A chilly Byfield

It was distinctly nippy overnight, with temperatures getting uncomfortably near to freezing point, so when I visited Byfield Pocket Park today I was rather pessimistic about finding much in the way of insects. But in fact when the sun finally emerged lots put in an appearance, particularly on ivy blossom. A Noon Fly, Mesembrina meridiana, chose to abandon the ivy and alight on a nearby plum leaf although by and large the insects offered few photo-opportunities. They would never make it as politicians.

A Noon Fly basks in the sunshine on a plum leaf.

Byfield Pocket Park, 2 October, 2019

As I mentioned in my last blog, this is the season for galls, leaf miners and so on. A sinuous mine on the leaf of an Aspen, Populus tremula, proved to be that of Aulagromyza tremulae, and was the 171st species recorded for the site. I'd like to say that it was an exciting rarity but, alas, it is rather common.

Hardly exciting. The larva of Aulagromyza tremulae is responsible for this

mine on an aspen leaf. Byfield Pocket Park, 2 October, 2019

I was temporarily distracted by a clump of Cocksfoot Grass, Dactylis glomerata. The seeds had germinated within the panicles of flowers, giving the plant an odd appearance. These proliferous spikelets are not uncommon and in some grasses they are a regular occurrence and in some cases occur as a form of viviparity.

Proliferous spikelets on Cocksfoot Grass. Byfield Pocket Park,

2 October, 2019

Back to  leaf mines. A wild rose bore the mine of a moth, Stigmella anomalella. It is known as the Rose Leaf Miner - now there's a surprise! Again it is very common but had not been recorded in the pocket park before and proved to be the 172nd species for this location The neat, unbroken line of frass (poo) runs down the centre of the mine, helping to confirm the identification.

This sinuous mine is the work of a moth, Stigmella anomalella.

Byfield Pocket Park, 2 October, 2019

I casually took a picture of an ash tree leaflet bearing the gall of Psyllopsis fraxini. This psyllid bug is exceedingly common wherever ash trees occur but was astonished to find that it was also a new record for the site. 173!




The roll-like gall of Psyllopsis fraxini. Byfield Pocket Park, Northants.

2 October, 2019

It takes the form of a roll at the edge of a leaf, and is likely to turn reddish or purple over the next few weeks.

 

A cedar, planted some twenty years ago by my old friend Oliver Tynan is, he assured me, a cedar of Lebanon, Cedrus libani. I have been sceptical and have been waiting for the tree to bear cones for an identification.

Cedar of Lebanon or Deodar? I'm still not sure.

Byfield Pocket Park, 2 October, 2019

The male flowers are now present and he may well be right but I have a gut feeling it is a Deodar, Cedrus deodara. When the female cones have fully formed a clear answer should be possible. 'All will be revealed,' as the lady promised the cardinal.


Anyway, the total ended up at 181 species. It should pass 200 species by the year's end.This is of no particular interest in itself but, in 25 years or so, when I have long gone and the climate has warmed dramatically, my species-list will be of some interest to anyone who cares to re-survey the site.