Rewarding

About that bout of suction sampling on Sunday at Croft Pastures. Turned out to be productive again for new things! Asides from a few small beetles, none of which were new or exciting, and another plethora of collembola, I picked out a couple of small bugs and an even smaller wasp. Both bugs were new for me, and one appears to be new for VC55. The wasp is also new for me and likely to be new for VC55 too - though getting it verified seems unlikely - all records on iRecord are sitting there unverified so it seems there is no-one operating through the BWARs team who have enough knowledge or experience on these at the moment.

Cardiastethus fasciiventris - a small (c2mm) Anthocorid, separated from similar but far less likely species by antennal length and colouration, and length of rostrum (reaching front coxae). Sucked out of grasses/tussocks on what is usually damp pasture. Appears to be new for VC55.

Acalypta parvula, one of the Tingidae lacebugs and even smaller at c1.5mm - sucked from grasses and moss

Callitula pyrrhogaster - thanks to PSL wonderkid Finley Hutchinson. One of the Pteromalidae, the brachypterous wings and colouration of gaster separate from C. bicolor in a key that Finley sent me (Graham, 1969).

Bless my cotton socks, so far this suction sampling malarkey has proven rewarding. With not much effort and just a few sucks, I've now had five new species (x2 bugs, x1 weevil, x1 springtail & x1 wasp). If I actually pooted/potted everything and had a go those numbers would be much higher!

Before heading out there, I'd had a heads up from Graham Calow that a plant I'd photographed at Croft Pastures last week might be incorrect - ie my Common Mouse-ear was likely to be Sticky Mouse-ear. I had another look and agree, post corrected. The Upright Chickweed was still not quite in flower, and I realised there was even more of it about that I'd originally thought. There were also other tiny plants starting to flower, like Changing Forget-me-Not. I will go again and try to get some more flowery shots including the Annual Knawel that was all but over last time I saw it.

A couple of bits of larval life news. First up a butterfly larva from Croft Pastures last week that I didn't post here previously. It looks like half a Rosy Apple sweet, but it's actually a Small Copper.

And back in early Sept 2020, I managed to sweep a geometrid larva from Traveller's-Joy at Ketton Quarry. I retained to rear through, and luckily it had emerged - just a shame it is a bit early. Anyway it confirms my thoughts that it was a Fern rather than Small Waved Umber.

Last night I ran the garden trap for the first time in a couple of weeks. It was forecast to be cold again, though the temps holding up slightly better through to c1am. As expected numbers were not great, but the trap did pull in a nice Streamer - always a rewarding treat.

It's been warm again today, but the clouds moved in mid-afternoon and appear to be lingering so perhaps the trap will at last pick up tonight.

Vac Sampling

As I mentioned in the last post, yesterday I gave the vac sampler a quick blast (or suck) - albeit just down the lane on a rough verge with grasses, docks, nettles a few thistles and other low-growing vegetation. Given the location I wasn't expecting too much, but I ended up filling pots pretty quickly. Here's a snap of the first sample dumped into a shallow white tray ....

Anyone with a keen eye, or the patience to click for bigger, will note a host of tiny insects and collembola. It doesn't look much, but honestly this was alive with tiny life. I only took four samples in all, but each tray took a fair few minutes to observe and try to wrangle the odd specimen into pots.

I learnt a couple of things that I need to consider on the next go with this. Firstly, with such tiny stuff and associated dust particles and seeds etc, it only takes a very slight breeze to blow everything around or even out of the tray. Even leaning in with the eyeglass and breathing out was enough to shift what you're about to look at. I need to see if I can knock up some sort of wind-shield to sit around the tray whilst staring at it. Also, given that sitting the tray on the floor is easiest, I really need to look at ensuring I'm kneeling on soft ground or get some knee pads (how old does that make me sound!). Thirdly, wrangling tiny weevils and beetles into pots is hard enough, but for Collembola and anything that jumps I may well have to resort to using the pooter that I have and have barely ever used.

So, in four short blasts in unpromising habitat, what did I get? Or I should say what did I retain and identify instead of ignore and leaving for another day:

Five springtail species, including three new for the square yearlist: Orchesella villosa, Pogonognathellus longicornis and (new for me) Entomobrya nicoleti.

Entomobrya nicoleti

A couple of Orchesella villosa alongside one of several species I ignored.

Seven beetle species, including five new for the square yearlist: Hypera rumicis, Cartodere bifasciata, Cartodere nodifer, Perapion violaceum and (new for me) Perapion hydrolapathi.

Cartodere bifasciata

Cartodere nodifer

Perapion violaceum (left) & Perapion hydrolapathi (right)

A bug and a leafhopper new for the square yearlist: European Cinchbug and Eupteryx florida.

European Cinchbug (macropterous)

Oh, and an immature mollusc ....

Kentish Snail

I reckon the bits I identified only account for maybe 50% of the species actually hoovered up. I didn't really check the time, but in all these four samples and poking about in the tray only took c40mins or so. Of the species added, I reckon that all of the springtails and both of the Cartodere spp. would never have been picked up through sweeping. Having said that, the Hypera rumicis is one I've never seen in the square and I can't recall seeing European Cinchbug down here either.

I certainly looking forward to giving this more effort in the square.

Here's a track that is absolutely packed with small unidentifiable samples - like my tray:

Suck, Don't Blow!

I've had a sedentary and unproductive week on the natural history front, mainly due to feeling a bit crappy from the chemo but at least I've not missed a load of great weather in the process. I've not been completely unproductive, I've sorted out a couple of tools for the coming invert season. With the impending easement of lockdown measures coming up it seemed the right time anyway.

So, I've been busily spending money on Amazon and suchlike. I've restocked with some entomological setting pins and a couple of new handtools for dissection and fiddling about (pin handles mainly), and a couple of chemicals that might come in handy. I've ordered some white Correx board to make some flight intercept vane traps. And, most importantly, I've finally got hold of one of these ....

It's a 36V cordless model, which is actually very lightweight. That comes with having the build quality of a child's garden toy and I doubt it would survive being dropped to the ground or being abused too much. But it does suck, and I know others use this model with success so should all be good. I've sourced some jam-making muslin bags but they may be a bit big - not sure yet. Also not decided on how best to affix the bags to the tube - gaffer tape, tie-wrap, jubilee clip - all suggestions welcomed.

I hope this will get some use in the next couple of weeks - I'll wait until another prolonged dry spell so I'm not sucking up wet debris, and head out to somewhere with tussocks after the first stage of easement which seems to allow leaving home for recreation (social one-to-one, picnics, suction sampling ....).