Seven from Ringstead Downs, 20th May 2020

Xanthogramma pedissequm, female, Ringstead Downs, May 23rd 2020

Myathropa florea, female, Ringstead Downs, May 23rd 2020

Elm-grass root aphid gall, Tetraneuri ulmi, Ringsted Downs, 23rd May 2020

Broad-bodied Chaser, Ringsted Downs, 23rd May 2020

Rhopalus subrufus, Ringstead Downs, 23rd May 2020

Volucella bombylans, Ringstead Downs, May 23rd 2020

Common Malachite Beetle, Malachis bipustulatus, Ringstead Downs, 23rd May 2020

Hawkweed Gall

Gall on Narrow-leaved Hawkweed caused by the Cynipid wasp Aulacidea hieracii, Holme NWT, 4th January 2020

Pear Gall Fungus

A lot of the leaves on the Conference Pear in my garden have orange blotches on the upper surface this year. On looking underneath there is a swelling with little "parasols" protruding.  After a bit of research I have found that this is Pear Gall caused by the rust fungus Gymnosporangium sabinae. Apparently it requires 2 hosts, the other being Juniper on which it causes clusters of finger-like swellings on stems.  I have a Juniperus sabine 'Tamarasciflia variegata' in the garden reasonably close to the pear tree, but so far have not found any signs of the fungus on it.

 

 



 

A gall and a rust

Walnut Leaf Gall caused by the mite Aceria erinea on a walnut tree in Hunstanton Community Orchard.

 



 

Euphorbia Rust Melampsora euphorbiae on Petty Spurge in Hunstanton

 



Poplar galls

The aphids have already been busy forming galls on the Lombardy Poplars Populus nigra var. italica down Oasis Way in Hunstanton. The spiral galls on the petioles are caused by the aphid Pemphigus spirothecae.  Some of the leaves have a swollen midrib on the upper surface with a slit opening on the lower surface.  This can be caused by three aphids: Pemphigus filaginis, P. gairi and P. phenax. The latter two have yellow green nymphs whereas those of P. filaginis are slate grey.

Swollen midrib gall and spiral gall on Lombardy Poplar leaf

Underside of leaf with slit opened up to show aphid nymph

Nymph of Pemphigus filaginis

Yew Gall

A Yew gall found by Adrian and caused by the fly Taxomyia taxi (Diptera- Cecidomyiidae), Holme NWT, 12th March 2016

A Hawthorn Gall at Holme

Dysaphis crataegi, a gall-forming aphid on Hawthorn, Holme NWT, 10th May 2015

Above....

Below.....

Germander Speedwell Gall

Germander Speedwell gall, casued by the midge, Jaapiella veronicae, Ringstead Downs, 30th November 2014

Plants and Invertebrate highlights - 7th and 8th September

Blue Water-speedwell, River Hun at Old Hunstanton, September 7th

Wasp Spider, Thornham Harbour, 8th September 2014

Red Goosefoot,  Thornham Harbour, 8th September 2014

Many-flowered Goosefoot, Thornham Harbour, 8th September 2014



Glischrochilus hortensis, Holme NWT,  8th September 2014

Equal-leaved Knotgrass,  Thornham Harbour, 8th September 2014

Oak Bush Cricket, Hunstanton, 7th September 2014

Common Groundhopper, Holme NWT, 7th September 2014

Creeping Thistle Gall caused by the picture-winged fly Urophora cardui, Redwell Marsh, 7th September 2014

Marsh Cudweed, Redwell Marsh, 7th September 2014

Patch miscellany, 25th-31st August 2014

Robin's Pin-cushion, Holme NWT, 25th August 2014

Collared Earthstar, Holme NWT, 31st August 2014

Small Nettle,  Holme NWT, 31st August 2014

Black Bindweed, Holme NWT, 31st August 2014

Dwarf Mallow,  Holme NWT, 31st August 2014

Wrinkled Peach,  Ringstead Downs, 31st August 2014

Ringstead butterflies and gall

Still quite a variety of butterflies at Ringstead Downs today although some of them are beginning to look a bit old and worn. Brown Argus and Common Blue were quite prevalent but no sign of Chalk-hill Blue now.  Two Clouded Yellows and a Painted Lady were active along with Whites - Green-veined, Small and Large. Speckled Woods were flying near East and West ends. A few Meadow Browns were lingering on together with one old Small Copper.
There were a couple of Sweet-briars with the Robin's pin-cushion gall on them. This is caused by the larvae of a small wasp Diplolepsis rosae.
Autumn is definitely upon us as many fruits are ripening and there are numerous fungi appearing (I didn't try to identify any today!)

Large White

Robin's Pin-cushion gall caused by larvae of Diplolepsis rosae wasp

 

Holme butterflies and galls

It was warm and sunny at Holme Dunes on Wednesday and so there were quite a few butterflies around. It was pleasing to see good numbers of fresh Small Heath along with Common Blue and Brown Argus. Wall are still present as are Speckled Wood and a few tatty Gatekeeper.  A Clouded Yellow flew past the VC.  As well as the good numbers of Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral on the Buddleja by the VC there was one Grayling there for most of the day, alternating between the flowers and the VC windowsill.
The Narrow-leaved Hawkweeds were flowering well in the dunes - some of the stems with swollen stem galls caused by the wasp Aulacidea hieracii.  One plant of Carline Thistle had a very distorted flower, possibly caused by an insect (unknown).

Grayling

Gall on Narrow-leaved Hawkweed caused by the wasp Aulacidea hieracii

Gall? on Carline Thistle

Large Thyme, Sweetbriar, Small Toadflax and some oak galls

Large Thyme, Holme NWT, 11th August 2014

Sweetbriar, Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014

Knopper Gall, caused by the wasp Andricus quercuscalis,  Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014

Marble Gall, caused by the wasp Andricus kollari, Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014

Small Toadflax, Ringstead Downs (foot of west end chalk pit), 11th August 2014