Recent reports.
Fauna Reports
Please email reports to Andy Collins at: arc@soton.ac.uk
or Phil Budd at: philbudd@ukonline.co.uk
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1st January 2007: Reports of two Little Gulls recently at Weston Shore. Also 7 Divers in Southampton Water (mainly off Hythe), including 2 Red-throated, 2 Black-throated and 3 Great Northern Divers.
1st January 2007: Two Red Admirals flying at Belmont Road, Portswood.
28th December: White-tailed Bumble-bee Bombus lucorum flying at Keyhaven
27th December: A melanic Harlequin Ladybird seen at St Denys - a very late date.
25th December: A white-tailed Bumble-bee Bombus lucorum at the flowers of a deciduous honeysuckle at Athelstan Road, Bitterne.24th December: A report of Ant Damselbug Himacerus mirmicioides at Newtown Road, Weston Park.23rd December: Flocks of Crossbill and Redwing, also Redpolls at Homesley Inclosure in the New Forest. A dead Hare seen at Sowley Brooms, south of East End.21st December: 6 Hawthorn Shieldbugs seen hibernating in leaf litter in Horns Drove Wood, Rownhams.20th December: Redwings anf Fieldfares numerous in the area north of Winchester.20th December: A Tufted Duck reported at Fernyhurst Pond, Rownhams - an unusual record for here. In a nearby St Evox Close garden there were the first winter reports ofBlackcaps and Redwings 15th December Tawny Owl calling in Broadlands Valley, Portswood.14th December: Red Admiral in Holmhill Enclosure, New Forest.10th December: 5 Great Northern Divers, 1 Red-throated Diver and 1 Razorbill off Weston Shore.
7th December: Reports of Leach’s Petrel off of Weston Shore and Town Quay in Southampton. These birds were probably blown in from the Bay Of Biscay by recent storms. 7th December: Report of large numbers of Goose Barnacles Lepas anatifera being washed up on south coast but no definite local records in Hampshire. 6th December: A Red Admiral flying at Magdalen Hill Down and two Kidney-spot Ladybirds there.5th December: A very late report of probable Common Darter Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum. This time at Fletcher’s Moor in the New Forest. 2nd December: A very late report of a Brimstone butterfly at Marlpit Oak, Sway. Red Admiral reports continue – from Marlpit Oak, Sway and from Bassett in Southampton.29th November: Great Northern Diver off the shore at Netley Castle.29th November: 17 Harlequin Ladybirds and a Common Darter Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum at Shirley Pond.29th November: A spate of late Red Admiral sightings – at Shirley Warren, Wickham and Bishop’s Waltham27th November: Harlequin Ladybird reported as far north as Wildhern (north of Andover) but apparently they haven’t reached Chilbolton yet. Also at Tom’s Wood, Wildhern the ‘Marzipan Spider’ Araneus marmoreus var pyramidatus seen as was an interesting autumnal beetle that likes ivy – Oncomera femorata.27th November: An extremely late Holly Blue butterfly reported in Gosport.24th November: Black Brant, the east Siberian/Canadian race of Brent Goose, at HMS Sultan sports field at Gosport. This is a long-staying bird as is the Ring-billed Gull at Haslar Lake, Gosport.24th November: Belted Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus still active at Ann’s Hill Cemetery, Gosport.
22nd November: A chrysalis of a Speckled Wood butterfly seen under a fallen Horse Chestnut leaf at Cromarty Pond, Lord's Hill.
21st November: A very late record of Hummingbird Hawkmoth still active and feeding at yellow jasmine blooms at Michelmersh, north of Romsey.
20th November: Harlequin Ladybird still active in a Bitterne Road East garden.
19th November (late report): The scarce (? migrant) hoverfly Xanthandrus comtus reported at Ann’s Hill Cemetery, Gosport.
19th November: Common Darter seen and Wood Crickets still being heard in the new Forest (exact site not specified).
15th November: A black variant of Wild Rabbit seen by the Cadnam to Fordingbridge Road above Black Gutter Bottom.
15th November: Red Admiral butterfly at Wilverley Plain in the New Forest. Quite large numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare attracted to the abundant Holly berries in the New Forest this year.
15th November: First record of The Sprawler Moth at a garden moth light at Kathleen Road, Sholing.
13th November: First ever record of Black Redstart at the chapel at Royal Victoria Country Park.
13th November: Two Harlequin Ladybirds seen at Sholing Valley Study Centre, Station Road, Sholing. There had been swarms of them here at the same time in late October that there were large numbers elsewhere.
13th November: A very late Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen at Holfleet, near Ibsley. A Red Admiral butterfly was also seen here at the same time.
12th November: The large bronze coloured leaf beetle Chrysolina banksii seen at Kite's Croft during the fungus foray.
1st to 7th November (late report): Reports of both Holly Blue and Common Blue in the Fareham and Gosport areas.
9th November: Honey Bee Apis mellifera, Bumble Bee Bombus sp. and Harlequin Ladybird still active at Mayfield Park.9th November: A very late Speckled Wood at the grounds of Southampton General Hospital. Red Admiral still at Mayfield Park and a ‘ white’ butterfly (possibly female Brimstone) reported in Eastleigh.6th November: Insects still active at Watt’s Park in Southampton included Red Admiral butterfly, Drone Fly Eristalis, Green Shieldbug, 10-spot Ladybird and Harlequin Ladybird. A Garden Snail Helix aspersa was seen at Andrew’s Park. This is despite the fact that there are very few molluscs in the parks (according to the rangers there). 5th November: An abundance of Cherry Gall Andricus quercusfolii on oaks at the edge of Round Coppice, Whiteley. A Red Admiral butterfly also seen there. 2nd November: Outside the area but Clouded Yellow and Common Darter Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum still active in west Surrey. 1st November: There was a report of Clouded Yellow butterfly at Great Down Park, Bursledon. There were also reports of large numbers of Clouded Yellow still in the Bournemouth area.1st November: Dock Bug Coreus marginatus still active at Eastleigh Cemetery.1st November: Dock Bug Coreus marginatus still active at Eastleigh Cemetery.
31st October: Red Admiral butterfly and Wood Dor Beetle Geotrupes stercorosus still active in various places in the New Forest.
30th October: Moth numbers declining at Kathleen Road, Sholing but a rare migrant Blair's Mocha was seen in the moth trap there this morning. The moth is nothing to do with the current Prime Minister, rather it is named from a prominent 1950's entomologist named Blair and who lived on the Isle of Wight.
29th October: A 'mystery' Lygaeid ground-bug found on hornbeam at Palmerston Park, Southampton was identified later (by a national expert) as Orsillus depressus. This species first appeared in Britain ten years ago and is spreading - it is usually associated with Lawson's Cypress. Other interesting sightings in a survey in the central parks included Cream-streaked Ladybird Harmonia quadripunctata, Juniper Shieldbug Elasmostethus tristriatus and Median Wasp Dolichovespula media. Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes still active at Silverdale Road, Southampton .
29th October: 'Swarming' Harlequin Ladybirds noted at Silverdale Road, Southampton and in the Maybush area. Large numbers found on various trees in the Southampton central parks.
26th October: Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum still active in the Beauleiu and East End areas in the SE of the New Forest. Red Admirals still about at Beauleiu and in central Southampton. Wood Crickets still stridulating at Norley Copse, East End.
26th October: 15 Redwings passed north over a central Bitterne garden at 5pm.
24th October: A single Painted Lady seen on the butterfly transect at Southampton Old Cemetery.
22nd October: A large Chaffinch flock seen in the car park of Micheldever Wood, north of Winchester. They were feeding on beech mast.
18th October: Five Speckled Woods seen at Southampton Old Cemetery on a butterfly transect
19th October: New Forest Fly Hippobosca equina still active in the Culverley area of the New Forest. 18th October: Small White butterfly seen in central Eastleigh. Red Admirals still about in large numbers. 16th October: Clancy's Rustic recorded in a moth trap at Kathleen Road, Sholing. This is the first record here (and possibly in Southampton) of a species that is rapidly colonising Britain from the south. 16th October: Speckled Wood butterfly still active at Clayhall Military Cemetery in Gosport. An 11-spot Ladybird and numbers of Lesne's Earwigs found at West Wood, Netley.15th October: Rhopalus maculatus bug still active at its only known Southampton site in Lord's Wood and Spiked Shieldbug Picromerus bidens swept at the same site. Just as interesting was the bug Alydus calcaratus at a third local site - running across reptile mats at Eastleigh Cemetery.15th October: A good day for butterflies. There were records of Clouded Yellow at Marchwood Inclosure and Small White at Swaythling.14th October: Burst of local records of Harlequin Ladybird including one with spots only at anterior end of elytra. This was at Silverdale Road in Southampton. Melanic and typical forms were also recorded on Southampton Common, at Newtown Road (Weston) and at Clayhall Military Cemetery in Gosport this week. 9th October: Comma butterfly and 24-spot Ladybird still active in the Bishopstoke area.Two colonies of the Rhopalid bug Stictopleurus punctatonervosus found on fleabane in the Bishopstoke area also.8th October: A Smooth Newt seen entering a hole at the base of an oak tree on Southampton Common.8th October: Speckled Wood butterfly still flying in various places . Large Wainscot Moth in moth trap at Kathleen Road, Sholing. Ant Damselbug Himacerus mirmicioides recorded at Test Wood.
7th October: Common Darter and Migrant Hawker Dragonflies still active in the Baeuleiu area. 7th October: Hummingbird Hawkmoth seen at Mottisfont. 3rd October: An attempt was made to find Common Starfish Asterias ruber under the pier at Mayfield Park by two society members. No starfish were found but two specimens of the large, hairy chiton Acanthochitona fascicularis were discovered. Also there was an abundance of Broad-clawed Porcelain Crab Porcellana platycheles plus a few Long-clawed Porcelain Crabs Pisidia longicornis here. 3rd October: Clouded Yellow and Small White butterflies seen at West Quay and four migrant Wheatears at Mayfield Park. An urban colony of Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus found on the edge of the car park of The Quays swimming baths.30th September: Meadow Brown and Large White butterflies still to be seen at Magdalen Hill Down Reserve near to Winchester .29th September: An adult and a pupa of 22-spot Ladybird seen in a small garden in central Bitterne. Also a female Palmate Newt disturbed during gardening work here. 29th September: Report of Queen of Spain Fritillary in a garden at Highcliff.28th September: Plenty of Small White butterflies still around and Common Blue butterfly still flying at two sites in Eastleigh. Approx 26th September (exact date not given): Reports of Four-spotted Footman and Dark Spectacle Moth in a garden moth trap at Kathleen Road, Sholing – the latter was a first for this garden. Another large colony of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis found– this time on gravestones and metal railings at St Mary’s Church, Sholiwere discovered.ng.26th September: A colony of Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus colony in a small central Bitterne garden. The False Black Widow Spider Steatodea nobilis also found here. 23rd September: 42 species of moths seen during the moth lamp at Magdalen Hill Down, part of the effort for National Moth Night. Three M-V lights and an Actinic trap were employed; there were also torchlight searches for moths on Ivy. 42 species were recorded including a spectacular Convolvulus Hawkmoth. The migrant moth Pearly Underwing and the interesting beetle Oncomera femorata seen on Ivy. A Blue Shieldbug Zicrona caerulea attracted to light. Other moths seen at light included Scarce Bordered Straw, The Vestal, Large Wainscot, The Delicate, White Point and a lot of the normally uncommon Brown-spot Pinion.23rd September: Plant gall survey at Hilliers Gardens. Two spectacular galls seen on oak were the autumn gall of Andricus grossulariae and the Hedgehog Gall Andricus lucidus.The latter was first recorded in central London and has only been known to occur in Britain for a few years – it was found on a small foreign species of Quercus just east of Jermyn’s House. Another spectacular gall found was that of Gymnosporangium sabinae – this species creates bright orange clustered nodules on the leaves of various species of Pyrus. 22nd September: 42 species identified at a moth lamp at Magdalen Hill Down – an effort that was part of Butterfly Conservations National Moth Night. Three M-V lights (two with traps) used, a 15-Watt Heath Portable Light ran and torch searches of flowering Ivy took place. The highlight was a fresh specimen of Convolvulus Hawkmoth. A plethora of other good migrants seen including Pearly Underwing (at Ivy), Scarce Bordered Straw, The Vestal, Large Wainscot and The Delicate. Some interesting second brood captures included the Bloodvein, Scorched Carpet and Beautiful Hooktip. Other interesting captures at light included Harlequin Ladybird and Blue Shieldbug. 22nd September: Plant gall survey of Hilliers Gardens. The new colonist Hedgehog Gall Andricus lucida on Oak is now present near Jermyn’s House. Three years ago this species was confined to London. 22nd September: Harlequin Ladybird confirmed to be breeding on Peartree Green with a pupa seen on Mallow Malva sylvestris. Also several Clouded Yellows here . 21st September: Report of two Clouded Yellows at Lakeside Park, Eastleigh.20th September: An interesting visit to the coastal cliffs between Hordle and Beckton Bunny (between Milford-on-Seas and Barton). Good for Orthoptera with Grey Bush Cricket and Stripe-winged Grasshopper confirmed here . An interesting Harvestman Homalenotus quadridentatus identified here. At both Hordle Cliff and Beckton Bunny the ‘bug-eyed bug’ Henestaris laticeps found on Buck’s-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus. At Hordle the Rhopalid bug Stictopleurus punctatonervosus swept from Fleabane – we had previously found this species only on clay soil districts inland. 20th September: Small Grass shieldbug discovered in a rough field on the NE edge of New Milton – our first record away from the immediate Southampton area .18th September: A third Southampton colony of the Rhopalid bug Rhopalus parumpunctatus found amongst heather and Tormentil at Castle Lane, North Baddesley. Also a colony of another Rhopalid bug Stictoplerus punctatonervosus on fleabane here and a great abundance of Pine Ladybird in the same area . Box Bug found on Dogwood Cornus sanguineus at Valley Park and abundance of Lesne’s Earwigs at Leigh Road, Eastleigh.17th September: A record of a melanic Harlequin Ladybird at Suffolk Avenue, Shirley – yet another inner city record. The specimen was photographed and displayed an unusual pair of red spots with black dots in the middle. A hornet was seen at Buddleia at Winchester Road, Shirley. Another new record of the scarlet and black Rhopalid bug Corizus hyoscyami – at Peartree Green. 16th September: Marine life Field Meeting at Lepe Shore. The more interesting records included the Coat-of-mail Lepidochitona cinerea, the Sea Fan Hydrallmania falcata, prawns Palaemon sp and several Blennies. Also several interesting crabs recorded including Hairy Crab Pilumnus hirtellus and a more unusual species called Liocarcinus arcuatus.13th September: An insect survey carried out at Browndown and Gilkicker Common, mainly to search for shieldbugs and related species . At Browndown a suspected colony of Cepero’s Groundhopper Tetrix ceperoi turned out to be only Slender Groundhopper Tetrix subulata. However a strong colony of the coastal Rhopalid bug Chorosoma schillingi and the Heath Assassin Bug Coranus subapterus found at Browndown as well as Adonis, 11-spot Ladybird and the micro-ladybird Scymnus frontalis. At Gilkicker Common Lesne’s Earwig Forficula lesnei and Short-winged Conehead Conocephalus dorsalis recorded but the main focus here was on Hemiptera. An interesting Lygaeid dubbed the ‘bug-eyed bug’ Henestaris laticeps recorded and associated with Sea Plantain Plantago maritima. Also good for Rhopalid bugs here with strong colonies of Chorosoma schillingi and Myrmus miriformis as well as Stictopleurus abutilon and Corizus hyoscyami recorded. 12th September: 3 Scarce Bordered Straw and 4 Vestal moths records at a moth trap in a garden at Kathleen Road, Sholing.12th September: A record of major importance from Crockford Close, New Milton of the Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket Phaneroptera falcata. A male specimen was collected from a bamboo in a private garden there in the early evening and then confirmed and taken by the Orthoptera order for Hampshire. This species is now common in north France and there is a colony established near to Hastings in East Sussex. It is the first Hampshire record. A determined search for a colony in the area on 20th September by two members proved to be unsuccessful.
11th September: An assortment of interesting insect records in the Bitterne area. These included the Mirid bug Megacoelum beckeri off Scot's Pine at Freemantle Common, Knobbed Shieldbug (= Turtle Bug) Podops inuncta at Hum Hole and a very large breeding colony of Harlequin Ladybird at Montgomery Road.11th September: A strong colony of the large ground bug Alydus calcaratus found at Peartree Green - it was associated with Lucerne Medicago sativa. Clouded Yellows and a Brown Argus flying at Peartree Green.11th September: A very interesting record of Bedstraw Hawkmoth at a moth light at Kathleen Road, Sholing. Striped Hawkmoth reported at the same light a few nights earlier. 10th September: In the east of Southampton Box Bug recorded on both Evergreen Oak Quercus ilex and Common Oak Quercus robur - not the usual host plants. Also the autumnal Mirid bug Pantilus tunicatus reported on oaks here. 10th September: Small Heath butterfly near Mallard's Moor, Bursledon - probably a stray from the nearby Hamble Airfield colony. A Harlequin Ladybird seen here in a more rural location than is the case for most records.
10th September: A migrant Yellow Wagtail reported over Botley Road, Sholing.
9th September: Another report of the scarlet and black Rhopalid bug Corizus hyoscyami - this time from Gosport.
7th September: A third colony of the Rhopalid bug Stictopleurus punctatonervosus found in the Southampton area - this was at Whiteley, SE of Botley.
6th September: Large breeding colony of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis at Rollesbrook Greenway. Lesne's Earwig Forficula lesnei and the snail Helicogona lapicida also identified here. 5th September: The surprising discovery of an apparently breeding colony (nymphs and adults) of the Rhopalid bug Liorhyssus hyalina on bare ground by the A35 near to Rumbridge at Totton. Adonis Ladybird also present at the same site. Lesne's Earwig Forficula lesnei confirmed at various sites in the Totton area and at two sites ( Bartley Water valley & Cocklydown Copse) Crucifer Shieldbug Eurydema oleracea beaten from hazels. 4th September: Report of two rare migrant Portland Ribbon Wave Moths in the Christchurch area.
3rd September: A highlight on the Field Meeting at Denny Wood was a full- grown Toad at the base of a large Beech tree. Another interesting record was of a Great Diving Beetle Dytiscus in a pond at Shatterford.
26th August: Two Clouded Yellow butterflies at Hamble Point - there appeared to be a large increase in this species in late August. 25th August: Box Bug recorded at a new inner city site in Southampton by the Millbrook Dual Carraigeway at Freemantle.
Late August: Large influx of Bordered Straw and Scarce Bordered straw Moths into a garden moth trap at Kathleen Road, Sholing.
24th to 28th August: Reports of up to five stridulating male Roesel's Bush Crickets at Baddesley Common. This species is clearly well established to the NW of Southampton.
22nd August: Report of Adonis Blue on the butterfly transect at Magdalen Hill Down21st August: Three new species of marine fauna found during a survey of the beach at Royal Victoria Country Park including the brittle-star (relative of starfish) Amphipholis squamata. Also large numbers of Blenny and under one boulder several Sea-spiders Endeis sp.19th August: An interesting selection of fauna at Holiday Hill Inclosure/ Millyford Bridge Field Meeting. The list included a female Adder, Silver-washed Fritillary butterfly, Woodland Grasshopper Omocestus rufipes, 2 Spiked Shieldbug and 3 of the red and black Rhopalid Bug Corizus hyoscyami. The latter two species were feeding on the blooms of Marsh Thistle. 18th August: Significant record of three pupae of Harlequin Ladybird at Southampton Old Cemetery on Rosebay Willowherb. These pupae are black in colour with a few small red spots and larger than most ladybird pupae. The larvae are black with spiky hairs, some of which are white or pale yellow in colour. 18th & 19th August: Reports of Hummingbird Hawk on Buddleia at Silverdale Road.16th August: Influx of Hummingbird Hawkmoths with a record at Peartree Green. Another recent report at Lord’s Hill.15th August: At Hut Wood there was another record for Spiked Shieldbug, a new site for Small Grass Shieldbug (nymphs seen) and also nymphs of the Rhopalid bug Myrmus miriformis.13th August: Some useful insect records obtained on the central part of Southampton Common including Spiked Shieldbug in the heathy area north of the Ornamental Lake.13th August: Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and five late Swifts at Testwood Lakes, Totton but no sighting of the recently reported Blacksmith Plover that had escaped from Paulton’s Park. 12th August: Another site for Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus found on Hawthorn at Marsh’s Meadow, Swanmore.11th August: Hoverfly Volucella inanis seen in a garden at Caerleon Avenue, Bitterne – the only definite report this year. Probable Roesel’s Bush Cricket at Brookwood (Eastleigh) Cemetery.9th August: Juniper Shieldbug Elasmostethus triastratus found on Lawson’s Cypress in a garden at Newtown Road, Weston Park – most were final instar nymphs but one was a new adult. Also an infestation of Viburnum Beetle Pyrrhalta viburni on Lauristinus Viburnum tinus at the same site. 8th August: Very exciting discovery of what appears to be the rare migrant Rhopalid bug Liorhyssus hyalinus, recognised by it’s very long wings, on Goat’s Rue Galega officinalis at Casbrook Common, north of Romsey. Also at this large and interesting former gravel and sand works were two other Rhopalid bugs of note i.e. Myrmus miriformis and Stictopleurus abutilon. In addition there is a strong inland colony of Adonis’s Ladybird plus 11-Spot Ladybird here. Also the Black-headed Velvet Ant Myrmosa melanocephala and a colony of Median Wasp Dolichovespula media found here. 7th August: Surprising record of the black and orange Lygaeid bug Aphanus rolandri at Nightingale Wood south of Romsey. Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus found on Hawthorn at Knowle Hill, Fair Oak – another new site. 6th August: A large female ‘False Black Widow Spider’ Steatoda nobilis seen for the first time on a garden shed at Caerleon Avenue, Bitterne. This species is already well established in Portsmouth area. This species is half an inch long and might be capable of giving a mild bite. 6th August: First record of Harlequin Ladybird at Magdalen Hill Down, Winchester.5th August: Large colony of Bee-killer (= Bee-wolf) Philanthus triangulum at Longdown in the New Forest. Also Lesser Cockroach Ectobius panzeri recorded here. 4th August: A 2nd Southampton record for the scarlet and black Rhopalid bug Corizus hyoscyami – this time at Gladiolus in a garden at School Road, Old Bursledon.3rd August: First report of Grey Damselbug Stalia major in the Southampton area – this was at Hardmoor Copse. Surprise discovery of a small, and possibly isolated, colony of Wood Cricket north of Copperfield Road at Bassett Wood. Both Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus and Bronze Shieldbug Troilus luridus beaten off Hawthorns at Daisy Dip, Bassett. A plethora of conifer-loving ladybirds including several Cream-streaked Ladybirds Harmonia quadripunctata off a Blue Atlas Cedar at the Southampton Sports Centre and also an 18-spot Ladybird off Scot’s Pine here – there are not many records of the latter for the western side of Southampton. 3rd August: Both Dark Green and Silver-washed Fritillaries reported on Buddleia at Royal Victoria Country Park.2nd August: A female Brown Argus butterfly reported at Southampton Old Cemetery – another male seen here on 6th August. Another photographed in a garden near Hill Lane, Shirley.2nd August: A Helice var of female Clouded Yellow at Magdalen Hill Down and about 12 Six-belted Clearwing Moths swept here. 30th July: Second local record of Stictopleurus punctatonervosus amongst Creeping Thistle at Dibden. The related S.abutilon recorded on Scentless Mayweed near Veal’s Farm and on Fleabane near Trott’s Copse, both at Marchwood. More surprising was the striking Rhopalid Corizus hyoscyami beaten off oak at Trott’s Copse – the first Southampton area record. Kidney-spot Ladybird off sallow at two sites in the Marchwood area, the first Waterside records on the ladybird survey. 30th July: A surprise male Chalkhill Blue butterfly, probably from the Isle of Wight, seen north of Westcliff Hotel at Dibden. Silver-washed Fritillaries seen at Veal’s Farm and Trott’s Copse, Marchwood. Also Wood Crickets heard near Veal’s Farm, Pilgrim Inn and in Trott’s Copse at Marchwood. 30th July: Little Owl seen north of the Westcliff Hotel at Dibden.30th July: Report of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Stockbridge – there doesn’t seem to be many of these in the Southampton area this year. 27th July (belated report): A male Brown Argus in Southampton Old Cemetery – probably the first record here. It was nectaring on Bell Heather. 21st July: There was an unusual sighting of a Silver-washed Fritillary in a garden next to Hall Lands Copse, just NE of Fair Oak.
21st July: Several interesting Hemiptera recorded in a survey in Sholing, most notably a record of two of the Rhopalid bug Stictopleurus abutilon. The latter were swept from Scentless Mayweed at Muddy Bottom Allotments. 21st July; The ‘dreaded’ Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella has appeared in Southampton on leaves of Common Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum. This species has become a severe pest in London this year. The mines are yellowish irregular blotches with dark spirals of excreta ‘frass’ within and are similar to the blotches of a fungus called Guignardia aesculi. However the fungal blotches are deeper brown with yellowish borders and no ‘frass’. There were sightings at Sholing Common on 21st and at Silverdale Road on 22nd.
20th July: First record of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis in a Caerleon Avenue garden. It was one of the typical form and was recorded at an M-V moth lamp set over a white sheet. 20th July: Lesser Stag Beetle recorded in a garden at Seymour Road, Upper Shirley.19th July: Two Heather Shieldbug recorded at Lord's Wood Plantation. Also at the same site were the Rhopalid bug Myrmus miriformis in good numbers and the micro-ladybird Scymnus frontalis swept off heather. 18th July: Eyed Ladybird beaten off Holly at Kendall’s Wood, Thornhill Park.18th July: 20 Small Red-eyed Damselflies and two Red-eyed Damselflies counted on Boating Lakle on Southampton Common.17th July: Records of male Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly (also here on 12th) and of Ruddy Darter Dragonfly at So’ton University Highfield Campus.17th July: There were two records of Roesel's Bush-cricket in a field adjacent to Nursling Street. They are also in the Cromarty Pond area again this year. 16th July: 11 Small Red-eyed Damselflies reported at the visitor centre pond at Testwood Lakes.15th July: Report of Keeled Skimmer at Lower Test Reserve was the first record for this site. 12th July Dark Green Fritillary- Sirdar Road, Portswood11th July: Keeled Skimmer Dragonfly reported at So’ton University Highfield Campus9th July: The bumble bee Bombus hypnorum recorded on a walk on Southampton Common. This is a relatively new species to the area. 2nd to 8th July: Reports of Red-veined Darter Dragonfly (maximum of two) at Slufter’s Pond in the New Forest between these two dates. 6TH July: Records of Down Shieldbug (nymph) at an old chalk pit at the western end of Portsdown Hill. Also two Dahlmann’s Leatherbug (an adult and a nymph) seen at a site on the south shore of Hayling Island.5th July: First record of Festoon Moth and Larch Ladybird at a moth lamp at Kathleen Road, Sholing. Also 3 Scarlet Tiger Moths and 18-spot Ladybird recorded at the same lamp. 3rd July: First Gatekeeper record of the summer at Avenue Park, Eastleigh.2nd July: Red-necked Fotman Moth and Varied Coronet Moth recorded at a moth lamp in Bitterne.1st July: A Buzzard reported over a garden at Sirdar Road, Portswood – probably one of the birds from Southampton Common.1st July: Very large numbers of Small Heath butterfly reported at Hamble Old Airfield.29th June: The Bleeding Heart Spider Nigma puella swept from nettles east of Shirley Warren Avenue during the SHNS Field Meeting there. 29th June: The Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria is out with records from Tanner’s Brook, Millbrook and west of Shirley Pond. This species particularly likes feeding on the large blooms of the Giant Bramble Rubus armeniacus.28th June: Knobbed Shieldbug swept from tall grass at Templar’s Mede – this species is normally found under debris on the ground. Wood Mouse recorded at Brookwood Cemetery, Eastleigh.26th June: Toads reported in a school pond in the Bitterne area – most recent records of this amphibian have been from around Bassett.25th June: Marbled White, Ringlet and Small Skipper all now flying at Southampton Old Cemetery. A strange 2-spot Ladybird form 'Duodecempustulata' found at Northam, also a good population of Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug in this area.
24th June: First record in the Southampton area of the large long-legged black and orange bug Alydus calcaratus. This was at Forest Front Reserve. Also found was a micro-ladybird associated with Juncus rushes called Coccidula rufa, this had also not previously been recorded in the Southampton area. There were also records for Small Grass Shieldbug on Bell Heather here plus four Silver-studded Blue butterflies and Clouded Buff Moth.
24th June: 38 species of moths seen at a moth lamp in a garden at Sirdar Road, adjacent to Broadlands Valley. 27 species were new to this site including Large Elephant Hawkmoth and Scorched Wing Moth.
24th June: A dead Pygmy Shrew found at Cromarty Road, Lord's Hill. This species is thought to be less common in the Southampton area than the Common Shrew.
1st to 23rd June: First records of Scarce Chaser Libellula fulva in the Southampton area. Most of the records in the Lower Test valley on the western edge of the city.
23rd June: Reports of White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary at Chilworth Manor Gardens.
21st June: 14 species of butterfly including Adonis Blue, Small Blue and late Grizzled Skipper seen at the Field Meeting at Martin Down. Also a Blackneck Moth later identified.
Additionally a female Adder seen during this Field Meeting.
15th June Painted Lady in Sirdar Road, Portswood 13th June: First report of Alder Moth in a Sholing garden since 1990. Also some interesting migrant moths about as Small Mottled Willow recorded in the same garden. Also a few reports of Painted Lady recently. 12th June: Third Southampton site for Slender-horned Leatherbug Ceraleptus lividus discovered in grassy area east of Marlhill Copse. Here it may be using Red Clover Trifolium pratense. Discovery of the scarce (mainly western Mediterranean) Bleeding Heart Spider Nigma puella at Quob Lane, West End - probably the third Southampton record. Two more records of Lesne's Earwig in Southampton area, this species appears to be increasing. 11th June: Discovery of Dahlmann's Leatherbug Spathocera dahlmanni at a heathland site near Petworth, West Sussex raised hopes of discovering this species in the Souythampton area. 11th June: Very few butterflies at the Peartree Green transect but Meadow Brown is out.
9th June: A colony of Brown Argus butterfly in an area of unimproved dry grassland north of Luzborough Plantation, North Baddesley. The likely foodplant here is Dove's-foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle. Also a second Southampton area record for the striking bird dropping like weevil Anthribus albinos at Luzborough Plantation.
9th June: Two more specimens of the Rhopalid bug Rhopalis maculatus at a known site in Lord's Wood. However a search for the Heath Shieldbug Legnotus picipes at an apparently 'ideal' site behind the Clump Inn at Chilworth proved unsuccessful. 7th/8th June: Records of the skin beetle Anthrenus fuscus on various flowers in Totton and Fair Oak areas. This species is closely related to the carpet eating pest A.verbasci but can be confused with a ladybird due to its shape. However no ladybird is speckled with grey and brown on a black background. 8th June: Report of Stag Beetle at Blackberry Terrace, Mount Pleasant - an interesting inner city location. 7th June: Fauna records for Testwood Lake evening meeting appears in Field Meeting Reports.
7th June: New sites for Lesne's Earwig and Denticulate Leatherbug on west side of Totton. First report of Large Skipper of the year here too. 5th June: An early sighting of Clouded Yellow at Testwood Lakes.
5th June: Two more sites for Small Grass Shieldbug discovered - these were at Southampton Old Cemetery, where 8 were swept in the late evening. Also one seen at Cromarty Road Pond - the 2nd and 3rd definite records in the city boundary. 4th June: Small Grass Shieldbug found for the first time actually within Southampton city boundary. This was north of the Boating Lake on Southampton Common.3rd June: Nesting House Martins seen at St Deny’s Road, Portwood.3rd June: A colony of Grizzled Skippers reported at a site in the west of Ampfield Wood. They have done well in the chalky areas of Hampshire but none were seen this year in Lord's Wood. 3rd June: Large evening flight of Stag Beetles in Southampton with reports from Highfield, Banister’s Park and Shirley.2nd June: A new Rhopalid bug to the Southampton area Rhopalus maculatus identified at Lord’s Wood – it was swept from grass. Little Owl hunting in Brownwich Lane, Fareham. 2nd June: Green Tiger Beetle reported at the Reptiliary at Holiday’s Hill in the New Forest.2nd June: Brown Argus amongst six species of butterfly seen at Peartreee Green on the transect. Also the Mother Shipton Moth is now flying here. 1st June: A Heron was an unusual sighting over a garden at Newtown Road, Weston. 31st May: A second Southampton site fo r Heath Shield-bug Legnotus picipes found at Lord’s Wood.30th May: The micro-ladybird Rhizobius litura recorded at Brixedone Farm, Bursldeon. Also the Chinch-bug Ischnodermus sabuleti by the R.hamble here. 28th May: Nightingale heard singing at Grange Fields, Netley.28th May: The migrant/vagrant Rhopalid bug Stictopleurus abutilon swept from grassland at Donkey Common, Bitterne. New sites for Box Bug, Denticulate Leatherbug, Crucifer Shieldbug and Knobbed Shieldbug in the Thornhill area. A new site for Green Hairstreak butterfly found behind the Jewson’s Warehouse at Thornhill, also the micro-ladybird Scymnus frontalis found here – a ‘new’ Southampton species. .28th May: The last burrowing shieldbug likely to be found in the Southampton area was tracked down today. This is Heath Shieldbug Legnotus picipes. Three were found by searching amongst moss and Heath Bedstraw on the ant-hills at Southampton Old Cemetery. An unusual melanistic 16-Spot Ladybird found at So’ton Old Cemetery also. 26th May: New records for Crucifer Shieldbug (on Forget-me-not), Forget-me-not Shieldbug and Knobbed Shieldbug at Knowle Hill Conservation Area, Fair Oak. Also the supposedly rare weevil Rhinocyllus conicus found on thistle at Knowle Hill as was a beetle normally found in chalk grassland , Drilus flavescens. Lesser Whitethoat heard singing here too. 25th May: Kidney-spot Ladybird discovered at both Yew Hill and Magdalen Hill Down Reserves. Also Denticulate Leatherbug and the ‘Horned Froghopper’ Centrotus cornutus found at Magdalen Hill Down.25th May: A major discovery of a colony of Down Shieldbug Sehirus impressus at Yew Hill Butterfly Reserve near Winchester. This species is Nationally rare and associated with Bastard Toadflax Thesium humifusum – it is mostly found in Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. 16 were found in two locations. Also a Quail heard calling from a set-aside field near the reserve – one was heard two years ago as well. 23rd May: The rare shieldbug Eurydema ornatum found on Sea Radish near Boscombe Chine, about a mile west of previous known sites in the Boscombe/Southbourne area. 23rd/24th May: Despite recent poor weather there appears to be an influx of Painted Lady butterflies and Silver Y Moths.17th to 22nd May: Extremely bad weather – four inches of rain, severe gales on two days and almost no sun curtailed insect activity. However this bad weather led to a spate of sightings of storm-driven British Storm Petrels in the Solent area. 19th May: Thick-legged Flower Beetle Oedemera nobilis first appeared today - at Eastleigh. 18th May: Five Knobbed Shieldbug Podops inuncta found at another new site under reptile mats – this was at Brookwood Cemetery, Eastleigh. It looks as if this shieldbug occurs wherever reptile mats or other debris e.g. carpets are dumped or laid down. 17th May: Moth numbers picking up at last, at Kathleen Road, Sholing. There were records of Buttoned Snout and Orange Footman.
16th May: First Hedgehog record for quite some time at Caerleon Avenue, Bitterne. Also an unusual record of a Mallard landing on the flat roof of a house at Caerleon Avenue.
15th May: New records for two shieldbugs i.e. Crucifer Shieldbug Eurydema oleracea (yellow-spotted) on Garlic Mustard at Goatee Shore, Eling and Juniper Shieldbug on Lawson's Cypress at very urban site at the Holy Trinity Church, Millbrook.
14th May: There was an unusual report of a Turtle Dove 'playing chicken' with traffic on Mountbatten Way, Freemantle.
13th May: Interesting Field Meeting at Matley Wood in the New Forest. A female Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia sitting quietly on a heather plant was a 'first' for everybody present. Other insects of interest |
