Volume 88 No. 1 ISSN 0049-5891 THE VASCULUM · Volume 88 No. 1 ISSN 0049-5891 THE VASCULUM Dates...

Volume 88 No. 1 ISSN 0049-5891

THE VASCULUM

Dates for the Diary-Field Meetings 2003 1

Moth Records for Northumberland 2002 (vc 67 and 68) 3

Notes and Records 7

An Atlas of the Dragonflies of Northumberland and Durham-An Update 12

Observations on the stem galls of the Hawkweed Hieracium sabaudum L.

induced by Aulacidea hieracii (Bouché) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae): Local

records and associated parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoideae)

20

Some Further Records of Fungi with particular reference to Northumberland 27

Leucoscypha erminea (Bomm. & Rouss.) Boud. an uncommon discomycete

found near Blanchland

31

Editors:

Dr P.J. Gates,([email protected])

Department of Biological Science,

University Science Laboratories,South Road,Durham.

Dr. M Birtle ([email protected])

10, Avon Grove,

Billingham

Co. Durham, TS22 5BH

Published by the Northern Naturalists’

Union

The North Country Quarterly

of Natural History

THE VASCULUM

The Vasculum is a quarterly journal concerned with the Natural History of North-East England.

Founded in 1915 as a privately-published concern, since 1942 it has been the published organ of

the Northern Naturalists' Union. Any contribution on the Flora, Fauna and Geology of

Northumberland and Durham will be considered for inclusion. Short notes as well as longer

articles and simple records all fall within the scope of the journal. Space is also available for

secretaries of local societies to record their transactions and announce future meetings.

For preferred style, and particularly for the method of citing references, will contributors please

refer to previous issues. At least a four-figure grid reference should be supplied when referring to

sites.

Contributions are accepted on paper, computer disc, or e-mail: the address for

contributions is given on the front cover of this issue.

THE NORTHERN NATURALISTS' UNION

The Northern Naturalists' Union (NNU) was founded in 1924 to promote co-operation between

natural history societies, and to collect and collate local records. Membership currently stands at

around 200.

The NNU publishes The Vasculum, and several past publications included a series of

Transactions published between 1931 and 1953 and three separately published supplements to

The Vasculum: Sources of Information on the Natural History of County Durham (1972) and

parts I and II of T.C. Dunn & J.D. Parrack's The Moths and Butterflies of Northumberland and

Durham (1986 & 1992).

The NNU organises a series of field meetings each year, and arranges a speaker for an Annual

Invited Lecture, hosted by one of the constituent societies in November. An Annual General

Meeting of the NNU is held in March, and is addressed by a guest speaker.

The field meetings serve a dual purpose. First, the informal exchange of knowledge between

members and their guests, and secondly the recording of the flora and fauna of the sites visited.

Lists of the species seen during field meetings are published in The Vasculum. Subscriptions

Subscriptions are due on 1st January. Subscriptions are £7.00 for individuals, £9.00 for

societies/libraries and should be sent to

Northern Naturalists’ Union, C/o Office Administrator, Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton

Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6PU

1

THE VASCULUM

Vol. 88, No 1 March 2003

Dates for the Diary

Dates and locations of field meetings for this year are-

Field Meeting 246 10th May 2pm. Norman's Riding Wood, Winlaton, near Blaydon on Tyne.

Meet at NZ 164 618 at the poultry farm car park. Leader; Doug McCutcheon. Woodland birds

insects and botany.

Field Meeting 247 14th June. 10 p.m Note night time meeting. Glow worms and moths at

Thrislington quarry. Meet at NZ 308 328,Leaders Val Standen and John Hope. Moth trapping also

on the night, courtesy of Nick Cook.

Field Meeting 248 12th July 2pm. Hetton Moor to Murton. Meet at NZ 360471 at the fishing

lake. Circular route, round Little Eppleton Farm, the site is basically limestone with patches of

acid. Interests will be botanical and entomological. Frog orchids are recorded here among other

orchid species . Leader Dennis Hall.

Field Meeting 249 27th July.(Sunday).11a.m. Castle Eden Dene. Meet Oakershaw Lodge,

Peterlee, NZ428393. With the British Plant Gall Society.

Field Meeting 250 23 August.2pm. Harehope Quarry, Frosterly, Weardale. Meet at NZ 035369

at the river bridge. Leader Tony Jackson. Habitats to be seen include limestone scree, caves,

wetland and woodland.

The site is being developed as a sustainable

fishery, nature reserve and educational centre. The

Bollihope Burn flows through the site, caves,

flora, fauna etc. Wind turbine and solar panels are

already in place. We must park by the Durham

Industrial Minerals sign at the eastern edge of

Frosterley and walk about half a mile up the track

to the quarry.

2

Field Meeting 251 13th September. 11am. Fungal foray at Minsteracres. Leader Alan Legg.

With North East Fungi Study Group. Details to follow in later issue.

The North of England Pyralid Workshop

The North of England Pyralid Workshop will be held on Saturday 18th October 2003 1030-1530

at Edgehill College, Ormskirk, Lancashire. There will be the opportunity to identify, with the help

of experts, any photos or specimens you have collected during the 2003 season or previously. An

illustrated talk will be given by Tony Davis who runs the national Pyralid recording scheme and

some set specimens and books on the group will be available for examination. Administrative

arrangements are detailed in a booking form available on request to Steve Palmer at

[email protected] or phone 01772 861570. A small charge may be levied on the day.

Tea and coffee will be provided at no charge but food availability is limited on campus at the

weekend, as the cafeteria is shut. Sandwiches are available from the college shop which is open

all day on a Saturday, and Ormskirk has plenty of places to get hot food. Of course Graham Jones,

the organiser, would be more than happy to personally guide people to the nearest pub for lunch if

they so require! The event is limited to 40 people so early booking is recommended.

http://mymail.tees.ac.uk/[email protected]

3

Moth Records for

Northumberland 2002 (vc 67 and 68)

Nicholas Cook, 31 Lyndhurst Avenue, Jesmond,

Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3LJ

A good season to report with three new County records, and a new recorder making himself

known! As usual, the notable records are presented in chronological order:

April

Early Grey

Xylocampa areola

Michael Greene took one at Corbridge on 5 April.

Although there have been a few records from Durham

since Dunn and Parrack (1986), this is the first record

for Northumberland since 1983. In my experience,

this moth is as likely to be sitting on a wall outside the

moth trap as being found within!

Red Sword-grass

Xylena vestusta

Joyce Keating had one at Kirkwhelpington on 20

April.

May

Marbled Coronet

Hadena confusa

Roger Edwards recorded one at Belford on 4 May.

The first record for VC68 since 1983.

Glaucous Shears

Papestra biren

As usual, David Kipling at Keilder produced a

specimen on 7 May, and Bill Monck had one at

Ladycross on 29 May.

Grey Birch

Aethalura punctulata

A new County record for VC67. Lance Moore and I

look one at light at Havannah Nature Reserve,

Hazelrigg on 19 May.

Yellow-barred Brindle

Acasis viretata

Taken at the same time as the Grey Birch above. The

only other recent records are from Allerwash, where

Peter Tennant took it three times in 1989, 1990, and

1994.

June

Grey Scalloped Bar

Dyscia fagaria

Belford, 9 June.

Small Yellow Wave

Hydrelia flammeolaria

Keith Dover beat an adult from alder at Low Countess

Park on 15 June (National Moth Night 2002). This

specimen has already been recorded in the Vasculum

(87.2).

4

Gold Swift

Hepialus hecta

Low Countess Park, 16 June. Over 35 newly emerged

males were found on grass stems along the disused

North Tyne railway line.

Scorched Wing

Plagodis dolabraria

Low Countess Park, 17 June. Only the third locality

for this moth in Northumberland and Durham (the

others being Keilder and Allerwash).

Small Clouded Brindle

Apamea unanimis

Two at Low Countess Park, 17 June. The moths were

in a Heath trap set in a wet area with Reed Grass

(Phalaris arundinacea).

Scalloped Hook-tip

Falcaria lacertinaria

Low Countess Park, 18 June. This is the third recent

record for Northumberland. Harry Eales has recorded

two post-Dunn and Parrack records from Holystone

Burn and Phoenix Wood on the Otterburn Ranges

during 2000.

Cloaked Pug

Eupithecia abietaria

Low Countess Park, 18 June.

Figure of Eighty

Tethea ocularis

Low Countess Park, 19 June. This species is

continuing to extend its range rapidly.

Northern Eggar

Lasiocampa quercus ssp.callunae

Mature larvae were abundant at Cheviot and Keilder

Forest on 23 June. Lance Moore and I estimated the

number at two per square metre of heather in the area

adjacent to the forestry roads!

Beautiful Brocade

Lacanobia contigua

Two in Joyce Keating’s trap at Kirkwhelpington on

23 and 24 June. These are important records as

previously this moth has only been recorded from

Wooler in 1910.

July

Cream Wave

Scopula floslactata

Ingram Information Centre, 7 July.

Double Dart

Graphiphora augur

Shaun Hackett had four on 8 July at the Ingram

Information Centre.

5

Large Wainscot

Rhizedra lutosa

Belford, 17 and 28 July, and 5 August.

Lilac Beauty

Apeira syringaries

Kirkwhelpington, 21 July.

Double-striped Pug

Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

Fenham-le-Moor, 22 July. A new county record for

VC68. A ‘tourist’s trap’; who kindly sent his records

to me!

Crescent

Celaena leucostigma

Fenham-le-Moor, 22 July.

Pinion-streaked Snout

Schrankia costaestrigalis

Fenham-le-Moor, 23 July. Previously recorded from

this location on 5 August 1998 (Vasculum 85.4).

Dingy Shears

Enargin ypsillon

Belford, 28 July. Roger Edwards reports that the

specimen had a clear greenish tinge.

Galium Carpet

Epirrhoe galiata

Whitley Bay, 30 July and four at Ladycross Quarry

between 13 and 23 August.

Dwarf Cream Wave

Idaea fuscovenosa

Rothbury, 30 July.

Satin Beauty

Deileptenia ribeata

Belford, 31 July. This was confirmed at Rothamsted.

It is the fifth time that Roger Edwards has taken this

species (the others being 25/7/92, 26/8/92, 26/7/95

and 23/7/96).

August

The Olive

Ipimorpha subtusa

Havannah Nature Reserve, Hazelrigg on 8 August.

Least Yellow Underwing

Noctua interjecta

Havannah Nature Reserve, 8 July; and eight in

Michael Greene’s trap in Corbridge between 12 and

29 August.

Dark Sword-grass

Agrotis ipsilon

Whitley Bay, 12 August.

Death’s-head Hawkmoth

Acherontia atropos

After a night’s moth trapping at Pow Hill, one flew

into and settled on Keith Dover’s car headlights as he

headed home near Edmondbyers on 12 August.

Unfortunately, after the usual hard night’s work

around the lamp, Keith was not quick enough to get

the moth into his net and it escaped capture!

6

Heath Rustic

Xestia agathina

Bill Monck took 79 between 14 August and 11

September at Ladycross Quarry. This is a good

number of adults, as Tom Dunn reported that moths

are infrequent at light, with most records being of

larvae. Shaun Hackett also had three at Tosson (NU

034001) on 14 August.

Pebble Hook-tip

Drepana falcataria

One in my suburban trap in Jesmond on 15 August.

Normally found in birch woodland, although there are

one or two silver birches in gardens nearby. Perhaps

an example of the adjacent Metro line acting as a

wildlife corridor?

Red Underwing

Catocala nupta

Regular records of this moth in County Durham start

from August 1992, and Keith Dover now expects to

take about ten a year in his trap at Chester-le-Street. It

was, therefore, only a matter of time between it

appeared in VC67! Keith Regan took one in his

garden at Whitley Bay on 31 August. This is a new

county record.

September

Convolvulus Hawk-moth

Agrius convolvuli

One in Keith Regan’s garden at Whitley Bay on 10

September.

Vapourer

Orgyia antiqua

Males are frequently seen in Jesmond, but on 14

September I had one inside the trap. This is the first

time I have taken it at light.

Flounced Chestnut

Agrochola helvola

Blanchland Moor, 14 September.

Svensson’s Copper Underwing

Amphipyra berbera

Now common in gardens and woodlands, Keith

Dover and I took a moorland specimen on Blanchland

Moor on 14 September.

November

Juniper Carpet

Thera juniperata

Joyce Keating had two at Kirkwhelpington on 3 and

15 November. This is only the fourth and fifth record

for Northumberland.

To the list of traps published in Vasculum 87.2, I can add:

K Regan of Briar Avenue, Whitley Bay

I would like to thank all those recorders who have sent me their records.

7

Notes and Records

Some late records from the Hesleden Dene meeting of 18.5.02, not already recorded in the

Vasculum. All are from within the dene.

Flowering Plants

Mercurialis perennis Dogs Mercury

Allium ursinum Ramsons

Ranunculus ficaria Lesser Celandine

Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort

Hyacinthoides non scriptus Bluebell

Crateagus mongyna Hawthorn

Corylus avellana Hazel

Rubus eboracensis

Fraxinus excelsior Ash

Ulmus glabra Wych Elm

Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore

Viola riviniana Common Dog Violet

Silene dioica Red Campion

Angelica sylvestris Angelica

Circea lutetiana Enchanters Nightshade

Arum maculatum Cuckoo Pint

Myosotis sylvatica Wood Forget-me-not

Epilobium montanum Broad-leaved Willowherb

Rumex conglomerates Clustered Dock

Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb

Sambucus nigra Elderberry

Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard

Valeriana officinalis Valerian

Gallium aparine Cleavers

Primula veris Cowslip

Ajuga repens Bugle

Poterium sanguisorba Salad Burnet

Hypericum perforatum Perforate St. John’s-wort

Plantago major Greater Plantain

Gallium cruciata Crosswort

Vicia craca Tufted Vetch

Tussilago farfara Coltsfoot

Trifolium pratense Red Clover

Potentilla repens Creeping Cinquefoil

Plantago media Hoary Plantain

Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle

Campanula latifolia Giant Bellflower

Veronica beccabunga Brooklime

Polygonum cuspidatum Japanese Knotweed

Impatiens glandulifera Himalayan Balsam

Tolmiea menzeisii Pick-a-back-plant

Crepis paludosa Marsh Hawk’s-beard

Geum rivale Water Avens

Prunus spinosa Blackthorn

8

Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley

Sagina procumbens Procumbent Pearlwort

Salix cinerea Grey Willow

Moehringia trinervia Three-veined Sandwort

Equistum arvense Common Horsetail

Vicia sativa Common vetch

Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet

Prunella vulgaris Selfheal

Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle

Orchis mascula Early Purple Orchid

Dactylorhiza purpurella Northern Marsh Orchid

Succisa pratensis Devil’s-bit Scabious

Eupatorium cannabinum Hemp Agrimony

Senecio jacobaea Common Ragwort

Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle

Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium Opposite Leaved Golden-saxifrage

Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone

Primula vulgaris Primrose

Vicia sepum Bush Vetch

Oxalis acetosella Wood Sorrel

Alchemilla xanthochlora a Ladies mantle

Achillea millefolium Yarrow

Grasses and sedges

Arrhenatherum elatius False oat grass

Festuca gigantean Giant fescue

Festuca rubra Red fescue

Agrostis stolonifera Creeping bent

Dactylis glomerata Cocksfoot

Bromus ramosus Wood brome

Carex nigra Common sedge

Mosses and liverworts

Eurynchium praelongum

Eurynchium striatum

Thuidium tamariscinum

Plagiothecium undulatum

Polystichum aculeatum

Ctenidium molluscum

Mnium hornum

Cirryphylum piliferum

Brachythecium velutinum

Brachythecium populeum

Plagiomnium rostratum

Orthotrichum affine

Conocephalum conicum

9

Ferns

Asplenium scolopendrium Harts tongue fern

Drypoteris filix-mas Male fern

Dryopteris dilatata Broad buckler fern

Fungi

Daldina concentrica King Alfreds cake

Polyporus squamosus Dryads saddle

Invertebrates

Dasysyrphus fruilensis a hoverfly

Rhingia campestris a hoverfly

Arion ater a slug

Aglais urticae Small tortoiseshell butterfly (larvae)

Anthocaris cardamines Orange tip butterfly (eggs on garlic mustard)

Eppirhoe alternata Common carpet

Cylindroiulus sabulosum Striped millipede

Pyrhosoma nymphula Large red damselfly

Panorpa communis Scorpion fly

Pyrochroa serraticornis Cardinal beetle

Vertebrates

Sylvia atricapilla Black cap

Phylloscopus collybita Chiff chaff

Alauda arvensis Skylark

Erithacus rubecula Robin

Troglodytes troglodytes Wren

Bufo bufo Common toad

Talpa europa Mole

Terry Coult, 4 Officials Row, Malton, Lanchester, Co. Durham, DH7 0TH

10

Moth records from Malton, NZ179462, 2002.

1.4.02 Oak Beauty Biston strataria first record

19.6.02 Beautiful Carpet Mesoleuca

albicillata

first record

22.6.02 Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida first record

11.8.02 Broad Bordered

Yellow Underwing

Noctua fimbriata first record

17.8.02 Least Yellow

Underwing

Noctua interjecta

caliginosa

first record

17.8.02 Manchester Treble Bar Carsia sororiata

anglica

first record

17.8.02 Olive Ipimorpha subtusa only previous record 1992

8.9.02 Bullrush Wainscot Nonagria typhae imago from the Malton Reserve

pond (NZ182458), first record.


Notes on the Lunar Hornet Clearwing (Sesia bembeciformis)

For some years now I have been trying to confirm by catching the moth that the holes in the

trunks of the sallows on Durham Wildlife Trust’s, Malton Reserve are the exit holes of the

caterpillars of the Lunar Hornet Clearwing Moth (Sesia bembeciformis). Daily checks of a group

of sallows with old exit holes were made during June 2002 and on the 23 of June a single

chrysalis was found protruding from one of the sallow trunks. On the same day I sleeved all of the

sallow trunks in the group. Checks were made throughout the rest of June and July but nothing

more emerged from this group of sallows. A sallow was found by the reserve pond on the 7th of

July with a further three chrysalises protruding from it. No moths were caught. Despite failure at

Malton a single imago of the Lunar Hornet Clearwing was found on the trunk of a sallow at the

western end of Derwent Reservoir on the 8th of July 2002. The exact location being in the triangle

of land formed where the road to the Carricks picnic area leaves the B6306 Edmundbyers to

Blanchland road at NY983511.


11

Strensall Common

Dark Bordered Beauty Survey

The Dark Bordered Beauty is one of Britain’s rarest moths, being confined to just five known

sites. Three sites are in Scotland, with Strensall Common, near York one of only two English

sites.

This year Butterfly Conservation, in conjunction with Defence Estates and Yorkshire Wildlife

Trust, are conducting two surveys at Strensall Common:

Larval search 10.00am Wednesday, 25th June 2003

Meet at the car park, adjacent the cattle grid on the Strensall to Flaxton road, 1.5 miles east of the

entrance to Queen Elizabeth’s Barracks SE 648612

The larvae are known to feed on Creeping Willow in damp/wet lightly wooded heathland. The

purpose of this event is to locate the main breeding areas used at Strensall Common.

Adult search 9.30am Wednesday, 30th July 2003

Meet at the car park as above. The purpose of this event is to map the distribution of the moth, by

searching known localities at Strensall Common, as well as several areas supporting potential

habitat.

Defence Estates and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust are very keen to ensure the site is managed

appropriately for the Dark Bordered Beauty, so these surveys are crucial to our understanding of

the requirements of the moth. You do not have to be an expert to participate in these events!

Butterfly Conservation will provide any necessary training.

For both events you are advised to bring strong footwear and preferably Wellington boots, as the

site remains wet throughout much of the year. The majority of the site is owned by the MOD, and

open access is only permitted on Wednesdays. The site is used for military training and access

may be closed at short notice. Please contact Dr Sam Ellis 01388 488999 or sellis@butterfly-

conservation.org to book a place on the event, leaving a contact telephone number or email

address.

12

An Atlas of the Dragonflies of Northumberland and Durham.

An update.

H.T. Eales. 11. Ennerdale Tce. Low Westwood, Durham. NE17 7PN.

British Dragonfly Society County Recorder for Northumberland.

[email protected]

Naturalists in Northumberland and Durham have, over the past century and a half produced

numerous lists, catalogues, reports and more recently, atlases of local flora and fauna. The early

(pre.1960) lists and reports occasionally gave localities where species could be found and it was

left for those interested, to look up these locations on their own maps. Since the 1960’s recording

has been more specific, and, following the lead given by The Biological Records Centre (BRC)

now the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology and Hydrology. Recorders now include on their record

cards, Ordnance Survey grid references, habitat types, altitude and other ecological data when

making a record. This data enables accurate distribution maps to be produced and the additional

observations supplied detailed information as to the ecological requirements of many species.

This in turn gives nature reserve managers, wildlife trusts and other conservation agencies data on

important sites and what habitat conservation measures may be required.

Locally the Dragonflies have been more or less ignored by entomologists until very recently,

although the earliest known Northumberland records date from 1769 and those from Durham

from 1826, the number of records in the pre.1960 period amount to little more than a mere

handful. Potential recorders were handicapped by a paucity of good books on dragonfly

identification, the only readily available reference book being Cynthia Longfield’s Dragonflies of

the British Isles (1937). This situation started to change in the 1960’s and a virtual plethora of

identification guides have appeared over the last forty years.

In Durham in the late seventies a small loose knit group of amateur recorders formed ‘The

Durham Dragonfly Group’. These recorders did considerable work before the group’s gradual

disintegration in the late 1980’s. In Northumberland during the same period John Durkin, Stuart

Ball, Gordon Simpson, and I recorded individually, all of us passing our records on to the BRC or

latterly, The British Dragonfly Society.

The lack of a comprehensive local Dragonfly Atlas was noted by Les Jessop, the Natural Sciences

Officer at the Hancock Museum then working as a museum volunteer, which had published

several local atlas’s during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. In an article in one of the last issues

of Recording News No.15 (1990), he announced that he was compiling data with a view to

publishing an Atlas entitled: The Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies) of North-East England. I

along with other recorders submitted our record data and these were entered into the museums

‘Recorder’ computer programme. As these records mounted up maps and text were produced and

provisional

13

copies were circulated to interested persons for comment, whilst a publisher was sought.

Several problems then arose which meant that work on the Dragonfly Atlas was temporarily

suspended. In 1998 I volunteered to take over the compilation and mapping of data and do further

work, if required, on the text. It would appear from the forgoing that little additional work was

needed, however, as more data came in several changes were deemed necessary.

Firstly, the ground area encompassed in the atlas originally covered Northumberland, Durham

and Cleveland, the latter area being formed by political boundary changes in 1976, and which is

now defunct. The records from that part of Cleveland which intruded into Yorkshire were

relatively few and far between, and, as the majority of previously published local atlases and

catalogues had used the Watsonian Vice-counties, Vc’s 66, 67 and 68 as the local area

delimitation, I decided to follow this format in order that there was continuity and consistency in

recording area.

A print out of the accumulated records from Recorder (some 2,200 in number) were re-entered

onto a special Excel spreadsheet which enabled very rapid transfer of grid reference and record

date grouping data onto Dr. Roger Morton’s ‘Dmap’ programme. The decision not to continue

using the Recorder programme was made because I personally do not consider it a user friendly

system, any computer programme which requires two bulging A4 binders to hold the User

Manual is too time consuming and cumbersome to use, even with considerable practice.

Admittedly, the Recorder programme has advantages in certain respects, but for the production of

the distribution maps nothing is faster than Dmap. A brief analysis of these records is provided

below.

Secondly, an increase in the numbers of very active dragonfly recorders, especially in Durham,

during the late 1990’s has resulted in a plethora of new record data which brings the total number

of local records to over 10,200 individual entries. This new record data necessitated a review of,

and considerable modification to, the original species typescript as distribution patterns of some

species had changed noticeably.

Thirdly, a critical review of the true status of three reported species needed to be carried out. The

species involved here are: The Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo of which there is only one

mapable record. The Variable Damselfly Coenagrion pulchellum, for which there are five records

over a sixty-five year period, and finally a single record of the Vagrant Darter Sympetrum

vulgatum. No known specimens exist to verify any of these records.

The 1985 record of the Beautiful Demoiselle was considered by me to possibly be an error in

identification and the species is more likely to be the Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens

which is known to occur in the same locality. The recorder has been contacted regarding this

identification

14

and after discussion has agreed that this record was an unfortunate, but understandable error in

identification.

The five records of The Variable Damselfly Coenagrion pulchellum pose more of a problem.

Specimens of the Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum and Azure Damselfly

Coenagrion puella are both quite similar in general appearance and are themselves, subject to

occasional variation in markings. It is quite possible that heavily marked specimens of the Azure

Damselfly have been mistaken for the Variable Damselfly. I have searched three of the traceable

localities without success for Variable Damselfly, although I did find both Common Blue and

Azure Damselflies to be common on all of these sites. There are no known records of Variable

Damselfly from adjoining counties, except on the coast of Cumbria, which casts further doubt on

the accuracy of these records. Should however, any recorder find this species I would urge them

to take a specimen for verification or obtain, if possible, a series of photographs taken from

several different angles so as to show the diagnostic characteristics of the specimen. Collecting

insects is frowned upon by many, but there are occasions when taking one specimen for

identification is completely justifiable.

Five photographs of a supposed Vagrant Darter Sympetrum vulgatum, seen at Dorman’s Pool,

Teesmouth, vc66, were shown on a WWW.page, during 2002. However, these pictures do not

conclusively identify the specimen and I personally am of the opinion that the insect is a teneral

Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum. The validity of this record is currently being considered

by the British Dragonfly Society.

Additionally some individual records have to be queried as the date of the record is well outside

the known flight period, e.g. a record of Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense in Durham City in

September 1991 is doubtful as the date given is two months outside the usually accepted flight

time.

The final change I have made is in the date grouping of records. The pre. 1900 record group is

retained, the intermediate group 1900 – 1960 has been altered to 1900 – 1980, and the modern

records are from 1980 onwards, the greater majority of records fall into this latter grouping.

Map 1. Shows all the known records, of all dragonfly species, from all three date groups. It is

apparent from this map, that there are still areas that are under recorded. Records of even the

commonest species are urgently needed from all over north Northumberland, Vc68, from south

west Northumberland, Vc67, and from west Durham, Vc66. Recorders are asked to visit these

areas as often possible during 2003. Further, if any recorders have data of any dragonfly species

in their notebooks which has not reported by them to either Les Jessop or myself, would they

please communicate them to me at the above address as soon as possible, so that they may be

entered onto my computer record files for inclusion in the atlas. Records from any area within the

three Vice-counties and from any date group would be very welcome. The minimum data

required for a record would be: A species name, a locality name, a grid reference of at least four

figures, a date and the recorders name.

http://www.page/

15

I would urge recorders to explore new areas; it is apparent from the record data that many species

are being recorded from the same sites year after year by several recorders. Whilst it is useful to

have a continuity of species records from any given site, records from new unexplored sites have

more value, in that they add to our current knowledge of distribution. The unexplored areas of our

counties can be seen as blank areas on Map 1. The new Ordnance Survey ‘Outdoor Leisure’ and

‘Explorer’ maps of a 1:25 000 scale (2.5” to 1 mile) show far more small water bodies than the

older ‘Landranger’ series which has a scale of 1: 50 000 scale (1.25” to 1 mile).

It is planned that the final text will be completed by the end of 2003; this permits a final year for

records to be made in the under-recorded areas, and investigative enquiries to be made regarding

suspect records. Distribution maps will continue to be updated until just prior to publication.

Map 2. Shows the current number of dragonfly species recorded from each 10km. or part 10km.

square in both Northumberland and Durham. Only records within the Vc boundaries are shown.

16

Map 1. All known records shown by tetrad. (2 x 2km. square).

Co p y rig h t © H. T .E ales. 2 0 0 3 . M ap g en erated b y DM AP .

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

All Dragonfly records from all date groups .

17

Map 2.

Co p y rig h t © H. T .E ales. 2 0 0 3 . M ap g en erated b y DM AP .

1

0 0

0 1 7

0 4

0 2 1

2 5 6 8

0

4 4

7 3 1

6 12 6

1 1 5

10 5 8

1 9 9 7 8

1 9 10 6 10

5 12 9 7

5 10 3 6

4 1 1 9

0 1 3 8

1 2 8

0 1 5

9 4 8 0

9 7 10 0

7 11 14 10

11

0

16 15 17 3

1 14 18 12 1

7 16 16 16 14

11 14 16 14 13 5

11 25 1 17 16 14

0 10 16 16 16

0 2

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

Dragonfly s pec ies recorded per 10km.s q.

18

Analysis of known local Dragonfly records.

Species.

Curren

t status

Year o

f first know

n lo

cal record

Total N

o. o

f

record

s

No. o

f 1x1km

Sq reco

rds

No. o

f Tetrad

record

s

No. o

f record

s

with

out a G

rid R

ef.

Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella. Breeding 1846 791 239 191 0

Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens. Breeding 1769? 157 74 58 2

Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo. Uncertain 1769? 3? 1? 1? 2

Black Darter Sympetrum danae. Breeding 1901 206 88 78 2

Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum. Vagrant 1984 8 5 5 0

Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans. Breeding 1901 1611 386 291 2

Broad - bodied Chaser Libellula depressa. Vagrant 1833 11 7 7 2

Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis. Breeding 1827 226 41 36 1

Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum. Breeding 1930 1239 387 287 0

Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum. Breeding 1826 1630 336 251 1

Common Hawker Dragonfly Aeshna juncea. Breeding 1913 1033 495 338 2

Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa. Breeding 1919 1041 292 225 0

Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator. Breeding 1980 73 24 22 0

Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata. Breeding 1826 96 46 43 0

Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii. Breeding 1769? 163 121 99 4

Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense. Vagrant 1919 3 3 3 0

Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens. Vagrant 1982 1 1 1 0

Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula. Breeding 1916 709 364 276 0

Lesser Emperor Dragonfly Anax parthenope. Migrant 2000 11 2 2 0

Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta. Breeding 1994 202 36 32 1

Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombei. Migrant 1998 11 5 5 0

Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum. Breeding 1901 414 99 79 0

Southern Hawker Dragonfly Aeshna cyanea. Breeding 1901 586 172 140 1

19

Vagrant Darter Sympetrum vulgatum. Uncertain 2001? 1? 1? 1? 0

Variable Damselfly Coenagrion pulchellum. Uncertain 1932? 5? 5? 5? 0

Yellow winged Darter Sympetrum flaveolum. Migrant 1937 7 5 5 0

Totals. 26 species n/a 10,238 3,235 2,481 20

Breeding= Known to be local breeding resident species in Vc’s 66, 67 or 68.

Migrant.= Occasional visitors from abroad which may attempt to breed but which

have not established themselves as permanent British resident species.

Vagrant.= Species which are resident breeding species elsewhere in Britain but

are considered strays from breeding colonies outside the local area or

which may possibly have migrated here from abroad.

Uncertain or ?= Positive identification currently in doubt or unproven locally.

For those interested in taking up dragonfly recording there are several very good identification

guides available at a reasonable price, two of the best are:

The Dragonflies of Great Britain and Ireland. By C.O.Hammond. Revised by R. Merrritt. (2nd

Edition). 1985. Harley Books. Available in hardback or paperback. I.S.B.N. 0 946589 00 3 and 0

946589 14 3 respectively.

Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland. By Steve Brooks. 1997. British

Wildlife Publishing. I.S.B.N. 0 9531399 0 5.

Both these books give excellent illustrations and indicate the diagnostic features of British

Dragonflies. The distribution maps in both volumes are out of date, as considerable changes in

dragonfly distribution have taken place since their publication, but this does not detract from the

value of either book for identification purposes.

Most bookshops these days do not carry such specialist books as stock, but would be able to

obtain them to order. Second hand copies however, may be available on the Internet. By far the

best site for such books is: WWW.abebooks.com This website gives access to over 10,000

bookshops worldwide and searches for any title can easily be carried out. Purchases can be made

online or by contacting the vendor by telephone.

20

Observations on the stem galls of the Hawkweed Hieracium sabaudum L. induced by

Aulacidea hieracii (Bouché) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae): Local records and associated

parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoideae)

Hewett A. Ellis, 16, Southlands, Tynemouth, NE30 2QS

Introduction

Galling of the stems of Hawkweeds by the cynipid Aulacidea hieracii (Bouché, 1834) has been

known in Britain for many years (Connold, 1901; Swanton,1912; Darlington,1975;

Redfern,Shirley & Bloxham, 2002), Several different species of Hawkweed may be affected

(Spooner & Bowdrey,2000). In North-east England the galls were recorded by Bagnall (1916),

who considered them to be widely distributed in County Durham (VC66) and common in Birtley

and the Wear Valley. Bagnall also referred to a record for Chopwell and a personal record for

Wylam. The last location is within South Northumberland (VC67). In more recent years the galls

appear to have been overlooked or largely gone unreported in the region. I know of only two

recent published records for North-east England and both are within County Durham, One of

these is for Hamsterley Forest in August 1985, listed in The Vasculum a decade later (Simpson,

1995); the other relates to two A.hieracii galls which I found on 31st August 2002 during a

N.N.U. Field Meeting to Shincliffe near Durham and listed in The Vasculum (Robbins,2002).

During 2002, whilst searching for further examples of galls on the stems of Cat’s-ear Hypochaeris

radicata L. induced by the cynipid Phanacis hypochoeridis (Kieffer) (Ellis,2000b.), I found

several A. hieracii galls on Hawkweed stems along the course of a dismantled railway between

Middle Engine Lane North Shields and Shiremoor, in South Northumberland(VC67).

Subsequently I made a deliberate search of hawkweeds for the presence of any galls during field

trips, mostly within south-east Northumberland, and found several additional locations. All the

galls were on the stems of Hieracium sabaudum L. [= Hieracium perpropinquum (Zahn) Druce],

determined using the keys of Clapham,Tutin & Moore (1987).

The gross appearance of the stem galls is sufficiently characteristic to permit identification in the

field. However, as this was my first experience of the galls, samples were collected and reared

and the identity of the cynipid A. hieracii confirmed. In addition to the gall-inducing cynipid A.

hieracii, several species of chalcid parasitoids were obtained. The purpose of the present paper is

twofold:

to document personal records of A. hieracii galls found on the stems of H.

sabaudum,

and to give an account of the inhabitants reared from galls collected at one of the

locations.

Personal records of A. hieracii galls

During 2002 I found 63 galls (53 first and 10 second, calendar year galls) at several different

locations within 9 tetrads (8 in VC67 and 1 in VC66), as follows:

21

North Tyneside (VC67)

1. Course of dismantled railway from south of Middle Engine Lane North Shields, to

north of New York Road bridge near Shiremoor NZ 323 693 to NZ 315 706. The

host Hawkweed is scattered along this route, usually in groups at intervals. Found 5

brown dried second calendar year galls north of New York Road bridge 8.v.2002.

These collected and the inhabitants reared Subsequently ( 2.vi.2002, 8.vii.2002,

20.vii.2002, 20.ix.2002 & 24.ix.2002) found a further 4 second year galls and 18 first

year galls (green and pubescent) [total number of galls= 27].

2. On old pit heap, site of former Duke and Duchess Colliery, Earsdon Square near

Earsdon NZ 309 721. Single first year gall 26.vii.2002.

3. Rising Sun Country Park, Wallsend

(i) Reclaimed pit waste, foot of The Hill, edge of small plantation

NZ 298 685. Single first year gall and one old gall with exit

holes. 6.viii.2002.

(ii) Side of old wagonway NZ 304 689. Six plants each with a first

year gall. 4.ix.2002.

(iii) Hedgerow and ditchsides near The Hill NZ 298 687.Several

groups of host plants and 7 with galls (one stem with 2 galls).

18.ix.2002. [Total number of galls= 16]

4. Tynemouth Tyne estuary bank west of Knott's Flats near A.N.D. Works NZ 364 687.

One plant with 2 galled stems (first year). 13.viii.2002.

County Durham (VC66)

Shincliffe near Durham, bankside near footbridge across River Wear NZ 287 418. Two plants

each with a single galled stem (first year galls). 31.viii.2002.

Valley of River Wansbeck (VC67)

Wansbeck Riverside Park near Ashington NZ 286 857. A few plants growing in river bank

opposite Castle Island. Only one with a single first year gall on each of two stems. 11.ix.2002.

Valley of River Blyth (VC67)

Dunes and adjacent grassland near sea, Cambois to North Blyth NZ 306 839 to NZ 311 829. Host

plant widespread but in small numbers. Found 13 plants each with a single galled stem; one

beginning to turn brown but all were first calendar year galls. 27.ix.2002..

Gall inhabitants reared

Five intact second calendar year galls were collected on 8th May 2002 from the dismantled

railway site immediately north of New York Road bridge near Shiremoor (NZ 315 706). Each

gall was kept separately in a plastic container in an unheated room and examined daily for any

emerging insects. The cynipid gall-inducer A. hieracii was identified using the Royal

Entomological Society Handbook for the Identification of Cynipoidea (Eady & Quinlan, 1963)

and subsequently confirmed by Dr R.R.Askew, who also determined the chalcid parasitoids

which emerged.

Gall-inducer A. hieracii

22

A. hieracii began to emerge on 20th May 2002. In all 8 were obtained (2 male & 6 female)

including one female found trapped partially emerged in the wall of a gall. The last cynipid

emerged on 26th May 2002.

Parasitoids

A total of 62 parasitoids were reared, belonging to three families and four genera of the

Chalcidoidea. These were :

Eurytomidae

Eurytoma cynipsea Boheman, 1836

Sycophila subrnutica (Thomson, 1875)

Torymidae

Torymus chloromerus (Walker, 1833)

Pteromalidae

Pteromalus hieracii (Thomson, 1878)

E. cynipsea Twenty-four (10 male & 14 female) accounting for 38.7% of the parasitoids were

obtained from 4 of the 5 galls between 26th May and 15th June 2002.

S. submutica Twenty-nine (4 male & 25 female), 46.8% of parasitoids, were obtained from 4

galls between 1st and 11th June 2002.

T. chloromerus Eight (6 male & 2 female), 12.9% of parasitoids, were reared from only 2 galls

between 16th and 24th May 2002.

P. hieracii This was the least frequent parasitoid (1.6%) with only 1 of the 5 galls giving rise to a

solitary female on 20th May 2002.

In general, male individuals of E. cynipsea, S. submutica and T. chloromerus showed a tendency

to emerge earlier than the female, although there were individual exceptions in each species. The

data for each of the 5 galls are summarised in the Table

Discussion

In view of the paucity of records for A. hieracii galls in Northumberland I was surprised that my

searches revealed the characteristic galls at so many different locations. The Hawkweed H.

sabaudum is scattered throughout South Northumberland (VC67) and very localised in North

Northumberland (VC68) (Swan, 1993). In VC67 I have found the species growing at the foot of

hedgerows, edges of woods and small groups of trees, in an overgrown cemetery, along the sides

of dismantled railways, on river banks, on dunes and on various wastelands including the sites of

former collieries. The galls are not found at all locations where the Hawkweed occurs and, at any

given site usually only a few of the plants present are affected. Apart from the single occasion at

Shincliffe mentioned above, I have not sought the galls in County Durham (VC66) although the

host plant H. sabaudum is said to be frequent in that county (Graham,1988).

The galls are readily recognised and although they may be located at any point along the stem,

they appear to be commoner towards the upper part.

23

Occasionally more than one gall is present but typically there is only one per stem. The galls are

characteristically asymmetric on the stem, ovoid, rounded or pyriform and covered in grey-white

hairs. Mature specimens measure from about 14mm X 8mm to 25mm X 15mm, but occasional

smaller or larger galls up to 65mm X 20mm are encountered. The Hawkweed stem may be

angulated at the site of the gall or there may be an apparent excess of leaves arising from its

surface as though normal stem lengthening has been inhibited at this point. Commonly galls on

the upper part of the stem occur where several flower stalks originate.

The fresh galls are first recognisable at the beginning of June as a localised thickening of the stem

covered by fine grey-white hairs. Initially green there may later be a slight pink flush. The galls

enlarge and mature by the end of August. By late September they are beginning to dry out and

become brown, the pubescence is gradually lost and the hard brown dry galls persist on the stems

overwinter. If opened the galls can be seen to be plurilocular with up to 20 or more cells per gall.

I found the best times to look for the galls were in late summer when the yellow flowers attract

attention to the presence of hawkweeds, and during the winter and following spring, when the

surrounding vegetation has died down and the upright galled stems become relatively

conspicuous.

I am unaware of any previous published works concerning the various species of chalcid

parasitoids associated with A. hieracii galls in Northumberland. However, there are such records

for all four species found in the present study from the galls elsewhere in Britain and Europe. The

three species E. cynipsea, S. submutica and P. hieracii, are specialised in that they are known only

as parasitoids of cynipids which induce galls on herbaceous plants, especially Compositae

(Asteraceae). In contrast, T. chloromerus is a polyphagous species of ectoparasitoid which attacks

Diptera (Cecidomyiidae, gall-midges and Tephritidae, gall-flies) as well as cynipids (Graham &

Gijswijt, 1998).

Thus E. cynipsea, in addition to its association with A. hieracii, is known to attack the cynipid

Phanacis hypochoeridis (Kieffer, 1887) in the stems of Cat’s-ear Hypochaeris radicata L. (Mayr,

1878; Connold,1901). In Northumberland I have reared E. cynipsea previously from P.

hypochoeridis galls of Cat’s-ear collected from three widely separated locations (Ellis,2002a.&

2002b.). Interestingly, one of these sites was along the course of the same dismantled railway near

the present location of A. hieracii galls which proved to have been attacked by E. cynipsea. It

seems that the local E. cynipsea population has a choice of two cynipid hosts.

S. submutica has been reared from A. hieracii galls of various hawkweeds stems in several

English counties- Buckinghamshire, Lancashire, Norfolk, Oxfordshire and Surrey (Claridge,1959;

Askew, 1962). S. submutica has also been reared from a P. hypochoeridis gall of Cat's-ear stem

collected in Lancashire (Askew, 1962) and from a third species of cynipid, Isocolus rogenhoferi

Wachtl, 1880, galling the bracts and achenes of Centaurea scabiosa L. Greater Knapweed in

Berkshire and Oxfordshire (Claridge, 1959).

24

P. hieracii (as Habrocytus hieracii, Thomson), has been recorded previously from A. hieracii

galls from Shotover Hill near Oxford in 1960 and from Ainsdale and Freshfield , Lancashire in

1962 (Askew, 1970). It has been recorded also from another cynipid Aulacidea tragopogonis

(Thomson,1877) galling Tragopogonis pratensis L. Goat's Beard. This last host is of special

interest here since the galls were found by Dr Askew in Northumberland in 1960-61; a few at

Cornhill-on-Tweed (VC68) and one at Tynemouth (VC67 (Askew, 1970 & pers. comm.,2000). P.

hieracii has also been reported from an A. tragopogonis gall in Spain (Nieves-Aldrey & Martin-

Chicot, 1986).

T. chloromerus has been a well recognised parasitoid of A. hieracii in Britain for many years

(Connold, 1901) as well as in Europe (Nieves-Aldrey & Martin-Chicot,1986; Graham &

Gijswijt,1998). In the present case the parasitoid attacked A. hieracii causing galls in the stems of

the Hawkweed H. sabaudum, whereas the T. chloromerus parasitoids recorded by Nieves-Aldrey

and Martin-Chicot from Spain had been derived from A. hieracii galls on a different species of

Hawkweed, Hieracium vulgatum Fries. Elsewhere in Britain the polyphagy of T. chloromerus

extends to the gall-flies (Tephritidae), for example, Urophora jacaena and Urophora stylata

which gall the flower heads of knapweed Centaurea nigra L. and Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare

(Savi) Ten., respectively (Redfern & Askew, 1992).

In future it would be of interest to extend the present observations to include rearing records from

A. hieracii galls collected at other locations in our region. Doubtless further parasitoid species

will be found. In addition, parallel rearings of Hawkweed A. hieracii and Cat’s-ear P.

hypochoeridis galls, where both occur at the same location, would be worthwhile to determine

which of the parasitoid species are peculiar to each type of gall and which attack both galls.

References

Askew, R. R. 1962. Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) in the Manchester Museum

(Part 1). The Entomologist 95:97-99.

Askew, R. R. 1970. Observations on the hosts and host food plants of some

Pteromalidae (Hym.,Chalcidoidea). Entomophaga 15(4): 379-385.

Bagnall, R. S. 1916. Talks about plant-galls III. Gall-wasps other than those

affecting oaks. The Vasculum 2(1):9-12.

Clapham,A.R., Tutin,T.G. & Moore,D.M. 1987. Flora of the British Isles.

Third edition.Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Claridge, M. F. 1959. A contribution to the biology and taxonomy of the

British species of the genus Eudecatoma Ashmead (=Decatoma auctt. nec Spinola)

(Hym.,Eurytomidae). Transactions of the Society for British Entomology 13(9):149-

168.

Connold, E. T. 1901. British Vegetable Galls. An Introduction to Their

Study. Hutchinson & Co.,London.

Darlington, A. 1975. The Pocket Encyclopaedia of Plant Galls.

Revised edition. Blandford Press, Poole.

Eady, R. D. & Quinlan, J. 1963. Handbooks for the Identification of

25

British Insects. Vol.VIII Part1 (a) Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea. Royal Entomological

Society, London.

Ellis, H.A. 2002a. Parasitoids (Hymenoptera:Chalcidoidea) of

Phanacis hypochoeridis (Kieffer) (Hymenoptera:Cynipoidea) galls of Cat’s-ear

(Hypochoeris radicata L.) in North East England. Cecidology 17(1):2-9.

Ellis, H. A. 2002b. Further records of Cat s-ear Hypochoeris radicata L.

galled by Phanacis hypochoeridis (Kieffer) (Hymenoptera:Cynipidae) and notes on

the associated parasitoids (Hymenoptera:Chalcidoidea). The Vasculum 87(4):3-6.

Graham, G. G. 1988. The Flora & Vegetation of County Durham. The Durham

Flora Committee and The Durham County Conservation Trust.

Graham, M. W. R.de Vere & Gijswijt, M. J. 1998. Revision of the European

species of Torymus Dalman (Hymenoptera:Torymidae). Zoologische

Verhandelingen 317:3-202.

Mayr, G. 1878. Arten der Chalcidier-Gattung Eurytoma durch Zucht erhalten.

Verhandlungen der zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft Wien 28:297-334.

Nieves-Aldrey, J. L. & Martin-Chicote. l. 1986. Nuevas citas de calcididos

parásitos de insectos en España (Hym.Chalcidoidea). Boletin de la Asociaziona de

España Entomologica 10:209-213.

Redfern, M. & Askew, R. R. 1992. Plant Galls. Naturalists' Handbooks 17.

Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd., Slough.

Redfern, M., Shirley, P. & Bloxham, M. 2002. British Plant Galls. Identification

of galls on plants and fungi. F.S.C. Publications, Shrewsbury.

Robbins, S. 2002. Report of N.N.U. Field Meeting 244, Shincliffe near

Durham. The Vasculum 87(3): 10-13.

Simpson, G. 1995. Insect Records-Hymenoptera. The Vasculum 80(1):12.

Spooner, B. M. & Bowdrey, J. P. 2000. Checklist of British galls and

gall-causing organisms. 4.Hymenoptera, Part 1 Cynipinae: Preliminary List.

Cecidology 15(1):41-74.

Swan, G. A. 1993. Flora of Northumberland. The Natural History Society of

Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Swanton, E. W. 1912. British Plant-Galls. A Classified Textbook of

Cecidology. Methuen & Co. Ltd., London.

Acknowledgement

I wish to thank Dr R. R. Askew for his continued help and encouragement, and for the insect

determinations.

26

Gall Cynipid

A. hieracii

Chalcid Parasitoids

E.cynipsea S. submutica T. chloromerus P.hieracii

1 1(F)dead 3 (1M,2F)

4.10.&15.vi.02

2(F)

4&6.vi.02

4(M)

16-18.v.02

-

2 - 9 (2M,7F)

1-10. vi .02

- 4 (2M,2F)

17-24 .v. 02

-

3 - 3 (2M,1F)

26-30 .v. 02

1(F)

1.vi.02

- 1(F)

20.v.02

4 4 (2M,2F)

20-2 2 .v.02

9 (5M,4F)*

7-12.vi.02

19 (2M,17F)

2-11.vi.02

- -

5 3 (F)

20-26.v.02

- 7 (2M,5F)

2-10.vi.02

- -

Total 8 (2M.6F) 24 (10M,14F) 29 (4M,25F) 8 (6M,2F) 1 (F)

TABLE- Sex, number and dates of emergence of A. hieracii and various chalcid parasitoids

obtained from five stem galls of H. sabaudum.

* includes one female cut from gall.

27

Some Further Records of Fungi with particular reference to Northumberland

Hewett A. Ellis and Christine C. Ellis, 16, Southlands, Tynemouth, North Shields, NE30 2QS

Introduction

In comparison with other counties in Britain little is known of the fungi in Northumberland and

there are few published records. The situation in County Durham is much better, largely due to

the efforts of John Durkin and particularly of Alan Legg who has recorded many species in that

county and documented them in a series of articles published in The Vasculum since 1990. We

have previously reported individual or small numbers of rare and/or interesting fungi which we

have encountered in Northumberland (The Vasculum: (A). 1994, 78(4):71-72; (B). 1995, 80(1):4-

5; (C). 1997, 81(4):70; (D). 1998, 83(4):82-84; (E). 1999, 84(1):10-11; (F). 1999, 84(4):8-14; (G).

1999, 84(4):16-25; (H).2000, 85(1):36-44). The present supplementary list provides a record of

further locations for six of these species (indicated by an asterisk and Reference letter), together

with records of thirty-four additional species. Most of the records relate to Northumberland VC67

and only a few to County Durham VC66.

ASCOMYCOTINA

Aleuria aurantia (Pers.:Fr.) Fuckel Several large clusters in grass, garden Hartington Road,

Cullercoats VC67; NZ 353 703. 14.xi.2002.

Helvella lacunosa Afz.:Fr. (*Ref.H). Additional location: six specimens, Brierdene, Whitley Bay

VC67 ; NZ 343 738. 25.viii.2002.

Helvella leucomelaena (Pers.:Fr.) Nannf. Cluster of cups amongst moss in stony forest track.

Winnows Hill Plantation, Slaley Forest VC67; NY 977 541. 12.v.2002. Rare in North-east

England (See NEFSG Newsletter 2002, No.25 page 8).

Hymenoscyphus fructigenus (Bull. :Fr.) Gray Frequent on acorns in leaf litter beneath Quercus

robur L., Gosforth Park Reserve, Newcastle-upon-Tyne VC67; NZ 257 703. 28.ix.2000.

Leucoscypha erminea (Bomm. & Rouss.) Boud. Several tiny white cups on Birch debris found on

ground (H.A.E.) on joint NNU & NEFSG foray, Baybridge to Blanchland, in mixed woodland

immediately south of border between VC's 66 & 67; NZ 963 499. 14.ix.2002. Subsequently

determined by Alan Legg; apparently previously unknown in North-east England (See A.Legg

NEFSG Newsletter 2002, No.27 page 4 and The Vasculum 2002, 87(3):14).

Melastiza chateri (W.G.Smith) Boud. [now known as M. cornubiensis (Berk. & Br.) J. Moravec].

Numerous in compressed sandy soil, Hartley Links near Meggies Burn South Blyth VC67; NZ

321 788. 17.x.2001.

Otidea cantharella (A. & S.:Fr.) Sacc. (*Ref.E) Additional location: Three groups of cups in soil

beneath beech tree Fagus, Preston Cemetery, North Shields VC67; NZ 347 693. 20.ix.2000. This

is only second record for VC67.

Otidea onotica (Pers.:Fr.) Fuckel, Found (C.C.E.) in mixed woods south shore of Derwent

Reservoir VC66; NY 98 51. 16.ix.2000. Determined A. Legg (See NEFSG Newsletter

2000,No.19 page 4).

28

Peziza ammophila Dur. & Mont. Several in sand dunes amongst Marram grass Ammophila

arenaria (L.) Link., Druridge Bay north of Chevington Burn VC67; NZ 273 981. 27.viii.2001.

Sclerotinia (= Dumontia) tuberosa (Hedw.:Fr.) Fuckel (*Ref. H) Additional location: several as

parasite on Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa L., riverside, Hartford Hall Wood, near Hartford

Bridge VC67; NZ 257 797. 21.iv.2001.

BASIDIOMYCOTINA

Cantharelles

Clavaria fumosa Fr. Several groups in grass, clifftop. Hartley Bay Old Hartley VC67; NZ 343

760. 2.x.2000.

Clavulina rugosa (Fr.) Schroet. Numerous on ground beneath beech Fagus, Preston Cemetery

North Shields VC67; NZ 347 692. 8.xii.2002.

Clavulinopsis helvola Fr. Two locations:

(i) in lawn Marden Estate Cullercoats VC67; NZ 353 703. 5.xi.l999;

(ii) several groups in field, clifftop south end of Collywell Bay near Old Hartley

VC67; NZ 342 762. 23.x.2001.

Poriales (non-lamellate)

Oxyporus populinus (Schum.: Fr.) Donk (*Ref. H) Small brackets on deciduous branch, Plessey

Woods, riverside, Stannington Vale VC67; NZ 22 78. 8.i.2000 & 11.iii. 2000.

Physisporinus sanguinolentus (A. & S.:Fr.) Pil. Encrusting dead deciduous branches and bruising

red, Thornley Woods,VC66, NZ 17 60. 22.ix.2001. Generally regarded as common in Britain but

this species has only been recorded once previously in VC66 in 1911 in Raby Park, Staindrop

(See NEFSG Newsletter 2001,No.23 page 5). Presumably it is frequently overlooked.

Hymenochaetales

Hymenochaete rubiginosa (Dicks. :Fr.) Lév. Numerous overlapping brackets on dead felled beech

Fagus, Holywell Dene, Holywell VC67; NZ 328 747. 8.i.2002.

Stearales

Byssomerulius corium (Fr.) Parm. On dead deciduous branch in mixed woodland,Holywell Dene

near Holywell VC67; NZ 333 749. 10. iii .2000.

Peniophora incarnata (Fr.) Karst. Common on undersides of gorse Ulex europaeus L. branches,

Holywell Dene near Old Hartley VC67; NZ 337 756. 16.i.2000 & 14.i.2003.

Thelophorales

Thelophora palmata (Scop.) Fr. Two locations:

(i) on ground pathside (H.A.E.) during NEFSG foray Derwent Reservoir Reserve

VC66; NY 98 51. 16.ix.2000;

(ii) on ground in woodland, pathside near River Blyth, Humford, Bedlington VC67;

NZ 265 799. 4.x.2000.

29

Agaricales

Arrhenia acerosa (Fr.) Kühn. Several on wet wood chips in riverside deciduous woodland,

Plessey Woods, Hartford Bridge VC67; NZ 239 794. 23.ix.2002.

Arrhenia retiruga syn. Leptoglossum retirugum , Dictyolus retirugus (Bull.) Quél. On moss in

garden lawn, Marden Estate, Cullercoats VC67; NZ 355 705. 19.xi.2002.

Clitocybe houghtonii (Phill.) Dennis Small group at base of Sycamore tree Acer pseudoplatanus

L., Kepier Woods VC66; NZ 293 439. 14.x.2000. Rare, confirmed Dr P. Roberts (Kew); all

previous specimens at Kew from southern England. Present collection retained at Kew, Accession

No. K(M) 82540. Probably first record for North-east England.

Entoloma icterinum (Fr.) Moser Several beneath pine Pinus in small plantation. Rising Sun

Country Park, Wallsend VC67; NZ 299 694. 25.x.2000.

Hebeloma pusillum Lange Several beneath Willow Salix in wet area beside trackway Druridge

Bay Country Park VC67; NU 274 002. 30.ix.2002. Confirmed Dr P. Roberts (Kew); only one

previous collection from Northumberland at Kew. Present collection retained at Kew, Accession

No. K(M) 104735.

Hygrophorus agathosmos (Fr.:Fr.) Fr. (* Ref. H) Additional location: Beneath pines Pinus in

small plantation near wagonway. Rising Sun Country Park, Wallsend VC67; NZ 298 694.

3.xii.2002.

Lactarius circellatus Fr. Group beneath Hornbeam Carpinus betulus L. in mixed woodland

besides River Blyth, Plessey Woods immediately west of rail viaduct VC67; NZ 221 787.

10.viii.2001. Uncommon in North-east (See NEFSG Newsletter 2002, No.24 page 7).

Macrocystidia cucumis (Pers.:Fr.) Joss. Several on ground amongst plant debris, pathside

Holywell Dene near Seaton Sluice VC67; NZ 337 758. 30.xi.2000 & 9.xii.2002.

Mycena acicula (Schaeff.:Fr.) Kummer Several amongst moss, Plessey Woods near Hartford

Bridge VC67; NZ 239 794. 23.ix.2002.

Omphalina ericetorum (Fr.:Fr.) J Lange Common amongst moss on peaty soil, edge of Primrose

Wood near Rothbury VC67; NU 058 039. 3.x.2002.

Oudiemansiella mucida (Schrad.:Fr.) Höhn. Four locations:

(i) several groups on standing Beech Fagus, Primrose Wood Debden near Rothbury

VC67; NU 057 034. 22.xi.1994;

(ii) several on felled Beech in woodland. Holystone near Rothbury VC67; NT 955

026. 20.ix.1995 & 21.ix.1998;

(iii) small group at base of standing Beech tree, riverside Warkworth VC67; NU 240

058. 3.x.1998;

(iv) several groups on fallen Beech trunk near Crow Hall Farm, Holywell Dene,

Holywell VC67; NZ 325 748. 24.x.2002.

Panellus mitis (Pers.:Fr.) Sing. Several on surface of rotting felled conifer in small plantation,

Druridge Bay Country Park VC67; NU 274 003. 28.xii.2002.

Phaeomarasmius erinaceous (Fr.) Kühn. Two on branch of dead Willow Salix, wet area beside

lake Gosforth Park Reserve, Newcastle-upon-Tyne VC67; NZ 254 704. 28.ix.2000. Confirmed Dr

P.Roberts (Kew). Apparently there is one previous collection from Northumberland at Kew.

Present collection retained at Kew. Note: A. Dickson subsequently found a further

Northumberland

30

specimen 20.vii.2002 on an NEFSG foray to Ministeracres VC67, NZ 02 55 but there are still no

County Durham VC66 records (See NEFSG Newsletter 2002, No.26 page 8).

Pluteus thomsonii (Berk. & Br.) Dennis On rotting Elm Ulmus log near river, Kepier Woods

north-east of Durham VC66; NZ 292 439. 14.x.2000. Determined A.Legg. A new record for

VC66 (See NEFSG Newsletter 2000,No.19, page 5).

Psathyrella ammophila (Dur. & Lév.) P Orton We first noted this species on the sand dunes

amongst Marram Grass Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link at Druridge Bay VC67 in 1992. Since then

we have recorded it on the dunes near Birling Carrs at Warkworth VC68; NU 252 078. 10.x.1994

and on a NEFSG foray to Coatham Dunes, North-east Yorkshire VC62; 11.ix.1998. Latest record-

dunes at Druridge Bay north of Chevington Burn VC67; NZ 273 981. 27.viii.2001.

Resupinatus trichotis (Pers.) Sing. Several on decorticate deciduous tree trunk overlying stream,

Holywell Dene near Seaton Sluice VC67; NZ 333 762. 17.x.2000. Confirmed Dr P. Roberts

(Kew). This species is now regarded as "hairy" variant of Resupinatus applicatus (Batsch.Fr.) S F

Gray.

Strobilura tenacellus (Pers. :Fr.) Sing. (*Ref.H). Two additional locations:

(i) several on ground beneath Pinus, Hartford Hall Wood near Hartford Bridge

VC67; NZ 254 798. 16.iii.2000.

(ii) several beneath Pinus, plantation side of wagonway, Rising Sun Country Park,

Wallsend VC67; NZ 299 694. 19.iv.1998 & 6.v.2000.

Tubaria hiemalis Romagn.:Bon [Note: this species has been distinguished from T.furfuracea

(Pers.:Fr.) Gill. by the presence of capitate gilledge cystidia (Jordan,1995) ] Nine locations:

(i) Plessey Woods, Stannington Bank VC67; NZ 228 792. 8.i.2000.

(ii) several groups on ground by dead Gorse Ulex europaeus L., Holywell Dene near

Seaton Sluice VC67; NZ 337 758. 16.i.2000; and on ground amongst leaf litter

Holywell Dene near car park Old Hartley VC67; NZ 338 757. 3.ii.2000 &

31.xii.2002.

(iii) several on wood chippings, woodland near wagonway. Rising Sun Country Park,

Wallsend VC67; NZ 298 695. 16.ii.2000.

(iv) amongst leaf litter beside deciduous log, riverside, Hartford Hall Wood near

Hartford Bridge VC67; NZ 255 796. 16.iii.2000.

(v) several in wood chips on ground. Holy Saviour Church Tynemouth VC67; NZ

365 696. 18.xi.2002.

(vi) trooping amongst wood chips, Preston Cemetery, North Shields VC67; NZ 346

692. 8.xii.2002.

(vii) several on ground amongst wood fragments pathside near Visitors' Centre,

Druridge Bay Country Park VC67; NU 274 003. 28.xii.2002.

(viii) several dozen on wood chippings on ground east of Cambois Boat House,

Wansbeck Riverside Park near Ashington VC67; NZ 275 859. 11.i.2003.

(ix) five groups at sides of dismantled railway between Hartley Lane and Crow Hall

Farm, Whitley Bay VC67; NZ 330 743. 16.i.2003.

31

Poriales (lamellate)

Pleurotus dryinus (Pers.:Fr.) Kummer Two on rotting fallen Elm Ulmus trunk, Holywell Dene,

burnside below Hartley West Farm VC67; NZ 333 749. 25.ix.2002.

Nidulariales

Crucibulum laeve (Huds.) Kam. Several Bird's Nest Fungi on fallen rotting fence post, side of

dismantled railway, near Middle Engine Lane North Shields VC67; NZ 317 703. 28.xi.2002.

Uredinales

Phragmidium rosae pimpinellifolia Diet. On stems of Burnet Rose Rosa pimpinellifolia L., dunes

near Gloucester Lodge Farm, Hartley Links, Seaton Sluice VC67; NZ 323 786. 17.x.2001.

Reference

Jordan, M. 1995 The Encyclopaedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe. David & Charles, Newton

Abbot.

Leucoscypha erminea (Bomm. & Rouss.) Boud. an uncommon discomycete found near

Blanchland

A.W.Legg, 36, Carleton Drive. Darlington. Co. Durham DL3 9QP

During the joint foray of the North Eastern Fungi Study Group and Northern Naturalists’ Union,

held as Field Meeting 245, on September 14th 2002, ascomata of a tiny white discomycete were

found scattered among the runners of Luzula sylvatica near the footpath along the south bank of

the River Derwent between Baybridge and Blanchland (Legg, 2002). Subsequent examination of

relevant literature has confirmed the initial identification of the fungus as Leucoscypha erminea.

As the national fungus record database was found to list only 35 records of this species, none of

which was from the North East of England (including the whole of Yorkshire), it was decided to

give a somewhat longer account of this collection.

As is often the case with small, infrequently-collected fungi, there is some disagreement in the

literature as to how many Leucoscypha species have been found in Britain. The British

Ascomycotina (Cannon et al.. 1985) lists only three species. However, Dennis (1995) unites the

genus with Neotiella, mentioning a total of seven species. Nevertheless, authorities agree that

most of these species are orange-red in colour, there being only two white ones: Leucoscypha

erminea and L. leucotricha (Alb. & Schw.) Boud., the type species.

The latter two taxa are very similar in most respects, the general distinction being in size of

ascomata and size of constituent characters. In more detail, L. erminea is said to have shorter

hairs, smaller asci, smaller ascospores and narrower paraphyses. According to ElIis & ElIis

(1988), the spores of both species have ''minutely spinulose" walls, though Dennis (1981)

describes the spores of L. leucotricha as having "minute, closely-spaced warts". This latter

32

description fits closely that given by Hansen & Knudsen (2000) who describe the spores of this

species as being densely ornamented with low warts.

Following his mentor, W.D.Graddon, M.C.CIark, editor of the Warwickshire Fungus Flora

(1980), felt it necessary to give a lengthy note on Leucoscypha collections made in preparation for

that volume. In it he commented on the fact that, until then, all white British material had been

assigned to L. leucotricha but that he considered material from no fewer than eleven

Warwickshire localities to consist entirely of L. erminea. Significantly, when Leucoscypha

collections in the Kew herbarium were recently checked, (Yao & Spooner, 1995), the conclusions

reached by Clark were generally upheld and all white British material considered to be of L.

erminea. No intermediate material was found, but the authors saw fit to add the cautionary note

that, should the two "prove eventually to be extremes of a single taxon, then the earlier name, L.

leucotricha, must be applied to it".

Much of the rather sparse material collected near Blanchland was slightly immature but, even in

mature ascomata.. ornamentation was difficult to see, certainly neither dense nor verrucose. No

spore reached the dimensions of 29.5-33 x 11-14 microns given by Hansen and Knudsen for

Leucoscypha leuchotricha, the largest being 28.0 x 10.5. Other characters similarly fitted

dimensions of Leucoscypha erminea characters given by Ellis & Ellis (1988). In view of these

measurements, it was confidently assumed that the material in question should be assigned to

Leucoscypha erminea, at least for the time being.

References

Cannon, P.F., Hawksworth, D.L. & Sherwood-Pike, M.A., 1985, The British

Ascomycotina: an Annotated Checklist. Slough, C.A.B.

Clark, M.C. ed., 1980, A Fungus Flora of Warwickshire. London, B .M.S.

Dennis, W.B.G., 1981, British Ascomycetes. Vaduz, J. Cramer.

Dennis, W.B.G., 1995, Fungi of South East England. Kew, R.B.G.

Ellis. M.B. & Ellis, J.P., 1988, Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates.

London, Croom Helm.

Hansen, L. & Knudsen H. eds. 2000, Nordic Macromycetes Vol. 1.

Copenhagen, Nordsvamp.

Legg, A.W., 2002, Field Meeting 245, 14th September 2002 Baybridge –

Blanchland. The Vasculum 87:4 13-14.

Yao, Y.J. & Spooner, B.M. 1995, Notes on British species of Leucscypha

with a new combination in Melastiza. Mycological Research 99:12 1513-1514.

Officers and Council of the Union 2002

President

Dr. P. Gates

President Elect

Vice Presidents

Dr.H. Ellis, Dr. M. Birtle, G. Simpson, Mrs. J. Stobbs, Mrs G. Batey, Messrs. N. Cook, D. Hall,

M. Mann

Hon. General Secretary

Mr. C.L. Evans

Hon. Treasurer

C/o Durham Wildlife Trust

Hon. Editors

Dr. M Birtle

Dr. P. Gates

Hon. Field Secretary

Mr. L. Moore

Hon. Auditor

Dr E. Hinton-Clifton

LOCAL RECORDERS (recorders: please notify changes or additions to the editor)

Butterflies

Mike Hunter, 45. Brinkburn Ave, Darlington, DL3 0JN. Northumberland and Durham. British

Butterfly Conservation.

Moths

Durham:Terry Coult, 4 Officials Row, Malton, Lanchester, Co. Durham, DH7 0TH

B.R.C. recorder, Northumberland: Mr N. Cook, 31 Lyndhurst Avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle upon

Tyne, NE2 3LJ.

Dragonflies

Durham, Northumberland: Harry Eales, 11 Ennerdale Terrace, Low Westwood. Co. Durham. NE

17 7PN.

Birds

Durham Bird Club: Tony Armstrong, 39 Western Hill, Durham City, County Durham. DH1 4RJ

(tel. 386 1519).

Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club: Nick Rossiter, West Barn, Lee Grange, Ordley, Hexham.

NE46 1SX.

Amphibia and Reptiles

Mammals (general)

Northumberland: Mary Gough, c/o Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Garden House, St Nicholas

Park, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT. (tel. 0191 284 6884)

Durham: Kevin O'Hara, c/o Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Garden House, St Nicholas Park,

Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT. (tel. 0191 284 6884) email:

[email protected]

Bats

Northumberland Bat Group: Ruth Hadden, East Farm Cottage, Ryal, Northumberland. NE20

0SA.

Durham Bat Group:Ian Bond, 105 Davison Rd., Darlington DL1 3DS (01325 264296)

Badgers (Badger groups may be contacted via the relevant Wildlife Trusts).

Plants

B.S.B.I. recorder (Durham): G.G. Graham, 3 The Willows, Bishop Auckland, County Durham,

DL14 7HH.

B.S.B.I. recorder (Northumberland): Professor G.A. Swan, 81 Wansdyke, Morpeth,

Northumberland. NE61 3QY.

Algae: Dr F.G. Hardy, Dept of Marine Sciences & Coastal management, Ridley Building,

University of Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU.

Spiders

Isobel Baldwin, British Arachnological Society Recorder,14 Murrayfield Drive, Brandon,

Durham, DH7 8TG.

Geological

Contact: S.G. McLean, The Hancock Museum, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne.NE2 4PT.


http://www-scm.tees.ac.uk:8050/mail/0/mail?actioncompose=1&[email protected]

THE VASCULUM

http://www.thevasculum.com

Dates for the Diary-Field Meetings 2003 1

Notices 2

Hartlepool Natural History Society 3

Field Meeting Reports 2003 4

Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus (L.) 8

Notes and Records 9

Editors:





10, Avon Grove,

Billingham


Published by the Northern

Naturalists’ Union


of Natural History

http://www.thevasculum.com/

THE VASCULUM









sites.






around 200.





Durham (1986 & 1992).











1

THE VASCULUM

Vol. 88, No 2 March 2003

Dates for the Diary

Dates and locations of remaining field meetings for this year are-

Field Meeting 248 12th July 2pm. Hetton Moor to Murton. Meet at NZ 360471 at the fishing

lake. Circular route, round Little Eppleton Farm, the site is basically limestone with patches of

acid. Interests will be botanical and entomological. Frog orchids are recorded here among other

orchid species . Leader Dennis Hall.

Field Meeting 249 27th July.(Sunday).11a.m. Castle Eden Dene. Meet Oakershaw Lodge,

Peterlee, NZ428393. With the British Plant Gall Society.

Field Meeting 250 23 August.2pm. Harehope Quarry, Frosterly, Weardale. Meet at NZ 035369

at the river bridge. Leader Tony Jackson. Habitats to be seen include limestone scree, caves,

wetland and woodland.

The site is being developed as a sustainable fishery, nature reserve and

educational centre. The Bollihope Burn flows through the site, caves,

flora, fauna etc. Wind turbine and solar panels are already in place. We

must park by the Durham Industrial Minerals sign at the eastern edge of

Frosterley and walk about half a mile up the track to the quarry.

Field Meeting 251 13th September. 11am. Fungal foray at Minsteracres. Leader Alan Legg.

With North East Fungi Study Group. Details to follow in later issue.

2

Autumn Lecture

The Autumn Lecture will take place on Saturday the 25th October at 2.30 pm in Hart

Village Hall. This is by kind invitation of the Hartlepool Natural History Society. The

speaker will be Sam Ellis on ‘Butterfly Conservation in Northern England’. Members and

visitors are invited to bring photographs and exhibits from the current 2003, and previous,

field seasons.

New Website

The Northern Naturalists’ Union website has changed. The new web address (URL) is


The site currently contains only basic information but will grow over the coming weeks to include

Field meeting information

Archive of ‘Vasculum’ back copies

Images from field meetings

Material that members wish to share

Membership information

If any member wishes to place anything on the web site please send material to the editor -

[email protected].

Affiliated societies are more than welcome to send information on their activities and/or links to

their own web sites.


mailto:[email protected]

3

Hartlepool Natural History Society

30th Anniversary

Members will wish to congratulate Hartlepool Natural History Society on their 30th anniversary

year. The society holds indoor winter, and outdoor summer, meetings and publishes ‘The Spine’

every month. This is a newsletter chronicling notable records from south-east Durham distributed

to members of the society. These records have recently included-

January 2003

Crane over Marina Way on the 5th.

Barn Owl at Phillips Tank Farm

Lesser Celandine - Flowering profusely by Greatham Beck upstream of the A689 on the

exceptionally early date of 28 December, 2002

March 2003

Hen Harrier west of Hartlepool.

Red Squirrel in Thorpe Bulmer dene

April 2003

Mistletoe on a tree at English Martyrs School, Catcote Road.

Barn owl in the Hart-Greatham area

May 2003

Dingy Skipper at Conoco Phillips Tank farm

The chairwoman is currently Jennifer Watt, vice chairman Steve Robbins, treasurer Ron Godfrey

and the secretary of the society is Russell McAndrew, (5 Thornhill gardens, Hartlepool, TS26

0HX.)

Other Local Natural History Publications

Cleveland Naturalists Field Club produces Proceedings every year. This includes reports from

field meetings and articles on local natural history topics. It is published in spring each year.

Printed copies can be obtained (cost one pound) from Dr. M. Birtle, 10 Avon Grove, Billingham,

TS22 5BH, or electronically (free) by mailing [email protected]. Back copies of the

‘Vasculum’ are also available electronically from the same source (free).

Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists’ Field Club publish an annual report each year. This is

provided free to members. This also contains reports from field meetings and other observations

on natural history on their ‘patch’.

The Editors of the ‘Vasculum’ would be pleased to hear about any other publications produced by

our natural history societies.

mailto:[email protected]

4

Field Meeting Reports 2003

Field Meeting 246 10th May 2pm. Norman's Riding Wood, Winlaton, near Blaydon on

Tyne. Leader; Doug McCutcheon.

Fungi

Ascomycetes:

Colpoma quercinum on dead Quercus twigs

Daldinia concentrica on dead Fraxinus wood

Diatrypella favacea on fallen Betula twigs

Diatrypella quercina on fallen Quercus twigs

Leptosphaeria maculans on dead stem base of Alliaria

Microthyriurn ciIiaturn on old fallen leaf of Ilex

Trochila ilicina on old fallen leaf of Ilex

Xylaria hypoxylon on indet. dead wood

Xylaria longipes on log of Acer pseudoplatanus

Basidiomycetes:

Coprinus laanii on cut end of conifer log

CorioIus versicoIor on indet. deciduous stump

Exidia truncata on fallen branch of Quercus

Fomitopsis pinicoia on indet. conifer log

Hirneola aurricuIa-judae on moribund Sambucus etc.

Kuehneola uredinis on stems of living Rubus fruticos

Milesina kriegceriana on moribund Dryopteris

Uromyces dactylidis on living leaves of Ranunculus repens

Uromyces ficariae on living leaves of Ranunculus ficaria

Other groups:

Plasmopara pygmaea on leaves of Anemone nemorosa

Pyrenochaeta. ilicis on old dead leaves or Ilex

Ramularia didyma on leaf of Ranunculus repens

Alan Legg

Plants

Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea

Wood Speedwell Veronica montana

Bugle Ajuga reptans

Bluebell Endymion non-scriptus

Wavy Bittercress Cardamine flexuosa

Read Campion Silene dioica

Yellow Pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum

Ladies Smock Cardamines pratensis

Wood Sanicle Sanicula europaea

Bitter Vetch Lathyrus montanus

Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum

Primrose Primula vulgaris

5

Wood Cranesbill Geranium sylvaticum

Opposite Leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium

Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella

Cliff Evans

Butterflies

Large White Pieris brassicae

Green Veined White Pieris napi

Orange Tip Anthocaris cardamines

Males and ova on Jack-by-the-Hedge

Peacock Inachis io

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

Galls

On Pendunculated Oak (Quercus robur) All Hymenoptera:Cynipoidea:-

Andricus curvator

Andricus lignicolor Cola-nut Gall

Andricus kollari Marble Gall

Andricus fecundator Artichoke Gall

Andricus quercuscalicis Knopper Gall

Neuroterus quercusbaccarum Currant Gall

Biorhiza pallida Oak Apple

On Hawthorn (Crataegus) leaves:-

Phyllocoptes goniothorax (mite)

On Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) leaves:-

Eriophyes sorbi (Mite)

6

Field Meeting 247 14th June. 10 p.m Thrislington quarry.

Accompanied by Pipistrelles, large numbers of Ghost Swifts fluttering above the grassland, and

the screech of Tawny Owl a party of about ten members and visitors watched more than twenty

glowworms (Lampyris noctiluca) displaying amongst the grassland and rougher vegetation after

11.00 pm.

Moths:

Grass Rivulet (abundant) Perizoma albulata

Silver-ground Carpet (abundant) Xanthorhoe montanata

Ghost Swift Hepialus humuli

(males abundant 'leking' in the grass until

midnight):

Chimney Sweeper (4) Odezia atrata

Large Yellow Underwing (2) Noctua pronuba

Heart and Dart (2) Agrotis exclamationis

Yellow Shell (1) Camptogramma bilineata

Middle-barred Minor (1) Oligia fasciuncula

On leaving the quarry at about 1.00 am on 15th June, we found a further two female glow-worms

on the grass verge, immediately adjacent to the car park lay-by.

In addition, the reserve at Bishop Middleham quarry was also searched for glowworms after the

Thrislington meeting, but none were found.

The following information has been copied from the UK Glow Worm Survey web site

(http://www.glowworms.org.uk) authored by Robin Scagell. It may be useful to anyone who

wishes to search for glow worms in Durham or Northumberland.

“The glow worm, Lampyris noctiluca, is not at all worm-like but is a beetle up to 25 mm long.

Only the wingless female glows strongly, to attract the flying males. Each individual female has

an adult glowing life of only a few weeks until she mates, since she dies soon after laying her

eggs.

After a few weeks the eggs hatch into larvae, and they remain as larvae for one or two further

summers, feeding on small snails which they apparently paralyse before sucking them empty. The

two- or maybe even three-year gap between a mating and the subsequent appearance of an adult

helps to explain the characteristic ‘boom or bust’ cycles of glow-worm populations. It’s possible

to find plenty on a site one year, yet few or none at all the next. And, of course, sites where they

seem to have died out can’t be written off on the basis of a single night’s search.

Wherever you find small snails, though unfortunately not the large common-or-garden variety,

it’s worth looking for glow worms. They prefer open grass or

http://www.glowworms.org.uk/

7

hedges to woodland, but rarely are they to be found on land which has been ‘improved’ for

agriculture. Look for them from late May to early September (with a peak in mid July), as soon as

it gets dark. They glow for a few hours at a time, and usually stop glowing soon after mating. If

you do see glow worms, don’t disturb them and certainly don’t take them home as trophies, no

matter how many there are on a site. Their continued existence at your site could be on a knife-

edge. But a short look by torchlight will do no harm, and you may see the smaller, darker (and

glow-less) male mating – perhaps even several on one female! “

The Glow Worm Book

The new, fully revised edition, published April 2002 (76 pp paperback, A5 format) costs £10 post

free. For a copy please write to John Tyler at Tadorna, Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks, Kent

TN13 3DH, enclosing a cheque for £10.00 made payable to John Tyler. A few copies of the first

edition (64 pp, published 1994) are still available at £5.00 post free, or you can read the text-only

at

http://website.lineone.net/~galaxypix/Tylerbookpt1.html

completely free.

Visiting Derbyshire?

Detailed distribution information on glow worms in Derbyshire can be found at

http://www.dbrc.freeserve.co.uk/html/glow_worms.html

or Scotland?

A colony of glow worms was discovered in a woodland location in the new Loch Lomond and

Trossachs National Park in 2002, the first recorded Scottish sighting of the fascinating

phosphorescent beetles in several years.

http://website.lineone.net/~galaxypix/Tylerbookpt1.html

http://www.dbrc.freeserve.co.uk/html/glow_worms.html

8

Personal sightings of the Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus (L.) in North Tyneside during 2002

Hewett A. Ellis, 16, Southlands Tynemouth NE30 2QS

During the 2002 season I recorded the Holly Blue butterfly Celastrina argiolus (L.) at two

locations in North Tyneside (VC 67).

1. A male individual flew into my garden in Tynemouth (NZ 357 700) on 4th

August at 12-20pm and nectared for several minutes on Hebe and Marjoram

flowers. A Holly Blue re-visited the garden, during the late morning or early

afternoon, on 5th,7th,8th,13th, 14th and 15th August. This appeared to be the

same individual on each occasion.

2. A female butterfly was observed 12th August flying along the hedgerow to the

course of a dismantled railway, near Crow Hall farm, Holywell (NZ 328 744).

It settled occasionally and appeared to be in search of a suitable place to

oviposit, but I could not find any ivy in the hedgerow.

Comment

It is four years since I have seen the Holly Blue locally. The last occasion was on 4th and 6th

September 1998, when a female was noted nactaring in my garden in Tynemouth (Ellis, 1999,

Vasculum 84 (1):27). This was eight years after the Holly Blue was first recorded in

Northumberland (Ellis,1990,Vasculum 75(3):43-44), and subsequently bred successfully in the

county for several years (Ellis, Vasculum 1992,77(1):4-5; 1992 77(2):20; 1993 77(4):79-83).

Holly Blue, Hartlepool

A female Holly Blue was reported in Granville Avenue, Hartlepool, on 23rd May 2003 in ‘The

Spine’ (newsletter of Hartlepool Natural History Society), Issue no. 334, March 2003.

And at Malton, North Yorkshire

Although well away from our area it may be worth noting that a number of Holly Blue’s were

seen on a Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists Field Club meeting to Manor Farm, about 2 miles

south of Malton in North Yorkshire on Saturday 7th June 2003.

Malcolm Birtle

9

Notes and Records

Female Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) was found on the path at Findon Hill, Sacriston

on the 14th June 2003

Linda Mann

Mother Shipton (Callistege mi) x 10, was flying at Saltersgate in bright sunshine, NZ072432,

29.5.03.

Michael Mann

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) was seen on the 14th June 2003 on the site of an old colliery yard

at Sacriston

Michael Mann and K. Dover

Two more Painted Ladies were seen in the same week in a garden at Iveston.

Gerry White

More than twenty Painted Ladies were seen on the North Yorkshire Moors between Blakey Ridge

and Bloworth Crossing on 3rd June 2003, along with very many Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeus)

and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Also, one Painted Lady seen at Eggleston, Teesdale, on a Cleveland Naturalists’ Field Club

meeting on Wednesday 18th June.NY998228

Malcolm Birtle

Spiders

Latrodectus mactans (Black Widow).

Three in 2003 from Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead. On car parts from California, USA

Haplodrassus signifer

Common under stones, females with egg sacs, Kielder water, vc 67, 7th June 2003. Also at Bishop

Middleham Quarry. Females with egg sacs, 14th June 2003

Michael Mann

A Water Vole was seen in the burn at North Burn Bridge, near Cowpen Bewley on 21st March

2003, NZ482261, along with a kingfisher.

Aphid Gall, Tetraneura ulmi, a stalked green gall on upper surface of leaves, St Cuthberts

churchyard Darlington centre, 27th May 2003, Darlington and Teesdale Field Club meeting.

10

Reproduced from Swanton E.W., British Plant Galls, 1912

Also, Eriophyes tiliae, a red nail gall on the upper surface of Lime (Tilia sp.) leaves.*

It was also pleasing to see many Brown Trout in the Skerne through the centre of town at this

meeting.

Malcolm Birtle

Corrections

A slight formatting error appeared in the table associated with Observations on the stem galls of

the Hawkweed Hieracium sabaudum L. induced by Aulacidea hieracii (Bouché) (Hymenoptera:

Cynipidae): Local records and associated parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoideae), Hewett A.

Ellis , in Vasculum 88(1). This error made one of the dates in row 4 seem incorrect. The

reformatted table is presented here-

Gall Cynipid

*A. hieracii

Chalcid Parasitoids

E.cynipsea S. submutica T. chloromerus P.hieracii

1 1(F)dead 3 (1M,2F)

4.10.&15.vi.02

2(F)

4&6.vi.02

4(M)

16-18.v.02

-

2 - 9 (2M,7F)

1-10. vi .02

- 4 (2M,2F)

17-24 .v. 02

-

3 - 3 (2M,1F)

26-30 .v. 02

1(F)

1.vi.02

- 1(F)

20.v.02

4 4 (2M,2F)

20-22.v.02

9 (5M,4F)*

7-12.vi.02

19 (2M,17F)

2-11.vi.02

- -

5 3 (F)

20-26.v.02

- 7 (2M,5F)

2-10.vi.02

- -

Total 8 (2M.6F) 24 (10M,14F) 29 (4M,25F) 8 (6M,2F) 1 (F)

TABLE- Sex, number and dates of emergence of A. hieracii and various chalcid parasitoids

obtained from five stem galls of H. sabaudum.

* includes one female cut from gall.

11

Similar formatting errors afflicted Harry Eales paper on Dragonfly Recording and the table is re-

presented here-

Species.

Curren

t statu

s

Yea

r of first kn

ow

n lo

cal reco

rd

Tota

l No. o

f

record

s

No. o

f 1x1

km S

q reco

rds

No. o

f Tetra

d

record

s

No. o

f record

s

with

out a

Grid

Ref.

Azure Damselfly

Coenagrion puella. Breeding 1846 791 239 191 0

Banded Demoiselle

Calopteryx splendens. Breeding 1769? 157 74 58 2

Beautiful Demoiselle

Calopteryx virgo. Uncertain 1769? 3? 1? 1? 2

Black Darter

Sympetrum danae. Breeding 1901 206 88 78 2

Black-tailed Skimmer

Orthetrum cancellatum. Vagrant 1984 8 5 5 0

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Ischnura elegans. Breeding 1901 1611 386 291 2

Broad - bodied Chaser

Libellula depressa. Vagrant 1833 11 7 7 2

Brown Hawker

Aeshna grandis. Breeding 1827 226 41 36 1

Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum.

Breeding 1930 1239 387 287 0

Common Darter

Sympetrum striolatum. Breeding 1826 1630 336 251 1

Common Hawker Dragonfly

Aeshna juncea. Breeding 1913 1033 495 338 2

Emerald Damselfly

Lestes sponsa. Breeding 1919 1041 292 225 0

Emperor Dragonfly

Anax imperator. Breeding 1980 73 24 22 0

Four-spotted Chaser

Libellula quadrimaculata. Breeding 1826 96 46 43 0

Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii

Breeding 1769? 163 121 99 4

Hairy Dragonfly

Brachytron pratense. Vagrant 1919 3 3 3 0

Keeled Skimmer

Orthetrum coerulescens. Vagrant 1982 1 1 1 0

Large Red Damselfly

Pyrrhosoma nymphula. Breeding 1916 709 364 276 0

Lesser Emperor Dragonfly

Anax parthenope. Migrant 2000 11 2 2 0

Migrant Hawker

Aeshna mixta. Breeding 1994 202 36 32 1

12

Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombei.

Migrant 1998 11 5 5 0

Ruddy Darter

Sympetrum sanguineum. Breeding 1901 414 99 79 0

Southern Hawker Dragonfly

Aeshna cyanea. Breeding 1901 586 172 140 1

Vagrant Darter

Sympetrum vulgatum. Uncertain 2001? 1? 1? 1? 0

Variable Damselfly

Coenagrion pulchellum. Uncertain 1932? 5? 5? 5? 0

Yellow winged Darter

Sympetrum flaveolum. Migrant 1937 7 5 5 0

Totals. 26 species n/a 10,238 3,235 2,481 20

Apologies to both authors.


President

Dr. P. Gates

President Elect

Vice Presidents


M. Mann


Mr. C.L. Evans

Hon. Treasurer


Hon. Editors

Dr. M Birtle

Dr. P. Gates


Mr. L. Moore

Hon. Auditor



Butterflies



Moths



Tyne, NE2 3LJ.

Dragonflies


17 7PN.

Birds


(tel. 386 1519).


NE46 1SX.


Mammals (general)





[email protected]

Bats


0SA.



Plants


DL14 7HH.





Spiders


Durham, DH7 8TG.

Geological




THE VASCULUM

Table of Contents

An Unusual Ichneumon Ian Wallace 11

Hydnotrya tulasnei (Berk.) Berk. and Br. Helvellaceae, A Truffle Newly-Recorded For County

Durham (VC 66)

A.W.Legg 12

Editors:





10, Avon Grove,

Billingham



Union


of Natural History

THE VASCULUM









sites.






around 200.





Durham (1986 & 1992).











1

THE VASCULUM

Vol. 88, No 3 September 2003

Dates for the Diary

Autumn Lecture

The Autumn Lecture will take place on Saturday the 25th October at 2.30 pm in Hart

Village Hall. This is by kind invitation of the Hartlepool Natural History Society. The

speaker will be Sam Ellis on ‘Butterfly Conservation in Northern England’. Members and

visitors are invited to bring photographs and exhibits from the current, and previous, field

seasons. In addition, the Hartlepool Society will be celebrating their 30th anniversary at this

meeting.

CLEVELAND NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB

WINTER PROGRAMME 2003-2004

Winter meetings are in the Hydroponicum Lecture Hall at Natures World at the Botanic Centre,

Ladgate Lane, Acklam, Middlesbrough and, unless shown otherwise, are held on Monday

evenings and start at 7:15pm.

2003

Oct 6th Pauline Bastow In Shackleton's Footsteps

Oct 20th Norma Pagdin and

Joan Bradbury

In Search of the Ice Bear

Nov

17th

Ian Bond Small Mammals

Dec 1st Ken Smith The Tees, the Living River

Dec 15th Social Evening

2004

Jan 19th Ken Trewren Tropical Images

Feb 2nd David Barlow Wild Life of the North York Moors

Feb 16th Members' Night

Mar 1st Annual General Meeting with

entertainment to follow

Mar 15th Eric Gendle Flowers of the West Coast of South Africa

2

Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists' Field Club

http://www.communigate.co.uklne/dtnfcl

Winter programme 2003 - 2004

All evening meetings take place at the Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, Darlington on a Tuesday

evening and commence at 7.30pm.

Meetings are open to non member

Oct 7th Living Churchyard Project Val Standen.

Oct 14th Plants of Upper Teesdale Margaret Bradshaw.

Oct 21st Alaska, Kenai Fjords, Mount Mckinley David Raeburn.

Oct 28th Conservation and Archaeology on MOD Niall Hammond.

Nov 4th sites Steve Sampson

Nov 11th Killer Whales of Puget Sound Keith Bowey.

Nov 18th Durham Biodiversity Action Plan Update Kevin Spindloe.

Nov 25th Wardening Widlife Members.

Dec 2nd Short talks Kevin Bayes.

Dec 9th A New Experience for Teeside Cliff Evans.

Jan 6th Christmas Dinner. Victoria LLoyd.

Jan 13th A Glimpse at Geology Doug McCutcheon

Jan 20th Parish Paths Partnerships Alison Raw & Jim

Jan 27th Lichens McManners.

Feb 3rd Watching the Earth GeorgeWall

Feb 10th Weardale Wildlife Members.

Feb 17th Short talks Martin Fuller.

Feb 24th Ecology of the River Swale Janie Walkinshaw.

Mar 2nd AGM. followed by 'Janie in Oz' Steve Kirtley.

Mar 9th Butterflies of Northern England Dr.David Knight.

Mar 16th Earthworms Phyllis Garrod.

Mar 23rd Natural History of the Eden Valley Carol Sobkowiak.

Mar 30th Rock Pools & Rock Roses lan Dougill.

Apr 20th History of the River Skerne Don Griss.

Apr 27th Bird Recognition

Presidential Lecture.

Hartlepool Natural History Society

Indoor meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month in the Art Gallery, Christ

Church, Church Square, Hartlepool, commencing at 7.30 pm

October 1st Hedgehog Rescue Joyce Kaiser

November 19th Otters and Water Voles Stuart Priestley

December 17th Members Night and Social

Evening

Russell McAndrew

January 1st 2004 AGM and Review of 2003

3


Field Meeting 246 10th May 2pm. Norman's Riding Wood, Winlaton, near Blaydon on

Tyne. Leader; Doug McCutcheon.

Fungi

Ascomycetes:

Colpoma quercinum on dead Quercus twigs

Daldinia concentrica on dead Fraxinus wood

Diatrypella favacea on fallen Betula twigs

Diatrypella quercina on fallen Quercus twigs

Leptosphaeria maculans on dead stem base of Alliaria

Microthyriurn ciIiatum on old fallen leaf of Ilex

Trochila ilicina on old fallen leaf of Ilex

Xylaria hypoxylon on indet. dead wood

Xylaria longipes on log of Acer pseudoplatanus

Basidiomycetes:

Coprinus laanii on cut end of conifer log

CorioIus versicoIor on indet. deciduous stump

Exidia truncata on fallen branch of Quercus

Fomitopsis pinicola on indet. conifer log

Hirneola auricuIa-judae on moribund Sambucus etc.

Kuehneola uredinis on stems of living Rubus fruticosus

Milesina kriegeriana on moribund Dryopteris

Uromyces dactylidis on living leaves of Ranunculus repens

Uromyces ficariae on living leaves of Ranunculus ficaria

Other groups:

Plasmopara pygmaea on leaves of Anemone nemorosa

Pyrenochaeta ilicis on old dead leaves or Ilex

Ramularia didyma on leaf of Ranunculus repens

Alan Legg

Plants

Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea

Wood Speedwell Veronica montana

Bugle Ajuga reptans

Bluebell Endymion non-scriptus

Wavy Bittercress Cardamine flexuosa

Read Campion Silene dioica

Yellow Pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum

Ladies Smock Cardamines pratensis

Wood Sanicle Sanicula europaea

4

Bitter Vetch Lathyrus montanus

Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum

Primrose Primula vulgaris

Wood Cranesbill Geranium sylvaticum

Opposite Leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium

Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella

Cliff Evans

Butterflies

Large White Pieris brassicae


Orange Tip Anthocaris cardamines

Males and ova on Jack-by-the-Hedge

Peacock Inachis io


Galls

On Pendunculated Oak (Quercus robur) All Hymenoptera:Cynipoidea:-

Andricus curvator

Andricus lignicolor Cola-nut Gall

Andricus kollari Marble Gall

Andricus fecundator Artichoke Gall

Andricus quercuscalicis Knopper Gall

Neuroterus quercusbaccarum Currant Gall

Biorhiza pallida Oak Apple

On Hawthorn (Crataegus) leaves:-

Phyllocoptes goniothorax (mite)

On Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) leaves:-

Eriophyes sorbi (Mite)

5

Field Meeting 248 12th July 2pm. Hetton Moor to Murton. NZ 360471, Leader Dennis Hall.

Mammals

Molehills

Birds

Mute Swan

Coot

Moorhen

Little Grebe

Mallard

Whitethroat

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Bumblebees

Bombus lapidarius

B. lapponicus

B. lucorum

B. pascuorum

B. pratorum

Lepidoptera

Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae


Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina

Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus


Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris

Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus

Five Spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae latomarginata

Shaded Broad Bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata

Grass Emerald Pseudoterpna pruinata atropunctaria

Cliff Evans

Damselflies

Common Blue Enallagma cyathigerum

Blue-tailed Ischnura elegans

Hoverflies

Cheilosia illustrata

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

Rhingia campestris

Syritta pipiens

Volucella bombylans

6

Beetles

7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

Leaf Beetle Phyllodecta vitellinae

Galls

Artichoke Gall Andricus fecundator

Cola Gall A. lignicola

Nettle Gall Dasineura urticae

Hawthorn Leaf Gall Eriophyes goniothorax

Ash Leaf Gall Psyllopsis fraxini

Fungi

Mildew on Meadowsweet Erysiphe ulmariae

Rust on Purple Willow Melampsora epitea

Oak mildew Microsphaera alphitoides

Rust on Bramble Phragmidium violaceum

Mildew on young Hawthorn Podosphaera clandestina

Rust on Colt's-foot Puccinia poarum

Rust on Great Willowherb P. pulverulenta

Rust on Creeping Thistle P. punctiformis

Red Spots on Broad-leaved Dock leaves Ramularia rubella

Mildew on Lady's-mantle Sphaerotheca alchemillae

Mildew on Dandelion S. fusca

Smut on Field Scabious Ustilago scabiosae

Rust on Great Burnet Xenodochus carbonarius

Field Meeting 249 27th July.(Sunday).11a.m. Castle Eden Dene. NZ428393. Leader Steve

Robbins

Fungi

Oomycetes

Plasmopara pusilla On leaves of Geranium pratense

Ascomycetes

Cymadothea trifolii Polythrincium state on Trifolium

Erysiphe cynoglossi on leaves of Symphytum

Erysiphe ulmariae on leaves of Filipendula

Hymenoscyphus caudatus on indet. Decid. Petiole on ground

Leptotrochila ranunculi on leaf of Ranunculus repens

Mycosphaerella ulmi Phloeospora state on leaves of Ulmus

Taphrina amentorum {both on Ulmus} new “cones”

Taphrina tosquinetii {glabra} living leaves

Agarics

7

Inocybe godeyi with Fagus (an uncommon species with only one previous VC66

record, also from Castle Eden Dene but at the Opposite (western) end)

Rusts

Coleosporium

tussilaginis

a plurivorous species seen here on various hosts

Phragmidium

mucronatum

on leaves of Rosa canina

Phragmidium

sanguisorbae

on Poterium on shore

Puccinia galii-verni on Cruciata

Puccinia glechomatis on leaves of Glechoma

Puccinia punctiformis on leaves of Cirsium

Puccinia saniculae on leaves of Sanicula

Puccinia variabilis on leaves of Taraxacum

Pucciniastrum

circaeae

on lower leaves of Circaea

Uromyces anthyllidis on Anthyllis

Uromyces geranii on leaves of Geranium pratense

Uromyces polygoni-

aviculare

on leaves of Polygonum aviculare

Smut

Urocystis ranunculi on leaves of Ranunculus repens

Hyphomycetes

Cercospora ferruginea on leaves of Artemis vulgaris. Probably a new VC66 record

Ramularia lapssanae on leaves of Lapsana communis

Trimmatostroma

betulinum

on dead attached twig of Corylus

Field Meeting 250. 23 August. 2pm. Harehope Quarry, Frosterly, Weardale. NZ 035369

Leader Tony Jackson.

Plants

Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife

Lycopus europaeus Gypsywort

Mimulus guttatus Monkeyflower

Alisma plantago-aquatica Water Plantain

Caltha palustris Marsh Marigold


Thymus drucei Thyme

Echium vulgare Vipers Bugloss

Odonata

Ischnura elegans Blue Tailed Damslfly

Aeshna cyanea Southern Hawker

8

Sympetrum striolatum Common Darter

Aeshna juncea Common Hawker

Lepidoptera

Maniola jurtina Meadow Brown

Polygonia c-album Comma

Inachis io Peacock

Cynthia cardui Painted Lady

Polyommatus icarus Common Blue

Lycaena phlaeas Small Copper

Pieris rapae Small White

Pieris napi Green Veined White

Mormo maura Old Lady

Bumblebees

Bombus pascuorum

B. hortorum

Mammals

Otter spraint

Fish

Brown Trout

Galls

Diplolepis rosae Bedeguar Gall

Pontania pedunculi Sawfly on Willow

Iteomyia capreae Diptera on Willow

Eriophyes goniothorax Hawthorn Mite

E. laevis On Alder

Birds

Grey Partridge

Fungi

Ascomycetes

Erysiphe aquilegiae on leaves of Caltha

Erysiphe heraclei on leaves of Heracleum

Leptospora rubella on old stem of Filipendula

Lophiostoma caulium on dead stem of Epilobium

Mollisina rubi on dead stem of Ulex

Rhytisma acerinum on leaves of Acer pseudoplatanus

Taphrina tosquinetii on living leaves of Alnus

Trochila craterium on dead leaf of Hedera

Sawdea bicornis on leaves of Acer pseudoplatanus

Uncinula adunca v. regularis on leaves of Salix capraea

Lacnella villosa on dead stem of Filipendula

Paxillus rubicundulus with Alnus by Bollihope Burn

Rusts

Coleosporium tussilaginis on living leaves of Tussilago

9

Melampsora capraearum on living leaves of Salix capraea

Puccinia menthae on living leaves of Mentha aquatica

Hyphomycetes

Thyriostroma spiraeae on dead stem of Filipendula

Trimmatostroma salicis on dead attached twig of Salix

Submitting Moth Records for Durham using Excel

Terry Coult, Moth Recorder for Durham can accept records in an Excel spreadsheet providing the

field headings are as follows and in the same order from left to right.

Taxon, Site, Grid Ref., VC, Recorder, Determiner, Date, Quantity, Method, Sex, Stage, Status,

Comment.

All species names under taxon should be scientific name and method should be light trap or field

observation.

Terry Coult, 4 Officials Row, Malton, Lanchester, Co. Durham, OH? OTH

[email protected]

Like Terry I am anxious to receive as many butterfly records by the end of October in what,

thanks to the weather, has been one of the best and most exciting recording years for many. I have

an ernailable version of the recording form available on request or, in exchange for names and

addresses, I can post out recording forms for completion and return. I am also very happy to

accept records by ernail if the species, date, number, locality and grid reference are included.

Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli)

Andrew Donnison found an adult Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli) at Washington

Waterfowl Centre (NZ332562) on Sunday the 10th of August 2003.

10

On Tuesday 12th of August 2003 Trevor Stephenson collected a large caterpillar from the

footpath at Durham Wildlife Trusts' Blackhall Rocks Nature Reserve NZ469393 which he

suspected to be Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli). The footpath at this point is

bordered with Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) the preferred caterpillar food plant. Harry

Eales confirmed that the caterpillar was the green form of Convolvulus Hawk-moth caterpillar in

its final instar. This is an unusual record for two reasons, firstly the female that laid the egg must

have been a very early migrant and secondly it is very rare to find the caterpillar of this moth in

the wild in the UK. The last record for the caterpillar in the North East was at Seaton Sluice in

1901.

Parrack found a Convolvulus Hawk in his conservatory on 13 August 2003 22:23, at Seaton

Sluice, Northumberland.

Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa)

Sarah Young found a Camberwell Beauty butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) in her garden in

Lanchester on the 10th of August 2003, (NZ1647).

Terry Coult

Darlington Naturalists at Teesmouth

Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists' Field Club observed Marsh Harrier quartering reed beds at

Dormans Pool, Teesmouth on 21st September 2003. Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Small

Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) were active along Greatham Creek. As is normal now, the Creek held

both Grey and Common Seal. Short Eared Owls were seen on Cowpen Marsh. Members were

surprised to see Greater Spotted Woodpecker on the Long Drag.

Cleveland Naturalists at Hurworth Burn

At a field meeting on 31st August 2003 at Hurworth Burn near Trimdon, members came across

Rorippa palustris (Marsh Yellow Cress) and Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Water Cress) and

Chenopodium rubrum (Red Goosefoot) on the Northern margin of the reservoir. Comma

(Polygonia c- album), Wall (Lassiommata megera) Peacock (Inachis io), Common Blue,

(Polyommatus icarus), Silver Y (Autographa gamma), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), and Rosy

Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) were also seen. The carabid ground beetle Carabus nemoralis was

found on the old railway. A late swift was seen to fly by. The number of species of birds on and

around the reservoir was rather limited, but included Ruff, Snipe, and Great Crested Grebe. There

were large numbers of Ruddy Duck.

Malcolm Birtle

11

An Unusual Ichneumon

Ian Wallace, Caddis recording Scheme, Liverpool Museum

Ichneumons are not particularly associated with the underwater environment. One of the best

known exceptions is Agriotypus armatus Curtis. This parasitises caddis larvae and when their host

pupates the parasite produces a dark brown respiratory strap from the end of the caddis case. Few

would recognize the adult ichneumon, but the parasitised case is figured in many books

illustrating freshwater life.

This frequent illustration can suggest that Agriotypus is common, but my experience

of twenty five years of collecting caddis larvae have not given me that impression. The Recorder

computer package describes it as relatively uncommon. However, where it occurs several are

usually found.

Norman Philipson records finding one parasitising Goera pilosa (Fabricius) probably the

commonest British host, from the Blyth at Plessey on 3/6/1938 (Transactions of the Natural

History Society of Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne (1957), new series, Vol.

12(3), page 82).

I collected caddis larvae extensively in Northumberland in the 1970’s and never met Agriotypus. I

was thus delighted, during a recent holiday, to find several parasitised cases of Odontocerum

albicorne (Scopoli), another well known host, in the Fallowlees Burn near Fallowlees (NZ02-93-)

on 21/08/2003.

Although this is a not a caddis, it seems appropriate to add it as a species to note as part of the

caddis recording scheme, and I would welcome records.

Ian Wallace, Caddis Recording Scheme, Liverpool Museum

12

Hydnotrya tulasnei (Berk.) Berk. And Br. Helvellaceae, a Truffle newly-recorded for County

Durham (VC66)

A.W.Legg, 36, Carleton Drive, Darlington, Co. Durham DL3 9QP

In recent years, attention has been drawn, both to the general paucity of truffle records for County

Durham (Legg, 1994b) and to new records of this group as they have been made (Legg, 1993:

Legg, 1994a; Legg, 1998). In 1994, I drew up a list of truffle species already recorded for VC66

and VC67 together with a supplementary list of other species thought likely to occur in the North

East.

In early August 2003, one of the latter, Hydnotrya tulasnei, was indeed found in County Durham,

collected from litter and scuffed earth under Quercus in Norman’s Riding Wood near Winlaton

(NZ1660). A single specimen, probably unearthed by a deer or rabbit, was found by Mr. D.E.

McCutcheon who owns the wood and knows its natural history intimately. The specimen was sent

to me for identification, as it turned out a fairly simple matter since, although slightly immature,

the material was in good condition, and contained mature asci and spores. The species has the

reputation for smelling musty, often unpleasant when old. This particular specimen had a very

strong smell of stale beer, which the foraging animal possibly found too powerful! The specimen

was sent to Mr. A. Henrici who confirmed the identification and deposited the material in the

Kew Herbarium.

The fungus is considered to be probably the most “common”of the four British species with a

number of examined collections listed by Pegler at al. (1993). The British Fungus Database gives

34 records for the British Isles, including the Irish Republic as well as England, Scotland, and

Wales. There is one record from the Isle of Arran and one from the Clyde Isles. Nearest to home

are two recent records from South West Yorkshire (VC63), in 1988 under Picea and 2000 under

Fagus. Hydnotrya tulasnei is not thought to have an affinity with any species of tree or tree

family but occurs, generally, in woodland. The present collection seems to be the first from North

east England

References

Legg, A.W., 1993. rarely-recorded and unrecorded groups of Fungi. The Vasculum 77(4): 76-77

Legg, A.W., 1994a. The Truffles of Northumberland and Durham. The Vasculum 78(1): 4-7

Legg, A.W., 1994b. A “lost” record found. The Vasculum 78(4): 70.

Legg, A.W., 1998. Paurocotylis pila – a new County Durham Truffle, The Vasculum 83(1):12.

Pegler, D.N., Spooner, B.M. and Young, T.W.K., 1993, British Truffles, Kew: Royal Botanic

Gardens.


Butterflies



Moths



Tyne, NE2 3LJ.

Dragonflies


17 7PN.

Birds


(tel. 386 1519).


NE46 1SX.


Mammals (general)





[email protected]

Bats


0SA.



Plants


DL14 7HH.





Spiders


Durham, DH7 8TG.

Geological



THE VASCULUM


Table of Contents


Notes and Records 2

The American Horse Chestnut mildew reaches County Durham 2

Schizophyllum amplum (Léveillé) Nakasone an uncommon fungus found at Tynemouth 2

Moths from Greenabella Marsh, Seaton Road, Teesside, in 2003 2

Flora of County Durham-Poppies, Papaveraceae 2

Moth Recorders Report 2003

Editors:





10, Avon Grove,

Billingham



Union


of Natural History


THE VASCULUM









sites.






around 200.





Durham (1986 & 1992).











1

THE VASCULUM

Vol. 88, No 4 December 2003 Field Meeting Reports

Field Meeting 246. 10th May 2003 at Norman's Riding Wood. Winlaton

Additional Botanical Records

The Set-aside Field

Myosotis discolor Changing forget-me-not

Veronica serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved speedwell

Carex flacca Glaucous sedge

Dactylorchis fuchsii Spotted orchid

Equisetum arvense Common horsetail (fruiting)

Cerastium holosteoides Mouse-ear chickweed

Galium mollugo Hedge bedstraw

Woodland

Geranium robertianum Herb Robert

Viola riviniana Common violet

Alliaria petiolata Garlic mustard

Caltha palustris Marsh marigold

Ranunculus ficaria Lesser celandine

Conopodium majus Pignut

Mercurialis perennis Dog's mercury

Allium ursinum Rarnsons

Callitriche stagnalis Water starwort

LuzuIa sylvatica Greater woodrush


Vaccinium myrtillus Bilberry


Potentilla anserina Silverweed

Festuca gigantean Tall Brome

Mosses Liverworts

Cratoneuron filicinum Lophocolea heterophylla

Plagiothecium undulatum Lophocolea bidentata var bidentata

Plagiothecium curvifolium Nardia scalaris

Pseudoscleropodium purum Pellia endiviifolia

2

Brachythecium rutabulum Conocephalum conicum

Brachythecium velutinum

Calliergon cuspidatum

Mnium hornum

Rhizomnium punctatum

Dennis Hall

Field Meeting 248 12th July 2pm. Hetton Moor to Murton. NZ 360471, Leader Dennis Hall.

Additional Botanical Records

Angelica sylvestris Angelica

Achillea ptarmica Sneezewort

Achillea millefolium Yarrow

Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent

Centaurea scabiosa Greater Knapweed

Centaurea nigra Hardheads

Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle

Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle

Cruciata laevipes Crosswort

Calystegia sylvatica Hedge Bindweed

Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed

Cytisus scoparius Broom

Campanula rotundifolia Harebell

Calluna vulgaris Ling

Conopodium majus Pignut

Cerastium fontanum Mouse-eared Chickweed

Caltha palustris Kingcup

Crepis capillaris Hawksbeard

Carex acutiformis Lesser Pond Sedge

Carex nigra Common or Black Sedge

Carex panicea Glaucous Sedge

Dactylorhiza fuchsii Spotted Orchid

Dryopteris dilatata Buckler Fern

Daucus carota Wild Carrot

Epilobium parviflorum Small-flowered Willow Herb

Epilobium hirsutum Codlins and Cream

Euphrasia nemorosa Eyebright

Equisetum arvense Common Horsetail


Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry

Galium saxatile Heath Bedstraw

Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw

Glyceria declinata Sweet Grass

Geranium robertianum Herb Robert

Hypericum tetrapterum Square-stemmed St John's Wort

Hypericum forrestii Forrest's Hypericum

Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed

Hypochaeris radicata Cat's Ear

Hieracium Section Caesia Hawkweed

Hieracium Section Sabauda Hawkweed

Juncus articulatus Articulated rush

3

Juncus inflexus Hard Rush

Juncus effusus Common Rush

Juncus bufonius Toad Rush

Juncus conglomeratus Compact Rush

Knautia arvensis Field Scabious

Lychnis flos-cuculi Ragged Robin

Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-eye Daisy

Lotus corniculatus Bird's Foot Trefoil

Lots pedunculatus Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil

Leontodon hispidus Hairy Hawkbit

Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Pea


Matricaria discoidea Pineapple Weed

Myosotis laxa Water Forget-me-not

Melilotus altissima Tall Melilot

Melilotus officinalis Melilot

Mentha aquatica Water Mint

Nardus stricta Mat Grass

Odontites vernus Red Bartsia

Polygonum lapathifolia Pale Persicaria

Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary Grass

Pteridium aquilinum Bracken

Potentilla reptans Creeping cinquefoil

Potentilla anserma Silverweed

Populus tremula Aspen

Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak

Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved dock

Rumex acetosa Sorrel

Reseda lutea Wild Mignonette

Reseda luteola Weld

Rosa canina Dog Rose

Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum Water Cress

Ranunculus flammula Lesser Spearwort

Symphytum officinale Comfrey

Senecio jacobaea Ragwort

Sanguisorba officinalis Great Burnet

Silene vulgaris Bladder Campion

Succisa pratensis Devil’s-bit

Salix cinerea Grey Willow

Salix caprea Sallow

Stellaria graminea Lesser Stitchwort

Stachys officinalis Betony

Stachys sylvaticum Hedge Woundwort

Sambucus nigra Elderberry

Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet

Sparganium erectum Bur-reed

Torilis japonica Upright Hedge Parsley

Trifolium dubium Lesser Yellow trefoil

Trifolium medium Zig-zag Clover

Trifolium pratense Red Clover

Trifolium campestre Hop Trefoil

Tragopogon pratensis Goat's Beard


Vicia sepium Bush Vetch

Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch

4

Valeriana officinalis Valerian

Viola riviniana Common Violet

Bryophytes

Brachythecium velutinum Pellia epiphylla

Calliergon cuspidatum Plagiomnium rostratum

Encalypta vulgaris Pohlia camea

Eurhynchium praelongum Rhvtidiadelphus sauarrosus

Dennis Hall

Field Meeting 251. 13th September. 11.00 a.m. Minsteracres, VC67

Leader: Alan Legg

This outing joint with the North Eastern Fungus Study Group, followed routes covered by the

Fungus Group in July 2002. the "Shrubbery", a small, rather overgrown arboretum, and the edges

of a small lake and silted pond.

The arid weather of the previous month had rendered the site extremely dry so it was not

surprising that there was a low total count of fungi seen and that most of these were very common

species, not worth listing in full. Of most interest were two species newly recorded for VC67:

1. Lactarius voIemus

This uncommon milk-cap is easily recognised in the field by its orange-

brown colour, firm flesh., slightly decurrent gills and strong smell of fish. It is

thought to be declining in a number of European countries. The writer has seen it

only twice before, in 1972 and 1987. Several specimens were found in a group under

oak, its favoured habitat in this country. No previous records are known from

Northumberland or Durham.

2. Mycosphaerella macrospora

Brown patches on leaves of Iris pseudacorus. looking rather Iike rust teIia,

later reveaIed smaII groups of Mycosphaerella macrospora, a fungus with no

previous records from any of the three north eastern vice-counties.

Of the 48 fungal species seen, 30 were newly-recorded for the site. bringing the total species

count to 97.

Members of the party also enjoyed examining plants of the uncommon Royal Fern, Osmunda

regalis, but were saddened to note that its habitat appeared to be drying out completely.

Notes and Records

Bee Orchids in Warden Law Quarry

Whilst leading a nature walk with the Lanchester Group around Warden Law Quarry on 8th July,

I came across a grouping of Bee Orchids (Ophrys apiferd). It doesn't appear to have been

recorded there before. Fragrant Orchids were also seen there,

5

as we reported last year in the Vasculum, but the Greater Spearwort was in rapid decline due to

drying up of the pools, it being totally absent from one pool where last year there were several.

Unless some conservation is tackled the pools are all in danger of drying up.

Dennis Hall

The American Horse Chestnut mildew reaches County Durham

A.W.Legg, 36. Carleton Drive, Darlington, Co. Durham DL3 9QP

During a visit of the British Mycological Society to Switzerland in September 2000, collections

were made, in Erlach and Bern, of a powdery mildew on leaves of Aesculus carnea J. Zeger.

These were the first European collections of the American Horse Chestnut mildew, Uncinula

flexuosa Peck. In August 2001, the mildew was found to have infected other trees in Erlach and

Bern and moved on to A. hippocastanum, our own familiar Horse Chestnut. In November, 2001,

the first British collections were made from A. carnea, A. x dallimorei Sealy, A. flava Solander

and A. x hybrida Sargent, all of American origin, in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Kew. Later the

same year, the fungus was found on A. hippocastanum near Esher, Surrey.

Since publication of these records in the Mycologist in August the following year (Ing & Spooner,

2002), the fungus has been reported from various parts of southern Britain. A letter I received on

September 24th 2003 (Robinson, K. in litt.) told me of a collection from Hertfordshire. This

reminded me of a note I had made on September 10th 2003, of a powdery mildew on leaves of

Aesculus carnea in Darlington West Cemetery (NZ2710) which, by reference only to Ing (1990),

I had mistakenly assumed to be Phyllactinia guttata (Wallr.: Fr.) Lev. On examination of more

material from the same tree on 13th October 2003, the fungus was found to match the description

of U. flexuosa given by Ing &. Spooner (2002). No infections of nearby trees of Aesculus

hippocastanurn were found.

Material was sent to Professor Bruce Ing who replied confirming my determination and

describing the Darlington collection as "the most northerly to date". He added that the fungus was

now known to have spread to Belgium, Italy, Poland and, possibly, Ukraine. It seems to be

crossing the species barrier within a year so Vasculum readers are invited to examine the leaves of

all Aesculus species in their neighbourhoods from late summer onwards in 2004. At first the

upper surfaces of leaves appear covered with pale bluish grey pruina. Later the lower surfaces

especially will be seen with a hand lens to have developed numerous black dots which are the

fertile ascocarps of this fungus. I would welcome samples from further north than Darlington and,

particularly, on leaves of Aesculus hippocastanum.

References

Ing, B., 1990. An introduction to British Powdery Mildews - 2. Mycologist 4: 88-90.

Ing, B., & Spooner, B.M.. 2002. The Horse Chestnut powdery mildew in Europe. Mycologist 16:

112-113.

6

Schizophyllum amplum (Léveillé) Nakasone an uncommon fungus found at Tynemouth

Hewett A. Ellis, 16. Southlands, North Shields, NE30 2QS

On 17th October 2003 I found several small cup-saucer-shaped fungal fruiting bodies growing on

the bark of felled branches of an unidentified deciduous tree at The Flats, Tynemouth near the

A.N.D. Works (South Northumberland, VC67; Grid Reference: NZ 364 687) The smallest bodies

measured a few millimetres in diameter and were sessile cups with an outer white hairy aspect

and a tan smooth inner surface. Mature specimens measured up to 10mm in diameter and were

more saucer-shaped. Close inspection revealed scant slight ridges in the inner lining but no true

gills.

The general appearances were reminiscent of those of a cup fungus, that is, an Ascomycete, but

microscopy of thin sections failed to reveal any asci and it became clear that this was some form

of Basidiomycete. Several of the fruiting bodies produced white spore prints. Microscopy of these

revealed smooth non-guttate cylindrical spores, slightly curved (allantoid) and measuring 10.1 X

3.1 µm on average.

I had not previously encountered this fungus and was unable to determine the species even after

microscopic examination. I sent material to Alan Legg who reported that, although he had never

seen it before, he was reasonably certain that the species was Auriculariopsis ampla, which has

recently been placed in the family Schizophyllaceae within the order Schizophyllales. Alan sent

my material on to Dr Peter Roberts at Kew for a further opinion. Alan’s determination was

subsequently confirmed by Dr Roberts and material has been retained in The Herbarium, Royal

Botanic Gardens Kew (Accession Number: K(M) 120252). The species is Schizophyllum amplum

(Léveillé) Nakasone, which is very uncommon in Britain. It seems to be a southern species, rare

in Denmark and absent from other Nordic countries. All previous Kew collections have been from

the south where the species is very local in distribution. The usual host is Poplar. It seems that the

present record is the first for northern England.

Acknowledgement-I wish to thank Alan Legg and Peter Roberts for their expert help with this

material.

7

Moths from Greenabella Marsh, Seaton Road, Teesside, in 2003

Peter Waterton, Great Ayton, N. Yorks.

(The following records were made with access permission from Huntsman Tioxide, Teesside).

Records are from two locations on the marsh.

(NZ 5126) Bradley

Number

Genus Species Name Food Plants Comments Numbers

14 Hepialus humuli Ghost Moth Grasses,

Polyphagus

Common 1

15 Hepialus sylvina Orange

Swift

Dock,

Dandelion,

others

Common 2

169 Zygaena filipendulae Six Spot

Burnet

Birds-foot

Trefoil

Common 3

170 Zygaena trifolii

decreta

Five-Spot

Burnet

Birds-foot

Trefoil

Common 2

425 Yponomeuta padella Orchard

Ermine

Hawthorn,

Blackthorn

Common 1

937 Agapeta hamana Thistles Widespread 1

970 Pandemis cerasana Barred Fruit

Tree Tortrix

Common

1

972 Pandemis heperana Dark Fruit

Tree Tortrix

Polyphagus Very

Common

2

993 Clepsis spectrana Cyclamen

Tortrix

Saltmarsh

Plants

Fairly

Common

2

1193 Eucosma tripoliana Sea Aster Local 1

1332 Scoparia subfusca Coltsfoot Regular 1

1388 Udea lutealis Abundant 3

1526 Thymelicus sylvestris Small

Skipper

Grasses Numerous

1549 Pieris brassicae Large White Crucifers

1551 Pieris napi Green

Veined

White

Crucifers

1574 Polyommatus icarus Common

Blue

Birds-foot

Trefoil

3

1590 Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral Nettles 1

1591 Vanessa cardui Painted

Lady

Thistles 1

1593 Aglais urticae Small

Tortoiseshell

Nettles 3

1626 Maniola jurtina Meadow

Brown

Grasses Numerous

1627 Coenonympha pamphilus Small Heath Grasses Numerous

1640 Philudoria potatoria The Drinker Grasses 5

1708 Idaea dimidiata Single

Dotted

Wave

Cow Parsley,

Bedstraws

2

1713 Idaea arversata Riband

Wave

Dandelions,

Docks etc.

Common 1

1732 Scotopteryx chenopodiata Shaded

Broad Bar

Clovers,

Vetches

Common 5

8

1738 Epirrhoe alternata

alternata

Common

Carpet

Bedstraw,

Cleavers

Common 5

1758 Eulithis pyraliata Barred

Straw

Bedstraw,

Cleavers

Common 1

1765 Cidaria fulvata Barred

Yellow

Wild Roses Common 1

1825 Eupithecia centaureata Lime-speck

Pug

Polyphagous 2

1956 Cabera exanthemata Common

Wave

Willows,

Poplar

1

2030 Euproctis similis Yellow-tail Hawthorn,

Blackthorn

1

2069 Tyria jacobaeae The

Cinnabar

Ragwort Scarce 1

2107 Noctua pronuba Large

Yellow

Underwing

Abundant 3

2109 Noctua comes Lesser

Yellow

Underwing

Grasses 2

2112 Noctua interjecta

caliginosa

Lesser

Yellow

Underwing

Ragwort Scarce 1

2123 Diarsia rubi Small

Square-spot

Dandelions,

Docks

Widespread 3

2130 Xestia baja Dotted Clay Nettles Common 1

2134 Xestia xanthographa Square Spot

Rustic

Grasses Abundant 5

2192 Mythimna conigra Brown-line

Bright-eye

Grasses Fairly

Common

1

2198 Mythimna impura

impura

Smoky

Wainscot

Grasses Common 20+

2199 Mythimna pallens Common

Wainscot

Grasses Common 5

2303 Thalpophila matura Straw

Underwing

Grasses 1

2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches Grasses Common 3

2322 Apamea lithoxylaea Light Arches Grasses Common 1

2340 Oligia fasciuncula Middle-

barred

Minor

Grasses Common 3

2341 Mesoligia furuncula Cloaked

Minor

Grasses Scarce 1

2343 Mesapamea secalis Common

Rustic

Grasses Common 1

2440 Plusia putnami

gracilis

Lempkes

Gold Spot

Reeds,

Grasses

Scarce 2

2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y Polyphagous Common 5

NZ 4621 Bradley

Number

Genus Species Name Food Plants Comments

15 Hepialus sylvina Orange Swift Dandelions,

Docks etc.

Common

1076 Olethreutes lacunana Polyphagous Very

Common

9

1304 Agriphila straminella Grasses Abundant

1388 Udea lutealis Thistles,

Knapweeds

Abundant

1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of

Pearl

Nettles Abundant

1501 Platyptilia gonodactyla Coltsfoot Common

1526 Thymelicus sylvestris Small Skipper Grasses

1549 Pieris brassicae Large White Brassicae

1550 Pieris rapae Small White Brassicae

1574 Polyommatus icarus Common Blue Birds-foot

Trefoil

1590 Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral Nettles

1591 Vanessa cardui Painted Lady Thistles

1593 Aglais urticae Small

Tortoiseshell

Nettles

1597 Inachis io Peacock Nettles

1615 Lasiommata megera Grasses

1626 Maniola jurtina Meadow

Brown

Grasses

1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet Crucifers Common

1839 Eupithecia succenturiata Bordered Pug Mugwort Local

2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow

Underwing

Grasses Abundant

2134 Xestia xanthographa Square Spot

Rustic

Grasses Abundant

2199 Mythimna pallens Common

Wainscot

Grasses Common

2274 Xanthia icteritia The Sallow Sallows,

Poplars

Common

2353 Luperina testacea Flounced

Rustic

Grasses Very

Common

2369 Nonagria typhae Bulrush

Wainscot

Bulrush Scarce

2440 Plusia putnami

gracilis

Lempkes Gold

Spot

Reeds,

Grasses

Scarce

2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot Grasses Rare Migrant

10

Flora of County Durham-Poppies, Papaveraceae

John L. Durkin, 25 May Avenue, Winlaton Mill, Blaydon, NE21 6SF

This article updates the records for the poppies and their related species, since the

publication of the Durham Flora. The “New Atlas Of The British and Irish Flora”, published in

2002, has updated our local floras with many new records, particularly if you use the CD that

comes with the book. It includes all of the field records from the Durham Flora, but not all of the

earlier records that may have appeared in the Vasculum or elsewhere. It is an excellent book, and

highly recommended despite being rather expensive.

Oriental Poppy Papaver pseudoorientale

Several plants on waste ground in Stockton, NZ4417, with Opium Poppies and other garden

escapes. A new species for the county.

Opium Poppy Papaver somniferum L.

Has become much more frequent in the last ten years, mostly on wasteland, particularly in the

Stockton area.

Rough Poppy Papaver hybridum L.

Our only modern site for this poppy was found at Cleadon Hills by Paul Mortimer.

The plant still grows there, just outside of the S.S.S.I. The map shows this record as the most

northern of the solid circles. The overall distribution is close to the coast, mostly on rough ground

in limestone areas.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

Papaver hybridum, Rough Poppy

11

Welsh Poppy Meconopsis cambrica (L.) Vig.

Now much more frequent in Weardale and Teesdale, and occasional in the east of the county.

Climbing Corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata

Formerly Corydalis claviculata. There are several new records of this plant in the

woods of the Team Valley, between Gateshead and Beamish. This seems to be its centre of

distribution in the county.

Yellow Corydalis Pseudofumaria lutea (L.) DC

Common on walls in the Dales villages, this garden plant is now spreading into the

east of the county. Its spread is similar to that of the Asplenia ferns, and of the Ivy Leaved

Toadflax, Glechoma hederacea. This may be related to cleaner air, though in some suburban

areas it also depends upon the ageing of the mortar in walls. Housing from the 1930s now

provides suitable conditions for these plants in several areas. Formerly called Corydalis lutea.

Bird-in-a bush Corydalis solida (L.) Swartz

Still present on the south bank of the Wear east of Prebends Bridge in Durham City.

It grows from tubers as well as from seed, so it can persist for

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

Pseudofumaria lutea, Yellow Corydalis

12

some time. The older colony at Wolsingham has not been found recently, though the location of

the old colony is vague. The “New Atlas” shows this as a modern record, possibly as a mistake,

but if anyone has seen it recently, please get in touch!

Dense Flowered Fumitory Fumaria densiflora DC

A careful search of old sites has produced only Fumaria muralis boraei, which can

be superficially quite similar. Despite this, the original records may, of course, have been correct.

I am grateful to Prof. G Swan for his assistance with determination of the fumitories.

For the poppies listed in the Durham Flora but not covered here, there is no

significant change in status.

References

Dines, T. et al 2002 “New Atlas of The British and Irish Flora” BSBI.

Graham, G.G. 1988 “The Flora and Vegetation of County Durham” Durham Flora Committee.

Graham, G.G. 1991 “Botanical Records” Vasculum Vol. 76 No1. Northern Naturalists Union

Lawrence, I. 1994 “A guide to the wild flowers of Cleveland” Cleveland County Council.

Preston, C.D, Pearman, D.A, Dines, T.D. 2002 “New Atlas of the British & Irish Flora” Oxford

University Press.

Rich & Jermy 1998 “Plant Crib 1998” B.S.B.I.

Stace, C.1997 “New Flora of The British Isles” Cambridge University Press.

Swan, G. A.1993 “Flora of Northumberland” Natural History Society of Northumbria.

Moth Recorders Report 2003

Terry Coult

(reprinted by permission from Butterfly Conservation, North East England Branch. Presented to

the Annual General Meeting held Wednesday 26th of Nov. 2003, Rainton Meadows )

1. Mapmate

Most of the records sent to the moth recorders in both Northumberland and Durham are now

being collated in Mapmate. Recorders using Mapmate can exchange information quickly and

easily and all contributing recorders can have access to the whole of the database if they wish it. I

would encourage all who record moths to utilise Mapmate it makes the recording process so much

easier.

As of the 25th of Nov. 2003 the Mapmate database for the two counties holds 55,192 records not a

bad total for just a few months work. Breaking that total down the figures are:

13

Durham Macro moths 36847

Durham Micro moths 5785

Northumberland Macro moths 11870

Northumberland Micro moths 690

If any of the recorders have further records to send please do so as soon as possible. For those

recorders who do not have Mapmate it is possible to import data from a Microsoft Access

database directly into Mapmate but it can be tricky and the Access database must be structured

exactly right. Please update and submit your records on a regular, preferably monthly, basis.

Large quantities of records arriving at once tend to clog the system.

2. Recorders and records

The list of recorders is to long to incorporate here but on behalf of Nick Cook the county recorder

for Northumberland and myself I would like to thank you all. Please keep the records coming.

Progress to date has been exemplary.

Whilst we have made an excellent start in creating the Mapmate database there are still a large

number of paper records in storage and being submitted which need to be put into Mapmate, if

anyone has the time to volunteer to do this I would be pleased to hear from them.

Nick Cook and myself have discussed the problem of verification of some of the new or unusual

records. Mapmate records include details of the moth recorder and the verifier, often however

these are one and the same person. I would ask that if you take a moth, which is new to the

county, you have someone else look at it or provide a good quality photograph for verification. It

is likely that our data will eventually form part of the national moth recording database and I

would hate to think that we were providing erroneous data. Change in the distribution of moths is

happening very quickly and new species are appearing in the region regularly we need to map that

change but we need to do it accurately.

As an experiment and an example of change, I did a search on the macro moth database for

Durham for species new from the year 2000. Bearing in mind that the Mapmate database does not

yet have all the records, which are stored on paper or in lit. the results were:

Taxon Vernacular Authority Records

Hemithea aestivaria Common Emerald (Hübner, 1799) 1

Eupithecia intricata Freyer's Pug (Zetterstedt, 1839) 5

Lobophora halterata Seraphim (Hufnagel, 1767) 3

Plagodis dolabraria Scorched Wing (Linnaeus, 1767) 2

Mimas tiliae Lime Hawk-moth (Linnaeus, 1758) 2

Eilema depressa Buff Footman (Esper, 1787) 1

Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart (Hübner, 1803) 56

14

Lithophane hepatica Pale Pinion (Clerck, 1759) 1

Eremobia ochroleuca Dusky Sallow ([Denis & Schiffermüller],

1775)

1

Colocasia coryli Nut-tree Tussock (Linnaeus, 1758) 1

All of these species are either not recorded in “The Moths and Butterflies of Northumberland and

Durham”, Dunn and Parrack 1986 or are described as very rare. Whilst it is likely that their

current occurrence is a true record of expansion of range or numbers it would be wise to have

such changes confirmed by an independent verifier. I’m sure that the recorders could arrange such

confirmation amongst themselves.

Changes in the distribution of the Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae have caused some scratching of

heads and discussion this year. This moth which until quite recently was restricted to the

Northumberland coast, has in the last few years expanded its range quite dramatically to the

Durham coast and more unusually to a scattering of inland locations across the two counties. It is

difficult to make sense of the new distribution maps and it has been suggested that the species is

being moved around the region, possibly in an attempt to control the caterpillar food plant

Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea. I draw no conclusions myself you can look at the maps and

formulate your own ideas.

Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae)

Durham

2

6

1

2

3

4

5

7 8 1 3 4 59 SE

NY

SD

NZ

15

There has been a very obvious immigration of Humming Bird Hawk-moths Macroglossum

stellatarum and Convolvulus Hawk-moths Agrius convolvuli this summer. Immigration of adults

of the above species happens on a regular basis but records of attempted breeding are rare. A

single Convolvulus Hawk-moth caterpillar was found at Blackhall Rocks near Sunderland on the

12th of August, which successfully pupated with the imago emerging on the 26th of Sept. This is

the first time since 1901 that the caterpillar has been found in the region. On the 26th of August a

caterpillar of the Humming Bird Hawk-moth was found at Iveston near Consett the most recent

record that I’m aware of since several in the 1970s.

Two specimens of Red Underwing Catocala nupta were recorded in Northumberland during

2003, the second and third county records and the long hot summer unusually produced second

generations of some moth species which are usually single brooded this far north. Heart and Dart

Agrotis exclamationis, Snout Hypena proboscidalis, Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum, Light Emerald

Campaea margaritata and Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria all produced second generations

3. National Macro Moth Recording Scheme

Butterfly Conservation is planning a National Macro Moth recording scheme. As part of the

process they are asking the views of all those who record moths. You can make your views

known through their questionnaire leaflet or on the website at www.mothrecording.org.uk

Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae)

3

3

5

6

7

8

9

1

2

4

9 1 2

4

8765

6

5

4NZ

NT

NY

NU

http://www.mothrecording.org.uk/

16

4 National Moth Night

National Moth Night 2004 has expanded to include the day of Saturday the 22nd of May. The

reasons being that the target species are False Mocha Cyclophora parata, Netted Mountain Moth

Macaria carbonaria and Narrow Bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris tityus, the latter two species

being day flyers. Only Narrow Bordered Bee Hawk-moth has been found in the region and even

then doubtfully and more than 100 years ago. We will be having a trap and event somewhere in

the region, details nearer to the date. For more details of National Moth Night go to

www.nationalmothnight.info

5 Target Species for 2004

Butterfly Conservation has asked us to target three species next year. Dark Bordered Beauty

Epione vespertaria in Durham, Chalk Carpet Scotopteryx bipunctaria and Argent and Sable

Rheumapatra hastata. We will be organising events to search for all three at appropriate times.

Any recorders who have the time are urged to search for these species and send in the records.

Please note all three species are rare and threatened. Take care when searching for them that you

do not contribute to the species decline in any way and if accessing private land you have the

necessary permissions.

I was about to conclude with have a good season next year but of course unlike butterfly hunters,

moth hunters never rest. So get out there and record those winter and spring moths and don’t

forget to send in the records.

Many thanks

http://www.nationalmothnight.info/


President

Dr. P. Gates

President Elect

Vice Presidents


M. Mann


Mr. C.L. Evans

Hon. Treasurer


Hon. Editors

Dr. M Birtle

Dr. P. Gates


Mr. L. Moore

Hon. Auditor



Butterflies

Mike Hunter,17 Gilderdale Close,Faverdale,Darlington,DL3 0EE

Home: 01325 243022

E-mail: [email protected]

Moths

Durham:Terry Coult, 4 Officials Row, Malton, Lanchester, Co. Durham, DH7 0TH.

[email protected]


Tyne, NE2 3LJ.

Dragonflies


17 7PN.

Birds


(tel. 386 1519).


NE46 1SX.


Mammals (general)





[email protected]

Bats


0SA.



Plants


DL14 7HH.





Spiders


Durham, DH7 8TG.

Geological


http://mymail.tees.ac.uk/[email protected]


Volume 88 No. 1 ISSN 0049-5891 THE VASCULUM · Volume 88 No. 1 ISSN 0049-5891 THE VASCULUM Dates...

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