I went along to Byfield Pocket Park more out of habit than in the expectation of finding anything out of the usual. In fact I was in for a surprise. At the southern end of the park is a small stand of Holm Oak, Quercus ilex. It is a Mediterranean species but is hardy to the point of being a problem in certain areas such as the Isle of Wight. Its Latin specific name, ilex, presumably is a reference to the fact that its spiny juvenile leaves can resemble Holly, Ilex aquifolium. It occasionally bears small acorns but I found none last autumn.
Anyway, I was examining its foliage when an unfamiliar leaf-mine caught my attention.
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Leaf mines on Holm Oak caused by the larvae of Ectoedemia heringella.
Byfield Pocket Park, 4 March, 2020
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Once home, a bit if microscope work plus a spot of research showed that it was the work of a moth, Ectoedemia heringella. Known as the New Holm-oak Pigmy it was first recorded in Britain as recently as 1996, in Greater London. Since then it seems to have spread steadily to colonise these evergreen oaks over much of south-east England and the midlands. Naturally I will keep my eye open for adult specimens.
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Ectoedemia heringella. Picture via Wikipedia
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Along with the Holm Oaks are a couple of Norway Spruces, Picea abies. Even the lower branches are over two metres above the ground but I managed to reach some of the foliage with my sweep net and secured a bug. It was a cicadellid bug with no common name, so Idiocerus herrichi will have to suffice. Like the previous species it was once an uncommon insect but has spread significantly over recent decades. Nearly all Idiocerus species are associated with willows or poplars but this particular once has long been suspected of overwintering on evergreens so its presence on spruce was interesting.
So, on an unpromising morning I was able to find two insects which, as it happened, were new to the pocket park making the site total now 198 species.
However, it must be said that apart from these tiny creatures there was, on this rather raw morning, little else worthy of comment. Sweet Violets of the white form were flowering. Violets are the food plant for certain fritillary butterflies and it is just possible that these lovely insects will find them. Cor, talk about optimism!
However, it must be said that apart from these tiny creatures there was, on this rather raw morning, little else worthy of comment. Sweet Violets of the white form were flowering. Violets are the food plant for certain fritillary butterflies and it is just possible that these lovely insects will find them. Cor, talk about optimism!
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| Sweet Violets were in flower. Byfield Pocket Park, 4 March, 2020 |
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