Invertebrate Galleries
Invertebrates 2
Beetles (Coleoptera)
True Bugs (Hemiptera)
Spiders & Harvestmen (Arachnida)
Slugs & Snails (Mollusca)
Pond Life & Others
Beetles
Ladybirds
---- Adalia 2-punctata, 2 Spot Ladybird ---- Adelia decempunctata, 10 Spot Ladybird (2) ---- Coccinella septempunctata, 7 Spot Ladybird ----
---- Calvia quattuordecimguttata, Cream-spot Ladybird ---- Exochomus 4-pustulatus, Pine Ladybird ----
Halyzia sedecimguttata, Orange Ladybird (adult 2 & larva) ----
---- Harmonia axyridis, Harlequin Ladybird (3 adult & 1 larva) ---- Harmonia quadripunctata, Cream Streaked Ladybird (adult & larva) ----
---- Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, 14 spot Ladybird (2 adult) ---- Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata, 22 Spot Ladybird ----
Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata, 16 Spot Ladybird (3 adult & 1 larva) ----
*****
The top gallery shows Ladybirds of several species overwintering on one of our waymarker posts up Greenhill Way. Sightings have been made on this and other waymarkers over a number of years. So why did they gather like this?
Carabidae - Ground Beetles
---- Agonum emarginatum ---- Amara apricaria ---- Badister bullatus ---- Calathus fuscipes ---- Carabus violaceus, Violet Ground Beetle ----
---- Harpalus affinis ---- Harpalus rufipes, Strawberry Beetle ---- Leistus rufomarginatus ----
----Notiophilus rufipes ---- Pterostichus madidus, Black Clock Beetle (2) ---- Pterostichus niger ----
---- Pterostichus nigrita ----
Cerambicidae - Longhorn Beetles
The longhorn beetles are a cosmopolitan family in which some have very long antennae with others perversely having quite short ones. Just having long antennae doesn't indicate inclusion.
---- Alosterna tabacicolor, Longhorn Beetle ---- Clytus arietus, Wasp Beetle ---- Grammoptera ruficornis, Longhorn Beetle (3) ----
---- Leptura quadrifasciata Longhorn Beetle ---- Paracorymbia fulva, Tawny Longhorn Beetle ---- Pseudovadonia livida, Longhorn Beetle ----
---- Rhagium Mordax, Black-Spotted Pliers Support Beetle (3) ----
--- Rutpela maculata, Spotted Longhorn Beetle (3) ---- Stenocorus meridianus, Variable Longhorn Beetle (2) ----
---- Stenostola dubia, Lime Beetle ---- Stenunella melanura, Black Striped Longhorn Beetle ----
Curculionidae - Weevils
---- Curculio glandium/nucom, Nut Weevil (2) ---- Curculio venosus Weevil ---- Deporus belvise ---- Liophloeus tessulatus (2) ----
Phyllobius argentatus ---- Phyllobius pomaceus, Nettle Weevil (2) ---- Phyllobius roboretanus, Small Green Nettle Weevil -----
---- Phillobius virideaeris, Green Leaf Weevil ---- Polydrusus formosus, Leaf Weevil ---- Polydrusus pterygomalis, Tree Weevil ----
---- Rhynchites bacchus ----Trichosirocalus troglodytes ---- Tychius picirostris ----
Elateridae - Click Beetles and Soldier Beetles
This is a superfamily comprising the Click Beetles (Elateridae) which click audibly when they jump, Fireflies (Lampyridae) which produce bioluminescence and Soldier Beetles (Cantharidae), named thus when the first one discovered was a similar red to military tunics of the time.
CLICK BEETLES: ---- Adastrus pallens ---- Agriotes acuminatus (2) ---- Athous haemorrhoidalis ---- Hemicrepidius hirtus ----
SOLDIER BEETLES:---- Cantharis fusca ---- Cantharis nigra (2) ---- Cantharis nigricans ---- Cantharis pellucida (2) ---- Cantharis rustica (5) ----
---- Rhagonycha fulva (3) ---- Rhagonycha lignosa ---- Rhagonycha translucida ----
Pyrochroidae - Cardinal Beetles
There are only three species in this family.
---- Pyrochroa coccinea (3) ---- Pyrochroa serraticornis (2 + larva) ---- Schizotus pectinicornis ----
(For details of how the 2nd image was taken see http://www.flecc.co.uk/w/how.html)
Scarabaeoidea - Chafer, Dung and Scarab beetles
---- Aphodius contaminatus, Dung Beetle ---- Corticaria serrata, Scavenger Beetle ---- Hoplia philanthus, Welsh Chafer ----
---- Melolontha hippocastani, Forest Cockchafer (2) ---- Melolontha melolontha, Field Cockchafer ----
---- Onthophagus coenobita, Dung Beetle ---- Phyllopertha horticola, Garden Chafer (2) ----
Staphylinidae - Rove Beetles
The rove beetles are the largest beetle group and have flexible abdomens and very short leathery wing casings which store their folded up wings. Because folding the wings takes time and effort they rarely fly.
---- Atrecus affinis ---- Anotylus rugosus ---- Ocypus brunipes --- Ocypus olens, The Devil's Coach Horse (2) ----
----Philonthus carbonarius ---- Philonthus laminatus ---- Philonthus sanguinolentus ----
Pollen Beetles
Pollen Beetles is an informal term used to describe the many difficult-to-classify species of tiny beetle that can often be seen clustered in flower centres. Always similarly shaped, they feed on the pollen which can be all or part of their diet.
---- Bruchidius varius ---- Byturus ochraceus, Fruitworm Beetle (2) ---- Byturus tomentosus, Raspberry Beetle (2) ----
---- Cryptophilus propinquus ---- Meligethes aeneus, Sap Feeding Beetle ---- Meligethes atratus, Sap Feeding Beetle ---- Micridium halidaii ----
---- Olibrus aeneus, Shining Flower Beetle ---- Olibrus millefolii, Shining Flower Beetle ---- Phalacrus championi, Shining Flower Beetle ----
Other Beetles
---- Agrilus sp, Jewel Beetle ---- Altica lythri, Flea Beetle ---- Anogcodes fulvicollis Flower Beetle ---- Anthrenus verbasci Carpet Beetle ----
---- Apoderus coryli, Hazel Leaf Roller ---- Arpidiphorus orbiculatus, Dry Fungus Beetle (2) ----
---- Chrysolina oricalcia ---- Cyrtusa subtestacea, Fungus Beetle ---- Diaperis boleti, Fungus Beetle (2) ----
---- Dorcus parallelipipedus, Lesser Stag Beetle ---- Forficula auricularia, Common Earwig ----
--- Ischnomera cyanea (2) ---- Malachius Bipustulatus, Malachite Beetle ---- Malthinus frontalis ----
---- Mordellistena pumila, Tumbling Flower Beetle ---- Mordellochroa abdominalis, Pintail Beetle ---- Nicrophorus humator, Sexton Beetle ----
---- Oedemera flavipes ---- Oedemera lurida (3) ---- Oedemera nobilis, Swollen Thighed Flower Beetle (3) ----
---- Phaedon tumidulus, Celery Leaf Beetle, Larva (3) --- Phratora vulgatissimia, Blue Willow Beetle ----
---- Phyllotreta nemorum, Large Striped Flea Beetle ---- Platypus cylindrus (2) ---- Prionocyphon serricornis, Tree Hole Beetle (larva) ----
---- Variimorda vilosa, Tumbling Flower Beetle (2) ----
(Beetles are difficult to identify due to the huge number of species. They are reckoned to be a quarter of all lifeforms on the planet and some 25,000 have been described in our part of the world.)
True Bugs - Order Hemiptera
The Order Hemiptera, the True Bugs, are divided into two very different sub-orders, the Heteroptera and Homoptera, those differences apparent in the following sections.
Shield Bugs - Heteroptera
Sometimes known as 'stinkbugs' thanks to the smelly liquid they excrete to put off hungry predators.
All are members of the Pentatomoidea superfamily.
---- Cypostethus tristriatus, Juniper Shieldbug ---- Dolycoris baccarum, Hairy Shieldbug (2) ----
---- Euredema oleracea, Brassica Shieldbug ---- Eurygaster (cf) maura, Tortoise Bug ---- Eurygaster testudinaria (cf) Tortoise Shieldbug (3) ----
---- Eysarcoris venustissimus, Woundwort Shieldbug (2) ----
---- Neottiglossa pusilla, Small Grass Shieldbug ---- Palomina prasina, Green Shieldbug (4) ---- Pentatoma rufipes, Red Legged Shieldbug (3) ----
---- Podops inuncta, Turtle Shieldbug (2) --- Thyreocoris scarabaeoides, Scarab Shieldbug ----
----Tritomegas bicolor, Pied Shieldbug ---- Troilus luridus, Bronze Shieldbug (2) ----
Miridae - Heteroptera
The Miridae are known as the Plant Bugs, all following a vaguely similar form in adulthood.
---- Adelphocoris lineolatus, Lucerne Bug (2) ---- Blepharidopterus angulatus, Capsid Bug ---- Brachyarthrum limitatum ----
---- Closterotomus trivialis, True Bug ---- Closterotomus norwegicus, Potato Capsid Bug ---- Deraecoris ruber, Red Bug ---- Dicyphus sp. ----
---- Grypocoris stysi (2) ---- Harpocera thoracica, Mirid Bug ---- Liocoris tripustulatus (2) ----
---- Lygocoris pabulinus, Common Green Capsid Bug ---- Lygocoris rugicollis ---- Macrolophus rubi ----
---- Miris striatus (nymph) ---- Oncotylus viridiflavus Nymph ---- Orthops basalis ---- Pantilius tunicatus ---- Pinalitus cervinus ----
---- Plagiognathus arbustorum (2) ---- Rhabdomiris striatellus ---- Stenodema calcarata ---- Stenodema laevigata ----
Other Heteroptera Bugs
These include the Squash Bugs, Coreidae; the Damsel Bugs, Nabidae; the Scentless Plant Bugs, Rhopalidae;
the Ground Bugs, Lygaeidae; the Aquatic Bugs, Gerridae. There are 15 Heteroptera families in all.
---- Acompus pallipes, Ground Bug ---- Coreus marginatus, Dock Bug, a Squash Bug ---- Corizus hyoscyami, Scentless Plant Bug (2) ----
---- Cymus glandicolor, Ground Bug ---- Enoplops scapha, Boat Bug, a Squash Bug ---- Gerris lacustris, Common Pond Skater, an Aquatic Bug ----
---- Himacerus mirmicoides, Ant Damsel Bug ---- Nabis flavomarginatus, Broad Damsel Bug ---- Nabis rugosus, Common Damsel Bug ----
---- Rhopalus subrufus, Scentless Plant Bug (2) ---- Stygnocoris fuligineus, Ground Bug ----
Aphididae - Homoptera
The Aphid plant sap suckers which provide nectar for many species of ants and even the Xylota segnis hoverfly, while also being the primary food for many other species, particularly Lacewings and Ladybirds and their larvae.
---- Acyrthosiphon boreale, Northern Cinquefoil Aphid ---- Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid ---- Aphis jacobaeae, Ragwort Aphid (2) ----
---- Callipterinella tuberculata, Banded Birch Aphid ---- Longicordus Trirhodus, Rose Aphid ---- Macrosiphum (provisionally euphorbiae) Aphid ----
---- Microlophium carnosum, Common Nettle Aphid ---- Ovatomyzus boraginacearum, Alkanet Aphid ----
---- Uroleucon jaceicola, Yellow-legged Knapweed Aphid ----
Other Homoptera Bugs
These include Leaf Hoppers, Cicadellidae; Frog Hoppers, Cercopoidea; Tree Hoppers, Membracidae; and Plant Lice, Psyllidae.
There are 10 Homoptera families in all.
---- Alebra wahlbergi, a Leafhopper ---- Allygus modestus, a Leaf Hopper ---- Aphrophora alni, Alder Spittlebug, a Frog Hopper ----
---- Cacopsylla hippophaes, a Jumping Plant Louse ---- Cicadella viridis, a Leaf Hopper ---- Iassus ianio, a Leaf Hopper ----
---- Philaenus spumarius, Common Froghopper (2)
Other Insects
---- Chorthippus brunneus, Common Field Grasshopper --- Leptophyes punctatissima, Speckled Bush Cricket (3) ----
---- Meconema meridionale, Southern Oak Bush Cricket ---- Meconema thalassinum, Oak Bush Cricket -
---- Metrioptera roeseliii, Roesel's Bush Cricket (2) ---- Omocestus viridulus, Common Green Grasshopper ----
---- Pholidoptera griseoaptera, Dark Bush Cricket (2) ---- Thrips ----
In February 2021, using the BTO Acoustic Pipeline on a recordings made in 2019 1n 2020 - Steven & Ruth Budd found a Dark Bush Cricket in the lower section of The Wend and Great Green Bush Crickets at some distance. These findings are tentative as the accuracy level of the classifier is unknown and as these were identified from ultrasound recordings there was no photograph. However, the 2022 sighting provides additional confirmatory evidence of the Dark Bush Cricket.
Spiders
Orb Web Spiders
These spiders spin the familiar circular web and wait for their prey to get entangled. Some species prefer to wait centrally under the web, while others prefer to hide out of sight at the edge of the web with a foot touching a radial web strand, ready to dash out at the slightest twitch.
---- Araneus diadematus, Garden Spider (3) ---- Araniella cucurbitina (2) ---- Araniella inconspicua, Cucumber Spider ----
--- Araniella opistographa -------- Argiope bruennichi, Wasp Spider ----
---- Mangora acalypha, Cricket Bat Spider (2) ---- Metalina mengei ---- Metellina merianae ---- Metallina segmentata (2) ----
---- Nuctenea umbratica, Walnut orb-weaver spider (2) ----
---- Pachygnatha clercki, Stretch Spider ---- Tetragnatha extensa ---- Tetragnatha montana, Long-Jawed Orb Web Spider ----
---- Tetragnatha obtusa, Long Jawed Orb Weaver ---- Tetragnatha striata, Long Jawed Orb Weaver ----
---- Zilla diodia (2) ---- Zygiella x-notata, Missing Sector Orb Web Spider web (2) ---- Unknown Orb Webs (2) ----
Other Web Trapping Spiders
Each of these spider species has a different web form from the orb, those in Britain being Mesh Web, Sheet Web, Cobweb, Tangled Web and Tunnel Web.
---- Amaurobius ferox, Black Lace-weaver Spider (2) ---- Amaurobius similis, Lace Weaver Spider ---- Coelotes atropos, Lace Web Spider ----
----Dictyna uncinata (2) ---- Frontinellina frutetorum spider ---- Helophora insignis, Broad-Tongued Spiderlet ----
---- Lepthyphantes minutus, Common Tree-weaver ---- Linyphia triangularis, Common Hammock Weaver Spider -----
---- Linyphiid sp. poss. Linyphiid hortensis, Money Spider ---- Linyphidae sp, Sheet-web Spider ---- Microlinyphia mandipulata ----
---- Neriene montana (2) ---- Neriene peltata ---- Nygma walckenaeri ---- Paidiscura pallens ---- Steatoda nobilis, Noble False Widow Spider (3) ----
---- Tegenaria ferruginea, Funnel Web Spider (2) ---- Tegenaria gigantea, Tube Web Spider ---- Tegenaria silvestris ----
---- Textrix denticulata ---- Theridion impressum ----
---- Theridion sisyphium, Mother Care Spider ---- Theridion varians ----
---- Unknown Funnel Web ---- Unknown Sheet Webs (2) ---- Unknown Spider ----
As the name suggests, these hunt using their speed over the ground and strength to capture prey, but unlike their namesakes, they do this singly and live solitary lives like all other spiders.
---- Alopecosa aculeata ---- Alopecosa fabrilis, Great Fox Spider ---- Alopecosa pulverulenta, Common Fox Spider ---- Alopecosa taeniata ----
---- Pardosa agricola ---- Pardosa amentata, Spotted Wolf Spider (2) ---- Pardosa hortensis ---- Pardosa lugubris ---- Pardosa monticola ----
---- Pardosa prativaga, Meadow Spider (2) ---- Pardosa pullata, Common Wolf Spider ---- Pardosa saltans, Wolf Spider (2) ----
---- Pardosa (sp) ---- Pirata piraticus, Pirate Spider ----
Crab Spiders
There are two types of crab spiders, the Thomisidae which hide and grab prey which arrives, like the Diaea, Misumena and Xysticus, and the Philodromidae Running Crab Spiders which chase and grab their prey with their crab like front legs. All the crab spider species are quite small but can deal with much larger prey.
---- Diaea dorsata, Crab Spider (2) ---- Misumena vatia, Crab Spider (4) ---- Philodromus collinus, Running Crab Spider ----
---- Philodromus dispar, Running Crab Spider ---- Xysticus bifasciatus ---- Xysticus cristatus, Common Crab Spider (3) ----
Other Hunting Spiders
These both hunt and use other methods to catch prey, such as stealth. Some use deception such as disguising themselves as insects or pretending to be dead.
---- Clubiona lutescens Spider ---- Enoplognatha ovata, Comb Footed Spider (3) ---- Macaroeris nidicolens Spider ----
---- Phrurolithus festivus Spider ---- Pisaura mirabilis, Nursery Web Spider (8) ---- Pseudeophrys lanigera, Jumping Spider (2) ----
---- Salticus scenicus, Zebra Spider ---- Xysticus lanio ---- Zora nemoralis ----
Harvestmen
Eight legged and often confused with spiders, Harvestmen do belong to the class Arachnida (like spiders) but are in the order Opiliones whereas spiders are members of the order Araneae. Main differences are that Harvestmen have a one-piece body, no abdomen, a mouth that eats (which no spider has) and they do not produce silk.
Dicranopalpus ramosos ---- Leiobunum rotundum (3) ---- Harvestman, Mitopus morio ---- Opilio canestrinii (2) ---- Platybunus triangularis (2)
Molluscs
Slugs (8 species)
---- Arion distinctus, Brown Soil Slug ---- Arion ater, Great Black Slug (3) ---- Arion hortensis ---- Arion rufus, Large Red Slug ----
---- Arion subfuscis, Dusky Slug ---- Arion vulgaris, Spanish Slug (2) --- Limacus maculatus, Garden Slug ----
---- Limax maximus, Leopard Slug ---- Limax tenellus, Lemon Slug ---- Slugs Mating ----
Snails (11 species)
---- Balea biplicata, Common Door Snail ---- Cepae hortensis, White-liipped Banded Snail (3) ----
---- Cepae nemoralis, Brown-lipped Banded Snail (3) ---- Discus rotundatus, Rounded Snail ---- Discus rotundus, Brown Disc Snail ----
---- Helix aspersa, Garden Snail (4) ---- Lymnaea stagnalis ---- Oxychilus alliarius, Garlic Snail ---- Planorbarius corneus, Ramshorn Snail ----
---- Trocholus striolata, Short Spire Snail ---- Vertigo-pygmaea (2) ----
---- Acari.sp., Phoretic Mites ---- Two Spotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae ----
---- Centipedes (3): Geophilus flavus ---- Lithobius variegatus ---- Schendyla nemorensis ----
---- Common Earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris ----
---- Other Earthworms (3): Green Worm, Allolobophora chlorotica - Grey Worm, Aporrectodea caliginosa - Rosy Tipped Worm, Apporrectodea rosea ----
---- Leech ----
---- Millipedes (4): Craspedosoma rawlinsii ---- Pill Millipede, Glomeris marginata ---- Flat Backed Millipede, Polydesmus angustus ----
---- Polydesmus coriaceus, Brown Flat Backed Millipede ---- White Legged Snake Millipede, Tachypodoiulus niger (2)----
Pond Creatures include animals from many of the species categories on this page but as they are found in a very specific habitat they have also been grouped here. All have been found in the ponds in the Jubilee Plantation or Linden Glade.
See also the sequence showing the development of tadpoles shown in the Amphibians section at the top of the page.
---- Leech ---- Lymnaea stagnalis --- Ramshorn Snail ---- Tadpoles ---- Water Skaters ---- Water Louse ----
Sundries
some other interesting signs of invertebrate life to be found in Selsdon Wood:
---- Cuckoo Spit ---- Sheet Web (2) ---- Spider's Web ---- Worm Casts ---- Unidentified larva ----
