Galleries
Vertebrates :
Amphibians & Reptiles - Frog, Toad
Birds - Crows, Tits, Thrushes, Birds of Prey, Woodpeckers, Other Birds
Mammals - Badger, Deer, White Squirrel, Foxes, Other Mammals
Invertebrates
Beetles - Ladybirds, Cardinal Beetles, Click Beetles, Soldier Beetles, Longhorn Beetles, Pollen Beetles, Weevils, Other Beetles
Butterflies - Whites & Yellows Brush Foot, Browns & Ringlets, Butterflies: Blues, Hairstreaks & Coppers, Butterflies: Skippers
Moths - Night Flying Moths - Day Flying Moths - Micromoths
Flies - Blow Flies, Crane Flies, House Flies, Hoverflies, Tachnid Flies, Others
Ants
Bees - Bumblebees, Cuckoo Bees, Mining Bees, Other Bees
Sawflies
Wasps - Ichneumon, Other
True Bugs - Shield Bugs, Other
Other insects & Galls
Spiders - Orb Web Spiders, Other Web Trapping Spiders, Wolf Spiders, Other Hunting Spiders
Harvestmen
Molluscs - Slugs, Snails
Vertebrates
Amphibians & Reptiles
---- Tadpole development - a series of photographs by Tony Flecchia ---- Frog (3) ---- Toad ----
The frogspawn in the Jubilee pond (shown in the first photograph) never hatched in situ. By the time the little tadpoles were ready to emerge the spawn had collapsed and we assumed the stagnant water in the pond had killed it. Fortunately, we had removed a batch of spawn earlier to rear at home and the photos of the developing tadpoles below were taken from this. However, the high attrition rate was troubling and as deaths continued it appeared that the problem was virtually certain to be the ranavirus disease that has been killing frogs worldwide since about 1980. It also affects the developing tadpoles and the symptoms were all evident in these tadpoles, lethargy, loss of feeding, swollen abdomen and pigment changes. Apparently the water that infected frogs enter can become a home for the virus, reinfecting any later frogs and tadpoles, so there is not much hope for our still water pool. The disease also lethally infects all other amphibians and reptiles - which may explain why we have no other sightings. The froglet in the final photograph in the sequence was the only one remaining from the 80 tadpoles that we started with - and sadly it too died the following day.
Birds
Ted Forsyth has surveyed the birds in Selsdon Wood throughout 2013 & 2014. The results can be downloaded from here - SW Bird Survey 2013
The following 39 species of birds have been identified in our wood at some time in the past year:
Blackbird, Blackcap, Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Jackdaw, Jay, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Marsh Tit, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Pheasant, Ring-necked Parakeet, Robin, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Grey Heron, Reed Bunting.
Over the years we have installed many bird-boxes throughout the wood including, in 2012, 5 tit boxes and 2 owl boxes.
Crow Family - Corvidae
Tit Family - Paridae
---- Blue Tit (4) ----Great Tit ---- Long-tailed Tit ----
Thrush Family - Turdidae
---- Blackbird (4) ---- Robin (3) ---- Song Thrush (4) ---
Birds of Prey - Hawks and Owls
--- Buzzard (2) ---- Honey Buzzard ---- Sparrowhawk (2) ---- Tawny Owl (5) ----
Woodpeckers
---- Greater Spotted Woodpecker (5) ---- Green Woodpecker (2 + feather) ----
Other Birds
---- Blackcap ---- Chiffchaff ---- Collared Dove (2) ---- Dunnock ---- Goldcrest ---- Herring Gulls ---- Nuthatch ----
---- Parakeet ---- Pheasant ---- Siskin (2) ---- Starling ---- Wood Pigeon (2) ----
Mammals
---- Badger (6) ----
wildsouthlondon.wordpress.com
Also take a look at this great blog about the Selsdon Wood white squirrel written by our regular contributor and photo competition winner Mark Shoesmith.
http://www.shoeyphoto.com/blog/2015/3/22/albino-squirrels-in-selsdon-wood
Other Mammals
---- Cat ---- Mole Hill ---- Rabbit (2) ---- Shrew (2) ---- Squirrel, Grey (2) ---- Short-tailed Bank Vole ---- Woodmouse ----
Invertebrates - Insects and other Minibeasts
Beetles
Ladybirds
---- Adalia 2-punctata, 2 Spot Ladybird ---- Adelia 10-punctata, 10 Spot Ladybird larva ---- Coccinella septempunctata, 7 Spot Ladybird ----
---- Exochomus 4-pustulatus, Pine Ladybird ---- Halyzia sedecimguttata, Orange Ladybird (adult & larva) ----
---- Harmonia axyridis, Harlequin Ladybird (3 adult & 1 larva) ---- Harmonia quadripunctata, Cream Streaked Ladybird (adult & larva) ----
---- Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, 14 spot Ladybird (2 adult) ---- Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata, 16 Spot Ladybird (2 adult & 1 larva) ----
Cardinal Beetles - Pyrochroidae
There are only three species in this family, the third being the Scarce Cardinal Beetle, Schizotus pectinicornis. However this only exists in a few sites in Wales and Scotland.
---- Pyrochroa coccinea, Cardinal Beetle (3) ---- Pyrochroa serraticornis, Cardinal Beetle (2 + larva) ----
(For details of how the 2nd image was taken see http://www.flecc.co.uk/w/how.html)
Beetles - Elateroidea
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 the military tunics of the time.
---- Adastrus pallens, Click Beetle ---- Athous haemorrhoidalis Click Beetle ---- Cantharis nigra, Soldier
Beetle (2) ---- Cantharis pellucida, Soldier
Beetle (2) ----
---- Cantharis rustica, Soldier Beetle (5) ---- Rhagonycha fulva, Soldier Beetle (3) ----
Longhorn Beetles - Cerambicidae
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.
---- Clytus arietus, Wasp Beetle ---- Grammoptera ruficornis, Longhorn Beetle (3) ---- Paracorymbia fulva, Tawny Longhorn Beetle ----
---- Rhagium Mordax, Black-Spotted Pliers Support Beetle (3) --- Rutpela maculata, Spotted Longhorn Beetle (3) ----
---- Stenocorus meridianus, Variable Longhorn Beetle ---- Stenunella melanura, Black Striped Longhorn Beetle ----
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.
---- Byturus ochraceus, Fruitworm
Beetle (2) ---- Byturus tomentosus, Raspberry Beetle (2) ---- Meligethes aeneus, Sap
Feeding Beetle ----
---- Meligethes atratus, Sap
Feeding Beetle ---- Meligethes sp., Sap Feeding beetle ---- Olibrus aeneus, Shining
Flower Beetle ----
---- Phalacridae sp. Shining Flower Beetle ----
Weevils - Curculionidae
---- Curculio glandium/nucom, Nut Weevil (2) ---- Phyllobius pomaceus, Nettle Weevil (2) ---- Phyllobius roboretanus, Small Green Nettle Weevil ----
---- Polydrusus pterygomalis, Tree Weevil ----
Other Beetles
---- Aphodius contaminatus, Dung Beetle ---- Badister bullatus, Ground Beetle ---- Leistus rufomarginatus, GroundBeetle ----
---- Malachius Bipustulatus, Malachite Beetle ---- Mordellistena pumila, Tumbling Flower Beetle ---- Oedemera lurida (2) ----
---- Oedemera nobilis, Swollen Thighed Flower Beetle (2) ---- Philonthus laminatus, Rove Beetle ---- Philonthus sanguinolentus, Rove Beetle ----
---- Phratora vulgatissimia, Blue Willow Beetle ---- Phyllopertha horticola, Garden Chafer (2) ---- Plateumaris rustica, Leaf Beetle ----
---- Prionocyphon serricornis, Tree Hole Beetle (larva) ---- Pterostichus madidus, Black Clock Beetle (2) ---- Pterostichus niger, Ground Beetle ----
---- Pterostichus nigrita, Ground
Beetle ----
(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.)
Butterflies & Moths - Lepidoptera
Ted Forsyth has surveyed the butterflies in Selsdon Wood throughout 2012 - 2014. The results can be downloaded from here
Butterflies: Whites & Yellows
---- Brimstone, Nepteryx rhamni (3) ---- Clouded Yellow, Colias croceus ---- Green-Veined White, Pieris napi ---- Large White, Pieris brassicae (2) ----
---- Orange Tip, Anthocharis cardamines (6) ----
This is a large group of over 6000 species worldwide, many of which are often very colourful. Some of the latter are informally known as the aristocrats, since their rich colours are like those on aristocratic robes.
---- Comma, Polygonia c-album (4) ---- Peacock, Inachis io (4) ---- Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta (2) ----
---- Silver-washed Fritillary, Argynnis paphia (3) ---- Small Tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae (5) ---- White Admiral, Limenitis camilla (2) ----
---- Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus (5) ---- Marbled White, Melanargia galathea (3) ----Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina (5) ----
Butterflies: Blues, Hairstreaks & Coppers
---- Brown Argus, Aricia agestis (3) ---- Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus (2) ---- Holly Blue, Celastrina argiolus (2) ----
---- Purple Hairstreak,
Favonius quercus ---- Small Copper, Lycaena phlaeas (3) ----
Butterflies: Skippers
---- Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages ---- Large Skipper, Ochlodes sylvanus (2) ---- Small Skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris (2)
* Mark Shoesmith has created a superb blog page all about shooting wildlife photography in Selsdon Wood. In particular take a look as his scary caterpillar video!
Night Flying Moths
---- Black Arches Moth, Lymantria monacha ---- Brimstone Moth, Opisthograptis luteolata (2) ---- Buff Ermine moth, Spilosoma lutea ----
---- The Clay Moth, Mythimna ferrago ---- Engrailed Moth, Ectropis crepuscularia ---- Garden Grass Veneer Moth, Chrysoteuchia culmella ----
---- Ghost Moth, Hepialus humuli (larva)---- Green Silver-lines Moth, Pseudoips prasinana (larva) ---- Hebrew Character Moth, Orthosia gothica (larva) ----
---- July Highflyer, Hydriomena furcata (2) ---- Mottled Umber, Erannis defoliaria (larva) ---- Riband Wave, Idaea aversata ----
---- Ruby Tiger, Phragmatobia fuliginosa ---- Small Magpie, Eurrhypara hortulata ---- Small Quaker Moth, Orthosia cruda (Larva) ----
---- White Ermine moth, Spilosoma lubricipeda (larva) ---- White Pinion Spotted Moth, Lomographa bimaculata (2) ----
Day Flying Moths
---- Blackneck Moth, Lygephila
pastinum ---- Burnet Companion Moth, Euclidia
glyphica (2) ---- Cinnabar Moth, Tyria jacobaeae (larva) (2) ----
---- Cauchas sp.(2) ---- Degeers Longhorn Moth, Nemophora degeerella ---- Jersey Tiger Moth, Euplagia quadripunctaria (4) ----
---- Lace Border Moth, Scopula ornata ---- Large Emerald Moth, Geometra papilionaria ---- Long-horned Moth, Cauchas rufimitrella (2) ----
---- Orange Underwing, Archiearis parthenias ---- Silver Y Moth, Autographa gamma ---- Six-Spot Burnet Moth, Zygaena filipendulae (7) ----
---- Five-Spot Burnet Moth, Zygaena trifolii ----
Micromoths
Roughly
1500 of the moths are classed as micromoths and the vast majority are quite
small. It is easy to dismiss a
tiny insect disturbed from grasses but, if you can get a close look, you might
be surprised at how colourful they can be. Many micro moths lay their eggs on
leaves and the caterpillar burrows into the leaf and remains there until it
pupates. The tiny caterpillar eats the material between the top and bottom
surfaces of the leaf, producing leaf mines of characteristic shapes which can
enable an identification to be made without ever seeing the moth itself. Some of the mines are blotch-shaped
while others form linear or gallery mines.
---- Agriphila straminella, Grass Moth ---- Anthophila fabriciana, Nettle Tap Moth ---- Archips podana, Large Fruit Tree Tortrix Moth (larva) ---- Grapholita internana) ----
---- Pammene aurana ---- Pammene spiniana --- Scythropia crataegella, Hawthorn Moth ---- Stigmella aurella, Bramble Leaf Miner (mine) ----
---- Dyseriocrania subpurpurella, Common Oak Purple Moth (2) ----
Flies
Blow Flies - Calliphoridae
Blow Flies lay their eggs on rotten meat and carcases for their larvae to feed on the meat. The name blow fly comes from an older English term for meat that had eggs laid on it, which was said to be fly blown.
---- Caliphora erythrocephala, Bluebottle ---- Calliphora vicina, Common Bluebottle ---- Caliphora vomitoria, Bluebottle ----
---- Lucilia caesar, Blow Fly---- Lucilis sericata, Blow Fly ---- Pollenia sp, Cluster Fly ---- Pollenia rudis, Cluster Fly ----
Crane Flies - Tipulidae
---- Ctenophora elegans ---- Rhipidia maculata ---- Tipula oleracea ---- Tipula paludosa ---- Tipula vernalis ----
House Flies - Muscidae
House Flies are called that due to their frequent presence around our homes, but they are in fact all woodland species. The various wastes we produce, from rotting food to fecal matter, are often their foodstuff, hence the attraction.
---- Graphomyia maculata ---- Helina evecta ---- Helina reversio ---- Musca autumnalis, Face Fly ---- Mydaea setifemur/humeralis (2) ----
---- Neomya viridescens ---- Phaonia gobertii ---- Phaonia pallida ---- Polietes dormitor ---- Thricops diaphanus ----
There are 276 British species of Hoverfly. All but one of the following have been identified by Tony Flecchia. Many of the species are very variable and overlapping in appearance, so can be difficult to identify. In the notes with each photo the main points of identification are given. Click on the first image showing wing structures to find how to identify whether a particular insect is a hoverfly or another insect.
---- Brachypalpoides lentus ---- Chamaesyrphus sp ---- Cheilosa illustrata ---- Chrysotoxum festivum ---- Epistrophe grossulariae (2) ---- Epistrophe nitidicollis ----
---- Episyrphus balteatus (3) ---- Eriozona Syrphoides ---- Eristalis arbustorum ---- Eristalis pertinax (f & m) ---- Eristalis tenax (m & f) ----
---- Helophilus pendulus ---- Leucozona glaucia ---- Leucozona lucorum (2) ---- Melanostoma mellinum (2) ---- Meligramma euchromum ----
---- Meliscaeva cinctella ---- Meliscaeva maculicornis ---- Myathropa florea (2) ---- Platycheirus albimanus ---- Platycheirus ambiguous ----
---- Platycheirus discimanus (2) ---- Rhingia campestris ---- Sphaerophoria scripta ---- Syritta pipiens, Thick-legged Hoverfly ----
---- Syrphus ribesii (3) ---- Syrphus vitripennis ---- Volucella inanis ---- Volucella pellucens ---- Volucella zonaria ----
Tachinid Flies - Tachinidae
Tachinid flies are parasitic flies, laying their eggs on caterpillars and the like. The larvae then hatch and burrow into the host to eat it while it is alive. The technical name for the nature of these flies is endoparasitic.
---- Dexiosoma caninum ---- Eumea linearicornis ---- Exorista rustica ---- Gymnocheta viridis ---- Gonia divisa ---- Lypha dubia ---- Macquartia grisea ----
---- Nowickia ferox ---- Pales Pavida ---- Techina fera ---- Thelaria nigripes ----Voria ruralis ----
Other flies A-E
--- Anthomyia procellaris ---- Beris chalybata, Murky-legged Black Legionnaire Fly ---- Bibio marci, St Mark's Fly (2) ----
---- Bombylius major, Bee Fly (2) ---- Bombylius minor, Heath Bee Fly ---- Callomyia speciosa ---- Culex pipiens (possible ID), Gnat (2) ----
---- Dioctria rufipes, Common Red-legged Robberfly---- Dolichopus plumipes ---- Empis livida, Dagger Fly ---- Empis trigramma, Dance Fly ----
Other flies F-P
---- Haematopota pluvialis, Notch Horned Cleg Fly (2) --- Helina evecta, House Fly ---- Hilara maura, Balloon Fly ---- Hylemya sp. ----
---- Microchrysa polita, Black-horned Gem ---- Midge (3) ---- Norellisoma spinimanum, Dung Fly ---- Panorpa communis, Scorpion Fly ----
---- Panorpa germanica, Scorpion Fly (3) ---- Physocephala rufipes, Thick Headed Fly (2) ----- Phytomyza ilicis, Holly Leaf Miner ----
---- Phytomyza spondilyii ---- Platystoma seminationis, Signal Fly ---- Poecilobothrus nobilitatus ---- Psila fimetaria ----
Other flies R-Z
---- Rhagio lineola, Snipe Fly ---- Rhagio scolopaceus, Downlooker Snipe Fly ---- Rhagoletis alternate, Rose Hip Fly (larva) ----
---- Sarcophagia carnaria, Flesh Fly ---- Scathophaga stercoraria, Common Yellow Dung Fly ---- Sepsis fulgens, Lesser Dung Fly (2) ----
---- Sicus ferrugineus: Family conopidae, Thick Headed Fly (2) ---- Sphaerocerid Fly ---- Stratiomyidea sp. ---- Sylvicola sp., Wood Gnat ----
---- Tachydromia umbrarum ---- Trichocera annulata, Winter Gnat----Unidentified Micro Flies (3 species) ----
Ants, Bees, Sawflies & Wasps - Hymenoptera
Ants
---- Lasius niger, Common Black Ant (2) ---- Monomorium pharaonis - Pharaoh Ant ---- Formica Rufa, Red Wood Ant ---- Yellow Meadow Ant (5) ----
Bees - Bumblebees (Bombus)
---- Bombus hortorum ---- Bombus hypnorum ---- Bombus jonellus (2) ---- Bombus lapidarius (2) ---- Bombus lucorum (2) ---- Bombus pascuorum (3) ----
---- Bombus pratorum ---- Bombus ruderarius ---- Bombus soroeensis ---- Bombus terrestris ----
Bees - Cuckoo Bees (Psithyrus)
Cuckoo bees are so called because they are parasites on other bees taking over their nests.
Mining Bees
---- Andrena subopaca ---- Mining Bee Nestholes (2) ----
Other Bees
---- Anthophora plumipes, Hairy-Foot Flower Bee ---- Apis melifera (3), Honey Bee ---- Lasioglossum malachurum (2) -----
---- Lasioglossum xanthopus, Yellow Footed Solitary Bee ---- Megachile brevis, Leaf Cutter Bee ---- Megachile centuncularis, Leaf Cutter Bee ----
---- Megachile sp. (2) Leaf Cutter Bee --- Nomada lathburiana ----
British bees are in trouble - find out more, including how you can help, at www.foe.co.uk/bees
Sawflies
The sawflies are named after the sawtoothed two bladed ovipositor of the females, which is used to lay eggs by slitting into the plant stems or leaves in which their larvae will feed. Most sawfly larvae are exclusively vegetarian.
---- Arge pagana ---- Athalia cordata ---- Rhogogaster viridis ---- Selandria serva ---- Tenthredo marginella (2) ---- Tenthredo scrophulariae ---- Xiphydria camelus ----
Wasps - Ichneumon Wasps
The ichneumons are a huge group with less than one quarter of their estimated 100,000 species described and named, making identification not always possible. Informally called wasps, they are all parasitic on larvae of other insects, either injecting eggs directly or laying them on the ground in the vicinity of the intended victims, which the hatched larvae can then reach.
---- Amblyteles armatorius (2) ---- Campoplex sp. ---- Coelichneumon deliratorius ---- Diplazontinae sp ---- Echocus semirufus ---- Ichneumon suspiciosus -------- Ichneumon xanthorius ---- Pimpla rufipes ---- Podoschistos vittifrons ---- Rhyssa persuasoria, Sabre Wasp (2) ----
---- Nysson trimaculatus, Digger Wasp --- Vespa crabro, European Hornet -----
--- Vespula germanica, German Wasp (5)---- Vespula vulgaris, Common Wasp (2) ---- Wood Wasp ---- Unknown Wasp (2) ----
*The Hornet was photographed by Mark Shoesmith as it emerged from its nest. He has a fascinating blog telling more and with a video at:
Shield Bugs - Hemiptera
---- Coreus marginatus, Dock Bug ---- Dolycoris baccarum, Hairy Shieldbug (2) ---- Palomina prasina, Green Shieldbug ----
---- Pentatoma rufipes, Red Legged Shieldbug ---- Podops inuncta, Turtle Shieldbug (2) ---- Troilus luridus, Bronze Shieldbug (2) ----
Other True Bugs - Hemiptera
---- Allygus modestus, Leaf Hopper ---- Aphis fabae, Black Bean Aphid ---- Aphrophora alni, Alder Spittlebug ---- Cicadella viridis, Leaf Hopper ----
---- Corizus hyoscyami (2) ---- Cymus glandicolor ---- Gerris lacustris, Common Pond Skater ---- Himacerus mirmicoides, Ant Damsel Bug ----
---- Iassus ianio, Leaf Hopper---- Lygocoris pabulinus, Common Green Capsid Bug ---- Microlophium carnosum, Common Nettle Aphid ----
---- Miris striatus (nymph) ---- Nabis rugosus, Common Damsel Bug ---- Pantilius tunicatus ---- Pinalitus cervinus ---- Rhopalus subrufus ----
Other insects
---- Aeshna Cyanea, Southern Hawker Dragonfly (2) ---- Meconema thalassinum, Oak Bush Cricket ---- Leptophyes punctatissima, Speckled Bush Cricket ----
---- Metrioptera roeseliii, Roesel's Bush Cricket ---- Omocestus viridulus, Common Green Grasshopper (2) ----
Galls
See http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/forest/ecological/plant_galls.html for an excellent explanation of the causes of galls.
---- Galls on Field Maple created by the mite, Aceria eriobia ---- Galls on Field Maple created by the mite, Aceria macrochela ----
---- Red Pustule Galls on Field Maple cretaed by the mite, Aceria myriadum ---- Oak Cynipid Gall caused by the wasp Andricus curvator ----
---- Marble Galls (3) on Oak created by the wasp, Andricus kollari ---- Gall created by the wasp Andricus grossulariae ----
---- Currant Galls on Oak created by the wasp, Andricus quercusbaccarum ----
---- Knopper Gall on Oak created by the wasp, Andricus quercuscalicis (3) ---- Oak Apple Gall on Oak created by the wasp, Biorhiza pallida ----
---- Oak Leaf Gall (2) created by the wasp Callirhytis furva ---- Robin's Pincushion on Rose (2) created by the wasp, Diplolepis rosae ----
---- Galls on Blackthorn v created by the Gall Mite, Eriophyes similis ---- Spangle Galls on Oak created by the wasp, Neuropterus quercusbaccarum ----
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 opistographa -------- Argiope bruennichi, Wasp Spider ----
---- Metallina segmentata ---- Tetragnatha montana, Long-Jawed Orb Web Spider ---- Zilla diodia ---- 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. The last one is unlikely in our reserve, since it's mostly built in a wall recess or in a cavity among stones.
---- Amaurobius ferox, Black Lace-weaver Spider ---- Dictyna uncinata (2) ---- Enoplognatha ovata, Comb Footed Spider (2) ----
---- Helophora insignis, Broad-Tongued Spiderlet ---- Lepthyphantes minutus, Common Tree-weaver ---- Linyphia triangularis, Sheet-web Spider ----
---- Linyphidae sp, Sheet-web Spider ---- Paidiscura pallens ----- Theridion impressum ---- Theridion sisyphium, Mother Care Spider ----
---- 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 taeniata ---- Pardosa amentata, Spotted Wolf Spider (2) ----
---- Pardosa lugubris ---- Pardosa pullata, Common Wolf Spider ----
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.
----Diaea dorsata, Crab Spider (2) ---- Misumena vatia, Crab Spider (3) ---- Pisaura mirabilis, Nursery Web Spider (8) ----
---- Xysticus cristatus, Common Crab Spider (2) ----
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) ---- Opilio canestrinii ---- Platybunus triangularis (2)
Molluscs
Slugs
---- Arion ater, Great Black Slug (3) ---- Arion hortensis ---- Arion rufus, Large Red Slug ---- Arion vulgaris, Spanish Slug ----
---- Limax maximus, Leopard Slug (2) ----
Snails (9 species)
---- 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, Brown Garden Snail (4) ----
---- Planorbarius corneus, Ramshorn Snail ---- Trocholus striolata, Short Spire Snail ---- Vertigo-pygmaea (2) ----
---- Centipede, Geophilus flavus ---- Centipede, Lithobius variegatus ---- Centipede,Schendyla nemorensis ----
---- Earthworm (3) ---- Earwig ---- Leech ---- Flat Backed Millipede, Polydesmus angustus ---- White Legged Snake Millipede, Tachypodoiulus niger ----
---- Water Louse --- Woodlouse (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 pond in the Jubilee Plantation.
See also the sequence showing the development of tadpoles shown in the Amphibians section at the top of the page.
---- Leech ---- Ramshorn Snail ---- Tadpoles ---- Water Skaters ---- Water Louse ----
Sundries
some other interesting signs of animal life to be found in Selsdon Wood:
---- Cuckoo Spit ---- Gall Stone ---- Rabbit Droppings ---- Surrey Dragon ---- Sheet Web ---- Solar Light ----
---- Spider's Web ---- Sparrowhawk nest ---- Squirrel's drey ---- Woodpecker nest hole ---- Bruno! Fetch! ----
---- Worm Casts ---- Kids Play Shelter ---- Nibbled Nuts ---- Hominid (bike riding) ---- Grave of Pet Rabbit ---- Unidentified larva ----
