Two of our regular invertebrate recorders using a leaf blower in reverse to sample for spiders and beetles at Holkham Bay
This
summer we were involved with two quite high profile local events at Holkham
that proved very rewarding for not only members of the public but also for the
members of staff involved. Firstly came the coast wide Bio-blitz. This involved
enthusiasts from every branch of natural history descending into all the
various habitats along the coast and trying to identify and record as much as
they could find. This was open to keen specialists, experts, and County
recorders alongside general members of the public. Here at Holkham alone we
managed to record nine new species of fungi for the reserve (including a new
species for Norfolk – a very insignificant looking ‘black smudge’ fungi), a
spider only known from one other site in Norfolk, a hoverfly only previously
recorded in the Norfolk Broads (the Sea Clubrush Hoverfly) and two new beetles
for the site. For a site that has been a nature reserve since 1967 this was
quite a selection.
Lady Anne's Drive on Bio-blitz day
Achaearanea riparia,a new spider for the reserve and a
county rarity
Rarities
aside the joy showed by children as they were shown moths brought out from some
overnight traps was priceless. For many, moths are the poor man’s butterflies
that only come out at night, are drab in colours and munch clothes in our
wardrobes. Nothing of course can be further from the truth. Here in the UK
there have been an incredible 2,500 species recorded. So whilst it is true many
are nocturnal (hence the need to attract them and catch them aided by uv
lighting) many are also day flying and many are impressive looking colourful
beasts. For most children when they see something like a hawkmoth for the first
time they are often overwhelmed that such a mystical looking creature can exist
outside of a fantasy novel. To see a child over awed from a moth or grasshopper
clinging to its finger can be quite magical.
A Long-winged Conehead,
an exotic insect that always attracts attention
At
Holkham we took this a step further this year by running a mini-beast hunt in
Wells Pinewoods as part of the annual carnival celebrations. On two days we set
up shop along with the Estate’s Education Department in the hope that a few
children might pop along and find us a few insects and other creepy crawlies to
inspire them and for us to identify. When the start time arrived we found
ourselves under an avalanche of small children eager to hunt out, collect and
bring to us for identification what they had found. Initially it seemed like a
happy form of pandemonium. There were children dashing about everywhere,
turning over logs, peeling off tree bark, crawling underneath bramble bushes,
clutching pots and nets with wood lice, worms, centipedes, beetles, butterflies
and even toads. Their enthusiasm was infectious and the event proved even more
successful than we could imagine. The excitement shown was both non stop and
heart-warming. On an even bigger plus side, they produced the goods too.
The Red Longhorn Beetle
The
Red Longhorn beetle is a relatively scarce insect that has its UK stronghold in
the south of England, particularly the forests of Breckland. It also has an
outpost along the north Norfolk coast with the conifer wood of Holkham and
Wells being a known site. What we did not realise was just how many we had. In
the two days at least 15 were found all within a restricted area of the wood.
An adult Ant-lion was also found, a specialised insect of the woods that still
very few Norfolk naturalists have ever set eyes upon. One of the strangest
finds, more due to its circumstances, was the reserve’s first ever Woodlouse
Spider. It fell out of a branch and straight onto the arm of one of our
visitors, amidst a chorus of shrieks! It is armed with ferocious looking jaws
that enable it to pierce the armour plating of a wood louse (its main prey),
hence its name. No bites occurred to our visitors though! Ultimately it was great
to see such interest in our natural world and left me hopeful that at least
some would become the next generation of field naturalists. It also left us
hoping that the next time a bio-blitz is organised we can get an army of small
children with keen senses to scour our vegetation and even more might be found!
An adult Antlion - a very lucky find on our mini-beast hunt
The Woodlouse Spider, with its impressive jaws opened wide!
Andy
Bloomfield
Warden