For those interested in ladybirds, it isn’t every day you have the chance to admire a major rarity. Surprises don’t turn up all that often but when they do, they can be truly spectacular. Today was one of those days.
Following a post online from a local recorder who had discovered a most unusual pink ladybird in a local cemetery, today I was lucky to see it for myself. Meeting with fellow recorders to take a look, there was little doubt that this could be Poplar Ladybird (Oenopia conglobata). A truly spectacular discovery for reasons I’ll share below.
Oenopia conglobata is found in continental Europe, North Africa and temperate regions of Asia, but is conspicuously absent from the British Isles. Indeed, explore the NBN Atlas and you’ll see there are only two records of this species in the UK: one at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, and another not far from Glasgow. It is by all accounts, a majorly rare species in the UK turning up either as an accidental import from the continent or as a genuine visitor. I don’t have the answer to that, however.
In their Field Guide to British ladybirds, Helen Roy and Peter Brown list this species as a potential colonist in future so the fact it has popped up in an unassuming part of my home city is fascinating, to say the least. That said, regardless of rarity and dubious origins, this ladybird is a real beauty. With light pink wing cases and a striking black seam, it has square spots somewhat reminiscent of the 14-spot Ladybird. You can take a closer look at its various forms here.
The ladybird will need to be scrutinised by the experts before Newcastle appears on the map alongside Flamborough and Glasgow. Until then, a huge well done to the recorder. British ladybirds don’t come much better than that!
For me, ladybirds have been a real theme of 2022. Fresh from twelve months of ladybird recording, here’s a quick round-up of this year’s highlights.
Heather Ladybird
This is the one that really made me stop and think, and the ladybird which helped launch a year’s worth of frantic recording. Chatting with local recorder, Chris Barlow, back in early 2022, we noticed that records of Heather Ladybird were few and far between in Northumberland. Rather bizarre really given the wealth of heather-clad sites in our area. Indeed, the last accepted record of Heather Ladybird was one near Rothbury back in the 1980s.
Feeling somewhat inspired, back in March, I set out to Rothbury to explore an area of suitable habitat on the slopes above the town. Checking overwintering sites among more mature, rank Heather plants, it wasn’t long before several ladybirds were discovered. Success!
Future visits to Rothbury have yielded Heather Ladybirds in several squares while others have found it at several other local sites. Definitely a case of under-recorded, as opposed to genuinely rare.
Heaher Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus) near Rothbury, Norhumberland
Water Ladybird
Water Ladybird is a species that thanks to NHSN’s North East Ladybird Spot, started appearing at more and more local sites during 2021. Not because it was colonising these sites, but because more people began looking for it. I certainly found it at a surprising number of locations towards the back end of the year.
Continuing the search in 2022, I’ve encountered this species at several new sites locally, including a rather bizarre record on salt marsh at Holywell Dene. Small ponds, riversides, and ditches, they don’t seem all that picky and with a bit of practice, are quite easy to find among the stems of Bulrush and Common Reed.
The map for Water Ladybird has changed remarkably in Northumberland this year thanks to the hard work of citizen scientists. I’d call that a success story…
Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata) have been a real flavour of 2022
Cream-streaked Ladybird
Another local success story now, and back in early 2022, I was delighted to find what appeared to be the first Cream-streaked Ladybird for Tyneside and wider South Northumberland. A relatively new UK ladybird, this species is spreading and had already been recorded further North in Scotland. Really, a sighting here was somewhat overdue.
Found on a gravestone is Jesmond Old Cemetery – that place again – it was actually quite tricky to pick this ladybird out from the similarly sized and far more numerous Harlequins in the area. One spot in line one as opposed to two, I must remember that.
Since this encounter, local naturalists have found Cream-streaked Ladybird at several more sites within Newcastle. It is yet to be spotted further afield but must be there somewhere.
Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata) in Jesmond, Newcastle
Hieroglyphic Ladybird
Probably the biggest surprise of 2022 came in the form of my first-ever encounter with a Hieroglyphic Ladybird. Having looked for this species unsuccessfully several times in the uplands, it came as quite a shock to find the melanistic individual below during a guided walk on the coast at Newbiggin. Definitely a “what are the chances of that” sort of moment and one made all the more entertaining by the colour form in question. Surely the black sort must be far scarcer? At least you’d think…
Striped Ladybird
Until last year, Striped Ladybird was perhaps my most sought-after British insect. When I finally encountered it at Havannah Nature Reserve in late 2021, after months of trying and plenty of tree bashing, I was chuffed. Elated even.
Fast forward to the end of 2022 and this species seems to be cropping up everywhere. Not just in larger areas of coniferous woodland but within isolated pines in car parks, cemeteries, and even those growing by the side of the busy A1. Heck, I even found one sitting on a fence post behind my local Sainsbury’s here in Heaton. All of this leads me to suspect that they are a little more widespread than the maps suggest…
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata) on a fence post behind my local Sainsbury’s
Coccidula scutellata
A rather pleasant surprise now and while leading a walk for a group of visitors at NHSN’s Gosforth Nature Reserve this autumn, a brief pitstop to look for Water Ladybird turned up a whopping great surprise in the form of Coccidula scutellata. Recorded only once before in Northumberland and never in VC67, this was one species I thought had to turn up eventually but still, it was a surprise to find it at what is just about the most ‘ladybirded’ site in the North East.
As far as inconspicuous ladybirds go, this one is also quite the beauty…
Coccidula scutellata at Gosforth Nature Reserve, Newcastle
Rhyzobius chrysomeloides
Perhaps the ladybird discovery of the year now and looking at the maps for Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, you would be forgiven for thinking they are found exclusively in more Southerly counties. Indeed, until this year, the most Northerly record of this species came from the Lancaster area. You can imagine my surprise then when several of these lovely little ladybirds fell out of a planted Dwarf Mountain Pine at Silverlink Biodiversity Park back in April. A very nice record indeed but as I shared more on this at the time, I’ll stop there.
Rhyzobius chrysomeloides at Silverlink, North Tyneside
All the lovely people
Whether heading out with my partner, friends or attendees at several events, courses, and trips, ladybird hunting this year has been a wonderfully collective affair. As someone who spends most of their time recording alone (such is the way of the naturalist) it has been lovely to share some of the discoveries above with others and to share knowledge and a few laughs in a host of lovely locations. The below photos are just a few of those taken this year – a big thank you to everyone who came along in 2022.
Ladybird recording with collegues from NHSNMatt poised and waiting to find 11-spot LadybirdA ladybird course in JesmondLadybird recording at NewbigginMore recently, attendees at a ladybird recording session at Havannah Nature Reserve
Exciting things to come
Despite my main interest lying in plants, it seems my love of ladybirds isn’t going away any time soon. I’m not entirely sure what it is about them I like so much but finding, recording, and above all else, enjoying them has become more than a favourite pastime. For this reason, over the next year, you’ll see me offering lots more ladybird-themed events, walks, and courses with NHSN. I hope some of you may consider coming along.
I am delighted (and a little terrified) to now also volunteer my time as a County Recorder for the fabulous UK Ladybird Survey – the national scheme monitoring our ladybirds. If you share sightings via iRecord, you’ll find me there verifying finds from Durham and Northumberland and getting very excited at all of your spotty discoveries.
Having never tried my hand at aphid identification, this Summer proved quite a steep learning curve!
No, I haven’t gone mad. Spending a lot of time looking at both plants and ladybirds, it is inevitable that you’re going to encounter your fair share of aphids too. This year, while rummaging in pine trees, shrubbery and weedy verges, I have certainly seen a good number. Of course, this has meant trying to identify a few of the little green blighters for myself (okay, relatively few are actually green!).
Now, to say I am that I am a beginner with regard to aphids would be a colossal understatement. I haven’t a clue really but am fairly confident about those shown below. Mostly because they appear to be some of the more obvious aphids out there. How many do you recognise?
Pink Tansy Aphid (Metopeurum fuscoviride) on Tansy
A really nice one to start with and I believe these delightful little pink and grey aphids are Pink Tansy Aphids (Metopeurum fuscoviride). Found (of course) on Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), they have peachy bodies and blackened rear ends. Having found these first at Walker Riverside, I have since recorded them a few times locally. Not that anyone verifies aphids on iRecord – perhaps I am getting a tad niche!
Ragwort Aphid (Aphis jacobaeae) on Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)
A slightly daunting one given that there seem to be only three records of this species on NBN. That said, I think these blackish-looking aphids are Ragwort Aphids (Aphis jacobaeae) on account of their dark green colour and pruinose appearance. They were also found on Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) which helped narrow it down.
Rose Aphid (Macrosiphum rosae) on Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.)
Slightly less of a punt with this one. I think the aphids shown above with their dark kneecaps and feet are Rose Aphid (Macrosiphum rosae). As you can see from the picture, the colour of these critters ranged from lime green to rosy pink. These were recorded on Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.),
Mugwort Aphid (Macrosiphoniella artemisiae) on an ornamental Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Quite an attractive little aphid with a powdered, grey-green body and striking black legs, I think these are Mugwort Aphids (Macrosiphoniella artemisiae). They were found on Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) by a busy roadside close to Gosforth Nature Reserve. As is often the case, having noticed them once, I have now spotted them in several locations – despite there being no verified local records. As far as aphid identification goes, these are fairly nice.
Yarrow Aphid (Macrosiphoniella millefolii) on Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
I do like a species which is (almost) identifiable by foodplant. Strolling through Gosforth Nature Reserve this summer, I was pleased to spot the above aphids crowded on Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). A little googling and it looks like they are the aptly named Yarrow Aphid (Macrosiphoniella millefolii). Slightly less ‘powdery’ than the former species, these have brownish as opposed to black legs.
Black Cherry Aphid (Myzus cerasi)Myzus cerasi damage to Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
Spotted not by the aphids themselves, but by the damage caused to my local Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) trees, there is little doubt these are Black Cherry Aphid (Myzus cerasi). They are known to cause the crinkled, deformed leaves shown in the picture above. A shiny, brown to plum-coloured aphid, they are tended by ants which offer protection as they remain concealed with the leaf.
Large Pine Aphid (Cinara pinea) swept from Scots Pine
I like this one. Apparently a favourite food of our conifer specialist ladybirds, this impressive, gold-looking creature is the Large Pine Aphid (Cinara pinea). A great brute of an insect, at least by aphid standards, it was found on Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). This species appears brown/gold while young before turning grey later on. They’re also dotted in fine black spots just about visible in the above picture.
Dyer’s Broom Aphid (Aphis genistae) on Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum)
If I am not horribly wrong, I am quite excited about this one. Indeed, walking along Scotswood Road a few months past, I was surprised to find a planted Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum) completely covered in frosted-looking aphids. A black aphid covered in a waxy meal, there are currently only three records of Dyer’s Broom Aphid (Aphis genistae) on NBN.
Sycamore Aphid (Drepanosiphum platanoidis) on Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Probably the most recognisable aphid, this (I think) is the one known for covering unfortunately parked cars in excrement at the height of summer. Turning over Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) leaves at Prudhoe in the summer, I was pleased to find lots of what I think are Sycamore Aphids (Drepanosiphum platanoidis). The dark cross-bars associated with this species aren’t yet showing in the individual above but I think it was pretty young.
Large Knapweed Aphid (Uroleucon jaceae) on Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)
Probably the one I’m least sure of now but with femora part pale, part dark and given the host plant, I am fairly sure these are Large Knapweed Aphids (Uroleucon jaceae). Not a species recorded frequently at all, it is a reddish/maroon colour with black tubercles and contrasting legs. Interestingly given a surplus of local Knapweed, I have only noted these once.
A short guide to some of the black ladybirds you could encounter while ladybird spotting across the UK.
Britain is home to some 26 species of conspicuous ladybird. Far from your storybook red ladybird, many of these species are black in colour. Whether we’re talking about black ladybirds with red spots or melanistic (black) forms of familiar species, the similarities between these can be confusing. Below, you’ll find a little more information on some of Britain’s black ladybirds…
Identifying black ladybirds
Harlequin Ladybird, Harmonia axyridis
Probably the commonest of the UK’s black ladybirds, the Harlequin Ladybird is incredibly variable. Both the Conspicua and Spectabilis forms of this large invader are black in colour, albeit with differing patterns of red spots.
In general, Harlequin Ladybirds are large and domed in shape. While size is a good indicator, the best way to separate this from other species is by the markings on the pronotum (the area behind the head). Harlequins usually sport two conspicuous white patches on either side. Melanistic 10-Spot and Hieroglyphic ladybirds also have these, albeit to a lesser extent.
If your ladybird is exceptionally obliging, you’ll also notice that the legs of this species are brown.
Pine Ladybird, Exochomus quadripustulatus
The Pine Ladybird is a small species sporting four red spots, two of which are distinctively comma-shaped. Positioned towards the front of each wing case, these are the best way to separate this species from other black ladybirds.
In contrast to the Harlequin which shows a variable amount of white on the pronotum, that of the Pine Ladybird is entirely black.
Another good feature to look for is the pie-like rim around the outside of the wing cases. This feature is shared only by species within the same family and helps narrow down your choices.
Kidney-Spot Ladybird, Chilocorus renipustulatus
The Kidney-spot Ladybird looks a lot like the Pine Ladybird to which it is closely related. It shares the same domed shape, pie-like rim around the wing cases and black pronotum.
Kidney-spot Ladybirds are best identified by their large, red and parallel spots. One on each wing case. The only other ladybird boasting a similar pattern is the Harlequin; though these have white on the pronotum and brown legs.
This species is a bit more particular in its habitat choice and prefers deciduous woodland. It is often spotted on the trunks of willow or Ash in spring.
10-Spot Ladybird, Adalia decempunctata
The 10-spot Ladybird is perhaps the most variable ladybird in Britain. With dozens of colour forms, they can look like any other British ladybird, at least at first glance.
The chequered decempustulata form of the 10-spot Ladybird is black with a grid-like pattern of red or orange markings. Unlike many other black ladybirds, its legs are orange in colour and the pronotum features an extensive area of white. A melanistic form, lacking these features, also exists.
10-spot Ladybird is a generalist species and can be encountered in a diverse range of habitats. They are one of the ladybirds most often spotted in urban areas.
2-Spot Ladybird, Adalia bipunctata
Just to confuse things further, like the 10-spot Ladybird, the familiar 2-spot Ladybird also comes in various dark forms. Most often, these will have either four or six red spots sat atop black wing cases.
The four-spot form of this species has elongated, sometimes rectangular, red spots at the front of the wing cases. The six-spot form has four red spots, as opposed to two, towards the rear of the wing cases.
Fun fact: black forms of 2-spot Ladybird are thought to be more common in Northern areas where the darker base colour helps them absorb more heat from the sun.
One of Britain’s scarcer or at least harder to come by black ladybirds. The Heather Ladybird is a specialist species favouring Heather plants, most often in an upland setting. It can also be found in lowland and coastal heaths and can turn up in gardens where it may occur on cypress trees.
Closely resembling the Kidney-spot and Pine Ladybirds in shape and jizz, what sets this species apart is the distinctive line of red markings on the elytra. This can be fused or divided and may look like a solid line or a line of spots.
Hieroglyphic Ladybird, Coccinella hieroglyphica
The typical form of the Hieroglyphic ladybird is unmistakable and wouldn’t usually fit into a like blog post like this. Unfortunately, however, a melanistic form of this species also exists!
Black Hieroglyphic Ladybirds lack any visible markings on the elytra but do possess a pair of small white marks on the pronotum. They also have black legs and sometimes, two small ‘wedge-shaped’ white markings where the pronotum meets the wing cases.
This is a scarcely recorded species most associated with the uplands, though they do turn up elsewhere from time to time. Black forms are uncommon but cannot be ruled out.
With visits to some of my favourite haunts and lots to see elsewhere, July has been a great month for ladybird recording.
I haven’t been as active in my ladybird hunting this month – peak wildflower season leaving little time for insects. That said, I’ve still managed a few trips out in search of these fascinating little insects. Mostly to familiar sites which continue to turn up new and exciting species, though also a few new locations too.
With adult ladybirds present again after an early-summer hiatus, I have managed a respectable eighteen species in July. Among these, some nice scarcities and a number of new site records. Some highlights of July’s ladybird recording can be found below.
Rising Sun Country Park
Early in the month, a Friday off saw me walking to Rising Sun Country Park in search of conifer ladybirds. Before even getting started with the trees, several familiar species were noted on the walk in. 7-spot Ladybird was ubiquitous and 22-spot Ladybird was observed on a stand of mildew-addled Hogweed. More interesting perhaps was an Orange Ladybird found atop a bin in the Asda car park. Not a bad start…
Searching the trees at the base of the park’s pit heap, it wasn’t long until the first of the days specialist ladybirds put in an appearance. The lovely 18-Spot Ladybird below was one of two adults found on Scots Pine.
18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata)
In a different area of the park, it was nice to catch up with not one but three Eyed Ladybirds. Britain’s largest ladybird, I seem to have good luck finding this species on the lower branches of Scots Pine, though, for something so large, they can be quite cryptic. A sweep net helps!
Eyed ladybird (Anatis ocellata)
Newburn
Two visits to Newburn last week for entirely different reasons, one an Natural History Society bioblitz and the other, a riverside walk with the other half. Despite their differences, both came up trumps with a fantastic haul of ladybirds.
On Saturday, some searching and sweeping around Urban Green Newcastle’s Tyne Riverside Country Park yielded the usual trio of 7-Spot, 14-Spot and Harlequin ladybirds. Better still, Larch Ladybird was found in the memorial garden and later, a 24-Spot Ladybird was swept from some riverside Mugwort. So much for only being found on campion and grasses, eh?
Returning to Newburn on Sunday, Matt in toe, we decided to spend some time beating some of the riverside conifers having spotted the larvae of Eyed Ladybird earlier in the summer. No such luck but we did encounter the rather handsome Striped Ladybird shown below.
Having only encountered my first Striped Ladybird in early 2022, I am now stumbling across this species pretty much anywhere with good-sized Scots Pines, but more on that later…
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Adonis’ Ladybird is a scarce species of dry grassland habitats. Known to favour brownfield sites, I wasn’t too surprised to find the striking individual below at Newburn. Perched atop a stand of Wild Parsnip, it was nice to compare this to the larger 7-Spot Ladybirds nearby. Both species had clearly been drawn here by the glut of aphids and could be seen feeding on Willow-Parsnip Aphids (Cavariella theobaldi).
Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
Highlights aside, there were lots of other ladybirds to see at Newburn. Searching pines, it was nice to see Pine Scymnus again after quite some time. Likewise, the tiny Epaulet Ladybird appears to be increasing again at what is only the second known site for this species locally.
Finally, the melanistic 2-spot Ladybird below seemed worthy of a photo too…
Pine Scymnus (Scymnus suturalis)Epaulet Ladybird (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides)2-spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)
Cramlington Industrial Estate
While I’ve been visiting regular sites in search of ladybirds, I have also been trying to fill some gaps too. Having noticed several accessible pines by the A1068 at Cramlington, on Friday I decided to take a look.
Almost immediately upon arriving at Cramlington Industrial Estate, the Striped Ladybird below was found on the tip of a pine branch. A new square for what might just be my favourite British ladybird.
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Searching the trees that line the road by the big factory here, I was surprised to find five 18-Spot Ladybirds too. Usually the scarcest of the conifer ladybirds, at least in my experience, they seem to be more abundant than previously thought. Or perhaps I am just getting my eye in…
18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata)
The isolated Scots Pine pictured below grows on the central verge South of Cramlington Industrial Estate. Having driven past it many times, I have always thought it looked ‘good for ladybirds’. I was right! Dodging traffic, a search of the tree in question yielded more Striped and 18-Spot Ladybirds, as well as four Pine Scymnus.
An isolated pine rich in ladybirds – a lesson for ladybird recording in the futureStriped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Conifer specialists aside, Cramlington held a good variety of other ladybirds too. Predictably, 22-Spot Ladybird was found by searching Hogweed and Pine Ladybird was discovered by shaking a non-native conifer of some description. A single Meadow ladybird was also found in the somewhat barren grasslands at Northumberlandia.
As I visit more local sites in search of ladybirds and add more sightings to iRecord, I am becoming increasingly interested in this fascinating group of insects.
Keen to take this further, I have created a dedicated space on this blog where I’ll share everything ladybird related in the future. Take a look below.
To help identify a few of the trickier species out there, recently, I’ve been experimenting by rearing ladybird larvae at home.
Identifying ladybirds can be tricky at the best of times. Sure, there are the obvious ones, Water Ladybird for example, but also a fleet of more difficult species. I’m looking at you, inconspicuous ladybirds…
Identifying ladybirds gets much trickier during summer when many species (but not all) are between generations. In practice, this means that adults are scarce and instead, ladybird recorders must look at larvae. Gulp!
I’m dreadful at identifying ladybird larvae, I admit it. I recently purchased a fantastic FSC guide to UK’s ladybird species but still seem to be struggling. Keen not to lose those all-important records, however, I have come up with somewhat of a plan. This summer, I’m going to rear a few of the tricker larvae and see what they turn into!
Ladybird larvae
Keeping things manageable, over the last week or so I have gathered around a dozen larvae from several places. These were located initially on a mix of conifers and within grassland, hopefully suggesting a good range of species.
A selection of those currently in my care can be seen below…
Found on Teasel within grasslandLikely Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, found on Pinus mugoA large larvae found on Scots PinePresumably 2-Spot Ladybird but we’ll seeLikely the same as one and similarly found within grassland
Rearing ladybird larvae
Now, I confess, I have little experience caring for ladybird larvae. Thanks to a little educated guesswork, however, things do seem to be going well. Fed on a range of aphid species, from Rose Aphid to Black Cherry Aphid, all larvae appear to be growing. An interesting observation when it comes to some of the pine specialists. A hearty diet has already led to one larva (shown below) pupating. It shouldn’t be long until we learn this one’s identity…
Gathering aphids can, surprisingly, be quite hard work and collecting the numbers needed can be time-consuming. While our garden is lacking in the little sap-suckers this year, nearby cherry trees, thankfully, are not.
I’m working on the assumption that this could be 11-Spot Ladybird
Besides food, the only other I needed to consider was how to house the ladybirds. They don’t need too much space, but shouldn’t be placed together for fear of eating one another. To avoid taking up too much space, I’ve opted for old fast food containers.
After selecting a suitable abode, rearing ladybird larvae is simply a case of adding some damp tissue to increase humidity. You could also add a few sticks or bits of plant matter for effect.
I feel like a child again as a result of this little experiment. Not only is it fun, ladybird larvae being amazing to watch, but it should provide some interesting records too. With grid references noted, once the larvae reach adulthood, all ladybirds will be photographed and submitted to iRecord. I’ll then return the critters to areas of suitable habitat.
A quick account of an afternoon spent exploring brownfield and recording wildlife at North Shields.
Poking through the rubble heaps and disused car parks of brownfield sites has become a personal hobby of late. Not only are these sites phenomenal for wildlife, but many offer a rare look at what would happen if nature was permitted to reclaim our towns and cities. One of my favourite areas of local brownfield can be found at North Shields, and inspired by a visit last year, I thought I’d take another look this weekend…
Ladybirds
One of the main reasons for my visit was, unsurprisingly, ladybirds and surveying the site I was pleased to encounter a good variety of species. Some, like the 22-Spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) were to be expected while others were a tad more exciting. Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata) is a scarce species in our region and one commonly associated with dry, rocky sites such as this. It was also interesting to note the inconspicuous ladybird, Rhyzobius litura, and nicer still to spot eight Water Ladybirds (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata) around a small pool forming on the tarmac of an old car park.
The interesting ladybird larvae shown below may turn out to be 11-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella undecimpunctata), a pretty elusive species up here.
Forgetting ladybirds for a while, a quick look at the other insects out and about proved worthwhile. Butterflies didn’t disappoint with eight species on the wing, the best of which being Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and some fresh-looking Common Blues. Several day-flying moths were seen too including Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Cinnabar and Narrow-bordered Five-Spot Burnet.
Elsewhere a few other interesting beasties recorded here included Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn, quite the impressive beetle, the soldier beetle, Cantharis rufa, and the bug, Leptopterna ferrugata. Not a bad haul!
The other great thing about brownfield sites such as is often the plantlife. Rubbly, disturbed places such as this often sportian interesting mix of elusive native species, adventives and aliens. North Shields is no exception and clearly having timed my arrival perfectly, the common plant species were putting on an fantastic display – large patches of Black Knapweed, Oxeye Daisy and Mouse-ear Hawkweed interspersed with Wild Mignonette, Weld, Common Toadflax and a whole manner of lovely things.
Perhaps the most interesting observation of the day came from the sheer abundance of Melilot observed during my visit. Indeed, everywhere I looked this attractvive yellow plant could be seen in abundance. Opting to look closer at this, three species were revealed. By far the most common of these was Ribbed Melilot; though a smaller patch of the far rarer Tall Melilot was also discovered. Next, a small area nestled between spoil heaps revealed a nice patch of White Melilot – not a plant I see very often.
With far too many plants seen to cover in a single post, I think it would be best to focus instead on a few highlights and for me, an abundance of delicate Fairy Flax was nice to see, as was a large area of White Stonecrop adorning the tarmac of a former road. Yellow-wort is another scarce species that thrives on brownfield sites and it was good to see plenty of it throughout my visit. Narrow-leaved Ragwort, an invader from South Africa, provided a touch of the exotic.
Orchids were few and far between but I stumble across a few fading spikes of Northern Marsh Orchid while just outside the site, some rather lovely Bee Orchids were not to be scoffed at.
Continuing this year’s quest to find and record ladybirds across the North East, back at the end of March I popped up to Rothbury in search of the elusive Heather Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus). This is a species which should, theoretically, be incredibly numerous up here given the abundance of Heather but despite this, there is only one previous local record – an unconfirmed sighting near Rothbury in 1984.
Fast forward somewhat and after an hour of shaking old clumps of Heather – this species apparently has a penchant for woody plants – I was delighted to find not one but two ladybirds sitting in the bottom of my net. Success!
Superficially similar to its close cousin, the far more abundant Kidney-spot Ladybird, this species boasts a series of horizontal splodges as opposed to the distinct circular spots of the latter. Like its relative, it is specialised to feed on scale insects in contrast to the aphids consumed by familiar ladybirds such as the 7-Spot.
Popping back to Rothbury in early April to explore some outlying squares, I encountered Heather Ladybird again, this time head-height in the branches of a young Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). This individual made for much better viewing and the pictures are certainly better absent the usual sweep net detritus.
This cryptic little ladybird simply must be more widespread in Northumberland. Known now from Rothbury, Dipton Woods and more unusually, the coast at Howick, there have got to be more sites out there to be discovered. I’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on Heather during future walks in the uplands…
A quick summary of a productive month spent exploring the scarcer ladybirds of Newcastle.
While out and about in search of ladybirds this last few weeks, I have been lucky enough to stumble across a number of scarce and unusual species in addition to the plentiful 7-Spots and Orange Ladybirds so many of us know and love. Several of which have been completely new for this incredibly amateur ladybird spotter. Here, I thought I’d share a few highlights from what has been a glorious few weeks spent finding and recording these colourful insects.
Starting, you guessed it, in local cemeteries and perhaps the highlight of the past few weeks, and it was exciting to find singles of Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata) in both Jesmond Old Cemetery and Benton Cemetery. A fairly large, robust ladybird similar in appearance to the non-native Harlequin, a quick search of NBN would suggest this conifer specialist is yet to be recorded in South Northumberland (VC67), until now.
The first of these was beaten from Black Pine (Pinus nigra), while the second was found on a gravestone. There are surely many more of these large and impressive ladybirds out there to be discovered.
While searching for ladybirds as part of the North East Ladybird Spot, one species I had desperately wanted to find was the 18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata). Another conifer specialist sporting a distinctive mix of cream spots atop maroon wing cases, this is likely another under-recorded ladybird owing to its tendency to hide out within the dense foliage of conifers.
Visiting Jesmond Old Cemetery a fortnight back, it was therefore quite exciting to find not one but five of these insects nestled on a gravestone beneath the only pine in the cemetery. The same one, in fact, that also held the Cream-streaked above. These isolated trees really can come up trumps when it comes to specialist ladybirds!
One species I seem to be encountering with increasing frequency in the North East is the Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata). A ladybird associated with sandy, open soils, this is a very small species that superficially resembles the common 7-Spot. Small size aside, it can be told apart by its more elongated body shape and the concentration of black spots towards the rear of the wing cases.
The first of the ladybirds shown below was beaten from Black Pine in Jesmond Old Cemetery, while the duo in the pot were found within Gorse at Havannah Nature Reserve.
Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
After encountering Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata) for the first time a few weeks back, it has been fantastic catch up with further individuals over recent weeks. During a trip to Havannah Nature Reserve with members of the natural history society, three of these beautiful insects were seen, while a visit to Gosforth Nature Reserve produced a surprise when the potted individual below was beaten from Gorse. Albeit near to its favoured Scots Pine.
Striped Ladybird featured in a recent video I produced for the North East Ladybird Spot. Please do take a look below, if you can look past my nervous, flailing hands…
Despite (apparently) being reasonable common, Larch Ladybird (Aphidecta obliterata) is a species I have struggled to catch up with this winter. To date, checking the trunks and branches of larch has drawn a blank, as have gravestones in conifer rich cemeteries. You can imagine my delight then when the ladybird shown below was beaten from the tip of a wind-blown Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) as Gosforth Nature Reserve.
Despite appearing somewhat drab, this small, brown ladybird with its distinctive black central line is actually rather pretty when viewed up close.
Back to Benton Cemetery now and while searching the ranks of Harlequin and Orange Ladybirds, it was a delight to encounter my first Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata) of the year. Britain’s largest species, this ladybird sports distinctive white rings around its many black spots. A feature which, as its name suggests, gives the appearance of having eyes atop its wing cases. A conifer specialist, I can count on one hand the number of times I have encountered this species to date.
Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata)
Finally, we come to a North East ladybird that I am beginning to think is not all too scarce at all, rather tricky to see and highly under-recorded. Hiding out in the stems of Bulrush (Typha latifolia) and other marginal plants in winter, the Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata) seems to be cropping up at more and more local sites as naturalists begin purposefully looking for it.
The individuals spotted below were seen at Gosforth Nature Reserve, but others were also encountered at Havannah Nature Reserve and Rising Sun Country Park.
Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata)Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata)
And there we have it, a quick tour of some ladybird highlights from the last few weeks. I will be continuing the Ladybird Yearlist throughout 2022 which thanks to the additions of Larch and Eyed Ladybirds now stands at a reasonable 17 species. Truthfully, I am not sure how many more are out there to be discovered but I at least stand a chance of encountering 11-Spot and 24-Spot Ladybird before year’s end, while 14-Spot is all but guaranteed if I find the time to poke about some grassland.
Setting my sights a little higher, I will also be visiting suitable sites in search of the slightly more elusive 5-Spot Ladybird; while the predominately Southern 16-Spot Ladybird cannot be out of the question while walking in grassland come summer…
Continuing this year’s Ladybird Year List and capturing records for the North East Ladybird Spot, the last few weekends have been spent admiring winter ladybirds conifers. Scots Pine, Larch, exotic Lodgepole and Black Pines, even the odd spruce.
Havannah Nature Reserve near Dinnington first and few visits to explore the site’s conifers turned up a good number of Pine Ladybirds (Exochomus qadripustulatus), with eight spotted on our first visit and six on our second. While the majority were found, rather fittingly, on pine, we also found a few overwintering on Gorse for the first time.
It was nice too to encounter the guttatopunctata form of 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata) hiding out in a branch tip.
Pine Ladybird (Exochomus qadripustulatus)Pine Ladybird (Exochomus qadripustulatus)10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata)
Confessing an ulterior motive for our trip to Havannah, a spot of tree-tapping focused on more mature conifers produced not one but two Striped Ladybirds (Myzia oblongoguttata), an entirely new species for me!
Somewhat of a goldilocks ladybird, this species has a close association with Scots Pine but is seldom found on younger trees. Supposedly, these striking little insects overwinter at ground level so what they were doing on exposed branches in February, I don’t know.
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Fast forward a week and on our second visit to Havannah, we managed to find a total of three Striped Ladybirds, with one in particular (shown in the video below) clearly energised by the sunny conditions.
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Whilst at Havannah, it would have been rude not to survey some of the Gorse on-site for ladybirds too and, after fifteen minutes, we were rewarded with the beauty below, an Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata).
I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen this fairly elusive species, finding them previously only at Newcastle Great Park and Silverlink. With a distinctive pattern of white and black on the pronotum and spots concentrated towards the rear of the wing cases, they are rather lovely.
Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
A few more highlights from the last couple of weeks and a quick visit to Iris Brickfield Park in Heaton turned up another new species for me in the form of this Red Marsh Ladybird (Coccidula rufa). One of the tiny, inconspicuous ladybirds, this species has a close association with wetland habitats where is commonly encountered on reeds, rushes and similar plants. You can imagine my surprise then to knock this one out of a pine tree while searching for its larger cousins!
Also in Iris Brickfield Park, a few stands of Stinking Iris provided a nice opportunity to look for some overwintering grassland ladybirds. Shaking the plants over a net, I was pleased to find four 22-Spot Ladybirds (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata), a species I have only ever encountered in summer, usually on the mildewy leaves of Hogweed or Knapweed. I do love these vibrant little ladybirds.
22-spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata)
Slightly further back in time now and a flying visit to Rising Sun Country Park in North Tyneside turned up my first Kidney-Spot Ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus) of the year sheltering in the upper branches of a wind-blown pine. Again, not a species I encounter very often at all!
Kidney-spot Ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus)
Finally, at all of the sites listed above, by far the most numerous ladybird species was (as ever) the 7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata). Little needs said about this one…
7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)
Finds over the past few weeks have taken the ladybird year list to a total of thirteen species. Not bad for late February in North East England! Whilst there are certainly a few more ‘easy’ species to be found as we move into spring – 14-Spot, 24-Spot and the inconspicuous Rhyzobius litura – I am very much hoping to catch up with a few more elusive species too. Larch Ladybird should be found, with a little luck, as should Eyed and 11-Spot Ladybirds, at the very least…
With the Natural History Society of Northumbria’s fantastic North East Ladybird Spot launching this week, most of this weekend has been spent searching for these colourful insects at various sites across Tyneside. A January pastime I would never have considered a few short years ago that now, knowing where to look, is becoming somewhat of an obsession.
Orange Ladybirds (Halyzia sedecimguttata)
Orange Ladybirds (Halyzia sedecimguttata) have proven incredibly numerous this winter and, while visiting Preston Cemetery in Tynemouth, I was surprised to stumble quite literally hundreds of these insects dotted across the site’s many aged gravestones. The majority being found in wooded areas where headstones are located in the shade of broadleaf trees.
While I can count on one hand the number of times I have spotted this species in Summer, Winter really does seem like the prime time to look for these striking critters before they return to the treetops come Spring.
While Orange Ladybirds were numerous this weekend, Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis) were even more so, with huge numbers found in the city at Jesmond, Wallsend and Heaton. Few were to be seen at Tynemouth, oddly enough, but a handful were observed secreted amid the ranks of the plentiful Orange Ladybirds in what can only be described as a complete reversal of my observations in Newcastle. Here, these large invaders outnumber everything else ten to one.
Never present in great numbers and always somewhat of a pain to find, it was pleasantly surprising to find Cream-Spot Ladybirds (Calvia quatuordecimguttata) at a few local sites this weekend. Singles were found at Tynemouth and Wallsend, though the greatest numbers by far were seen in Jesmond Old Cemetery. A trusty site for a great range of ladybirds!
I do find it slightly odd how the numbers of each species of ladybird vary between sites with no obvious difference in habitat…
Cream-spot Ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata)
2-Spot Ladybirds (Adalia bipunctata) seem to vary in number daily, though where they are vanishing to in the depths of winter I am not too sure. Whereas last week ten or so could be found in Jesmond Old Cemetery, this week, only a single ladybird could be seen. Similarly, none were located at all at any of the other sites visited. This species is suffering a notable decline in the UK thanks in a large part to the arrival of the Harlequin and it seems that here too, they are growing scarcer.
Ever reliable, Jesmond also yielded a number of lovely Pine Ladybirds (Exochomus quadripustulatus), mostly sound asleep on gravestones. Small, black and fairly inconspicuous, I suspect I walked past a great many of these before spotting the one pictured below.
Another species that has proven to be anything but reliable this winter is the 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata), with only a single individual spotted during this weekend’s meanderings, once again in Jesmond.
A dreadful photo of a 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata)
Believe it or not, it took until the end of March 2021 to encounter my first 7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) of the year. Thankfully, this year, a glance at some immature Sitka Spruce and tatty Gorse at Gosforth Nature Reserve helped spare me the embarrassment this time around, with six found tucked up at the end of branches.
Finally, we come to the undisputed highlight of the weekend and a chance encounter with a Water Ladybird (Anistosticta novemdecimpunctata) at the same site, this one found nestled within the decaying stem of a Bulrush. A real favourite of mine, I expected to wait until at least May before happening across this species which remains scarce, or at least under-recorded, in my corner of the country.
Water Ladybird (Anistosticta novemdecimpunctata)
Inspired by those sharing their finds under #LadybirdYearList on Twitter, this year I’ll be attempting to see as many of these fabulous insects as possible across the North East. While we are not exactly spoiled for choice up here, lacking many of the inconspicuous ladybirds found in the South and a good few of the larger species too, I suspect 12-15 might be possible with a little effort.
Last year provided my first encounter with Eyed, Kidney-Spot and 24-Spot Ladybirds and this year, hopefully, I may catch up with Striped, Larch or Hieroglyphic – species I am yet to see anywhere in the UK.
2021 has been a funny old year but despite the big c and the various restrictions it brought, it has also been a memorable one. While time outdoors has been limited this year, thankfully, I have still been lucky enough to observe, enjoy and record some fantastic wildlife. As the New Year dawns, I thought I’d share some highlights here.
Truthfully, I have seen more bees in 2021 than in any other year of my life to date, but perhaps that is because I have actually been looking?
Regardless, spurred on by NHSN’s North East Bee Hunt and supported to no end by helpful local experts, I have encountered some rather lovely species this year: my first Moss Carders on Lindisfarne, my first Hairy-footed Flower Bees (a county scarcity) and some delightful Bilberry Bumblebees to name but a few. All of which goes without mention of a dazzling assortment of other leafcutters, yellow-faced bees and bumbles.
Perhaps the highlight of the year on this front was finding this little Northern Mining Bee on spring wander through Ingram Valley in North Northumberland. This marked the first vice-county record for this attractive little insect and certainly made the hike worthwhole.
Northern Mining Bee, Andrena ruficrus
Lots of ladybirds
2021 marked my first year of purposefully seeking out ladybirds and I have been lucky to find and record a great many this year. Some of these, the 22-spot, 7-spot and Orange Ladybirds were familiar while others including the Eyed and 11-Spot Ladybirds shown below were entirely new for me.
A real highlight was discovering the inconspicuous but beautiful Water Ladybird at several new sites around Newcastle; while I also caught up with my first Adonis’ and Kidney-spot Ladybirds locally,
A little account of ladybird recording in Newcastle can be found here.
Befitting two exciting (but equally terrifying) new roles as joint BSBI vice-county recorder for North Northumberland, and joint Botany Specialist Group lead for NHSN, much of this year has been spent admiring plants.
Highlights here are too numerous to list with many interesting sites visited and many species observed. Instead, a few local finds spring to mind including the first county record of Curry Plant growing on the pavement here in Heaton, and a county-first Marshmallow spotted beside a local pond. Vosges Whitebeam was a notable find at a couple of local sites, if only because it took some time to ID it, while it has been interesting to observe several Thorn-apple plants growing close to home. A sure sign of their spread into the North of the UK.
Of course, our native species have enchanted too with a particular highlight coming from an encounter with my first-ever Maiden Pinks on the North Northumberland coast. I will make a point of revisiting these next year.
Spending so much time at home, it was inevitable that more time would be dedicated to recording wildlife in our little garden. With over 200 species encountered, there are too many to list but standout moments include the arrival of Currant Clearwing and Mint Moth, plenty of Davies’ Colletes and some nice moth trap finds, including the superb Figure-of-Eighty shown below.
In the latter half of 2021, I set about attempting to learn urban trees with a focus on the more unusual, non-native species so commonly planted in our parks, towns and cities. Spending countless hours roaming various sites in Newcastle, I was delighted to encounter dozens of new species, from North American Pin and Red Oaks to Himalayan Birch and a range of unusual maples. While conifers still baffle me, getting to grips with the various globe-trotters with whom I share the city has certainly been eye-opening – there are so many out there!
You can share a closer look at Newcastle’s trees (and shrubs) with me here.
A slightly unusual one now and while searching for ladybirds, I have been amazed by the quantity and diversity of shieldbugs uncovered at a range of local haunts. Some of these, like the Green, Hairy and Hawthorn Shieldbugs were familiar to me already; though a range of new species were encountered too including the striking Spiked Shieldbug and aptly named Parent Bug. I will certainly spend more time exploring this group in 2022.
A small, artificial reserve on the fringes of the city, Silverlink Biodiversity Park in North Tyneside has long been a favourite of mine when it comes to plants and invertebrates. Each year, I make a point of visiting the site in Summer with the aim of counting and enjoying its beautiful Bee Orchids and this year, the plants did not disappoint.
2021 was a record-breaking year for these colourful little wildflowers and here, hundreds were observed blooming across the site’s small but diverse grassland areas. It was also great to share this little-known with local naturalists as part of a guided walk back in July.
Bee Orchid, Ophrys apiferaA group walk at SilverlinkBee Orchid, Ophrys apifera
A trip to Teesdale
At the tail end of Spring, I was lucky enough to pay my first visit to the botanist’s paradise that is Upper Teesdale. While our walk may have been a little longer than planned – I severely misjudged the route – it was sensational to observe many of the plants that help make this area so special. Iconic and beautiful Spring Gentians, Alpine Meadow-rue, Bird’s-eye Primrose, Mountain Pansy and Green Spleenwort, there was certainly much to see.
I look forward to visiting again in 2022 and hopefully catching up with a few of the species that eluded me this time around. I’m looking at you Shrubby Cinquefoil and Holly Fern…
While pottering about in search of plants, bees and ladybirds, it would have been rude not to pay closer attention to the other taxa seen on my travels. From butterflies and hoverflies to fascinating fungi, highlights have been too many to count but a few stand out moments include more Dingy Skippers than I can shake a stick at, thirty species of hoverfly, some impressive longhorn beetles and the first record of Diprion similis, a scarce Sawfly, for North East England.
While I have a long way to go before I can confidently identify species in these groups, I look forward to broadening my horizons further next year.
Nature is better when enjoyed together and it would be rude of me not to mention the many passionate naturalists I have had the pleasure to meet and work with this year. By offering help with species identification and sharing experiences in the field, it is the people that have made 2021 so rewarding for this amateur naturalist.
Special thanks go to Louise Hislop and Charlotte Rankin for their help identifying bees and to Chris and Hazel Metherell for some memorable botanical moments, but really, it has been wonderful to share experiences with so many committed wildlife-watchers. I hope to meet many more next year.
Bees at SilverlinkBotany at WylamAdmiring Bombus rupestrisLook, a Moss Carder!
Keen to further explore Newcastle’s ladybirds as part of the North East Ladybird Spot, last weekend I set off for two local sites that I seldom visit. The first, Newcastle’s Great Park, a new suburb of the city located four miles from the city centre, and the second, the well-known Havannah Nature Reserve near Dinnington.
Arriving at the Great Park, I soon set off for the series of small, well-vegetated pools situated close to the sprawling housing estate. With the margins here chock-full of Bulrush, Common Reed and an assortment of sedges, it looked like a great spot to finally catch up with one of the North East’s scarcer conspicuous ladybirds: the Water Ladybird. Sweeping the margins here, it wasn’t long before I encountered my first – the insect in question now beige in colour, as opposed to red, as is the norm later in the year.
During an hour-long search of the pools, a further six Water Ladybirds were found, though each was difficult to find and spotting them absent aid of a net would have been a challenge, to say the least.
Water Ladybird, Anisosticta novemdecimpunctataWater Ladybird, Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata
Opting for a poke about some nearby grassy areas, it was nice to find a variety of other ladybirds tucked away in various hidden corners. 7-spot Ladybirds were of course the most numerous, followed closely by the smaller 14-spot Ladybird. Several non-native Harlequin Ladybirds were also encountered disguised within the fading blooms of Wild Parsnip. On route home, a duo of 22-Spot Ladybirds were also good to see.
Whereas Water Ladybirds had been an ‘expected’ find at the Great Park, on this occasion, they found themselves eclipsed somewhat by another interesting discovery. Exploring the grassland close to the aforementioned pools, the rather small ladybird below was also noticed. Resembling at first a miniature 7-Spot Ladybird, it took a short while to identify this as Adonis’ Ladybird, a scarce species up North that seems especially fond of wasteland sites. A new species for me, no less!
Adonis’ Ladybird, Hippodamia variegata
Fast forward a day and on Sunday, Matt and I set off for Havannah Nature Reserve keen to build on the previous day’s bumper haul of ladybirds. We were not disappointed…
Starting out with a search of some of the lusher areas on site, it didn’t take long to find both of the small yellow ladybirds commonly associated with grassland. A single 22-Spot Ladybird was soon found, followed by a number of 14-Spots. 7-Spot Ladybird was encountered here too, this time sheltering among the browning seedheads of Common Knapweed.
It was only upon reaching the heathland area of the reserve when things picked up drastically. Here, the small conifers colonising the heath were crawling with ladybirds. Indeed, we counted over seventy individuals during an hour-long search and the diversity on show here was wonderful.
It didn’t take Matt long to find our first 2-Spot Ladybird of the day, while both 7-Spot and Harlequin Ladybirds were numerous. All noticeably tucked away among cones and buds in an effort to escape the weather. More interesting still was the presence of a good number of Pine Ladybirds, a species I haven’t recorded locally since April this year. Small, black and boasting a characteristic flange around the base of each elytron, it was great to see these in any sort of quantity.
A single 10-Spot Ladybird was also encountered here, though this was quickly forgotten as we caught sight of a rather chunky ladybird moving speedily up the trunk of a mature pine. Potting this for closer inspection, it was revealed to be Eyed Ladybird, our largest species of ladybird and a real beauty if that. A species strongly associated with pine and known to specialise in pine aphids, it was little surprise we encountered this striking species here.
Whilst the wetland habitats at Havannah are far more limited than those of the previous site, the good-sized pond here and the riparian vegetation surrounding it looked good for Water Ladybird. Perhaps slightly emboldened by our previous encounter, we soon set about searching and though it took far longer, were rewarded with a single Water Ladybird scooped on this occasion from Gypsywort.
Water Ladybird, Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata
This has been a year of firsts on the ladybird front. Perhaps I am simply paying closer attention, though whatever the reason, the species listed above join Kidney-Spot and 11-Spot Ladybirds, as well as the tiny Rhyzobius litura, to make 2021 a fantastic year thus far.
Time looks to be running out this year but I’ll definitely be setting my sights on other species likely to be encountered in the nearby area. Foremost among these, the eye-catching Striped Ladybird, though Larch and Hieroglyphic wouldn’t go amiss either.
I’ll admit it, I have a strange fascinating with brownfield sites. Not just because some of these places – spoil heaps, forgotten corners and abandoned urban land – often have an interesting back story, but because wildlife often thrives on these forsaken spaces. Indeed, whereas today it is possible to walk for miles in areas typically thought of as wild (our sheep-grazed uplands ring a bell) and see very little, on brownfield, it is often impressive just what you can find crammed into a relatively small space.
With this in mind, and having spotted an intriguing splodge of green while perusing Google Maps, last weekend saw using heading to urban North Shields to investigate the brownfield land surrounding Royal Quays Outlet Centre.
En route to our chosen destination, a short detour through the carpark of a now abdanoned retail unit brought the first sightings of the day. Here, on a small patch of rough grassland seemingly left to its own devices, the tall, purple blooms of Northern Marsh Orchid were spotted from some distance away. Closer inspection revealing dozens of these charasmatic plants, just coming into bloom. Here too, Common Blue butterflies were seen and a single Small Heath (my first of the year) rested breifly atop a patch of Bird’s-foot Trefoil. Best of all here, a single Dingy Skipper was spotted and as ever, proved difficult to pin down at first.
In the North East, and particularly around Newcastle and North Tyneside, the Dingy Skipper is a species strongly associated with brownfield sites where its foodplant, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, often grows in abundance. It remains a rare butterfly locally, as well as local conservation priority species, and it is always worth submitting a record to ERIC North East if you encounter one.
Moving on, we soon arrived at our destination and set about admiring the vegetation adorning the overgrown rubble heaps by the site entrance. Bristly Oxtongue, with its wonderfully spikey foliage, was an interesting find here, as were Salad Burnet and Wild Mignonette. Colonists included Green Alkanet and Red Valarian, were also seen, while a queer-looking plant with attractive, frothy flowers turned out to be Hoary Cress, a new one for me.
Chocolate Mining Bee, Andrena scoticaMarsham’s Nomad Bee, Nomada marshamella
Still somewhat lethargic from the night before, a number of interesting bees were quickly spotted. Warming themselves on the leaves of Broad-leaved Dock, Chocolate Mining Bees were seen and nearby, a striking black and yellow nomad bee was revealed (unsurprisingly) to be Marsham’s Nomad Bee, a cuckoo of the former species. A leafcutter bee, likely Patchwork Leafcutter, whizzed past briefly and a few Early Mining Bees were observed. Bumblebees noticed included Common Carder, White-tailed and Early, and our first Orange-tip butterflies of the visit put in an appearance.
Griffith’s Spurge, Euphorbia griffithii
Rounding a bend and emerging into an open area close to the existing water treatment plant, we were greeted by an impressive display of wildflowers. Here, great drifts of Ox-eye Daisy and Meadow Buttercup caught the eye first, interspersed with Lesser Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Common Knapweed and other common species. The rich, blue flowers of Columbine stood out like a sore thumb and a conspicuous flame-red plant drew our attention. Clearly a spurge of some kind, its identity remained a mystery until our return home with the ever-helpful botanists of Twitter revealing it to be Griffith’s Spurge, a garden escape.
Northern Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza purpurella Griffith’s Spurge, Euphorbia griffithii
Here too, many more Northern Marsh Orchids were seen, and a closer look at what seemed to be a newly formed pond revealed Water Horsetail, Common Spike-rush and Pendulous Sedge. Among other plants, Yellow-rattle was obvious on the margins here and insects included Common Blue, Large Red Damselfly and another Dingy Skipper. The first of several seen from this point in.
Common Blue, Polyommatus icarusCommon Spike-rush, Eleocharis palustris Common Spike-rush, Eleocharis palustrisYellow-rattle, Rhinanthus minorWater Horsetail, Equisetum fluviatile
Further in, we encountered another small pond, forming this time on the concrete foundations of what was likely a former building. Here, Lesser Spearwort was an interesting find among other aquatic species but really, most of our time here was spent marvelling at the wider picture of succession in action, with nature gradually reclaiming many of the remaining human relics on site.
Orange-tailed Mining Bee, Andrena haemorrhoa
Soon enough, it came time to leave – this was only meant to be a fleeting visit. Whilst an abundance of life was encountered over what was a relatively short, one and a half-hour visit, I suspect we are only scratching the surface of what could be found here.
The nature of places such as this is often ephemeral, and if the word is to be believed, this particular site could soon be developed. A shame, really, but not unexpected. I suspect that to many, its loss would be preferable to development elsewhere on land thought of as more typically green.
