Stefen Hill Miscellany

What with rain and other distractions I have seriously neglected Stefen Hill Pocket Park. In fact it must be all of four days since I was last there! Today was cooler than on my last  visit but it was dry and sunny, so I went for it.


As the days slip by galls are developing on various plants, especially trees. I recently mentioned Aceria nalepai on alder leaves and this has now been joined by Eriophyes laevis. This is a tentative identification as I have not examined the actual mites but is 99%likely to be correct.

Alder leaves were galled by a mite, Eriophyes laevis.

Stefen Hill Pocket Park, 12 May, 2020

On a nearby Field Maple another rash of galls was present. They were the work of Aceria myriadeum, another mite - not very exciting.

And on Field Maple another mite, Aceria myriadeum, was inducing galls.

Stefen Hill Pocket Park. 12 May, 2020

Far more interesting was a Wasp Beetle, Clytus arietis. Although common and obviously eye-catching it was a new record for the pocket park.  It sat quietly in my net before I returned it to the bramble bush where it had been before I rudely disturbed it.

The Wasp Beetle is striking and common, and yet can easily be

overlooked. Stefen Hill Pocket Park. 12 May, 2020

This beetle is often seen in full view in a leaf, making no attempt to conceal itself. The bold, wasp-like coloration apparently makes it safe from would-be predators.

Only a few feet away, also on bramble foliage, was a Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula. When I examined the area with more care I saw three other specimens and I had also seen one a few days before on meadowland adjacent to Christchurch Drive.

This Large Red Damselfly was only one of several present.

Stefen Hill Pocket Park. 12 May, 2020

All this was very encouraging because this species seems to be in decline right across Britain, perhaps because of ponds being drained and agricultural intensification in general.

The pond is being choked by Yellow Iris, Iris pseudacorus.

The park's one pond is in danger of being choked.

It is a beautiful plant but is very robust and some kind of clearance work will soon be required. In some parts Britain it is known as Jacob's Sword and elsewhere is called Segg. This latter is surely a variation on the word sedge. This plant may also  be the origin of the heraldic Fleur de Lys.




The culprit is the Yellow Flag Iris. Stefen Hill Pocket Park.

12 May, 2020

The Pocket park list is steadily growing and could reach 350 species by the end of the month.