2017 Third Quarter | Hainault Forest

FIRST QUARTER 2017

This Journal covers the third quarter of 2017 from July to September.

Butterfly-bush

Buddleja davidii

Buddleia attracts butterflies and that is why it is known as the Butterfly Bush. Flowering from June to October it appears in a variety of colours.

Small Tortoiseshell

Aglais urticae

In recent years the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly has been suffering a steady decline. This may be caused by the fly, Sturmia bella, which has seen an increase in population due to climate change. The fly's larvae feed on the Small Tortoiseshell's caterpillars.

Gatekeeper

Pyronia tithonus

Also called 'Hedge Brown', sexes are easy to tell apart because this butterfly spends a lot of time basking with wings open. Males have distinctive dark bars on the forewings. The larger female is usually lighter in colour.

Small Skipper

Thymelicus sylvestris

This species can be distinguished from the Essex Skipper by viewing the antennae from the front. The tips of the Essex Skipper's antennae look like they have been dipped in thick black ink.

Six-spot Burnet

Zygaena filipendulae

Six-spot Burnet moths are seen from June until August. They have six red (occasionally yellow) spots on each wing which are sometimes fused together. They are attracted to common knapweed and thistles.

Cinnabar

Tyria jacobaeae

Cinnabar moth caterpillars feed on ragwort. Once a plant is eaten down to the ground they move on to the next. Some countries use this species to control Ragwort. The striped coloration acts as a warning to predators to stay away. Poison from ragwort is stored in the caterpillars' bodies. Humans should avoid touching because the tiny spines can release toxins into the skin.

Greenbottle

Lucilia sp.

Greenbottles are metallic green two-winged flies. Adult flies typically feed on pollen and nectar of flowers. Their larvae feed on dead animals and excrement serving a useful purpose because they clear up a lot of undesirable waste.

Small Spotty-eyed Dronefly

Eristalinus sepulchralis

This species of Hoverfly has speckled eyes and a mesonotum with five grey stripes. It was photographed on Ragwort near Hainault Lake.

Tachinid Fly

Nowickia ferox

This Bluebottle-sized fly has yellowish sides to the abdomen and a zig-zagging central band. There are bristly hairs on the abdomen. It inhabits a range of locations for June until August. At the maggot stage this species preys on the Dark Arches moth from the inside before emerging to pupate.

Four-barred Major

Oxycera rara

The Four-barred Major is a Soldier Fly usually found near water and wet meadows from June until August. Its larvae inhabit damp moss. Adults are 7mm long.

Social Pear Spinner

Neurotoma saltuum

Not caterpillars, but Sawfly larvae that hatch in batches from large white-threaded cocoons which coat branches of apple, pear and hawthorn trees in the summer. The larvae (up to 25mm long) feed on leaves and can totally defoliate plants.

Dock Bug

Coreus marginatus

These herbivores feed on leaves and seeds of docks and sorrels. They are up to 15mm long and can be found in a variety of damp and dry locations. Scent glands in the middle of the thorax can release strong-smelling and irritating chemicals when disturbed. The two small projections between the antennae are helpful when identifying this bug. Adults mate and lay eggs in spring and produce one generation per year.

Common Toad

Bufo bufo

This young toad about 20mm long was discovered on a path near the Grasshopper Bridge in Hainault Forest.

Southern Hawker

Aeshna cyanea

Dragonflies begin life as eggs and hatch into larvae (nymphs). Skins(exuvia) get shed up to 15 times before nymphs emerge as adults. Transition from nymph to adult is known as incomplete metamorphosis, unlike most insects they have no pupal stage. Nymphs can spend over a year under water before climbing out to become adults. This immature male is a Southern Hawker drying wings before making its maiden flight. Adults rarely last more than a couple of weeks in Britain. Colour will become fuller with maturity.

Hainault Lake

Terrapin

During the 1980s pet shops started importing Terrapins from America to cash in on the success of the cartoon 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'. Many owners were ignorant and unaware that their tiny pets could grow to the size of large dinner plates and develop strength to break out of tanks. This lead to irresponsible dumping despite Terrapins being ill-equipped to cope with Britain's climate. On sunny days they are seen basking on logs, however most of their time is spent in the water. They are omnivores that eat plants, fishes, snails, worms, insect larvae and bird eggs. This picture shows two species; a Soft Shell Terrapin (left) and Yellow-bellied Sliders.

Wolf's Milk

Lycogala terrestre

'Wolf's milk' Lycogala terrestre has salmon pink plasmodium. It develops roundish sporocarps that harden and turn dark before cracking open to release spores. This picture also shows Coral Slime Mould Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa, which has white and yellow finger-like sporangia (4mm) consisting of simple or branched columns. Both slime moulds grow on old damp deciduous deadwood.

Green Algae

Haematococcus

The red patches in the middle of Roe's Well are single-celled green algae which contain a blood red pigment.

White Melilot

Melilotus albus

This annual germinates in spring and white flowers appear from July until September. It is rarely found in Hainault Forest, however a few plants were discovered in the Wildflower Meadow near the main Foxburrows entrance this year.

Field Pansy

Viola arvensis

Field Pansies sometimes grow on disturbed ground near Woodhenge.

Perforate St. John's Wort

Hypericum perforatum

Perforate st John's-wort can be found by hedgerows, on waste ground and along woodland rides. Its bright star-shaped yellow flowers are peppered with small black dots. The leaves contain tiny perforations. It is claimed that the blood-red sap in the stems represents the blood of St. John the Baptist.

Large Bindweed

Calystegia silvatica var. quinquepartita

Large bindweed flowers are usually trumpet-shaped, but this is a rare and unusual variety found near Woodhenge.

Great Willowherb

Epilobium hirsutum

Also known as Codlins and Cream, this is a large herb with a preference for damp ground. The pink flowers with creamy-white centres appear on the top of hairy stems from July to August.

WIld Celery

Apium graveolens

Several plants grow along the southern edge of the lake near the outfall. It is a biennial plant that normally grows in brackish areas near the sea, but is occasionally found inland.

Common Mallow

Malva sylvestris

Common Mallow has deep pink flowers that appear from June to October. The funnel-shaped flowers have five open petals with deep purple stripes. It can be found along the kerb of Foxburrow Road and on Hog Hill.

Sputnik Galls

Diplolepis nervosa

Sputnik galls (5mm) grow on dog rose. The galls are usually found on the bottom side of leaves growing singly or in small groups. They can be a mixture of green, pink and yellow, turning deep red when exposed to the sun. Eventually the galls turn brown and fall from the leaves. Each gall contains a single gall wasp that emerges in spring or summer.

Robin's Pin-cushion Gall

Diplolepis rosae

These galls on dog rose are caused by a tiny gall wasps. Inside are multi-chambers occupied by developing gall wasps. The gall turns brown and woody when overwintering.

Knopper Gall

Andricus quercuscalicis

Aphids on this developing Knopper Gall are excreting a sugary substance known as 'Honeydew'. Ants feed on honeydew and in return for the food source will often keep the aphids safe from predators. Ants sometimes farm aphids and bite off their wings to stop them flying away.

Rowan

Sorbus

Rowans are mainly small deciduous trees,10–20 metres tall. The small, orange or red pomes, measure 4–8mm in diameter. They are soft and juicy, which makes them an excellent food for birds, which spread the seeds in their droppings.

Fyfield Pea

Lathyrus tuberosus

A fairly uncommon scrambling perennial belonging to the Pea family that has large pinkish flowers up to 20mm in size. Two to seven flowers appear on short spikelets. The leaves consist of one pair of oval leaflets. A tendril is situated at the end of each leaf.

Scarlet Pimpernel

Anagallis arvensis

Scarlet Pimpernel produce reddish, or occasionally blue, five-petalled flowers. The trailing stems have unstalked oval leaves. When the atmospheric pressure falls the flowers close and this is a sign that bad weather is approaching.

Common Centaury

Centaurium erythraea

Common Centaury is found in meadows and along woodland rides from June until September. It has pinkish, five-petalled, flowers that close during the afternoon. There is a rosette of oval leaves at the stem base.

Water Mint

Mentha aquatica

This summer water mint has been growing over seventy centimetres tall by Hainault Lake. It has a lovely fresh menthol aroma.

Hawkweed Oxtongue

Picris hieracioides

This is a tall, hairy plant, with yellow flowers. It may be perennial, biennial, or annual, depending on its location. The lanceolate to oblong leaves may be toothed or untoothed. Thank you to Dr. Ken Adams from the Essex Botanical Society for the identification.

Japanese Rose

Rosa rugosa

This is an ornamental that originates from Asia and is not a native species. The Latin word 'rugosa' means 'wrinkled', referring to the wrinkled leaves. It uses suckers to form new plants from the roots creating dense thickets. This species was introduced to the forest when a hedgerow was built on Cabin Hill. The fruits known as 'Hips' resemble cherry tomatoes about 20–30mm diameter. The plants often produce flowers and fruit simultaneously.

Skullcap

Scutellaria galericulata

Perennial found flowering in damp habitats from June to September. It has bluish-violet flowers, a square stem and opposite pairs of round-toothed oval leaves.

Purple Loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria

The purple flower spikes have long green leaves in opposite pairs up the tall stem. The plants are found in wet habitats, such as around the ponds in Hainault Lodge.

Black Nightshade

Solanum nigrum

This low spreading plant belonging to the Nightshade family was growing on the slope leading up to the Foxburrow Road public toilets. Flowers are white with yellow anthers develop into berries which are initially green before blackening.

Common Hawthorn

Crataegus monogyna

The edible berries on Hawthorn are known as 'Haws'. They can be used to make jams, jellies and wine. The seeds should not be eaten raw because they contain cyanide like many fruits including apples.

Rosette Gall

Rabdophaga rosaria

The Rosette Gall, aka Camellia gall, is an abnormality caused by a midge on Crack Willow. The galls consist of 30 or more short leaves with each containing a single pinkish larva in the middle which overwinters inside the gall on the tree. Mature galls turn brown. These are sometimes grow on Willow trees around Hainault Lake.

Hare's Ear

Otidea onotica

Hare's Ear fungus was found in a ring on woodland soil in the Lords Pond Fields area. Thank you to Peter Comber for identifying.

The Sickener

Russula emetica

A common mushroom that will cause vomiting if eaten. This belongs to a family known as 'Brittlegills', because they break easily when touched.

Lumpy Bracket

Trametes gibbosa

This Bracket fungus grows on beech stumps and other hardwoods where it causes white rot. The top is often discoloured by green algae. Unlike other Trametes fungi that have rounded pores on the underside this species has slitted pores.

Scrambled Egg Slime Mould

Fuligo septica

Scrambled Egg Slime Mould on a log in Lambourne Woods.

European Hornet

Vespa crabro

Hornets chew wood to make papery pulp for building nests. Despite having a bad reputation the Hornet will not normally sting unless attacked. I stood about 3 metres from a nest taking photographs and did not encounter any problems.

Ruddy Darter

Sympetrum sanguineum

These dragonflies are common around well vegetated ponds. Males are red and have club-shaped abdomens. Females have ochre-yellow abdomens with black markings and are not club-shaped.

Willow Emerald Damselfly

Chalcolestes viridis

Usually seen from July to October on trees near water where eggs are deposited in bark of willow or alder. Distinguishing features of the Willow Emerald from other Emeralds are large pale wingspots and a prominent green spur on the side of the thorax.

Dragonfly

Nymph

A Dragonfly nymph netted from a pond in the Havering Park Farm area. This has the shape of a Chaser larvae. Broad-bodied Chaser adults are often seen here.

Newtpole

Triturus vulgaris

This is a juvenile Smooth Newt. It has frilly gills that are kept throughout the newtpole stage and reabsorbed during metamorphosis along with the tail fin. The head and body shape changes as the newt matures.

Wandering Snail

Lymnaea

A small air-breathing freshwater pond snail.

Large Red Slug

Arion ater rufus

Slugs on a Chigwell Row path during a period of heavy rainfall.

Antler Moth

Cerapteryx graminis

Morning is the best time to catch sight of an Antler moth. They can be found where there is an abundance of ragwort and thistle on which they feed. There is a creamy antler mark on the forewing.

Porcelain Fungus

Oudemansiella mucida

Also know as Porcelain Fungus due to its delicate translucent appearance. In folklore elves and fairies are often associated with living under toadstools. However, you will never find one residing beneath this species because dripping slime from the cap drives them away to find dryer habitats. It is also said that other fungi species won't live under it and there may be some truth to this... the slime contains a fungicide that kills them off.

Common Puffball

Lycoperdon perlatum

Normally found in small, scattered, groups in leaf litter under trees during summer and autumn, standing 40-80mm tall. Mature specimens release spores through a hole in the top which get dispersed by wind and rain.

Marble Gall

Andricus kollari

Found on English Oak, Marble galls are produced by the asexual generation of a gall wasp on leaf buds. The galls measure up to 25mm across and each contains one larva. Initially the galls are green, turning brown in autumn. The insect popping its head out of the hole may not be the species that caused the gall. It is possibly an inquiline that has moved in.

Yew

Taxus baccata

Yew trees are either male or female. Only female trees produce berries which are poisonous if chewed, eating three can prove fatal. Yew has its place in folklore. It is claimed that if a community disapproved of two lovers yew stakes would plunged through their hearts. Two yew trees twisted together would act as a reminder of where the unfortunate couple were buried. In Churchyards thin roots of yew growing through eyes of the dead prevented them seeing their way back into our world. A wooden spear made from yew discovered at Clacton-on-Sea during 1911 is believed to be 400,000 years old.

Dwarf Mallow

Malva neglecta

A creeping annual with tiny flowers.

Musk-mallow

Malva moschata

Flowers and leaves can be used raw in salads but the season is nearly over. Musk Mallow seeds that appear after the flowers have a nutty taste similar to peanuts.

Thank you to everyone that have contributed to this Journal.

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