So today's classroom and outdoor session aimed at upping the profile of spiders on the reserve was delivered by Paula to a room full of (mostly) 'spider virgins' such as myself. After some preliminary background info we decamped with toothbrushes (the electric type) to encourage a variety of False Widow spp to leave their hiding places on the outside of reception before realising it wasn't lunch vibrating their webs just some pesky nature botherers.
On the way out to the heathland we stumbled upon several rather torpid Dor Beetles and later three Violet Ground Beetles; Carey picked up a Ladybird Beetle something I don't recall seeing before.
Jumping spiders were a feature of gates and fence posts and later, wolf spiders, Orb Weavers and Wasp Spiders were found, the latter along with the impressive sealed egg sac as seen below.
With 'off-piste access' it was good to see a nice variety of inverts amongst the heather including Colletes bees, most if not all deemed to be hederae rather than succinctus, despite being on heather rather than ivy. Lepidoptera were few but included fresh Red Admirals and rather more worn Small Coppers plus a 'kicked up' Rush Veneer.
Numerous Common Darters were paired up and yo-yoing up and
down as they oviposited; Ruddy and Black Darters were common along with a few Migrant Hawkers - later, on the main reserve singles of Southern and Brown Hawker.
Most hovers on the heath were Platycheirus spp although Sericomyia silentis was a little more obvious; elsewhere just Eristalis, Syrphus, Sphaerophoria, Eupeodes, Episyrphus balteatus, Myathropa florea.
Finally, one of the Orb Weavers (below) dashed out of hiding to ensnare this small wasp spp, probably Crossocerus spp, rapidly bundled it up and returned into its leafy lair.
After lunch there was time for a quick look at the now distant Red-necked Phalarope on the far pool and where the supporting cast was limited to two rather nice juvenile Hobbies, the first I've seen this year.
