -— then stock it with one or more paralysed prey, lay an egg and finally seal the opening. This method requires a very exact adaptation of the dosage of poison injected and the anatom- ical site of injection to obtain the right effect, neither fatal nor wearing off too soon. Consequently these wasps have to confine themselves to one particular type of prey to each wasp species. I have seen a provision store con- sisting solely of weevils of the genus Otiorrhynchus assembled by Cerceris arenaria; third instar nymphs of the bug Sehirus luctuosus by Astata_ boops; small flies of the subfamily Syrphinae by Ectemnius cavifrons. Trees full of suitable beetle holes are haunted by ruby-tailed wasps such as Chrysis cyanea and Chrysis ignita awaiting a chance to pop in and lay their own eggs on the prey while the captor is finding more. (All these species are. known from the Reading area.) Several genera of solitary wasps (and bees) have similar habits, frequently 'parasitising' species or genera closely related to themselves. More. advanced wasps, not occurring locally, practise progressive provisioning, revisiting the burrow at intervals to replenish the food supply. The social wasps extend this over successive gen- erations by forming a colony in which the care of the young is taken over by unmated females (workers). There are seven British social wasps, Vespa (the Hornet) nesting in hollow trees, rare but probably still present in the Reading area, three species of Vespula which excavate or enlarge holes in. the ground and are common everywhere, and another, Vespula austriaca, which is a social parasite on V. rufa and does not occur here, and two species, both local, of tree wasps Dolichovespula which build hanging. nests in the open. Altogether 102 out of the 187 British™ wasps have been recorded locally, though many have not been reported in recent years, and their status must now Pe in doubt.
Bees are an offshoot from the burrowing wasps. They are entirely vegetarian, both grubs and adults feeding on pollen and nectar from flowers. They have well-developed sucking mouthparts in addition to the biting mandibles. Their body hair is feathery and traps pollen which is combed out by the legs and packed into special pollen-carrying structures on the hind tibiae or under the abdomen. Like the solitary wasps, solitary bees utilise a wide variety of nest sites, underground. burrows, hollow stems, beetle borings in wood, and even empty snail shells, all of which are provisioned with pollen to supply the needs of the larvae. . Brood parasitism on close relatives, the development
Ho ~
of the social habit, and sociz1l parasitism where a parasite queen invades a colony, kills the host queen and lays eggs which are reared by the host workers, are all repeated among the bees just as among the wasps. .Socizl bees have developed an elaborate technique for storing nectar, which if left to itself quickly develops moulds. The nectar is treated with enzymes which convert:-its sugars to more stable forms, and dehydrated till it is barely liquid and on the: point of crystallising.. The papery material used for nest- building by social wasps would be useless for the storage of honey, so social bees have ceveloped beeswax, a water- proof substance soft enough to be worked and shaped with the jaws, but stiff enough to keep its shape indefinitely thereafter. There are 158 bee species (if one includes: feral colonies of the domesticated honey bee) occurring in the Reading area out of 251 on the British list.
The ants are a group of Aculeates which have diverged’ from the main stock at a very early stage. Only males and. queens possess wings, which they discard immediately after the conclusion of the mating flight, for this is a pre- dominantly'‘underground group living under conditions where wings are a hindrance rather than a help. All the 51 British species are social insects. Their nests are altogether different in-structure from those of bees or wasps, being a network of passageways with enlarged chambers here and there but no individual cells. They may be con- structed in soil as in the red ants of the genus Myrmica, of which the common local species is ruginodis, or the yellow Lasius flavus which makes the familiar ant-hills of grassland. Lasius niger is often found under paving stones, but may pass unnoticed until swarming time, when many nests over a wide area all send out their winged sexual forms on a single hot sunny day. The large wood ants of the genus Formica nest in heaps of pine needles, and the little Leptothorax acervorum in rotten tree stumps. Ants as a group have abandoned plant feeding. more completely than any other Hymenoptera. Some species have reverted to it in an indirect way through the medium of aphids or ‘'greenfly'. Aphids suck the sap of plants which though very dilute is comparatively rich in sugars but poor in protein. To obtain their protein requirements they have to feed non-stop, processing a huge volume (relative to their own body size) of unwanted water and sugars. Some of the sugar is concen- trated out as 'honey-dew! secreted from glands on the abdomen whence it is collected by ants. The ants have never evolved a way to store this other than inside their own bodies, so to assure a constant supply some species such as Lasius flavus convey aphids underground and attach them to the roots of plants. Only 15 species have been recorded in our district, so the number could undoubtedly be increased by anyone willing to concentrate on ants.
Se Wildlife Conservation at AWRE Aldermaston
Aig Brickstock
The Ministry of Defence is one of the major landowners in Britain, controlling some 628,000 acres (nearly a thou- sand square miles) spread over some hundreds of sites. Much of this land is relatively undisturbed and harbours a great variety of wildlife. To investigate | and help conserve wild- life on these lands the MoD in 1975 appointed a full-time Conservation Officer,’ ‘Eventually all sites were asked to call for volunteer naturalists to form spare-time | Conservation Groups. Over 150 sites now have groups with over 4000 members, Findings are published in site dossiers and also in the quarterly magazine "Sanctuary".
AWRE Aldermaston’ covers just over one square mile and has several areas of woodland, some of them preserved in an ‘'unmanaged' state, five ponds, the margins of some of these having good marsh areas, and extensive areas of heath and grassland.
Just over a mile of the Roman Road from Silchester to Speen crossed the site near its broadest point, but all traces of this were lost during previous estate and airfield use. We also have 400 yards of one of the many Grim's ditches. This is one of a number in the area known as the 'Silchester dykes' and was probably constructed after the Roman evacuation from Britain (300-400 A.D.). It is marked as an ancient monument and is in very good condition.
The largest of our ponds, The Decoy Pond, covers about six acres. Decoy ponds were an idea brought from Holland. in the 17th Century and ours may have been the fourth to be established in Britain. They had at one end a curved, tapering 'funnel' which was covered by a net or branches,
A trained dog appearing and disappearing behind a series of screens was used to 'decoy' ducks into the funnel, a flap was dropped over the entrance and the ducks were then easily caught. The pond is, of course, no longer used for duck trapping, although it often has numerous water birds in transit. It is well stocked with various fish and-used by “the angling club, as well as being recognised by the Nature Conservancy ‘Céunelt as an important site for Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies).
An introduction of the alien water plant Lagarosiphon var. major'some years ago had near-disastrous effects. It erew in moderation until’ the long hot summer of 1976 when, unusually in Britain, it flowered and seeded profusely, resulting in a massive’ growth the following season which virtually choked the pond, a after much expert advice, use of a herbicide (Regione ‘4O)} and hundreds of man-hougs . spent dragging many tons or Veen from the pond has it been restored to something approaching its former state. Clearly a weed, in no uncertain terms, by the criteria of Dr. Ackeroyd in his recent talk.
The Odonata round the Decoy Pond were studied well before the Conservation Group was formed, and 17 of the 44
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British species were found. Four of these species were ones with restricted distributions Red-eyed damselfly (Prythromaa najas), Scarce Aeshna (Aeshna mixta), Emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator ) and Downy Pmerald (Cordulia linaenea).
AWRE Conservation Group was formed in 1976 and has sections devoted to all the major branches of Natural History. Although no organised parties can be admitted to site, visits by individuals with expertise lacking on site are possible and have occasionally been arranged.
The Botany section meets one lunchtime per week throughout most of the year, recording vascular plants and fungi. Some of our members are virtual beginners and we regard teaching them as an essential part of our activities. Several of them have subsequently joined Reading and District Natural History Society. So far over 350 vascular plants have been recorded, including a large number of superb Marsh/Spotted Orchid hybrids; Green winged Orchid; Marsh St. John's Wort, now sadly overgrown and probably no mores; the alien Odontites ?utea, Springbeauty (Montia perfoliata) and Yellow Bird's-nest. In another of our ponds Sweet-Flag flowers regularly although in general it rarely flowers in Britain and Fringed Water-lily is abundant, though rather rare in Britain.
A Latin name/common name/numeric order key is used to sort and list the considerable quantity of data amassed.
Nearly 250 species of fungi have been found, some of them in great numbers, Of particular interest are: Agaricus langei3 Coprinus stercorarius; Gomphidius roseus3 Hygrocybe chlorophanus; Leccinum aurantiacum; Lepiota rhacodes var. hortensis; Leptonia lampropus; Phaeolus schweinitzii, Sparassis crispa and Volvariella speciosa.
A mercury vapour moth trap has been run since February 1976, starting with one night per week and rising to four nights per week, with some gaps... The trap is fitted with a refrigerator which lowers the temperature to a point at which the activity of the insects caught is reduced and they remain reasonably quiescent until examined next morn- ing, before being released. It is believed that ours was the first trap so fitted. Very large numbers of specimens have been examined, the total to date being about 110,000. Total species now number 32 butterflies and 403 of the larger moths out of a total of approximately 900 species on Bradley and Fletcher's British list. This total is probably representative of the surrounding countryside rather than AWRE aloné. Identification of nearly all of these species has been verified by Brian Baker. A relative-abundance index is being prepared to highlight species of particular interest.
Other records include 70 mosses and liverworts, some rather uncommon for the area, notably Calypogeia arguta, Brachythecium mildeanum and B. salebrosum; 80 birds,
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including kestrels nesting in the girders of one of the old aircraft hangars; large numbers ‘of rabbits surviving despite periodic outbreaks of myxomatosis, as well as foxes, hares, badgers and numerous aquatic species (fish, insects, etc.)
Stag beetles, confined to southern Britain and decreas- ing in numbers, rarely exceed 50mm. in length. However, three large specimens each approximately 60mm. long have been found. Their size suggests a good breeding place, possibly some ancient oaks left’ from when the site was part of the Aldermaston estate.
Two Australian cockroaches (Periplaneta australasiae) were found on separate occasions in 1981, in packing cases from abroad, one a female nymph, the other a mature female with a body 2¢cem. lon; and a wing span of 43cm. |
As well as recording species, Conservation Group also try to influence management of the site with a view to wildlife conservation, in particular recommending mowing schedules and preferred management methods for areas of particular interest. In this we are often quite successful, although of course essential site needs must always take precedence, During the winter months a series of lunchtime Natural History talks are organised. Numerous people have helped us in many ways over the seven years we have been active, and their efforts on our behalf are gratefully acknowledged.
Albinism in Frogs (Rana temporaria L.) 1978-82 : or t Unig - Three genorations of Frogs with the Albino strain
= od Price.
During April 1978, 250ml. of Sew es white frog spawn and many fertile clumps of black spawn were laid in the sinks in my garden at 6, Mansfield Road, Reading. This was not unexpected oe of the great number of frogs, single recessive for albinism (Cc) that had been released in my garden and the neighbouring gardens during my studies of albinism in frogs. These were written up in eight eari- ier numbers of the Reading Naturalist (nos. 19-26, 1967-74). I abandoned these studies temporarily in 1973.
Later some pink, double recessive, tadpoles were
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found in the sinks. Some were placed in the pond at
3, Mansfield Road and some in a tank in my study. By 2nd September 1978, one apparently full-albino frog 24mm. long and weighing 1.57g. had been reared from these tadpoles, By 17th June 1979 it was seen to be a female (60mm. and 33¢.). It overwintered in a tank on my desk,
On 2nd March 1980, the frog was called UNIG: the letters suggest that the frog was an uninvited guest, which it certainly was as I had decided to give up frog breeding. She was placed with a normal male, bearing splodges, ina shallow sink protected by a wire cage to prevent outside interference by other frogs. Splodges consist of aberrant pigment cells usually connected with abnormal pigmentation. The black patches start small, grow for about five years and then stop growing. These black patches have been used for the individual identification of frogs so marked. No frogs have been found with icentical patterns. Splodges have been studied on many animals by Dr. I. W. Whimster. See also Reading Naturalist no. 19 page 10.
The object of the breeding was to confirm that Unig was a full albino. On 27th March 1980, after 15 days in amplexus, Unig laid 150ml. of fertile white spawn. The expected result was;
Unig ce female x Male CC . Ce Ce Ce Ce
All the tadpoles pigmented confirming the genetic rating of the male. ~~
By 24th June 1980, nineteen vigorous, pigmented frogs were growing well and by 2nd November the two largest, Freddie, a male, and Freda, a female, were 61 and 50mm. long and weighed 27 and 17g. respectively. By the spring of 1982 they were sexually mature and Freddie was: 70mm. long and K1te, in weight and Freda 73mm. and 46z¢.
Following up Unig's breeding in 1980, the experiment was repeated in 1981 with another normal (i.e. CC) male. The result was similar to that of 1980 and a male (Solo) and two females were bred and retained. They should be ready to breed ‘in 1983.
During the spring of 1982, it was decided to concentrate the breeding on Unig, Freda and Freddie, in order to prove their genetic make-up. “Concentration on Unig was important owing to her uncertain physical condition. On 23rd March 1982, after three weeks in amplexus, Freda and Freddie pro- duced 300m1.,. of black spawn which was part fertile and from which 76 pigmented tadpoles survived. The expected result was sé
Freda Cc Xx Freddie Cc
afte
Of the 72 surviving tadpoles, 14 lost their melanin (maternal pigment) as they developed, whilst 59:became fully pigmented due to their genetic pigment.
Therefore the percentage of full albinos was 19.4%. This may be taken as confirmation of the suggested genetic ratings. In view of the very close nature of the inbreed- ing it may also be taken as proof of the high quality of the strain with which we have been dealing over the last eighteen years.
On 28th October 1982, eleven albino frogs survived which were healthy, free of any defect and growing well. The two largest, both males, were 45 and 44mm. in length and weighed more than 13g. in their first year.
On 24th March 1982 Unig, who had been in amplexus with her son, Freddie, produced 75ml1. of fertile white spawn from which 152 tadpoles hatched. The expected result was:
Unig “8° Xx Freddie Ce eens eer at ie tie ie PO tea BE dle <. S- a < a aa: Ce Ce ce ce
Of the 152 tadpoles, 147 survived until the single recess- ive ones developed pigmented eyes and a peppering of melanin, At the final count 67 (46%) were single recessive and 80 (54%) double recessive.
This gives further proof that Unig is a full albino and her progeny from the 1980 and 1981 matings are single recessives. The tadpoles from the Unig X Freddie mating were of very poor quality, being circle swimmérs and dis- torted. In view of the close relationship, this was to be expected. HNowever on. 29th October 1982, I had one pig- mented frog from the Unig X Freddie mating which was 40mm. long and weighed 8g, I also had eleven healthy vigorous albino frogs of the Freddie X Freda mating.
Unig, who had steadily lost weight over the last two years, and had suffered damage to her left side (possibly © a bite), has made something of a recovery this year (1982). . The wound on her side has healed and she has put on weight. Also she seems to have suffered no permanent harm from having twice suffered a prolapse during oviposition.
One of the main difficulties in breeding albino frogs is that of saying :'I have now finished'., Another is the accompanying problem of what one should do with very import- ant breeding stock, Their survival rate in the wild is nil. What suggestions have our members to offer?
Bibliography A, Price Reading Naturalist nos. 19 (1967) to 26 (1974).
Whimster, Dr. I. M. (1971). The Group Behaviour of Pigment Cells. A comparative study.
Transactions of the St, John's Hospital Dermatological Society.
a
Looking Forward to the Spring - with a Difference
Sheila Ward
Way back in June, '82, I was given a: large polythene box full of black wriggling peacock caterpillars and a few nettle leaves. For the first 5~10 minutes I found them extremely fascinating, and then panic set in = how was I going to look after’ them? In desperation I had the inspir- ation to contact Basil Parsons, who proved to be most helpful. He gave me instructions on the care of the cater- pillars, telling me how long it would be before they were ready to pupate, which container to use, the date(s) the butterfly would be ready to emerge. All went exactly as he had advised, to the day. On 7th July, I opened the box on a warm sunny afternoon and was amazed to see how quickly the butterflies flew away. The following day the few remaining ones were released, leaving myself feeling del- ighted and also giving a sigh of relief that they had all emerged safely. At the end of July, speaking to a local shopkeeper who had a large number of Poplar Hawk Moth eggs’ laid on her green door by a trapped moth, I agreed to have 24 tiny little green caterpillars, thinking they would be as easy as the Peacock caterpillars - little realizing how quickly they grew and how much they ate! Each evening we had a ‘cleaning out! session, followed by knocking at a neighbour's house for fresh willow leaves. Holidays became a problem, but another neighbour ‘volunteered! to look after them. When we arrived home a week later, they looked a little sluggish. At 11 o'clock that evening, I was to be found filling a bucket with soil and placing the cater- pillars on top, with a few willow leaves. I was not too soon — next morning they had all ‘gone to ground'. what a relief to have no more cleaning out and collecting leaves}! A week later a boy knocked at my door showing me a caterpillar which his cat had brought in. On examination it appeared to be undamaged. This time it was an Hlephant Hawk Moth. Again the daily routine of leaves and cleaning out, but not for long. After 5-6 days it also was ready to pupate, and this time I was better prepared. Finally. (I hope), on a Society's walk at Heckfield in September, I was given a Pale Tussock Moth caterpillar. This proved to be much less trouble. Within two days it was ready to pupate, in preparation for which it drew leaves all around itself, saving me having to find another bucket to fill with soil.
Now I am waiting eagerly for the spring, to see if I have been successful in rearing the Poplar Hawk, Elephant Hawk and Pale Tussock Moths = hoping so. On reflection it has been a very worthwhile experience. I can still remember the sheer magic of watching my first ever Peacock Butterflies being released.
ameG
Kenfig Pool and Dunes, Glamorgan
H. J. M. Bowen
On the third cf July 1982, fifty-three members left Reading rather early in the morning and took the M4 for South Wales, bound for the Nature Reserve at Kenfig. I was able to flag down the coach at the Hungerford Interchange, where I saw a colony of Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass, to make up a full coach- load. After a short stop at Aust, overlooking the Severn, we passed roadside banks yellow with Dyer's Greenweed and approached Bridgend in good time, Here the driver took us on an unscheduled trip through rural Wales before finding the Reserve car park. Despite pangs of hunger, partly relieved by a local baker's van, we were hurried off into the dunes by the enthusiastic Warden, Steve Moon. In the dune slacks a mass of fascinating plants detained us, not- ably Bog Pimpernel, Creeping Willow, Early Marsh-orchid, Marsh Helleborine, Meadow Thistle, Moonwort, Round-leaved Wintergreen, Varicgated Horsetail and the well naturalised alien Blue-Byed Grass (in fruit). These dune slacks are flooded in the winter and then make a splendid habitat for wading birds. Despite a brisk wind, butterflies, dragon- flies and beetles were fairly common, but Hugh Carter saw few flies. Of the eight species of butterfly seen, the Dark Green Fritillaries were the most striking; we were about a fortnight too late to see the Small Blue. Five- spot Burnet and Cinnabar Moths were seen, and caterpillars of Lackey and Puss Moth, the latter presumably living on Creeping Willow.
As soon as we reached a sandy dune-ridge, the hungrier members sat down to lighten their packs by eating the con- tents, leaving a few crumbs for the local tent. spider, Pisaura mirabilis. Those keener and more ascetic carried on to find a colony of the curious Fen Orchid with its edged stems one plant was photographed at least 54 times. The dunes were arid, but Biting Stonecrop, Burnet Rose, Polypody, Portland Spurge, Sand Sedge and Wild Pansy were still green, while tiny grasses like Dune Fescue, Sand Cat's-tail and Sea Fern-grass were dried up. On the tops were fragments of lichen heath with Bacidia muscorum, Diploschistes muscorum, two species of Peltigera (dog lichens) and several of Cladonia, of which C, foliacea was the most obvious.
After lunch we took the track behind the foreshore dunes, where rumours: of birthday-suit bathers were proved false. We did see two really rare plants here, Sea Stock and Wallflower Cabbage, as well as many coastal species s such as Prickly Saltwort, Rock Sea-lavender, Samphire, Sand Couch, Sea Bindweed, Sea-holly, Sea Rocket, Sea Sandwort and Sea Spurge. Colonies of Tenby Snail (Theba pisana) revelled in the desert conditions. We next turned inland to circumnavigate the Pool, finding on the way more Fen Orchid, Adder's-tongue, Brookweed, Lesser Water- plantain, Sharp Rush, Slender Spike-rush, Tubular Water- dropwort and colonies of Fragrant Orchid smelling of
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hyacinths. To reach the Pool we crossed old dunes with much scrub, including birch, bramble, dogwood, elder, gorse, grey willow, guelder rose, hawthorn, pine, privet, rowan, sea- buckthorn and sloe and even apple, buckthorn and yew, but no ash, beech or oak, Here Alan Brickstock saw Yellow Bird's- nest, and most of the party saw a hybrid marsh orchid with ring-spotted leaves..
At the Pool margin the Warden took a small party on an assault course of alternating dune ridges and VWS (very. wet slacks, as the ladies soon discovered). On the former we found a few spikes of the rere Green-flowered, Helleborine, and a Squinancywort whose orange roots and sessile flowers showed it to be the newly described species Asperula occidentalis. In the latter we saw a smail colony of Great Fen-sedge, a dense stand of hybrid Horsetail and Bogbean, Fen Pondweed and Knotted Pearlwort. On the way we passed the rusting pipeline with which it was once planned to extract water for the Port Talbot steelworks, a project happily now abandoned.
The Pool itself is large, shallow, sandy and fed by freshwater springs. Bathers and canoecists were using it, and the only birds seen were Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Reed Bunting and Reed and Sedge Warblers. It contained interesting aquatic plants such as Fan-leaved Water-crowfoot, Hairlike Pondweed, Shoreweed, Spiked Water-milfoil, Rigid Hornwort and an unnamed Charophyte. The fringing marsh. and swamp had Hemlock Water-—dropwort, Marsh Speedwell, Séa Club- rush, Snaezewort, Water Dock and Yellow Loosestrife.
On the way back to the car park we saw several alien plants, such as Hoary Mustard (closely resembling Black Mustard), Pearly Everlasting, Slender Rush and a Bridewort,. Many finished the day. with a Welsh ice-cream and a visit to the exhibits in the Reserve headquarters, At a final comfort stop on the M4, wild cherry was in good fruit and at least one jar Srbehewsy jam was made that evening.
Altogether the Society had a splendid day at one of the most interesting dune reserves in Britain. The site is undisturbed and few alien plants have invaded it. It holds several national rarities which are cared for, and is also remarkable for the absence of common woodland species,
Most of the area we saw was lime-rich sand and alkaline fen- Slacks; while we saw some heather, we missed areas of Sphagnum bog and cottongrass. In all 268 plant species
were recorded, the two pondweeds being new county records. Thanks are due to Martin Sell for organising and leading
the trip, to Steve Moon for coping with such a big party, and to the many members who helped provide records and information,
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List of the more interesting plants seen, in alphabetical : order by genus.
Achillea ptarmica | Agrimonia odorata Anagallis tenella
*Anaphalis margeritacea Anthyllis vulneraria Asperula occidentalis . Baldellia ranunculoides Bidens tripartita Botrychium lunaria Briza media Cakile maritima Calystegia soldanella Carex arenaria C. ovalis Carlina vulgaris Cerastium diffusum Ceratophyllum demersum Cirsium dissectum Cladium mariscus Cynoglossum officinale Dactylorhiza fuchsii D. fuchsii x praetermissa D. incarnata subsp. coccinea ~ D. praetermissa: Desmazeria marina Echium vulgare Eleocharis uniglumis Elymus farctus Epipactis helieborine E. palustris , E. phyllanthes v. cambrensis Equisetum arvense x eee E. variegatum:
Erigeron “cer Euphorbia paralias E, portlandica Gymnadenia conopsea
*Hemerocallis fulva Hieracium umbellatum
*Hippophae rhamnoides
*Hirschfeldia incana _ Honckenya peploides Hutera cheiranthos Iris foetidissima Juncus acutus
*J, tenuis Limonium binervosum Liparis loeselii ovata Listera ovata Lithospermum officinale Littorella uniflora Lysimachia vulgaris Matthiola sinuata
* = alien,
. Sneezewort
Fragrant Agrimony Bog Pimpernel Pearly Everlasting Kidney Vetch
Lesser Water=plantain
-Trifid Bur-marigold
Moonwort Quaking-grass Sea Rocket
Sea Bindweed Sand Sedge
Oval Sedge Carline Thistle Sea Mouse-ear Rigid Hornwort Meadow Thistle Great Fen-sedge Hound 's=-tongue Common Spotted-orchid
Southern :Marsh-orchid Sea Fern-grass Viper's-bugloss Slender Spike-rush
Broad-leaved Helleborine Marsh Helleborine Green-flowered Helleborine
Variegated Horsetail Blue Fleabane
Sea Spurge
Portiand Spurge Fragrant Orchid
Day Lily
Sea=buckthorn. Hoary Mustard . Sea Sandwort -. Wallflower Cabbage Stinking: Iris. Sharp Rush
Slender Rush Rock Sea-lavender Fen Orchid
Common Twayblade Common Gromwell Shoreweed
Yellow Loosestrife Sea Stock
*Melilotus alba Menyanthes trifoliata Molinia caerulea Monotropa hypopitys Myriophyllum spicatum Oenanthe crocata O. fistulosa O. lachenalii?
*Oenothera cambrica Ononis spinosa Ophioglossum vulgatum Orobanche minor Phieum arenarium
*Pinus mugo Plantago coronopus Polygala vulgaris Potamogeton coloratus P. trichoides Pyrola rotundifolia Ranunculus. circinatus Rosa spinosissima Rumex hydrolapathum Sagina nodosa Salix repens:
S. caprea x viminalis? Salsola kali .
Samolus. valerandi Scirpus maritimus Scutellaria galericulata Sedum acre
*Senecio squalidus Sieglingia decumbens
*Sisyrinchium montanum Trifolium arvense Verbascum thapsus Veronica scutellata Viola, tricolor Vulpia membranacea
19 -
White Melilot
Bogbean
Purple Moor-grass Yellow Bird's-=-nest Spiked Water-milfoil Hemlock Water-—dropwort Tubular Water-dropwort Parsley Water-dropwort? -
Spiny Restharrcw
Adder's-tongue
Common Broomrape
Sand Cat's-tail
Dwarf Pine
Buck's-horn Plantain Common Milkwort:
Fen Pondweed
Hairlike Pondweed Round-leaved Wintergreen Fan-leaved Water-crowfoot Burnet Rose
Water Dock
Knotted Pearlwort Creeping Willow
Prickly Saltwort Brookweed
Sea Club-rush Skullcap
Biting Stonecrop Oxford Ragwort Heath-grass Blue-eyed-grass Hare!s-foot Clover Great Mullein Marsh Speedwell Wild Pansy
Dune Fescue
SEEN IN 19813
Apium inundatum Eriophorum sp. Ophrys apifera *Rumex frutescens
Lesser Marshwort Cottongrass Bee Orchid
meet Di we
Mosses of Central Reading : Update | M. V. Fletcher |
To write an account of an area so restricted and apparently uninteresting, and then to make substantial additions ten years later, suggests an initial lack of thoroughness. Yet part of this article reflects apparently genuine changes since my account of the Bryophytes of Reading, published in the Reading Naturalist no 25, 1973. Also over the years I have gained access to a number of private gardens and in particular, to the grounds of Reading School.
Nomenclature in this updated account is in accordance with Watson (E. V.) British Mosses and Liverworts, 2nd Edn., 1968. An asterisk indicates a new record.
~The most striking omissions from the first account are to be found on a small area of steep mortar, under the ash tree at the north part of the Abbey Ruins. Here on ledges untroubled by children's feet, grows the striking leafy hepatic *Porella platyphylla (L.) Lindb. With it, and in larger quantity, is *Cirriphyllum crassinervium (Tayl. ) Loeske & Fleisch.). These are characteristic of chalk banks and tree roots in woods in the Chilterns. Both are presum- ably relics which endured the Carboniferous era of air pollution in an exceptionally favoured habitat. The Porella almost disappeared after the hot dry summer of 1976. It has slowly increased since but is still scarce, and should not be gathered,
The grounds of Reading School also support some plants which are noteworthy in so limited a context. The old close-mown turf on the west side of the Erleigh Road ent- rance, under the avenue of limes, has been leached enough to give small patches with an acid vegetation noticeably darker than the grass around. In these *Polytrichum piliferum Hedw. and *Pohlia nutans (Hedw.) Lindb.grow, als> rather stunted *Atrichum undulatum yee | Beauv. There is some very small *Dicranella heteromalla (Hedw.) Schp. nearby. The most striking of these acid plants is. *Isopterygium elegans (Hook) Lindb., a pleurocarp with pale glossy flattened shoots. There is a large carpet of it on a clay bank in deep shade, under a cherry laurel near the swimming pool.
In a neglected old garden nearby, in Craven Road, are *Mnium undulatum Hedw. and *Fissidens bryoides Hedw. The asbestos roof and the tiles of the tuck shop support large amounts of *Tortula ruralis (Hedw. ) Crome, whose large hoary cushions are obvious from a distance. Most interest- ing, on muddy tarmac by the vestry door of the school chapel, is *Tortula latifolia Hartm., a local plant normally con- fined to tree roots and stones in the flood zone of lowland rivers,
There are perhaps many more curiosities in such places.
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To visit every secluded garden in even a small area of the town would take more planning than a survey of the remot- est Scottish mountain, for obvious reasons.
Tarmac is a habitat not to be despised, once the tars and oils have been leached out of the surface, though it provides a poor buffer against air pollution. Where shaded and not trampled, it can support any of the common Reading pleurocarps, as in New Road, near Redlands Road. It yielded one surprising new record. On a shaded path beside St. George's Church, near the Oxford Road, grew large amounts of *Isotheciun =yurua Brid, : It now seems extinct, destroyed by resurfacing.
A change in the tarmac flora suggests that air pollu- tion is now less severe. *Orthotrichum diaphanum Brid., I said in 1973, would not be found in pavement cracks. I found small tufts, not in cracks, but on the tarmac of a car park at Whitley School in 1975. It is now quite common on tarmac, though too inconspicuous to be noticed, save from a kneeling posture. *Grimmia apocarpa Hedw., of which only minute muddy and doubtful material was known to me in 1972, grows in some quantity on the pavement of King's Meadow car park — the pavement on which N.H.S. members assemble for excursions. The first authenticated record in Reading was on a gravel drive in Earley, in 1981. TI hav. recently seen it on south-sloping cement in Abbey Square. Common enough on shaded walls in Berkshire, it is perhaps recolonising Reading. In its stunted forms it is a confusing plant to a beginner. Like Orthotrichum diaphanum it is small and dark, with hair points barely visible, save through a good lens. The tufts are larger, the stems less neat and erect than those of the Orthotrichum, :
Another plant which may puzzle beginners, and which seems to have increased, though I probably overlooked it earlier, is *Scleropodium caespitosum (Wils.) B., S. &G. It is an occasional plant of warm rocky woods and river- Sides in the southern part of the British Isles, of which I had in 1972, doubtful material from a gravel drive in Emmer Green. I later found it in quantity in the gravelly. weedy margins of Queen's Road car park. Its most typical Reading habitat is on shaded cement paths. It has turned up in the front and back gardens of my house (70 South Street) and there is an enormous patch of it on the back garden path of 67 South Street. It is best described as a smaller. neater plant ‘than Brachythecium rutabulum (Hedw. ) Be, S..& G., of a glossy golden yela4w colour; with overkLapping concave leaves. 9;
One more pleurocarp whose status puzzled me in 1972, and which still puzzles me, is *Eurhynchium swartzii (Turn, ) Curn. It seemed to be an ingredient in many of the old birds' nests in bushes near this house, yet I could not find the growing plant. : The tiny trampled scraps of an unidentified pleurocarp in my garden would have been no use for nest building. In the late 1970s, I found vast
a 32
amounts of this moss under nettles in the rubbish tip at the bottom of the garden of Watlington House. It is now the most abundant moss on half-buried bricks in my garden. There is a large dirty patch of it behind a gateway near Yield Hall car park. I have not seen it elsewhere in Central Reading. Growing only loosely attached to the soil, in large wefts, it is attractive material for nesting birds, and is’ perhaps also more vulnerable to air pollution than other, more close-growing terrestrial mosses. Other records of this plant from local private gardsrs would interest me. It most resembles Eurhynchium praelongum (Hedw.) Hobk., but the stems are weaker and the branching quite loose and irregular.
It is on the walltop flora that the clearest effects of reduced pollution can be seen, All the common walltop species now grow freely throughout Reading, including Grimmia pulvinata (Hedw.) Sm., and fat healthy tufts of Orthotrichum diaphanum. In that mysterious patch of waste land, The Dell, in Watlington Street, is a north-facing wall which I succeeded in reaching in 1974, and which has long supported an enormous growth of *Camptothecium sericeum (Hedw. ) Kindb. It may also have lurked unobserved on the wall round the garden of Watlington House, where there are now two large and fast spreading areas of this striking moss. There are small amounts, recent arrivals perhaps, on other walls in London Road, and on the south- eastern wall of St. Mary's, in the Butts. In contrast, Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw., another likely walltop moss, does not seem to be increasing.
The most striking addition to the Reading walltop flora consists of two small black tufts on a modern cement pillar by Kendrick School. Too scarce and stunted to be convincingly identified without fruit, it is probably *Orthotrichum anomalum Hedw. This is one of the commonest mosses of limestone walls in the Cotswolds, and frequent in West Berkshire. Its appearance in Reading is unexpected and welcome.
One of the most interesting plants is *Seligeria calcarea (Hedw.) B., S. & G., in small amounts on a lime- stone walltop near the Polish Catholic Church in Watlington Street in 1972. Repairs to the wall covered the moss with cement. It grows also in considerable quantity on the vertical side of an oolitic limestone wall in Eldon Road, on the side of a’ similar pillar in Craven Road, and on a vertical cement wall in Queen's Road. It is a very incon- spicuous moss, barely to be noticed save in fruit, and should be looked for in similar places elsewhere... It is abundant on limestone walls in central Bath.
One of the best known moss habitats in Reading is, alas, no more. The Forbury fountain has been cleaned and left dry and barren. Tiny scraps of B m pseudotriquetrum (Hedw.) Schwaegt. (var. bimum (Brid.) Lilj.?) still lurk around the goldfish pond, so it is still a Reading plant.
I am now more familiar with *Bryum radiculosum Brid., which
a 2 =
is fairly frequent in limestone and mortar cracks on walls. Good tufts are a rich, vivid, velvety dark green, with tight packed shoots and narrow, erect, crowded leaves. A determined hunt in garden beds locally will often turn up *Bryum rubens Mitt. with wide spaced leaves, stems reddish at least below, and usually with reddish bulbils in the axils of the lower leaves. Other dreadfully undistinguished species of Bryum occur, including probably B. intermedium (Brida. ) Bland. and B. pendulum (Hornsch.) Schimp. However, without fruit, and sometimes even with it, their identific- ation is hopeless.
The most encouraging feature of the changes noted here is the increase of several species noted in 1972. The reduction of air pollution seems a main cause. On the other hand, average sulphur dioxide levels have not fallen much, it may be that the fallout of poisonous coal soou was once an influence on these small plants. The introduc- tion of smokeless zones has almost eliminated the persistent winter smogs, with their very high pollution peaks, which I used to record in the 1960s, when I first came to Reading.
Agaricus around Reading, 1982
P. Andrews
Foray lists rarely contain more than one or two species of Agaricus despite the fact that nearly fifty species have been recorded for Britain so far. This suggests that the majority of Agaricus species are difficult to find, but is this really so? Mainly as a result of casual observations, twenty species were found in Berkshire in 1981, most of them near Reading (Andrews, 1982). The number of Agaricus species recorded for the county was increased, and two of the species found were not in the British Check List (Dennis, Orton & Hora, 1960).
Many of the records for 1981 were for Earley, Shinfield and Farley Hill. In 1982 the observations were continued in these areas, and extended to Whiteknizhts and parts of Arborfield and Swallowfield. Places further from Reading which provided records in 1981 (Theale, Newbury, ete ) were not visited in 1982. :
In the areas that were surveyed in 1981 and 1982, twelve species of Agaricus were found in the same places in both years: A. bitorquis (Earley), A. ingratus (Farley Hill), A. fuscofibrillosus (Shinfield), A. haemorrhoidarius (Farley “ill, Whiteknights), A. veriegans (Shinfield),
a
A. campestris (Shinfield, several places),. A. arvensis (Shinfield, several places), A. xanthodermus (Shinfield), A. comtulus (Shinfield), A. lutosus (Shinfield), A. porphyrizon (Shinfield), A. sagatus (Farley’ Hill).
The 1982 survey provided additional inf rmation on the occurrence and distribution of Agaricus as follows:-
RUBESCENTES A. bisporus Frequent under Cupressus and Taxus in July
(two places near Farley Hill), October (four places in Earley) and November (Earley and Arborfield).
A. bitorguis In July over thirty specimens were found at Farley Hill, twenty in Earley and six in Whiteknights, all growing in bare soil or thin grass. Some were also found in, September and October in Earley, Shinfield and Farley Hitt. .
A. bernardii’ and A. ingratus These two. specimens have ident- ical microscopical characters but A. bernardii has a cap covered with thick coarse scales and grows in grass whereas A. ingratus has a smoother cap and grows in bare ground under trees. Specimens found at Farley Hill in 1981 fitted the second description, In 1982, large or very large specimens were found in the same place almost continuously from June to November, and other large specimens were
found in five other places during August, September and November in the Arborfield-Farley Hill area. Some fitted the A. ingratius description, others had caps with thick scales but were growing in bare soil. In 1976, 1977 and 1982 specimens typical of A. bernardii were found in grass on the verge of Redhatch Drive, Earley, but at the same time (October ) similar but smaller fruit-bodies appeared
at four other places in the same road in needle cover under Cupressus. The distinction between A. bernardii and A. ingratus does not appear to be as clear-cut as the Jiter- ature indicates, and the existence of intermediates’ suggests that the’ two descriptions apply to extreme forms of the same species in which the nature of the cap may depend on habitat and weather.
A. langei Single large specimens at Shinfield and Farley Hill (October). ©
A. yvariegans Five specimens in Whiteknights (October), also found at Farley Hill.
A. haemorrhoiderius Several specimens in two places near Shinfield (September, October). A. silvaticus Under deciduous trees in Earley (October
and November ) and Shinfield (November),
A. vaporarius One specimen near Shinfield (October).
A. spissicaulis Over fifty frnit-bodies were found in one
- 25 -
meadow at Shinfield in early October and over a dozen more- about .a hundred yards away in another meadow. Large specimens continued to appear at the more prolific site until the end of November.
FLAVESCENTES
A. augustus Groups of up to ten large specimens were found at the end of October and in early November near Shinfield, Arborfield and Swallowfield, and at the same time single specimens appeared in Whiteknights and Earley.
A. silvicola Six specimens at Farley Hill (two places) and two in Earley (October).
A. xanthodermus Frequent in Whiteknights, Shinfield (two places) and Earley (October, November).
A. placomyces Over a dozen specimens were found near Whiteknights in October, and at the same time the species was reported from the Warburg Reserve, Bix, in Wasing Wood and near Whitchurch. Fruit-bodies continued to appear near Whiteknights for over a month.
A. macrosporur® One small specimen near Shinfield in September and six more in October.
A. porphyrizon Several specimens at Farley Hill (October ) and one at Grazeley (November).
A. semotus A single specimen at Shinfiecld (October).
A. sagatus The identity of this species, at one time in doubt, was established from a specimen found at Farley Hill in 1981 (Andrews, 1982). It is evidently not rare, since five specimens were found at the same place in 1982, plus six more at another place in Farley Hill and one in Whiteknights (October).
As was expected, the 1982 survey added to the number of Agaricus species found in the Reading area (Andrews, 1983), Nevertheless, the discovery of A. spissicaulis growing in quantity in meadows near Shinfield was e sur- prise, anc this observation adds another species to the Berkshire list. Another new local record is A. lanipes, found by Dr. Alan Brickstock near Mapledurham, Oxfordshire. Most of the twenty-six Agaricus species found within a few miles of Reading during the last two years were growing in places unlikely to be visited by forays, which suggests that any assessment of the distribution of Agaricus based on foray lists is likely to be inaccurate. It is doubtful if such a high proportion of the known British species of another major genus of gill fungi could be found so easily. The equivalent number of Lepiota species would be about thirty-five and of Russula species about sixty.
One feature of Agaricus distribution noticed in 1982 was the existence of small areas which each favoured the growth of a number of species, Three such places were
= 2B -«—
found. At Farley Hill, the verges of a 100-yard stretch
of road produced A. bisporus, A. bitorquis, A. ingratus,
A. langei, A. silvicola, Ae porphyrizon and A. sagatus;
the verges of a 50-yard stretch of farm road at Shinfield, plus an adjacent meadow, produced A. bitorquis, A. variegans, A. haemorrhoidarius, A. silvaticus, A. vaporarius and A. spissicaulis; and the verges of Redhatch Drive, Earley, produced A. bisporus, A. bitorquis,
A. bernardii, A. augustus, A. arvensis, A. comtulus and a species not identified. The recognition of more areas such as these is one way in which our knowledge of the distrib- ution of Agaricus specios can be increased.
I am very grateful to Dr. F. B. Hora for many helpful discussions and to Mrs. Mary Diserens and Dr. Don Stead for finding some of the specimens.
References: Andrews, P. (1982) The Reading Naturalist, no. 34, pp. 28-32.
Dennis, R. W. G., P. D. Orton & F. B. Hora (1960) New Check List of British Agarics and Boleti, Trans. Brit.
Mycol. Soc. Supplement.
eT x
The Recorder's Report for Fungi, 1982
“A. Brickstock
This has been another good year for Fungi, with a long, extended season, yielding 380 species. Some of the species which are normally very common have been much rarer, but many unusual species have been recorded, some from a number of different locations. The Society's Forays were well attended and produced 63 species at Heckfield on 25.9.82,
78 species at Kingwood on 9.10.82 and 83 species at Five Oaken, Mortimer, on 23.10.82.
Grateful acknowledgements once again to Mary and Neville Diserens who have provided extensive lists, as well as helping with identification both during Forays and in long hours afterwards; to Iris Dicker for her cumulated list from California Country Park; to Margrit and Tom Harrison for their lists from Leighton Park School; to various others who have provided lists, and not least to my wife for her constant stream of specimens.
I _AGARICALES
Agaricus lanipes Bottom Wood, Mapledurham, 24.10.82 (B)
Agaricus variegans Wasing gravel pits, 6.11.82 (D)
Agaricus xanthodermus Prospect Park, 26.10.82 (B)
Asterophora lycoperdoides Kingwood, 24.10.82 (D)
Baeospora myosura Five Oaken, 23.10.82 (NH)
Boletus calopus Wasing Woods, 4.9.82 (D}
Boletus impolitus Garden, Cockney Hill, Tilehurst (B); Leighton Park
School, 26.6.82 (H)
Boletus parasiticus California C. P. (ID); Wasing, 4.9.82 (D)
Boletus pruinatus Sulham, 17.10.82 (B)
Boletus purpurevs Whiteknights, 25.7.82 (PA)
Boletus versicolor Farley Hill, 20.9.82 (PA)
Chroogomphus rutilus Sulham, 17.10.82 (B) Collybia rancida Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH)
= BB
Coprinus impatiens Luxter's Farm, Skirmett, 10.10.82 (D)
Coprinus stercorarius Tadley, 20.10.82 (B)
A A a a
Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH); Sulham, 17.10.82 (B); Five
Cortinarius bolaris Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH); Finchampstead, 27.8.82 (B); Benyon's Inclosure, 29.8.82 (H)
ome. se ee ee ce ee
Cortinarius pholideus Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH)
Cortinarius puniceus Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH)
Cortinarius sodagnitus Sulham, 17.10.82 (B)
Cortinarius splendens Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH)
Cortinarius torvus Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH); Harpsden, 10.10.82 (B)
Craterellus cornucopioides Harpsden, 10,10.82 (B): Bellehatch Park, near Binfield Heath, 20.11.82 (B/D)
Crepidotus autochthonus Wasing, 4.9.82 (D)
Entoloma nitidum Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH)
Galerina paludosa Moor Copse, 5.12.82 (B)
Gyroporus castaneus Wasing, 4.9.82 (D)
Hygrophorus glutinipes Shinfield, 20.11.82 (PA)
Hygrophorus quiectus Shinfield, 20.11.82 (PA)
Hygrophorus schulzeri Shinfield, 20.11.82 (PA)
inocybe asterospora Harpsden, 10.10.82 (B)
Inocybe casimiri Finchampstead, 27.8.82 (B)
Inocybe pyriodora var. incarnata Harpsden, 10,10,82 (B)
ee Wasing, 4.9.82 (D)
= 2b a=
Lactarius pubescens
ess
California C.. Pp.’ (ID)
Lactarius resimus Harpsden, 10.10.82 (B)
Lactarius uvidus California C. P., 19.29.82 (B,)
Lactarius vietus Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH)
Lepiota bucknallii Harpsden, 16.10,82 (B/D)
Lepiota castanea Davenport Wood, (D)
Lepiota clypeolaria Sulham, 17.10.82 (B)
Lepiota hystrix Harpsden, 16.10.82 (B/D)
Lepiota ventriosospora Harpsden, 16.10.82 (B/D)
Lyophyllum connatum Harpsden, 10,10.82 (B)
Lyophyllum loricatum Whiteknights, 20.11.82 (PA)
Melanoleuca cognate Harpsden, 16.10.82 (B/D); California C.P. (ID)
Melanoleuca excissa Arborfield, 25.11.82 (PA)
Micromphale foetidum Harpsden, 10.10.82 (B); Luxter's Farm, Skirmett, 76,970,682 (Dp)
Mycena tenerrima Kingwood, 24.10.82 (D)
Panaeolus sphinctrinus Heckfield, 25.9.82 (NH)
Panellus serotinus
Sulham, 21.11.92 (B), 28.11.82 (B), 31.12.82" (Bs Moor Copse, 5.12.82 (B) :
Pluteus lutescens Dead Man's Wood, Shire Hall, 4.12.82 (PMRJ )
Psathyrella microrhiza Luxter's Farm, Skirmett, 10.10.82 (D)
Rhodotus palmatus Nuney Green, 26.9.82 (D)
; Bottom Wood, 24.10.82 (B)
Russula betularum Fence Wood, Hermitage, 11.11.82 (B)
Russula_ erythropus Farley Hill, 17.10.82 (PA)
Harpsden, 16.10.82 (B/D);
+5985
Russula luteotacta Whiteknights, 11.9.82 (PA)
Russula pseudointegra Whiteknights, 25.7.82 (PA) Russula xerampelina Heckfield, 25.9.82 (NH)
Stropharia squamosa Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH) Tricholoma atrosquamosum Bottom Wood, 24.10.82 (B)
Tricholoma_sciodes Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH); Five Oaken, 23.10.82 (NH); Fence Wood, 31.10.82 (B)
Tricholoma _sejunctum Whiteknights, 11.9,82 (PA)
Tylopilus felleus Abbot!s Wood, Woodcote, 18.7.82 (H)
Volvariella bombycina Riseley, 10.9.82 (PA)
Volvariella speciosa Church End Copse, 8.11.82 (B)
IT APHYLLOPHORALES Auriscalpium vulgare '
Bjerkandera adusta Sulham, 28.11.82 (B)
Clavaria fumosa Leighton Park School, 26.10.82 (H)
Clavariadelphus fistulosus Kingwood, 24.10.82 (D)
Clavariadelphus junceus Kingwood, 24.10.82 (D)
Clavariadelphus pistillaris Harpsden, 10.10.82 (B)
Coltricia perennis Heckfield Heath, 25.8.82 (H)
Ganoderma lucidum Prospect Park, 26.8.82 (B); Sulham, 30.10.82 (B)
Hapalopilus nidulans Davenport Wood (D).
Hericium erinaceum
High Wood, Mays Green, 16.10.82 (D) Hydnum repandum
Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH)
Hydnum rufescens Sulham, 28.11.82 (B)
= FI) —
Phaeolus schweinitzii Heckfield, 25.9.82 (NH); Fence Wood, Hermitage, 31.10.82 (B)3 Wasing, 8.12.82 (B)
Sparassis crispa Heckfield, 25.9.82 (NH): Harpsden, 10.10.82 (B); Bucklebury, 11.12 82 (B)
Thelephora spiculosa Great Wood, Fawley, 10.10.82 (D)
Trametes serialis California C.P. (ID)
IIL __GASTEROMYCETALES —
a cee ee ee
Geastrum rufescens Harpsden, 10.10.82 (B)
Geastrum triplex Sulham, 26.9.82 (B)
Mutinus caninus Harpsden, 10,10,82 (B); Sulham, (B); Wasing, 7.12.82 (B)
Iv __HETPROBASIDIOMYCETES
Dacrymyces stillatus High Wood, Mays Green, 16.10.82 (D)
Pseudehydnum gelatinosum Five Oaken, 23.10.82 (B)3; Benyon's Inclosure, 28.11.82 (H)
Vv ASCOMYCETES
——————
Anthracobia macrocystis : Wasing (D), 10.12.82 (B); California C. P. (ID)
Cordyceps canadensis Tadley Water Tower, 30.9.82 (B)
Helvella lacunosa
a ea Sh) Soom
Harpsden, 10.10.82 (B)
Neobulgaria pura
Kingwood, 9.10.82. (NH) Otidea onotica
Kingwood, 9.10.82 (NH)
Peziza cerea Binfield Heath, 25.8.82 (HHC)
Rhizina undulata Heackfield Heath, 25.8.82 (H)
Sarcoscypna coccinea
ee
Sulham, 21.11.82 (B)
Contributors: Pat Andrews (PA), Ivy & Alan Brickstock (B), Hugh Carter (HHC), Mary & Neville Diserens (D), Iris Dicker (ID), Margrit & Tom Harrison (H) & Paul Jinks ren Records from Society Forays are designated by NH).
=P o
The Recorder's Report for Botany 1981-82
B. M. Newman
Several hundred records were received this year and your Recorder thanks all those members who contributed. Records with sufficient information to enable the plants to be located, and a note of their abundance are particul- arly useful. Many cf the records serve to confirm that well known local plants are still flourishing, but a few are of plants rare in this area. ilnbium lanceolatum sent in by Mr. Carter, Cyperus fuscus (second record for Berkshire ) and Cladium mariscus (second record for Berkshire ; sent in ‘by “Dr. Bowen are some of the rarer ones. Cyperus fuscus is listed in Schedule 8 of Part 1 of the new Wildlife and Countryside Act which recently increased the number of protected species from 21 to 62. Mr. Hughes looked for Pilularia globulifera at South Lake without success, and as this was its only Berkshire station it may be extinct in the county. On the other hand Polygonum minus, thought to be extinct in Berkshire, has been found at Cockham by Dr. Bowen. There are few local records for Diysacus pilosus; until 1981 it had not been recorded from Silchester since 1930 but Mr. Helyar and Dr. Bucke have seen it flourishing beside the old walls and Mr. Helyar says it has been growing there and increasing for several years. Dr. Brickstock also found this Speetens ha the Kennet near Burghfield. :
The nomenclature and order used in this Report are according to the "Flora of the British Isles" by Clapham, Tutin and Warburg (1962). An alien taxon is indicated by an asterisk (*). Most of the English names are from "English Names of Wild Flowers", the recommended list of the Botanical Society of the British Isles.
List of Members! Records
POLYPODIACEAE
Blechnum spicant (L.) Roth | Hard Fern Wellington College, NHS walk, 14.8.82 (RJG)
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum L. Black Spleenwort ie assets Caversham ponds ec: NHS winter walk (HJMB )
RS ER a EE
fern College Wood, Oxon., NHS winter ae (ress)
OPHIOGLOSSACEAE Ophicglossum vulgatum L. Adder's-tongue Near North Court Farm, Finchampstead, 11.5.82 (RJG) RANUNCULACEAE Helleborus viridis L. Green Hellebore
Ridgeway track near Nuffield, 14.3.82; Sulham, 2.5.82 (AB); Warburg Reserve car park, 12.5.82 (BK)
- 3-
Ranunculus arvensis L. Corn Buttercup By the road, near entrance to Warburg Reserve, 12.5.82 (BK )
PAPAVERACEAE
Papaver argemone L. Prickly Poppy By feotpath from Binfield Heath Lane to Coach & Horses,
9.82 (HHC)
FUMARTAC HAE Corydalis claviculata (L.) DC. Climbing Corydalis In a hedge near Moor Green Farm, Finchampstead, 16.8.82 (TDH ) *Corydalis lutea (L.) DC. Yellow Corydalis Ridgeway path between Streatley and Bledlow, 14.9.82 (AB) CRUCIFERAE *Coronopus didymus (L,) Sm. Lesser Swine-cress
Trench at Bishopswood playing field, Sonning Common, 6.82 (HHC); Upper Redlands Road, Reading (MRH)
Cardamine amara L. Large Bitter-cress Mundaydean Bottom, NHS walk, 15.5.82 (AB) Dentaria bulbifera L. Coralroot Horton Wood, NHS walk, 15.5.82 (AB) VIOLACEAE Viola palustris L. Marsh Violet Padworth Common picnic area, 12.5.82 (AB) HYPERICACEAE Hypericum pulchrum L. Slender St. John's-—wort
_Northerhams Wood, Bracknell, 26.9.82 (RJG)
Hypericum montanum L. Pale St. John's-wort Mundaydean Bottom, NHS walk, 15.5.82 (AB): Straw Hill, Mapledurham, Oxon., one dozen plants (MRH }
CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Stellaria neglecta Weihe Greater Chickweed Dinton Pastures, near Loddon, 25.4.82 (RJG)
Stellaria palustris Retz. Marsh Stitchwort Marshland near Cookham (HJMB)} .
Arenaria leptoclados (Rchb.) Guss. Slender Sandwort Field between Bishopswood and New Copse, Sonning Common, 9.82 (HHC)
PORTULACACEAR. ) *Montia perfoliata (Willd. ) Howell Springbeauty Rag Hill, Tadley, 15.6.82.(AB); Leighton Park, 6.5.82 (RJG) CHENOPODIACEAE
Atriplex littoralis L. Grass-leaved Orache Casual on the edge of old gravel workings between Burghfield Bridge and the M4 gravel pit, 7.8.82 (AB)
- 34 -
GERANTACEAE Geranium lucidum L. Shining Crane's-bill Demolition site, Redlands Road, Reading (HJMB)
OXALIDACEAE
*Oxalis corymbosa DC, Queens Road car park, 7.7.82 (HHC)
BALSAMINACHAE *Impatiens glandulifera Royle Indian Balsam
Canal near Burghfield Bridge, 20. 6.82 (AB) Watlington Park, 7.82 (HHC)
PAPILIONACEAE
Melilotus altissima Thuill. Tall Melilot Smallmead Road, 9.7.82 (HHC)
*Melilotus alba Medic. White Melilot Smallmead Road, 9.7.82 (HHC)
Trifolium micranthum Viv. Slender Trefoil Whiteknights Park (MRH)
Trifolium arvense L. -Hare's-foot Clover Dint.n Pastures, 24.7.82; Larch Avenue, Wokingham, 12.8,82 (RJG )3 waste ground adjacent to railway station, central Reading (MRH)
Lotus tenuis Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd. Narrow-leaved Se aR % , Playhatch chalk pit, 14.10.82 (HHC) Bird ‘avtacleireie=.
*Scorpiurus muricatus L.
Casual, in a garden in St. Peter's Avenue, Caversham (BK)
Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. Sainfoin Nuffield, a} ae (AB): embankment of M4 near Winnersh,
3.6.82 (RJG
ROSACEAE Guat riveledt.~x urbanum §b. Along Basingstoke canal, Dogmersfield, 30.5.82 (RJG) Agrimonia odorata (Gouan ) Mill. Fragrant Agrimony
Ridgeway path near Warren Farm, 28.8.82 (AB); north end of Foxhill Lane by Kiln Road reservoir, 23.9.82 (HHC); Northerhams Wood, Bracknell, 26.9.82 (RJG)
Aphanes microcarpa (Boiss. & Reut.) Rothm. Slender Fields by Binfield Heath Lane, 9.82 (HHc) ?@7sleyrPpiert
Sorbus _torminalis (L.) Crantz Wild: Service-tree Corner of hedge between Comp Wood and Binfield Heath Lane (HHC ): Finchampstead, 11.5.823 copse between M4 an Forest Road, Wokingham, 30.5.82 (RJG) |
CRASSULACEAE
Sedum telephium L. Orpine Mundaydean Bottom, NHS walk, 15.5.82 (AB)
= 3508
SAXIFRAGACEAE Chrysosplenium oppositifoliun 1. Opposite-leaved Golden- Padworth Common picnic area, 12.5.82 (AB) Ser ESSE _ DROSERACEAE Drosera rotundifolia L. Round-leaved Sundew Snelsmore Common, NHS walk, 17.7.82 (RJG) Drosera intermedia Hayne Oblong-leaved Sundew
Englemere Road, Bracknell, 18.7.823 Chobham Common, 29.8.82 (RJG)
THYMELABACEAE Daphne mezereum L. Mezereon Flowering well at Stonor, 11.3.82 (HJMB) . ONAGRACEAE
Epilobium lanceolatum Seb, & Mauri Spear-leaved Willowherb Field by Binfield Heath Lane, 9.82 (HHC)
E. lanceolatum x adenocaulon Hausskn, The Spinney, Bishopswood playing field, 11.7.82 (HHC)
*Ocnothera erythrosepala Borbas Large-flowered Evening- ; ; primrose By the Thames between Reading Bridge and Horseshoe Bridge, 10.5.82 (AB)
HIPPURIDACEAE
Hippuris vulgaris L. Mare's-tail Basingstoke canal near Greywell, 31.7.82 (RJG)
UMBELLIFERAE
Foeniculum vulgare Mill. . Fennel Queen's Road car park, 7.7.82 (HHC); beside tracks, Reading Station (MRH).
*Heracleum mantegazzianum Somm. & Lev. Giant Hogweed Downs, Warren Farm, 11.7.82 (AB)
BUPHORBIACEAE
Mercurialis annua L. Annual Mercury Queen's Road car park, 7.7.823 Gallowstree Common, 26.9.823 Playhatch chalk pit, in abundance, 14.10.82 (HHC)
POLYGONACEAE
Polygonum nodosum Pers. Knotted Persicaria Canal between Burghfield Bridze and the M4 gravel pit, 7.8.82 (AB)
Polygonum minus Huds. Small Water-pepper Not uncommon near Cookham; thought to be extinct in
Berks. (HJMB)
*Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc. Japanese Knotweed Several new localities in Sonning Common; Peppard Road, Binfield Heath Lane (HHC)
~ 3672
*Rumex cristatus DC. Greek Dock By roundabout, Basingstoke Road, J. Akeroyd (HJMB) JUGLANDACEAE *Juglans regia L. Walnut Seven young trees in the Spinney, Bishopswood playing field ({HHC) SALICACEAE Salix repens L. Creeping Willow Wellington College, NHS walk (MRH) PYROLACEAE Pyrola minor L. Common Wintergreen Long Moor, D. M. Keith-Lucas (HJMB) PRIMULACEAE Lysimochia vulgaris L. Yellow Loosestrife Canal near Burghfield Bridge, 7.8.82 (AB); Dinton Pastures, 24.7.82 (RJG) MENYANTHACEAE Nymphoides peltata (S. G. Gmel.) 0. Kuntze Fringed Pond at Cockpole Green, J. M. Mullin (Hgmp) “etber-tily
BORAGINACEAE
*Pulmonaria officinalis L. Lungwort The Ridgeway between Streatley and Bledlow, 4.9.82 (AB)
SOLANACEAE *Nicandra physalodes f<9 Gaertn, Apple-of-Peru, or
Shoo-fly Plant Smalimead tip (HJMB ) ; casual in garden, Highmoor Road, Caversham (JLM)
SCROPHULARTACEAE
Verbascum nigrum L.W Dark Mullein Watlington Hill, NHS walk, 27.6.82 (AB); chalk pit adjacent to 44155 near Sonning (MRH)
*Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill. me Purple Toadflax The Ridgeway between Warren Farm and A34, 7.9.82 (AB)
Verend.ea polite Fr. Grey Field-speedwell Garden weed, Brookside, Wokingham, 21.2.82 (RJG)
Euphrasia pseudokerneri Pugsl. Winter Hill, Cookham, confirming an old record (HJMB)
OROBANCHACEAE
*Lathraeca clandestina L. Purple Toothwort Still plentiful at Prospect Park site, Reading, but now threatened by plans to remove the surrounding railings (MRH)
- 37 -
VERBENACEAE Verbena officinalis L. Vervain
Wellbarn, 9.7.82; Snelsmore Common, NHS walk, 16.7.82 (AB); Turville, 27.6.82 (RJG) LABIATAE
Calamintha ascendens Jord. Common Calamint Watlington Hill, 27.6.82 (AB)
Scutellaria minor Huds. Lesser Skullcap
Cranbourne Chase, Windsor Forest, 22.8.82 (RJG) VALERTANACEAE
Valerianella rimosa Bast. Broad-fruited Cornsalad
Local in open soil, Aston Upthorpe Downs (HJMB }
DIPSACACEAE
Dipsacus pilosus L. Small Teasel Canal near Burghfield Bridge, 7.8.82 (AB)
COMPOSITAE
*Helianthus tuberosus L. Jerusalem Artichoke On pipeline trench through Blackhouse Wood, Emmer Green,
9.82 (HHC)
*Rudbeckia fulgida Ait. New roadside, Green Dean Wood, Oxon. (HJMB }
Bidens cernua L. Nodding Bur-marigold
On mud near Cookham (HJMB}
Senecio integrifolius (L.) Clairv. Field Fleawort
Aston Upthorpe, NHS walk, 22.5.82 (AB) _
Inula conyza DC. Ploughman's-spikenard Chalk slope in Pissen Wood, Rotherfield Greys, 21.11.81 (HHC) Solidago virgaurea L. . Goldenrod
Wellington College, NHS walk, 14.8.82 (AB); Chobham Common, 29,8.82 (RJG)
Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. Chamomile Leighton Park School, in short grass lawn. Rather late flowering, 26.10.82 (TDH)
Artemisie absinthium L. Wormwood
King's Meadow Road transport depot, 9.82 (HHC)
Carduus tenuiflorus Curt. Slender Thistle Watlington Hill, NHS walk, 27.6.82 (AB)
Cirsium dissectum (L.) Hill | Meadow Thistle Chobham Common, 29.8.82 (RJG)
Serratula tinctoria L. Saw-wort
Chobham Common, 2 .8.82 (RJG)
Picris hieracioides L. Hawkweed Oxtongue
Downs, Warren Farm, 11,7,62 (AB); Playhatch chalk pit, 14.10.82 (HHC)
*Cicerbita macrophylla (Willd. ) Wallr. Blue Sow thistle Near Snelsmore Common car park, NHS walk (HJMB )
= 98 YE
Hieracium bichlorophyllum (Druce & Zahn) Pugsl. By path through yew wood, Watlington Hill, 10.82 (HHC)
Hieracium perpropinquum (Zahn) Druce Caversham Lock, 9.82 (HHC)
Hieracium trichocaulon (Dahist.) Johans. Bird Wood, Sonning Common, 9.82 (HHC)
Taraxacum laevigatum (Willd.) DC. Lesser Dandelion Whitchurch Hill, 8.5.82 (AB)
ALISMATACEAE
Sagittaria sagittifolia L. Arrowhead
Canal near Burghfield Bridge, 7.8.82 (AB); River Thames
adjacent to Henley Road pit (MRH) BUTOMACEAE )
Butomus umbellatus L. Flowering-rush
Canal near Burghfield Bridge, 7.8.82 (AB); Kennet canal
west of Woolhampton; River Thames near the power station, Reading (MRH)
HYDROCHARTTACEAE
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae L. Frogbit In a ditch near Littlejohn's Farm, Reading. J. Clark (HJMB)
POTAMOGETONACEAE
Potamogeton polysonifolius Pourr. Bog Pondweed Wellington College, NHS walk (MRH)
LILIACEAE Narthecium ossifragum (L.) Huds. Bog Asphodel
i senna et Se
Snelsmore Common, NHS walk, 17.7.82 (RJG)
Allium ursinum L. Ramsons Sulham, 2.5.82 (AB); Hurst, near Dinton Pastures and Loddon, 9.5.82 RIG)
*Allium paradoxum (Bieb. ) G. Don Few-flowered Leek Crowsley Lane, by entrance to Crowsley Manor, perhaps planted (HHC)
JUNCACEAE
*Juncus tenuis Willd. Wellington College, NHS walk, 14.8.82 (AB); by tracks, Snelsmore Common, NHS walk (HJMB }
Juncus bulbosus L. ' Bulbous Rus Englemere Pond, Bracknell, 18.7.82 (RJG)
AMARYLLIDACEAE
Leucojum aestivum L. Summer Snowflake, Loddon Lily
Whitchurch Hill, 8.5.82 (AS); in the Loddon valley localit-
ies for this plant a half-mile stretch of river bank had
85 flowering plants, and one station had 3000+ flowering
plants (MRH) .
=, (90). ~
ORCHIDACEAE
Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz Broad-leaved Helleborine Wellington College, NHS walk (MRH )
Ophrys apifera Huds. Bee Orchid Burghclere, 13.6.82 (SRW)
Ophrys insectifera L. Fly Orchid Burghclere, 13.60.62 (SRW)
Dactylorchis maculata (L.) Vermeul Heath Spotted-orchid Snelsmore Common, NHS walk, 16.7.82 (AB); California Country Park, 4.7.82 (RJG)
LEMNACEAE
*Lemna_miniuscula Abundant in the Kennet and Avon canal near Theale, An American species recently arrived and spreading (HJMB )
TYPHACEAE
Typha angustifolia L. Lesser Bulrush Englemere Pond, Bracknell, 18.7.823 Wellington College,
14.8,.82; Cranbourne Chase, Windsor Forest, 22.8.82 (RJG)
CYPERACEAE Eriophorum engustifolium Honck. Common Cottongrass Snelsmore Common, NHS walk, 16.7.82 (AB) Eleocharis multicaulis (Sm.) Sm. Many~stalked Spike-rush Englemere Pond, Bracknell, 18.7.82 (RUG) .. Cyperus fuscus L. Brown Galingale
Very local near Cookhams3 second record for Berks., found by G. Bellamy (HJMB)
Rhynchospora alba (L.) Vahl White Beak-sedge Wet heathland between Wellington College and Sandhurst, NHS walk (MRH)
Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl Great Fen-sedge Sterile, in a newly cleared piece of fen at Cothill; second record for Berks., found by R. J. Hornby (HJMB)
Carex muricata L. ssp.. lamprocarpa Celak Prickly Sedge Station Road, Earley, Reading (MRH)
GRAMINEAE Sieglingia decumbens (L.) Bernh. Heath-erass
In old locality on Peppard Common, 8.82 (HHC)
Lolium multiflorum Lam. x perenne L. Smallmead tip (HJMB)
Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl. Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass Along the MY near Hungerford Newtown3 perhaps salting operations provided a suitable habitat. (HJMB )
*Hordeum jubatum L. Foxtail Barley Newly sown roadside, Hungerford Newtown (HJMB ) Hordelymus europaeus (L.) Harz Wood Barley
Lady's Shaw, Sonning Common, 8.82 (HHC)
Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. Annual Beard-grass Smallmead tip (HIND) Gillette Road, 8.82 (HHC)
=" O2 Some additional Records for 1980 and 1981
PAPILIONACEAE
Ornithopus perpusillus L. Common Bird's=-foot On Heckfield Heath, 22.7.80 (TDH)
PAPAVERACEA®
Papaver_ argemone L. Prickly Poppy A weed in a maize patch near Shinfield, 17.7.81 (TDH)
PORTULACACEAE
*Montia perfoliata (Willd. ) Howell Springbeauty On bare sendy and stony Borer Leighton Park School, 23.5.81 er
SAXTFRAGACEAE
*Tellima erandiflora (Pursh) Dougl. ex Lindl. In damp deciduous wood, Bear Wood, Arborfield, 26.5.81 (TDH)
MONOTROPACEAE Monotropa hypopitys L. Yellow Bird's-nest
One plant outside AWRE fence at extreme western end of roadside bank, P. M. R. Jinks, 7.81- (AB)
SCROPHULARTACEAE Veronica scutellata L. Marsh Speedwell
Edge of marsh near Shinfield, 20.7.81 (TDH)
GRAMINEAE *Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. Cockspur
Edge of cabbage and rhubarb field near Shinfield Grange, 18.8.81 (TDH)
Contributors 3
Dr. H. J. M. Bowen (HJMB); Dr. A. Brickstock (AB);
Mr. H. H. Carter (HHC); Dr. R. J. Grayer (RUG); - Mr. T. D. Harrison (TDH); Mr. M. R. Hughes (MRH) Mrs . B. Kay (BK); Mrs, J. Le Mare (JIM); Mrs. S. R. Ward (SRW).
ee ee
The Recorder's Report for Entomology 1981-82 B. R. Baker
The order and nomenclature used in this Report are those given in Kloet and Hincks, A Check List of British Insects, Part 13: Small Orders and Hemiptera, 1964;
Part 2: Lepidoptera, 19723 Part 33: Coleoptera, 19773 Part 4: Hymenoptera, 19783; and Part 5: Diptera, 1975.
Order Odonata , Dragonflies Ischnura elegans (van der Lind.) Common Isehnura
Dinton Pastures, 7. 8.82 (RJG); Whiteknights Park, Reading (MR#H)
Enallagma cyathigerum (Charp. ) Common Blue Damselfly Whiteknights Park, Reading (MRH) .
Coenagrion puella (L.) Common Coenagrion Dinton Pastures, 7.8.82 'in thousands! (RJG)
Lestes sponsa (Hansemann) ' Green Lestes
Wet “grassland near the Power a asap Reading (MRH ) Agrion splendens (Harris } Banded Agrion Marketway, Reading, 1 female (MRH) : Elgar Road, Reading, mid October (AP). This is a very common damselfly on
our local rivers and Mr. Hughes's Marketway sighting must have been a wanderer from the Thames. Mr, Price's sighting for mid October is an exceptionally late one.
feshna cyanea (Mu11. =| Southern Aeshna Whiteknights — Park, Reading (MRH ) : Snelsmore Common, 17.72.82 (HJMB)
A. grandis (L. ) Brown Aeshna
Whiteknigzi.ts Park, Reading (mH )
Order Orthoptera i Bush Crickets, Crickets and .Grasshoppers
Meconema vhalassinun (Deg. ) Oak Bush Cricket In property in Alexandra Road, Reading, 1.6.82 attracted to house lights (MRH).
Pholidoptera griseoaptera (Deg. ) Dark Bush Cricket Moor Copse Nature Reserve, 8.8.82 (MRH)
Order Psocoptera . Book ‘Lice
Caecilius flavidus (Steph. ) Fence “Wood, mele ce “82 (HHC ).
Order Hemiptera Plant Bugs, Frog Hoppers,etc.
Cyphostethus tristriatus (Fabr. ) Juniper Bug
Mansfieid Road, Reading, 22.10.82, twenty-four beaten from two small Cupressus trees. The beating was of short duration hence many additional specimens could have been present in the garden (AP). Reference to C. tristriatus on plants other than juniper is made in the Reading Naturalgstrno., 31 p. 32
an i Dt
Order Neuroptera Lacewings Osmylus fulvicephalus (Scop. ) Giant Lacewing
Moor Copse Nature Reserve, 31.5.82, Padworth, 4.7.82 (BRB).
Order Lepidoptera Butterflies and Moths
The fine weather of early summer proved beneficial to many of our butterflies and most cf our contributors comment on the high numbers observed by comparison with recent years. It was also a good year for immigrant butterflies and moths and some notable records have been submitted.
Synanthedon culiciformis (L.) Large Red=-belted Clearwing Bucklebury Common, 23.3.82 larvae in birch stumps (BRB, NMH ). Bembecia scopigera (Scop. ) Six-belted Clearwing
Knowl Hill, one dead in spider's web (NMH)
Hesperia comma GG.) Silver-spotted Skipper
Aston Upthorpe, abundant (HJMB)
Gonepteryx rhamni (L.) Brimstone Wokingham, 23.3.82 (RJG); Bearwood, 24.3.82 (BTP); Matlock Road, Caversham, 8.11.82 (HGB).
Anthocharis cardamines (L.) Orange-tip Aldermaston, 10.5.62 (PS); Emmer Green, 15.4.82 (JHFN); Dinton Pastures, 25.4.82, Wokingham, 26.4,.82, one or two almost daily between 14.5.82 and 7.6.82 (RIG).
Lycaena phlaeas (L.) Small Copper Aston Upthorpe, aberration with one forewing white (HMB )
Cupido minimus (Fuess. ) Small Blue Upton, abundant during June (HJMB); Seven Barrows, Lambourn, 5.6.82 (RJG).
Celastrina argiolus (L.) Holly Biue
Aldermaston, 14.5.02 (GE-F, KHP, PS); Basildon Park, 2.6.82 (orp); Tilehurst Road, Reading, 13.5.82, Alexandra Road, Reading, 25.5.82 (MRH); Woolhampton, 29.5.82, Matlock Road, Caversham, 1.6.82, 18.7282, 25.782, 1.8.82 (HGD); Emmer Green, 16.5.82 (JHFN); Northcourt Avenue, Reading, 30.7.62 (LEC).
Ladoga camilla (L.) White Admiral POLS SPOT RuGSESAS tA Podehsul AY | (badyorth end Pamber Apatura iris (Wa Purple Emperor
Padworth, 11.7.02. As I parked my car, a male purple emperor flew around strongly then disappeared below the vehicle. On peering underneath, I saw the butterfly 'feeding' on the exhaust pipe (BRB).
Vanessa atalanta (L.) Red Admiral
Woolwich Green near Theale, 16.5.62 (BTP); Moor Copse Nature Reserve, 15.5.82, 31.5.82, 6.6.62, 12.11.82. Caversham, 6.8.82 to 13.11.82 seventy-nine sightings (BRB); Surley Row, Caversham, 15.8.82, 31.8.82, 4.9.82, 5.9.82 (PS); Dinton Pastures, 23.5.82, 26.6.82, 7.8.82 four; Wokingham, 29.5.82, 15.7.82 to 30.8.82 one or two almost daily, 3.9.82 to 10.10.82 up to five almost daily (RJG).
Cynthia cardui (L.) Painted Lady Aldermaston, 5.7.82 (GE-F, KHP, PS); Surley Row, Caversham,
- 43 -
3.8.82, 6.85827 *878 $82) 0G0.8,82, 5.9.82,52Fadley,, 16.7 .82, Streatley, 29.7.82 (all PS); Emmer Green, 5.6.82: (HFN); Portman Road, Reading, 1.8,82 three, Caversham, 6.8.82, 14.9,82, 15.9.82, Vastern Road, Reading, 9.8.82, 11.8.82, 23.8.82, 3.9.82, 10.9.82 (all BRB); Whiteknights Park,
7.8.82 (BTP); Wokingham, 4.8.82, 5.8.82, 6.8.82, 19.8.82, 29.8.82, 30.8.82 (RJG); The Priory, Beech Hill, 6.6.82 (LEC).
Polygonia c-album (EE) Comma a ch (BRB, NMH);
Wasing Wood, 3.10.82, seven on one bramble pat
Emmer Green, 25.3.82 (JHFN); Matlock Road, Caversham, 24.9,82, seven on small ivy patch (BRB); Bearwood, 24.3.82 six (BTP); Wokingham, 18.5.82, 17.7.82 to 12.8.82 one or two regularly on buddleia, 10.9.82 one in pear. tree (RIG).
Inachis io (L.) Peacock Southcote, 28.2.82 (CAS). Melanargia galathea Ulan Marbled White
Snelsmore Common, south side, 17.7.82 one in an. unusual habitat (HJMB); back of Knowl Hill, late July (BTP).-
Hipparchia semele ti) Grayling Silchester Common, 25.7.82 (BTP);3; Leighton Park, Reading, 2.8.82 (TDH); Bucklebury Common, 14.8.82 (BRB).
Hemistola chrysoprasaria (Esp) Small Emerald Aldermaston, 7.7.82 (GE-F, KHP, PS); Surley Row, Caversham, 23.7.82 (PS); Well Barn, Berks Downs, 9.7.82 (NMH).
Orthonama obstipata (Fabr.) The Gem Matlock Road, Caversham, 23.7.82 immigrant (BRB).
Eulithis prunata (L.) _ The Phoenix Aldermaston, 16.7.82 (GE-F, KHP, PS).
Odezia atrata (L.) Chimney Sweeper Well Barn, Berks Downs, 9.7.82 (BRB).
Abraxas sylvata (Scop. ) Clouded Magpié Leighton Park, 8.7.82 (TDH).
Apeira syringaria (L.) Lilac Beauty Aldermaston, 5.7.82, 15.9.82 (GE-F, KHP, PS)s3 Matlock Road,
Caversham, 1.7.82, 12.9.82 (BRB); Surley Row, Caversham, 12.6,.82, 7.7.82 (PS); Leighton Park, 9.7.81 (TDH).. The September date indicates an unusual. second brood.
Sphinx ligustri (L.) Privet Hawkmoth Well Barn, Berks Downs, 9.7.82 (BRB).
Macroglossum stellatarum (L.) Humming-bird Hawkmoth Padworth, 5.7.82 (BRB); Well Barn, Berks Downs, early July (MB } ; Moor Copse, Tidmarsh, mid August (MC )s Earley Gate, Whiteknights, end July (RL). Immigrants.
Hyles lineata (Fabr.)
ssp. livornica (Esp. ) _ -'. Striped Hawkmoth . Emmer Green, 3.7.82 (DN, JHEN ), a rare immigrant and seem- ingly only the second Berkshire record this century.
Leucoma salicis (L.) White Satin Moth Aldermaston, 15.6.82 (GE-F, KHP, PS). Eilema_sororcula (Hufn. ) | | Orange Footman
Surley Row, Caversham, 8.6.82 (PS).
Eilema deplana (Esp. ) Buff Footman Well Barn, Berks Downs, 9.7.82 (NMH).
abe
Rhyacia simulans (Hufn. ) . Dotted Rustic
Well Barn, Berks Downs, 9.7.82 (NMH); Matlock Road, Caversham, 13.7.S2 (BRB); Emmer Green, 24.7.82, 23.9.82, (JHFN); Surley Row, Caversham, 19.7.82, 25.72.82 (PS); Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead, 25.7.82 (TJGH).
Spaclotis ravida (D. & S.) Stout Dart Matlock Road, Caversham, 17.7.82, 18.7.82, 29.48.82 (BRB). Xestia rhomboidea (Esp. ) Square-spotted Clay
Matlock Road, Caversham, 5.8.82, 10.8.82, 15.8.82 (BRB).
Anaplectoides prasina (D. & S.) Green Arches Well.Darn, Berks Downs, 9.7.82 (BRB).
Cerastis leucographa fe & S.) White-marked Aldermaston, 21.4.82 (GE-F, KHP, PS).
Hadena_compta (D. & S.) Varied Coronet Surley Row, Caversham, 26.6.82, 27.6.82, 1.7.82 (PS);
Emmer Green, ( JHEN ) ; Matlock Road, Caversham, 4.6.82, 5.6.82, 180%.82,5,,14.7.82 (BRB):
Lithophane leautieri (Boisd. ) Blair's Pinion Surley Row, Caversham, 1.11.82 (PS); Matlock Road, Caversham, 30.9.82 to 7.11.52 twenty recorded in light trap (or),
Xanthia,gilvago (D. & S.) Dusky-lemon Sallow Leighton, Park, 6.10.82 (TDH)
Dicycla oo (L.) Heart Moth, Aldermaston, 8.7.82 (GE-F, KHP, PS).
Apamea_sublustris (Esp. ) Reddish Light Arches Surley Row, Caversham, 13.6.82 (PS).
A. scolopacina (Esp. ) Slender Brindle
Well Barn, Berks Downs, 9.7.82 (BRB).
Spodoptera exigua (Hubn. ) Small Mottled Willow
Matlock Road, Caversham, 8.7.02, 18.7.62, uncommon immigrants (BRB).
Panemeria tenebrata (Scop. ) Small Yellow Underwing Moor Copse Nature Reserve, 31.5.82. New Reserve record (BRB)
Heliothis peltigera (D. & S.) _ Bordered Straw Matlock Road, Caversham, 19.9.82 immigrant (BRB); Didcot, 9.9.82 (RL).
Trichoplusia ni (Hubn.) - The Ni Moth Didcot, 9.9,82 (RL), a rare immigrant last recorded from Berkshire 7.0.53 at Sandhurst.
Lygophila pastinum (Treit. ) Blackneck Moth Leighton Park, 8.7.82 (TDH)
Parascotia fuliginaria (Hubn. ) Waved Black Aldermaston, 13.7.82 and subsequently, «leven specimens (GE-F, KHP, PS); Emmer Green, (JHFN); Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead, 5.8.82 (TJGH).
Order Coleoptera Beetles Dytiscus marginalis L. Great Diving Beetle
Woosehill, Wokingham, in the Emmbrook, 21.8.82 (RUG).
~ 45 -
Oxyporus rufus (L.) ) Bird Wood, Sonning Common, three tunneling in Amanita rubescens (HHC )
Lucanus cervus (L.) Stag Beetle
Cockney Hill, Reading, 29.12.81(AB). Whilst digging out a large out in his garden Dr. Brickstock unearthed about thirty-six stag beetle larvae of varying sizes. They were brought into the Museum and placed in a tank with some large pieces of the rotted post which they reduced to sawdust over the next several weeks. Twenty-one larvae survived until 27.3.82 when they were re-housed within the roots of a fallen oak at Moor Copse Nature Reserve.
Nr. Woosehill, Wokingham, 5.6.82 one in subway under Reading Road (RgG)s Earley Road, Reading, 29.6.82 male, 7.7.82 female (MRH).
Order Hymenoptera Sawflies, Ichneumons, ; Bees and Wasps
Urocerus gigas (L.) Giant Horntail
Friar Street, Reading, inside a tobacconist's shop, 10.8.82 (NH); Tilehurst Road, Reading, 25.8.82 (KER).
Sirex noctilio Fabr.
Parker Timber Co,, Theale, 17.5.823 21.88.82, several specimens of this large sawfly were brought to the Museum by Mr. Russ. The insects had been emerging from imported Portuguese Pinus.
Dineura stilata (Klug)
Crowsley Forest, 12.5.82, not a new species to us but the last published record was from Bagley Wood about 1920 (HHC). )
Crypteffigies lanius (Grav. ) Fence Wood, 25.5.82 (HHC).
HHC submits the following records of early bees:~
Andrena minutula (Kirby) Clayfield Copse, 2.3.82 og
A. fulva (Mull. ) Forbury Gardens, Reading, 25; 3. 82 (HHC)
Bombus terrestris (Lee Common Humble-—bee Bie] Forest, 4.4.82; Bur Wood, 5.4.82 (HHC).
pascuorum (Scop. ) Common Carder-bee LES Forest, 4.4.82 (HHC). B. lapidarius £14.) Stone Humble-bee aie Gardens, Reading, 5.4.82 (HHC).
pratorum (L.) Early-nesting Humble-bee
BS; Kennylands Road, Sonning Common, 5.4.62 (HHC).
Order Diptera True Flies
All the Diptera records are of species new to the district unless stated otherwise.
Ctenophora flaveolata (Fabr.)
Pissen Wood, Rotherfield Greys, 1.5.82 (HHC). Nota new species, but a new locality for this uncommon and spectacular cranefly.
i ta iat
Empis woodi Collin Crowsley Forest, 12.5.82 (HHC).
Volucella zonaria (Poda) 7, Heathway, Tilehurst, 18.9.82 (JEL).
Phytomyza vitalbae Kalt. Crowsley Forest, 12.5.82 (HHC).
Alophora hemiptera (Fabr. ) Shiplake College, 6.80 (RGL).
Chirosia parvicornis (Zett.) Fence Wood, 25.5.62 (HHC).
Crataerina pallida (Latr. ) Cockney Hill, Reading, 25.8.82 (IMB), not new but found in unusual circumstances! |
The Socicty's Entomolosical Evening
This was again enjoyed in the same locality on the Well Barn Estate as visited. in. 1978 and 1979. Our: thanks are extended to the Estate for permission to enter and operate lamps and moth traps - we were also pleased that Michael Burford, the Head Keeper, visited us around mid- night and was able to see for himself what a hot summer night will produce in the way of nocturnal insects. Most of the interesting records are embodied in the Report under Well Barn, Berks Downs, 9.7.82, but further mention might be made of the solitary Chimney Sweeper moth. This insect is normally a day-flier, particularly in dunny weather, and the larvae feed on earth-nut. Last Berkshire record was for White Horse Hill, 1931.
Contributors
The Recorder would like to thank the following members and friends for records received:
Mrs. H. G. Baker (HGB); Dr. H. J. M. Bowen (HJMB); Dr..A. Brickstock (AB); Mrs. I. M. Brickstock (IMB); H. H. Carter (HHC); Mrs. M. Charley (MC); Miss L. E. Cobb (LEC);
Dr. R. J. Grayer (RJG)3 Lt. Col. G. G.: Eastwick-Field GE-F); N. M. Hall (NMH): T. D. Harrison (TDH); N. Harrison NH)3; T. J. G. Homer (TJGH); M. R. Hughes (MRH); Mrs. J. E.
Leeke (JEL); R. Leeke (RL)3 R. G. Leeke (RGL); R. Lewington (RL); D. Notton (DN); J. H. F. Notton. (JHFN); 3B. T.
Parsons (BTP); K. H. Pinnock (KHP); A. Price (AP); Mrs.
K. F. Rhodes (KFR); C. A. Sizer (CAS); P. Silver (PS).
Our thanks are additionally due to the Director of Reading Museum & Art Gallery for allowing us to incorporate any relevant records from the Museum's collections.
-~ 47 -
The Recorder's Report for Vertebrates, 1981-82
He. oH. Carter
FISH
Esox lucius L. Pike One of about 5.5 ke (12 1b) and 0.6 m in length taken by an angler at Caversham Bridge, 15.9.82 (BRB)
Cyprinus carpio L. Carp Cottage Lane gravel pit (Burghfield, a new locality).
Marley Tile pit (Beenham).
Perca fluviatilis L. Perch In the Thames at Wallingford, a new locality.
AMPHIBIANS Triturus vulgaris La Smooth Newt
Male and females at Sulham Pond, 8. o5e 82, some larvae there in June (PRC).
Triturus helveticus (Raz. ) OE bene Newt One male at the Fish Pond (Burghfield Common), 31.1.82 (PRC).
Triturus cristatus (Schr. ) Great Crested Newt Pair in breeding Seepage. Sulham Pond, 28.2.82 (PRC). Rana temporaria Lie Frog
Dates of first spawning about three days later than last year. 4 pairs in pond at Austwick House (Woodcote), 11.3.82, first spawn, 13.3.82 (Mr. and Mrs. Pettit). None seen at Greenmore Hill (Woodcote), 13.3.82.. None at the Horse Pond (Gallowstree Common), 13.3.82, present 21.3.82.
8 females in garden pond, Alexandra Road, and much spawn there, 14.3.82 (MRH). 20 adults spawning in garden pond, Tilehurst, 22.3.82, spawn hatching, 9.4.82 (PRC). Frogs and spawn at 217 Henley Road, 31.3.82 (Mrs. Taylor). 27 frogs in pond at 27b Grove Road (emilee Green), 6.4.82
(Mrs. Wall). One adult and large quantities of spawn at the Fish Pond (Burghfield Common), 17.4.82; tadpoles in Sulham Pond, a new locality for this Bhce.vesy 8.5.82: (PRC). A 30 mm om year) frog ina dry pes at 30 Pages
rchard (Sonning Common), 22.5.82. A 45 mm (2nd year)
frog in a dry garden at 82 Kennylands Road (Sonning Common ) 27,8.82. A lone male regularly frequenting a newly. con- structed garden pond at Pangbourne in autumn, tH IR 1981 (CF).
Bufo bufo L. Toad
Bred in garden pond at 161 Cotswold Way practopte abr 1981, but not seen again by 2.4.82 (Mrs. Wensley-Wright ). Many dead on road by Coach and Horses (Binfield Heath), 1. 3.82. One dead in Kennylands Road, 3.3.82. Present in garden of 217 Henley Road, but does not breed here, April 1982 (Mrs. cae Spawn present in the Fish Pond (Burghfield Common), 17.4.82, and adults present in gardens in the
Tilehurst area (PR6). Dead on roads during autumn migra- tion at Peppard Road and Phillimore Road (Emmer Eaten}
16-20.9.82, Kennylands Road, 20-21.9.82, and two in Binfield Heath Lane, 30.9.82. Newly meray toads near the bridge in Moor Copse, 11.47.82 (PRC
REPTILES
Anguis fragilis L. Slow Worm One in hedgerow, Tilehurst, August 1952. One in Forbury
Gardens, 2.9.82 (gardener per BRB).
Natrix natrix (L.) Grass Snake 2 adults, length 400-500 mm, basking in bracken, Moor Copse, 13.6.82, and one there 12,8,82 (PRC).
MAMMALS. Talpa europesea L. Mole
Molehills at Greenmore Hill yaa ki. 13.3.82. One dead at Moor Copse, 12.9.82 oT
Sorex araneus L, Common Shrew
Binfield Heath Lane, 29.4.82 and several dates in May. Regular prey of cats in Tilehurst, and one dead in gutter, October 1982 (PRC).
Erinaceus europacus L. Hedgehog
Regular visitor to gardens in Tilehurst area, also frequent road victim with maximum deaths in late summer and early autumn (PRC). 2 alive, 13 dead on roads in’ Sonning €ommon = Emmer Green area, November 1951 and March — October 1962 with highest numbers in May and June... An adult and 4 juv- eniles (except for one which died) active in Prospect St. till 12.11.81 (Mr. Harden). Brockley Close (Tilehurst), litter in garden shed (M. Hotei}. One swimming in garden pond, unable to climb the walls, Circuit Lane (Southcote), Wemeb2 (GAS).
Myotis daubentoni (Kuh1 ) Daubenton's Bat Mortimer area, 9,6,82 (PRC).
Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schr. ) Pipistrelle
Mortimer area, 9.6.82, This and the preceding species were observed on the Society's excursion, using Holgate and QMC detectors kindly loaned by Michael Hardy (prc). Seen by the same observer in the Sulham area, One dead at Yeomanry House, 1.6.82 (S.Y. Townend). Several observers noted a scarcity of this species, but the Recorder saw the usual number of Pipistrelle-like small bats around Sonning Common,
Nyctalus noctula (Schr. ) ‘, . Noetule
First flight around the observer's house in Tilehurst, 27.3.02. similar to previous year, .26.3.81, but Padenieates later in the year much lower (PRC). Patrolling Binfield Heath Lane, 4.10.82.
Vulpes vulpes (L.) Fox A large male feeding from’a bird table at Moor Copse,
as be a (Mrs. Charley per BRB). Tracks in snow at Howberry Wood (Hiznmoot)% 24.12.81 (EMC and Renorienys Fox and vixen in garden at Pangbourne, Feb. 1982 (CF). Three dead on road in Long Lane to Sulham area, March and April 1982 (PRC). Seen or heard on 6 occasions at Padworth from March to July 1982 (MJH). ‘Dead juvenile at New Lane Close (Tilehurst), 3.4.82 (Dr. Brickstock). Two earths, and foxes often seen by workmen, Smallmead pits. One at Ashmore Green (Thatcham). Circuit Lane, 2.5.82 (CAS). Hartslock Reserve, 26.5.82 (RDNHS Excursion), Fewer than usual in the Sonning Common area; one seen robbing our hen
- 49 -
run, 29.5.082 (EMC) but only three other records, On garden fence, 2.7.82 (LEC). Sonning Cutting, 2.9.62 (BRB).
Meles meles ree) : Badger Young female dead on M4 by Amner's Farm, 14.2.82 (MRH).
Mustola erminea L. Stoat | Leaping around in snow at garden in Pangbourne, January 1982 (CF). Manor Farm, 24.7.82 (M. Ravening). Adult
male dead on road near Hermitage, 17.9.82 (PRC).
M,. vison Schr. Mink Climbing out of Pang to disappear into woods at Moor Copse, 4.4.82 (MRH).
Dama dama Fiza J) Fallow Deer
Tracks in snow at Howberry Wood (Highmoor), 24.12.81
(EMC and Recorder). Tracks in Crowsley Forest, 21-28.3.82, and two does there, 7.5.82,
Capreolus capreolus (he) Roe Deer Blacklands Copse, (Bucklebury), 3.5.82 and a buck at Padworth, 5.7.62 (BRB).
Muntiacus reevesi Og. Munt jac
Blacklands Copse, (per BRB). The animal heard barking on the move near LEC's home, 9-10.1.82 was probably this species, Droppings in Crowsley Forest, 28.3.82. One at Moor Copse, 12.5.82 (B. Kay).
Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) Rabbit
Seen throughout year at Moor Copse, one with myxomatosis, 12.9.82 (PRC). Total sightings in South Oxfordshire 214, maxima 25 at old pit, Chalkhouse Green, 10.6.,82 and 10 at Sonning Common sewage works, 8.4.82. Few in Crowsley Forest, one with myxomatosis there, 28.3.82.
Lepus capensis Pall. Hare Six on hill above Crowmarsh, 24.12.81 (EMC and MJC). Cilethrionomys glareolus Schr. Bank Vole
One dead at Kennylands (Sonning Common), 21.8.82.
Arvicola amphibius (L.) Water Vole
Marsh Lock facnicy), 7.2.82 (MJC). Frequent at Moor Copse, especially near the bridge, from April on; three swimming Eepzother, 11.7.82 (PRC).
Microtus agrestis (L.) Short-tailed Vole Two dead at Gallowstree Common, 26.9.82. Apodemus sylvaticus (L.) Wood Mouse
Tracks in snow at Howberry Wood (Highmoor), 24.12.81 (EMC and Recorder). One at Kennylands (Sonning Common ), 12.3.82. Adult and at least two juveniles at Westwood Road, Tilehurst, June-July 1982 (PRC).
Rattus norvegicus Berk. Brown Rat Kennylands, 13.11.81 (MJC) and a juvenile, 8.11.81. Adult
and three juveniles at Widmore Pond (Sonning Common), &.5.82. Dead on road at Emmer Green, 3.9.82 and 30.9.82.
Sciurus carolinensis Gmel. Grey Squirrel At least three active all year in Tilehurst garden; adult seen carrying young in mouth (PRC). fracks in snow at
Howberry Wood (Highmoor), 24.12.81 (EMC and Recorder).
= 50c¢
Found dead at foot of electricity pole, Padworth, 2.9.82 (MJH). One in Old Town Hall, 20.9.82, trapped 23.9.82.
Contributors:
Mr, Brian R, Baker (BRB), Mrs. Elizabeth M. Carter (EMC), Miss Mary J. Carter (MJC)3; Miss. Leonie E. Cobb (LEC), Mrs. Paula R. Cox (PRC), Mrs. Clare Frank (CF),
Mr. Malcolm J, Hitchcock (MJH), Mr. Micht} R, Hughes (MRH), Mr. Colin A. Sizer (CAS) and others named in full in the
text.
- Sj -
WEATHER RECORDS : 1982 contributed by M. Parry
‘ATION : READING UNIVERSITY
B Olteey. ewer April July Vang. Sept. | Oct. | Nov. Dec. | Year Oma > hal iy 1 1 zan Max. 7.8 | 10.5 | 13.6 21.6 | 20.9 | 19.8 | 13.5 | 11.0! 7.91 14.2 Lily | Man. 17 hi2,ad? 422 12.4.411,9 1,.9.7.| 6.9 | 5.6! 1.4; 6,1 »mperatures | Mean 4.8 | 6.3 | 8.9 17.0 | 16.4 | 14.8 | 10.2 | 8.31. 47| 10.2 ; | Range 6.1] 8.5] 9.4 B21 90,(10.1 | 66) 5.47 6.5) 8.1 } treme | E, Mae. zed cl 26,4.1.27.0 | 17.0 | 16,4 | 12.6 : 27.7 mperatures | Date 8 rah ig 1 | 1 | 15 jJum. 4} : iE, Min. 7.8 | 62] 2.8] 0.2 | -5.3) -4.2/-14.5 Date 17, | 14. 122 | 24 | 30 | 23 |yan. 14 jE. Grass Min tet | 0/3-1'-2,5 1-48 1 ero 101, | o20et | Date 15 17 14 22 24 30 | 23. |Jan, 14
Jhys with frost 12. | 47
ays with ground frost
‘unshine | Sum ours 1% Possible
8 ve 4 ron ca 2 * 9
| Daily Mean fappeation Amount ‘mm, Rain Days Max. rain in one day 12.5 | 14.6) 33.0 21 9 { Oct. 21
ongest run of consecutive ty days
aow or sleet days
ays with snow lying
| isibility Fog at 0900 GMT
|
Date
i . - jE ee —. ongest run of consecutive \in days
|
— Days of
| Ctivity thunder
| f hail | \Days ° i
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
MONTHLY WEATHER NOTES -— 1982
An extraordinary month! After five mild days, a very cold spell lasted till mid- month. The extreme minimum of -14.5°C (6°F) on 14th was the lowest ever in the University station's record, The minimum
on 15th was -13.4°C (8°F), the_second lowest, Record lows for England (-26.1°C or -15°F at Newport, Shrops. ) and for Britain as a whole (-27.2°C or -17°F)at Braemar, Scotland) also occurred in that cold spell. Yet witha miid second half, the monthly average was near normal. Dry (half average rainfall) and sunny.
Mild, dull and drier than average.
Average temperatures, wet, but with some. sunny spells.
Average temperatures, but sunny and dry: a long anticyclonic spell brought an absolute drought from 8th to 29th.
After cold Northerly winds during the first week, temperatures near average for the month as a whole. Rainfall also near normal, though sunshine hours well up.
A wet thundery month with rainfall nearly double normal. Warm nights and dull days. Included the warmest day of the year (exactly equalling that of 1981).
Temperatures a little below average, sun- shine much below and rainfall less than half normal.
Warm first half, cool second half, so average temperatures on the whole: average sunshine too, but rather dry.
Rather warm, on the dry side, average sunshine.
Average temperatures but very wet (rainfall twice normal) and dull. There have been only three wetter Octobers in the University record (began 1921).
Mild, rather wet and dull. The wind gusted to 72mph on 12th - the highest November gust since the recording anemometer was installed in 1961 (exceeded only once at any time of year.)
A little milder and rainier than average but rather sunnier.
- 59 i Membership List
Honorary Members
Butler, Miss K. I., Springfield St. Luke's, 24 Surley Row, Caversham, Reading Hora; DracPes8., 51 Eastern Avenue, Reading Nelmes, Miss E. M., Dormers, 194 Cainscross Road, Stroud, Glos. Paul, Mrs. V. N., O.B.E., B.Sc., Overdale, Peppard Common, Oxon. Sandels, Mrs. A. Me, 3 Churchill House, Hailey Road, Chipping Norton, OX7 5LD
Watson, E. V., B.Sc., Ph. fi ge F.L.S., Little Court, Cleeve, cGrtneieotnianas, Oxon.
Watson, Miss J. Me, 30 Westwood Road, Tilehurst, Reading
Ordinary, Junior and Family Members
Christopher John, B.Sc., 50 Fairford Road, Tilehurst, Reading RG3 6QR
Albertini, M. V., B.Sc., M.I.Biol., 72 Dropmore Road,
Burnham, Bucks. SL1 8AR
Adams,
Alexander, Keith N. A., B.Sc., 72 Conygar Road, Tetbury,
Glos. GL8 8JF Andrews, P., Ph.D., 21 Redhatch Drive, Heal yp Readtns Andrews, Mrs. Joyce, Ph.D., " "
Archer, D. F., 194 Silverdale Road, Hambey,. Reading BED 2NB Archer, Mrs., " " " " Archer, Catherine, 4 Ly a " = " Archer, Martine, y " " a ¥ Ashwell, Mrs. K. M., 7 Woodland Drive, Tilehurst, Reading
Baker, Brian R., B.Sc., F.M.A., F.R.E.S., 25 Matiock Road, Caversham, Reading
Baker, Mrs. Heather, Y tf sd
Ballantine, Mrs. Fiona, Greyrigg, Green Lane, Pangbourne,
Reading RG& 7BG Banks, Miss K. M., 34 Courts Road, Earley, Reading RG6 2DH Barber, Miss Victoria Jane, 5 Upper Redlands Road, Reading
Barker, S. R. J., B.A. Hackthorne Cottage, Charlton Lane, 3 Swallowfield, Reading; R&J tR?P Beard, W. M., 3 Uffington sions Tilehurst, Reading Beard, Mrs. J. Rey Mi 2 % Beard, Michael, Wy ” _ Beard, Jean, : " " " Ww Beard, Daniel, " My ° " Beek, Mrs. Meryl, 29 Morecombe Avenue, Caversham, Reading RG4 7NL Bellamy, G. C., B.Sc., The West Wing, The Salt Box, Churn Estate, Blewbury, Oxon.
Benda, P., 25 Wittenham Avenue, Es Lene ets Reading aed aun
Benda, Mrs., "
Bentall, Miss E. MJ 14h Upper youd ute eH,
" Crooksbury,
Caversham, Reading Betts, J. Ro, BoAYy Bali tt oy, (38 Priest,.Hill, Caversham,
Reading, RG4 7RY Bbetvcs, Mrs/3G) M., B.Ae, Dip.Ed., " 4 " ws ve Betts, Miss or it " ! tt tt Betts, Je, w " tt " t
- 54 =
Betts, Mrs. Jill M., Wells Hall, Upper Redlands Road, Reading RG1 5JF Blackmur, Raymond, 11 Clevedon Road, Tilehurst, Reading Blackmur, Mrs. Beryl, " _ e x Bolger, Edward, 10 Woolford Way, Winklebury Estate, Basingstoke, Hants. RG23 8AT Bowen, H. J. M., M.Ae, D.Phil., 20 Winchester Road, ee . . Oxford OX2°6NA Brickstock, Dr. A., 25 Cockney Hill, Tilehurst, Reading RG3 4HF Brickstock, Mrs. I. M., 4 2 M " Britton, M. Rs, 27 Patricia Close, Slough, Berks., SL1 §HT Brough, Dr. P. Re, M.Bey B.S., DRCOG, Meadow Cottage, Old Lane, Ashford Hill, Nr. Newbury RG15 8BG Bucke, Christopher, B.Sc., Ph.D., 29 Downshire Square, Reading Buckley, David K., 11 Ogbourne Close, Wantage, Oxford Budden, M. D., 17 Barnsdale Road, Reading RG2 7SG Budge, Alan, B.A., Homelands, 108 Clares Green Road, Spencers Wood, Reading Budge, Mrs. Susan, B.EH#., e fal Fy ca ZA Bunting, Prof. A. H., M.Sc., Agricultural Development Overseas, The University, Whiteknights, Reading Butcher, Frank, 39 Longworth Avenue, Tilehurst, Reading RG3 5JU Butcher, Mrs. Catherine, " e m ' - Butler, Jill, 4 School Road, Hurst, Reading Carr, Mrs. Ann, 4 Eversley Road, Arborfield, Reading RG2 9PU Carr, R. K. F., Culverton, Hillcrest, Peppard, Henley-on- Thames, Oxon, Carter, Hugh H., M.A., B.Sc., A.M.A., 82 Kennylands Road, Sonning Common, Reading RG4 9JT Chapple, Mrs., 2 Wavell Close, Reading RG2 8EJ Chapple, Rodney G., " " " ; " " Clapton, Miss Janet, 6 Harcourt Drive, Earley, Reading RG6 2TI Clarke, Miss Jennifer M., 15 Clanfield Crescent, Tilehurst, Reading Clements, Miss M. J. W., 108 Kenilworth Avenue, Reading Cobb, Miss L. E., B.A., 55 Northcourt Avenue, Reading RG2 '7HE Codling, Mrs. E., Flat 2, 83 Baker Street, Reading RG1 7AZ Cole, J. As, M.Sc., 30 Nicholas Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon. RGQY 1RB Connell, Brian, 5 Swainstone Road, Reading Corrall, L. N., 8 Greenleas Avenue, Emmer Green, Reading RG4 8TA. Corrall, Mrs., " tt " " " rae " Cotton, D. C. F., Dept. of Agricultural Biology, University College, Bclfield, Dublin 4, Eire Cox, Mrs. Paula R., 102 Westwood Road, Tilehurst, Reading RG3_ 5PP Cox, Emma, - 4 Cox, Hester, M, Cox, Sophie, : ™ i Curtis, M., 39 Purfield Drive, Wargrave, Reading RG10 8AR Davies, Raymond W., 81 Galsworthy Drive, Caversham Park Village, Reading " "
" " " " " " " " "
Davies, Mrs. Doreen, " 4 ”
- 55 _
Davison, John, B.Sc., Mill Lane Cottage, Riseley, Nr. Reading
Davison, Mrs. Sonja, _ Y ae ML im
Desombre, Graeme, 51 Tintern Opctsiedht, Coley, Park, Reading Dicker, Mrs. Iris, ie 109 Nash Grove Lane, Wokingham Diserens, J. N., 113 Redhatch Reaves HATE GOA Heading Diserens, Mrs. Mary, — ak ‘ Dobson, R,, 29 Westlands Avenue, Reading RG2 8EN Dobson, Mrs. Christine, © " eT 2 ¥ Dobson, Kim, " Om : a ¥ Dumbleton, Dr. M: Je, 25 se spun ene) Bracknell Dumbleton, Mrs. Miriam, "3 ¥ Dunn, W., 22 Kidmore Lane, Al aioe Common, Reading Dunn, Mrs. Norah, " mA m ¢ " : East, Mrs. Ma? 40045 C. C., 332 London Road, Earley, . Reading, RG6 1AR Eastwick-Field, Lt.-Col. G. G., Little Earlstone, Burghclere, Newbury Eley, P. R., The Orchard, Tanners Lane, Chalkhouse Green, _Nr. Reading Emerson, Mrs. Joyce M., 4 Stoneham Close, Tilehurst, ; Reading Emmitt, Colin,’ 6 Grahame Avenue, Pangbourne, Reading RG8 7LF Emmitt, Mrs. Doreen, " " u ee Emmi. t t 9 Keith ; " " " Ww 1] nM Emmitt, Nigel, w "" v iT n t Evans, K. M., B.Sc., Ph.eD., 18 Kendrick Court, Kendrick Road, Reading RG1 5DS Bvans; Us We, .5C., MSL Bik, f10 0h " Fletcher, Michael V., 70 South Street, Reading RG1 4RA Fletcher, Mrs. Iris, :" . am " # Flew, Prof. Anthony G. N., oe Alexandra Road, Beeg tae Flew, Mrs. A. Re, © u Miser iy Foat, N. J. W., 3 Arbor sata Winnersh, Nr. Reading Foley-Fisher, David, 11 Buckden pe i Woodley, Reading Foley-Fisher, Mrs. Mary, ” 4 “ Foley-Fisher, Dr. J. A., 18 Betchworth Avenue, Earley, Reading Foley-Fisher, Mrs, Beryl, " " " " Frank, Mrs. C, M., Netherleigh, Riverview Road, Pangbourne, Reading Frewin, S., Olden Oak, 103 Reading Road, Woodley, ; Reading RG5 3AG Frewin, Mrs. S., " " : " " " CP ies " " Gambles, R. M, a Whitchurch Hill, Reading RG8 7NU Gambles, Mrs,., nm " 4 - Grayer, C. J., B.Sc., 13 Brook Close, Wokingham RG11 a Grayer, Mrs. R. J., Biol. Drs. (Leiden), " " Green, W. A., Fairford House, Basingstoke Road, ese : me figlodia Reagane Gre en, Mrs ae 1] " ” iT W Guyatt, Trevor A., 46 Hillside Road, Earley, Reading RG6 2LS Guyatt, Mrs. Mavis A., PS 7 1 " xdinot Gwynne, Mrs. C. 0., Fescues, Basingstoke Road, Riseley, RG7 1QL Hall, N. M., 9 Edney Court, Gladridge Close, Earley, Reading RG6 2DN
-.56 -
Halstead, L. B., D Sc., Ph.D., 54 Palmer Park Avenue, Reading RG6 1DN Halstead, Mrs. J. A., M.M.A.A., " bs " " Lew Harrison, ‘Thomas D., B.Sc., Pryer's Orchard, Leighton: Bark wh School, Reading RG2 7DB Hartwell, V., 37 Byron Round, ——- Reading Hartwell, Mrs., M ~ : Hawkes, Q. J., 73 Inglewood Court, Liebenrood Road, Reading RG3 2DU Hawkins, Mrs. S., 63 Tilehurst Road, Reading ; Heather, Mrs. V., 6 Pembroke Place, Caversham, Reading Helyar, W., 29 West Street, Tadley, Hants. RG26 Herlihy, Mrs. D. J., Cherry Pool, Chestnut Grove, Fleet, , Aldershot, Hants. GU13 9BN Highwood, Miss Susan, 78 Foxcombe Drive, Tilehurst, Reading Hine, Stuart John, 99 St. Saviours Road, Reading RG1 6EJ Hobson, J. A., C.Eng., M.Sc (Eng.), 27 Burnham Rise, Emmer Green, Reading RG4 8xJ Hodge, A. R., 66 Tawfield, Breckmelis RGIP KYO Hodges, -Mrsi“D J., " = Hogger, J.°Bt, Mi isBiols 7634 pees cacell Reading RG1 7YL Helly, Miss E. F., 38 King's Road, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2DG Holmes, Alan Stewart, 7 St. John's Street, Reading Homer, Theo. J. G., M.A., St. Timothee, Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead SL6 6PA Housden, Mrs. H. V., 9 Knowle Close, Upper Woodcote Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 7LH Housden, Miss June, " He " = " ” Hughes, Michel R., 34 Alexandra Road, Reading Hutt, T. W. J., 36 Winton Road, Reading RG2 8HH Hutt, Mrs “DMV, " t " " Jackman, Mrs. Jennifer Mary, B.Sc., 14 Orwell Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 7PU Jalland, Raymond V., 460 Holsis=nam Road, Earley, Reading Jalland, Mrs. Elaine, " rt " RG6 2HY Senior, Kim, " " 7) " iw 7 Senior ; Paul 2 " " W W " ” Jea, R. I., 31 Angel Mead, Woolhampton, Reading RG7 5SJ Jones, R. N., B.Sc., Weir Bank Lodge, Monkey Island Lane, Bray, Maidenhead, Berks. SL6 2ED Kay, Mrs. 3., M.Sc., 39 St. Peter's Avenue, Caversham,
; Reading Kemp, B. R., B.A., ‘Ph.D., 12 Redhatch Drive, Earley, Reading Lambden, Mrs. H. D., B Sc., 74 Beech Lane, Earley, Reading Lee, Miss Miriam Marjorie, 14 Denmark Road, Reading RG1 5PA Leeke, Cyril J... B.Sc., A.M.I.Biol., 1 Heathway, Chapel
Hill, Tilehurst, Reading Leeke, Mrs o9 ‘ Ww " " " 1 LeMare, Dr. P.,.66 Highmoor Road, Caversham, Reading LeMare, Mrs, Joy,. wy ” " " Levy, Bernard G., B.A., Ph.D., Tanaples Cottage, Whitchurch
Hill, Pangbourne, Reading Lloyd, Miss Annette, Grey Squirrels, 2 Greystoke Road, Caversham, Reading
Lomax, Mrs. C. J., 11 Roundhead Road, Theale, Reading RG7 5DL Long, Mrs. Monica M., B.A., 3 Ennerdale Road, Reading RG2 7HH Lorimer, Mrs., The Pines, 276 Wokingham Road, Reading RG6 1JU
am he.
Lucy, George, Pike Croft, Ridgemount Close, Long Lane, Tilehurst, Reading Lucy, Mrs. Dora, " tt " " " it Lush, Miss Gillian, 32 Matthews Green Road, Wokingham Lush, R., " " " " " -McCowd, Miss Anne, M.Phil., 78 Fairford Road, Tilehurst, Reading RG3 6QP MacDonald, Miss C., 44 Priest Avenue, Wokingham, RG11 2LX McEwen, Mrs. Cecilia J., 26 Junction Road, Reading RG1 5SA Martin, Miss J, P., 4 Laurel Avenue, Crookham Park, Newbury RG15 8DR Moon, A. E., FRMetS, 267 Mount Pleasant Road, Hastings, East Boeer TNH34 3SS Morgan, Dr. Christopher James, 14 Redfield Court, Newbury RG. 4Qx Morphew, David, B.Sc., 46 Queen's Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 8DL Morris, John F., B.Sc., Windsor Hall, Upper Redlands Road, Reading Mount, Mrs. Philippa, 9 Hillside, Whitchurch, Oxon. RG8 7HL Needs, Miss B., 26 Lorne Street, Reading Newing, Miss Jennifer M., 16 Ma®dén Close, Reading RG3 2DH Newman, Dr. C. L., Weatherfox Cottage, Manor Farm Lane, Tidmarsh, Pangbourne, Reading Newman, Mrs. C. M., as 4 m * Newman, Timothy, soe US u o Newman, Jonothan, m ” bs Newman, Jeremy, : is i a i Newman, James F., B.Sc., PF, R.E.S., Barley Cottage,
. 25 Beech Lane, Barkoy.s Reading RG6 2PT Newman, Mrs. B. M., " nen S Newman, John A., 37 Sevenoaks Road, Maiden Erleigh, Reading Newman, Mrs., W " " " "W Norris, Peter Antony, 80 Basingstoke Road, Reading Notton, J. H. F., 16 Crawshay Drive, Emmer Green, Reading , 3 RG4 8SX
Notton, Mrs. Re tens " " " " i" " Notton, Gwynneth, rT) " i] iT " 7) Notton 3 David , wu ty " W i Olver, Miss Catherine, 38 New Road, Reading Osorio, M. R., Walliscote Cottage, Whitchurch-on-Thames, Pangbourne, Berks. Owen, Dr. Harold, 223 Church Road, Earley, Reading RG6 1HW Padioy, F. Co, M.B.E., 2 Eldon etade. Reading Palmer, D. C., 44 Redhatch Drive, Earley, Reading RG6 2QR Palmer, Mrs. Ruth, e " m i e Parker, W., 17 Meadow Way, Dorney Reach, Maidenhead Peachey, Miss Caroline Anne, B.Sc., M. Phil., Brasenose Farm, Eastern By Pass, Oxford OX4 2Q2Z Penman, Bruce, 123 Upper Woodcote Road, Caversham, Reading Perry, Mrs. Amy K., 44. Reading Road, Burghfield Common, : Reading RG7 3QA Perry, Miss Rowena, " % " " : u Phillips, Nigel J., The Warden's House, Bix Bottom, Henley-on-Thames Phillips, Mrs. Janet, se " an a z Piet, soviet O,, DA, M.t.Biol., F.it.B.S., Oakleigh, Gatehampton Road, Goring-on-Thames, Oxon. Pont, Mrs, B.} " " " " " "
sie BSS es
Price, Arthur, 6 Mansfield Road, Reading Priest, A. S., 81 Beverley Road, og ie Reading _ lh Priest, Mrs. 1. N.; bs Reed, B. A., 285 Overdown Road, Tilehurst, £00 387) RG3 ébp Bavnatale® Mrs. Deborah, Wocttons Cottage, Dusit burr Common, Upper Woolhampton, Nr. Reading Rhodes, Mrs. K. F., B.Sc., 65 Tilehurst Road, Reading RG3 2JC Robinson, Miss Suzanne Jill, 87 Chiltern Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 OHS Ryley, M., Flat 2, 74 Elmhurst Road, Reading RG1 5HY ' Sandell, K. A., 95 Porter Road, Basingstoke, RG22 4JR Sandford, J. E., St. Elmo, South Stoke Road, Woodcote, Reading RG8& OPL Sandford, Mrs., W uw "W " " " " " Sell, Martin R. W., B.A., 27 Fernbrook Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 7HG Senior, see under Jalland Shaw, George Norman, 21 Burlington Road, Tilehurst, Reading RG3 4QG Shaw, Mrs. Edith May, " ¥ " ms bu " Silver, Peter, 11 Scott Close, Emmer Green, Reading RG4 8NY Sinclair, Miss Chris, B.Sce., Ph.D., 82 Cumberland Road, . Reading RG1 3JT Smith, Robert H., B.A., M.Sc., 7 Repton Road, Earley RG7 3QA Stacey, Miss Mary, 8 Church Street, Theale, Reading RG7 5BT Stafford, Mrs. C. M., 28 Rowan Close, Sonning Common, Reading Stacics,; T. He, 6 eee Crowe Welsseeae RGL1 HAT Stagles, Mrs., " " Steven, Dr. Elunid Mair, 9 Wincroft Road, engnety a Reading Stollery, J., 6 Lea View, Hermitage, Newbury Syrad, Mark, 12 Westerham Walk, Reading Tampion, William, M.A., Ph.D., 239 Hemdean Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 7QX Tampion, Mrs. Doreen, M.A., Ph.D., id 24 i ” Tampion, Ariadne Ann, " " ” ” Tampion, Penelope Jane, uy He Tampion, Helen Zoe, " e " fn S Taylor, Miss K. F., 6 Cannon Court Road, Furze Platt, Maidenhead, SL6 7QT Thiel, Mrs. H. M., Torbreck, Oatlands Road, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9DN Thomas, K., 20 Glebe = Puarhey, Ree dae RG8 8DP Thomas, Michael, " " " Thomas, W. L., B.A., 91 St. Peter's Avenue, Caversham, Reading RGM 7DP Thomas, Mrs. D. N.,' B.Sc.w., Mt " Townend, Miss Shirley Y., B.Sc., Flat 6, 74 Wensley ee Reading RG1 6DN Townsend, Miss Heather A., 34 Alexandra Road, Reading Trembath, Mrs. E. Mary, 5 Thames Avenue, Pangbourne, Reading RG8 7BU Trickett, Miss S., 44 Inglewood Court, Liebenrood Road, Tilehurst, Reading Turner, R. W., 123 Goldhurst Terrace, London NW6 3EX Vick, G. S., B.Sc., ‘Crossfields, Little London, Basingstoke, Hants. Vick, Mrs. M; C.,; B.Se., A.M.I.Biol., " " " " Vleugels, Mrs. Rosemary, 40 Waverley Road, Reading
- 59 -
Walker, Miss Ann, M.Sc., Ph.D., 6 Salcombe Drive, Earley, Reading Ward, J. L., M.Phil., C.Eng., M I.Mech.E., 10 Uffington Close, Tilehurst, Reading RG3 5LY Ward, Mrs. Sheila, ue " a us e Ward, John, " 7) " ft " Ward, Sandra, Ww rT 1) " " Watson, Miss Elaine, B.V.M.S., M.V.M., M.R.C.V.S., 1 Hartley Court Farm Cottages, Three Mile Cross, Reading Webb, J. J., 13 Crawshay — Emmer Green, Reading RG4 8SX Webb ‘ Mrs - ala M. A Ww " 0 uw " W Webb F Ri chard 7 W 1] il i w w Webb ; Andrew 5 Ww " " W Ww "W "W Webb, Mrs. Wendy, 47 Church Square, Basingstoke, Hants. Webster, Miss Sarah, B.A., Botany Dept., University of Reading, Whiteknights RG6 2AS Whitfield, Dr. G. R., Ashdown, Basingstoke Road, Spencers Wood, Reade Whitfield, Mrs. S. Jocelin, " 4 m = Whitfield, Miss Robin, a“ us Wd “ " Whitfield, George William, " e a " " Wilkins, Robert, 4 Kendrick Road, Reading RG1 5DW Wilkinson, W., 6 Cedar Close, Wokingham RG11 1EA foune, Paul, B.Sc., Ph.D., D.I.C., c/o Froxfield, 10 Grovelands Road, Spencers Wood, Reading
Schools and Institutional Members
Alfred Sutton Boys' School, Crescent Road, Reading (Mr. B. G. Stubbs, Head of Science) Bulmershe School, Chequers Way, Woodley Forest School Biology Society, Forest School, Robinhood Lane, Winnersh (Mr. R. L. Norton, Head of Biology) Kendrick School, London Road, Reading RG1 5BN (The Headmistress ) Reading School, Erleigh Road, Reading RG1 5LW Science Dept., Reading College of Technology, Kings Road, Reading (Dr. A. M. B. Whitaker) Southlands School, Northumberland Avenue, Reading (The Headmistress )
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