Bugs and Butterflies

Date added: 30/07/2020 09:05:23
Author: Paul Thompson

The Nature Group gathered in the cemetery last weekend for a Nature Walk. Despite the wet forecast, the weather was dry so a pleasant afternoon was had by all in attendance.

Chris Foster made some notes of what was seen and heard and are listed below with some photographs, which he has kindly allowed us to show here.

 

Butterflies

• Gatekeeper (abundant, 5+ together at one point)
• Meadow Brown (1 – 2)
• Common Blue (1 – 2)
• Small Copper (1)
• Large White (1)

Grasshoppers & Crickets

• Roesel’s Bush cricket (abundant in the wild areas especially where grass is long)
• Common Green Grasshopper (1 photographed)
• Field Grasshopper (abundant in shorter, sunbaked areas near paths)
• Meadow Grasshopper (1 or 2 heard but likely to be abundant)

Others

• Athysanus argentarius – a leafhopper. According to the British Bugs website, “Historically considered scarce and confined to coastal areas in the south-east, this species has now become established inland across parts of central and southern England and can be found in a variety of grassland habitats. Further records are of interest.”

© FNRC (Pictures are copyrighted to Chris Foster)