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FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS OF THE FLORA
AND FAUNA OF THE WILDLIFE GARDEN AT
THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, LONDON:
TWENTY YEARS OF SPECIES RECORDING
———
CAROLINE WARE1*, MIRANDA LOWE1* and DUNCAN SIVELL1* and (listed alphabetically)
ANNE BAKER1, TRISTAN BANTOCK2, MAX BARCLAY1, GAY CARR3, LARISSA COOPER1, LEN ELLIS1,
MARTIN J. R. HALL1, ERIC HOLLOWDAY4, MARTIN HONEY1, DAVID M. JOHN1, JON MARTIN1,
DAVID NOTTON1, DANIEL OSBORNE1, ADRIAN RUNDLE1, EMMA SHERLOCK1, BRYAN TABOR5,
THOMAS J. THOMAS6, HOLGER THÜS1, JOHN TOVEY7and PAT WOLSELEY1
1The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
2101 Crouch Hill, London N8 9RD
3Deceased
445 Manor Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP20 1JB
539 Buckland Rise, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 3QS
6142 Selbourne Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU4 8LS
7London Bat Group
*lead authors, contact details:
c.ware@nhm.ac.uk, m.lowe@nhm.ac.uk, d.sivell@nhm.ac.uk
———
CONTENTS
Abstract 47
Introduction 47
Background and aims of report 47
Habitat management and development since 2003
48
An educational resource 51
Recording and monitoring methods 53
Discussion of results 57
Species lists 120
Flora and Fungi records 120
Fauna records 123
Invertebrates 123
Vertebrates 142
Concluding comment 143
Acknowledgements 143
References 145
Appendices 149
45
Acknowledgements
This report draws upon the records from the weekly transect walks and from other
recorders. An apology is made to those who are not listed here and if there are omissions,
please make contact. Transect walkers and recorders in 2015 included Neil Anderson,
Diane Andrews, Roy Beddard and Andrew Self at the Brent Reservoir; Malcolm Bridge at
South Norwood CP; Michael Berthoud, Simon Mercer and Leslie Williams at Fryent CP and
Beane Hill; Richard Bullock at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust London Wetland Centre
at Barn Elms; David Howdon and Andrew J Culshaw at Horsenden Hill and Perivale Wood;
Terry Lyle at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park; Martin Wills at Hutchinson’s Bank NR; Fiona
Barclay; Tristan Bantock, Liz Goodyear, Angela Linnell, David McClements, Andrew
Middleton and Frank Nugent; Steve Leeke, Mike Robinson, Chris Rose, Martin Smith, Peter
Strangeman and Ralph Todd. Reports from field meetings are noted in the LNHS Newsletter
and the Butterfly Conservation Hertfordshire and Middlesex Branch Newsletter. The
support of the landowners and land managers of the transects and other sites are
acknowledged including a significant number of the London Boroughs (see the Methods),
the Corporation of London, other public authorities, the London Wildlife Trust, the
Mitcham Common Conservators, the Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Barn Hill
Conservation Group and the Welsh Harp Conservation Group. The co-operation with the
county coordinators for Butterfly Conservation is noted in particular from Andrew Wood
for Hertfordshire and Middlesex and Harry Clarke for Surrey. Greenspace Information for
Greater London (GiGL) have provided help managing the distribution records. Dr Dave
Dawson had previously advised on the statistical method for the collation and the
programming of the spreadsheets.
References
AGASSIZ, D.J.L., BEAVAN, S.D. and HECKFORD, R.J. 2013. Checklist of the Lepidoptera
of the British Isles. Royal Entomological Society, St Albans.
ASHER, J., WARREN, M., FOX, R., HARDING, P., JEFFCOATE, G. and JEFFCOATE, S. 2001.
The millennium atlas of butterflies in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press.
CRAWFORD, T.J. 1991. The calculation of index numbers from wildlife monitoring
data. In: Goldsmith, B. (ed.), Monitoring for conservation and ecology: 225-248.
Chapman and Hall, London.
FOX, R., BRERETON, T.M., ASHER, J., AUGUST, T.A., BOTHAM, M.S., BOURN, N.A.D.,
CRUICKSHANKS, K.L., BULMAN, C.R., ELLIS, S., HARROWER, C.A., MIDDLEBROOK, I.,
NOBLE, D.G., POWNEY, G.D., RANDLE, Z., WARREN, M.S. and ROY, D.B. 2015. The
state of the UK’s butterflies 2015. Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for
Ecology & Hydrology, Wareham, Dorset.
PLANT, C.W. 1987. The butterflies of the London Area. London Natural History Society.
POLLARD, E. and YATES, T.J. 1993. Monitoring butterflies for ecology and
conservation. Chapman & Hall, London.
WILLIAMS, L.R. 2000. London butterfly monitoring report for 1999. Lond. Nat. 79: 87-102.
WILLMOTT, K., BRIDGE, M., CLARKE, H.E. and KELLY, F. 2013. Butterflies of Surrey
Revisited. Surrey Wildlife Trust.
WOOD, Andrew. 2016. Hertfordshire & Middlesex Butterflies. Hertfordshire and
Middlesex branch of Butterfly Conservation.
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 644
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ABSTRACT
This paper presents the latest results of a long-term study of the Wildlife Garden in the
grounds of the Natural History Museum, South Kensington. The current study tracks further
developments in the Wildlife Garden and its colonization by several rare and unusual
species as well as more commonly encountered species. It follows the publication of the
results from the Garden’s opening in 1995 through to 1998 in The London Naturalist No.
77 (1998) and No. 78 (1999) and from 1999 to 2003 in The London Naturalist No. 82
(2003). The records show changes in species’ composition and abundance within the
groups recorded. Populations of many species have increased, whilst others have decreased
or disappeared. The list of recorded species since 1995 stands at over 2,700 of which
two moths were new sightings to Britain. The list includes 34 Notable species and 8 UK
Red Data Book for the groups discussed below.
INTRODUCTION
Background and aims of report
The background and aims of the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Garden have been
fully described (Honey et al. 1998: 17-20). In summary, the aims are to illustrate successful
habitat creation and wildlife conservation, to provide an educational resource for schools
and Museum visitors, and provide research opportunities for Museum scientists and other
naturalists and students. It is now over twenty years since the opening of the Museum’s
Wildlife Garden (henceforth the garden) and it is useful to look back on the aims and
aspirations in 1995 and compare them with those of today.
The press release of the day – 10 July 1995 – celebrated the garden’s opening as a
flagship event for the European Nature Conservation Year 1995 – a year of action co-
ordinated by English Nature (now Natural England).
The then Secretary of State for the Environment, John Gummer, said “The garden is
a symbol of what can be done to help and protect our wildlife, even in a small and
crowded area in the centre of London …… a central theme of Biodiversity: the UK Action
Plan 1994 is raising public awareness in conserving wildlife, an aim this garden will carry
out.” For the Museum’s then Director, Sir Neil Chalmers, “Our wildlife garden symbolizes
a unique interaction between two important elements which underpin our work: science
and education. It creates for the first time an outdoor classroom combined with a living
laboratory”.
Now, more than twenty years on, we can report that by introducing and managing a
diversity of plants in a mosaic of habitats, overall biodiversity of the local area has been
increased, illustrating how wildlife conservation can be successfully achieved and sustained
in the inner city. This has been recognized by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
(RBKC) and the site was upgraded to a Site of Nature Conservation Importance, Borough
grade II, in 2010. The garden was awarded the London in Bloom Environment Award in
2004 and contributed to the London in Bloom Biodiversity Award for the borough in 2014
and 2015. The garden has also been acknowledged by awards within the borough’s Brighter
Kensington and Chelsea Scheme with awards of best Wildlife Garden, the Princess Athlone
Environment Award and the Overall Prize Winner’s Trophy.
Biological recording started as the garden was being created. It was one of the
47
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 646
Gate
Entrance
-Exit
Bar Scale
0
10m
20m 30m
P04
H06
P05 Meadow
G05
Birch/Oak
W02
Birch
W08
Oak
W03
Heath
LH01
Chalk
Downland
G01
Meadow
G02
Ash
Beech/Yew
W01
LH04
Fen Ditch F02
Mixed Woodland W09
A05
G04
F03 Orchard
G03
F06
Fen F01
Scrub
S02
Main Pond
A03
Pond
A08
Woodland
Ride
W06
Hazel, Birch,
Oak and Bluebell
W07
Juniper Scrub
S01
Chalk
Pond
A01
Birch/Oak
W04
P01
P02
H04 H05
U04
U03
U02
F04
A06
W.fall
+
Ford
A10
A09
Wet Heath
H03
DF
F05
A07
S03
H02 H01
Reed
Beds
RO1
A04
Entrance
Gate
Birch,
Oak
and
Wood
Anemone
W05
Cromwell Road
Queens Gate
Pollution
Monitoring
Station
LH03
RO2
RO3
H09
H08
H07
Compost Bins
A02
Gate
H10
H11
Gills
Meadow
G06
Figure 1: Plan of Wildlife Garden with habitat areas and codes from 2012 onwards
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M
in the condition assessment of the heathland SSSI by Natural England, was ‘to increase
the area of open bare-ground to benefit species such as the sand lizard which requires
open basking and egg-laying sites within exposed sand and to accommodate a broader
assemblage of invertebrates and associated early successional heathland plants’ (D. Alder,
pers. comm.). A small proportion of cut turves were donated to the Museum for educational
49
stipulations of the grant provided by English Nature at the time and was embedded in
the aims of the garden (Honey et al. 1998: 17-18). Museum scientists, amateur naturalists,
scientists and conservationists from other academic institutions and many other volunteers
continue to contribute records to the Museum’s long-term study of flora and fauna within
the garden. The reports published in 1998 (Honey et al.) and 1999 (Ware) provided
baseline data on species of plants and animals introduced and initially colonizing the
garden followed by data of further developments in 2003 (Leigh and Ware). The purpose
of this report is to describe the development of the garden during the years 2003 to 2015
and to report and discuss species colonization and changes over the years. We include
data for the same groups of plants and animals reported on in 2003, supplemented with
information on groups not previously covered, such as Orthoptera, Hemiptera,
Hymenoptera and Acari.
Habitat management and development since 2003
Habitat management has focused on consolidating and enhancing plant communities
within each habitat (see Figure 1) whilst maintaining a distinction between the different
habitats in a relatively small area. Woodland management includes tree-thinning with
coppicing and pollarding to prevent over-shading of non-woodland habitats and to
demonstrate sustainable woodland management to our visitors. Sheep grazing, introduced
in 1999, continues as the preferred management of the meadow and chalk downland
habitats in late summer and autumn. Their presence is also popular with our visitors. To
minimize the use of electric fencing, chestnut posts and rails were installed south of
meadow (G05) in 2003, south of chalk downland (G01) in 2004 and around orchard grassland
(G03) in 2012. The rails were made from sweet chestnut Castanea sativa harvested from
mixed coppiced woodland in Kent. The use of power-driven machinery is kept to a
minimum but a shredder/chipper is an essential aid in recycling the leaves from London
planes Platanus x hispanica that border the garden on two sides and for shredding small
wood and twigs for composting. Further details of habitat management can be found in
the current Wildlife Garden management plan – available from the authors on request.
The most significant development during this period was the new entrance to the
garden, created in 2012 to improve visitor access from the Darwin Centre, and the
restoration of the garden’s heathland habitat. Since 2012, the number of visitors enjoying
the garden has increased, though access has been curtailed from the front of the Museum,
and the complaint by many is still: “We didn’t know the wildlife garden was here”.
Signage, publicity and access need to be further improved without detriment to the
visitor’s experience of this living exhibition. The possibility of public access throughout
the year is being considered.
The new heathland habitat (LH04), now in a more open part of the garden (replacing
the former ‘urban’ habitat) was made possible thanks to a donation of £23,000 from
Western Riverside Environmental Fund (WREF) and sponsorship in kind from Bournemouth
Airport, Dorset County Council (DCC) and landscape architect Adams Loxton partnership.
The work, including the new entrance, took place between November 2011 and April
2012. The heathland was created using turves lifted from Merritown Heath, near
Bournemouth, Dorset, in February 2012 under the supervision of DCC Senior Ecologist,
Danny Alder. The primary reason for the turf lifting on Merritown Heath, as recommended
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 648
Wildlife Garden, Natural History Museum – view from main pond. © The Trustees of the
Natural History Museum, London
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M
from this repair, although visually attractive, had a significant effect on some of the
aquatic biodiversity.
Since 2009 the water used to top up the ponds has been sourced from the Museum’s
borehole, replacing the mains supply. This changed the chemistry of the water supply
but we have yet to fully analyse and determine the extent of the changes on the ponds’
flora and fauna.
Minor changes to individual habitats are mentioned in the discussion below.
AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE
Schools
The garden is regarded as a highly valuable and excellent learning space for school pupils,
not just because of its links to popular classroom topics such as habitats and minibeasts,
but also because of the opportunity it provides for children who may have had very
limited contact with nature. It is particularly rewarding for pupils to experience plants
and insects within the setting of a mosaic of different habitats, including a variety of
ponds and water features, enabling them to have as realistic an encounter with nature
as is possible in urban surroundings.
The combination of indoor and outdoor activities and exhibitions makes a well-structured
day of variety and interest for pupils and teachers, e.g. combining a Wildlife Garden
workshop looking at pond invertebrates with a visit to the Creepy Crawlies Gallery. It is
a hugely popular space - during summer term 2014, over 2,000 school pupils (Foundation,
and Key Stage 1 and 2) attended our core garden workshops, with over 3,000 children
attending in 2015 (A. Tinkler pers. comm.). The garden accommodates groups of children
in a safe and secluded natural environment away from the busy galleries and visitor queues.
Training in biological recording and species identification
With over 400 species of vascular plants, the garden provides an excellent training ground
for wild flower identification. Courses for volunteers, visitors and Museum members are
run each year and include: Introduction to Wild Flowers, Grass Identification, Winter
Tree Identification and Introduction to Mosses. Training and workshops in other taxa also
take place including: Introduction and Identification of Woodlice, Identification of Fresh
Water Invertebrates and Moth and Bat evenings.
The process of recording and species
identification is also used to train students,
young scientists, amateur naturalists and
other visitors. The Wildlife Garden is an
important resource for Citizen Science and
supports the Angela Marmont Centre for
Biodiversity in its mission to champion UK
biodiversity.
51
purposes. Raising public awareness of the threats to heathland – as with all lowland
habitats – is crucial to its ongoing conservation in the UK which is home to 20% of Europe’s
lowland heathland.
A dry stone wall was built to contain the new heathland substrate. Far more robust
than intended, the garden team has been working to distress this wall (by applying a
mixture of yogurt and peat on the surface and cutting back the over-hanging stone) to
encourage conditions for colonising algae, mosses and lichens. Early colonisers include
green algae and lichens such as Xanthoria parietina and Phaeophyscia nigricans. The
bryophyte Grimmia pulvinata appeared in mid-2015. Holes were also drilled into the
wall to create areas for mining bees to colonise.
With the change in entrance and restoration of heathland on the east side of the
garden, the urban habitat U01 no longer appears. However many of the plants were
transplanted to the working and plant nursery area P04.
The iron railings on the north east boundary were removed to further open up the
garden and the chalk downland habitat was extended from the eastern slope to the path
(approximately 142 sq. m.) using chalk quarried from Monksherborne, near Basingstoke,
Hampshire, and sown with 500 grams of Emorsgate seed mix: EM6 – Meadow mixture for
chalk and limestone soils. A discrete area of chalk (approximately 20 sq. m.) was left
unsown and monitored for self-colonising plants. The strip of grassland alongside the
west wing of the Waterhouse building, previously maintained as closely mown lawn, was
included in the expansion and the predominantly fescue lawn was planted with meadow
plants in memory of Dr Gillian Stevens (1965-2011), Head of Angela Marmont Centre for
UK Biodiversity 2009-2011. This is now G06 on the plan (Figure 1).
The strip of lawn directly in front of the south side of the west wing of the Waterhouse
building was taken on as a project by the Wildlife Garden team in spring 2012. Seventy
three species of flowering plants were recorded in 2012 including corn parsley Petroselinum
segetum which has not been seen in this area since 1930. The grass is unmown between
March and October and lightly grazed by sheep in September/October. The total area of
grassland managed sustainably in and around the Wildlife Garden is now 1,645 sq. m.
In 2010 a new hedge of native mixed species was planted along the boundary of the
newly created Darwin Centre ‘courtyard’ to contain the sheep within the Wildlife Garden.
In the same period the recycling area – unchanged since 1997 – was expanded with new
purpose-built compost bins. A new greenhouse was bought, part-funded by money raised
through a sponsored walk organised by volunteer Dr Rama Sarkhel and a generous donation
from Mrs Joan Gilbey. The greenhouse and adjacent space have provided a very useful
wild flower nursery area.
The principle of sustainable management was extended by creating green roofs on small
sheds. In 2009, wildlife gardener/ecologist Chris McGaw created a green turf roof on a small
tool shed, using meadow turf, kindly donated by RBKC Ecology Centre. This was further
developed by Nicky Reilly after the shed’s relocation with the addition of a log store in 2012.
Two years later, a green roof was created on the sheep shed by Larissa Cooper, using shingle
and coastal plants. For further details see: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/wildlife-
garden/2014/08/13/extending-our-boundaries.
Other changes included relining the waterfall and upper pond (A09-A10) in 2006 to
resolve problems of leakage in the waterfall area. The improved flow in water resulting
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 650
An educational resource - Big Nature Day
2011. © The Trustees of the Natural History
Museum, London
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M
In addition to formal learning, special events for visitors and volunteers take place
throughout the year including themed weekends linked to the Museum’s public offer and
to national and international dates (e.g. National Insect Week, International Bat Night,
Be Nice to Nettles Week and London Garden Open Squares Weekend). Events such as
Spring Wildlife, Nettle Weekend, Insect Weekend, Bat Festival and Hedgerow Harvest,
include workshops with displays and opportunities for visitors to meet Museum scientists
as well as other conservation trusts, societies and groups. These events provide an
opportunity for visitors to learn further about the Museum’s work and its collections and
to find out more about biodiversity in an urban context including the importance of
biological recording in the garden. Such events also encourage visitors to actively engage
with nature during activities they can then apply at home or in their local park.
Events are publicised on the Museum website (www.nhm.ac.uk/wildlife-garden) and
Wildlife Garden blogs and posters around the Museum and in media listings.
RECORDING AND MONITORING METHODS
Data collection and surveys are carried out by volunteers working with the garden team,
specialists who come in with the sole purpose of survey work and Museum scientists.
Regular lunchtime recording sessions are organized for staff. In 2011, the Museum’s Big
Nature Day included a Big Nature Count in the Wildlife Garden, and in 2015 staff and
volunteers celebrated the Wildlife Garden’s twentieth anniversary with an Anniversary
Species Count. Volunteers help with sorting specimens, identification, and entering records
on to the garden’s database. Photography is an increasingly used record-collecting tool.
Resources are nevertheless limited and any readers wishing to contribute to the
recording of any group in the garden are very welcome to apply to the authors.
The recording methods described previously (Leigh and Ware 2003) continue to be used
and only changes in the methods previously reported are mentioned below.
Cryptogams
The ponds (A01, A03 and A09), waterfall and ford area (A10) and reed beds (R01/2/3)
were surveyed for freshwater algae on various dates between 2004 and 2013 using methods
reported in 2003, supplemented by casual observations.
Detailed surveys of bryophytes have been carried out most years since 2004. These
surveys are supplemented by casual observations throughout the year.
Vascular plants
Vascular plants are surveyed formally in each habitat on a two-year cycle depending on
volunteer availability. During the current survey all habitats were surveyed and recorded
in 2014 through to July 2015. First and unusual flowerings are noted as they appear
throughout the year and the information submitted to the Woodland Trust’s Nature’s
Calendar.
Lichens
Lichen surveys have been carried out to check the ten permanent quadrats (10 x 15 cm)
established in December 2000 on rock and brick substrata and with checks in additional areas.
53
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 652
Above: An educational resource – Sue Kidger introducing rescue hedgehogs to visitors
during Hedgerow Harvest 2014. © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
Below: An educational resource – Nettle Weekend 2014. © The Trustees of the Natural
History Museum, London
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M
quite small. Since 2010 the light trap has been set more frequently. Gay Carr monitored
butterflies and dragonflies on her weekly bird walks.
Diptera In addition to Malaise trapped specimens, Diptera records are collected by general
searches and during forensic studies.
Isopoda and Amphipoda, Diplopoda, Chilopoda and terrestrial Mollusca Searches were
made for these invertebrates below ground and under logs and stones.
Pitfall traps were set, as previously described, three to four times a year depending
on volunteer availability. Spiders, millipedes, beetles, molluscs and other orders were
identified from these samples by the relevant specialists.
Oligochaetes – Earthworms Earthworms were also sampled by digging pits of 25 cm x 25
cm x 10 cm and hand-sorting the soil extracted. Microhabitat surveys were carried out by
looking in compost bins, in rotting logs, under plant pots and in leaf-litter. A vermifuge
(mustard powder in water) was applied to the ground and the worms collected on emergence.
All worms were relaxed in 30% alcohol, straightened while fixed in 80% alcohol and transferred
to vials of 80% alcohol for later identification. Many were identified alive in situ.
Arachnids, Araneae – Spiders Surveys have been carried out sporadically and specimens
checked by Jan Beccaloni, Stuart Hine and John McGaw. Since 2013, regular surveys have
been carried out by Thomas Thomas by visual searches, sweep netting and leaf beating
– usually with a large following of visitors.
Acari – Mites Deserted nests of several bird species were collected from various locations,
including hedgerows, ivy-clad trees, bird boxes and the eaves of the garden shed, in
November 2014 and February 2015. They were stored in separate plastic bags until the
invertebrate inhabitants were extracted through desiccation funnels into 80% industrial
methylated spirit. After removal from the spirit samples, mites were prepared for
microscopical examination by mounting in 50-60% lactic acid and macerating for 15-30
minutes on a hotplate set at about 70°C.
Vertebrates
Birds have been monitored by observation on a regular basis. Weekly to fortnightly walks
were carried out by Gay Carr from 1999 until 2014. Gay’s article below was completed in
January 2013, the original target date for this report. Unfortunately, she did not get the
chance to update her article. Daniel Osborne took over Gay’s fortnightly bird walks in
2015 and has updated her article with changes since 2013. In addition, unusual observations
of birds and mammals are recorded throughout the course of daily garden work. Dr. Florin
Feneru (Identification and Advisory Officer) is the current garden bird recorder.
Small mammals have been monitored using Longworth as well as hair traps. Longworth
traps were set less frequently during the past year as they tend to be disturbed by
resident foxes. As with other groups, these records have been supplemented by casual
observations. Evening bat surveys have been undertaken between one and three times
a year. An Anabat (a stationary bat recorder designed for passive surveillance of bats)
was installed on the lime tree in the centre of the garden for a month in August 2014
and at the end of August 2015.
Larger mammals – foxes and wild rabbits have been recorded as casual observations.
Grey squirrels are present throughout the year and were recorded by Gay Carr during
her regular bird walks until 2014.
55
Invertebrates
Aquatic invertebrates
Standardized sweep samples for macroinvertebrates are taken at irregular intervals using
methods previously described (Honey et al. 1998). Samples for aquatic microinvertebrates
are collected as previously described Leigh and Ware (2003:78).
Other samples are occasionally taken from the ponds and their contents identified and
recorded by colleagues from the Museum and by members of other organizations. All
records of adult dragonflies are of field identifications and larval exuviae. Annual checks
for Bryozoa and Porifera are carried out by Mary Spencer-Jones.
Terrestrial invertebrates
Observations of unusual sightings are recorded during the course of working in the garden
and by trapping methods described previously (Leigh and Ware 2003: 79).
A Malaise trap was run for one year, July 2012 to July 2013, and for 2 weeks 12 to 26
June 2015. Specimens collected from the Malaise trap include most groups of flying
insects. Identification of these specimens is ongoing.
Orthoptera Orthoptera are recorded through direct searches and using a bat detector
for species such as speckled bush-cricket.
Hymenoptera Specimens were collected by occasional hand netting or Malaise trapping
and identified using the following works: Bees – Amiet et al. 2001, Amiet et al. 2004,
Amiet et al. 2007, Amiet et al. 2010, Amiet et al. 2014, Benton 2006, Falk 2015; Digger
wasps – Lomholdt 1975, 1976, Richards 1980, Pulawski 1984. Voucher specimens of all
species collected by the author have been preserved in the Museum’s collection. Flower
visits were recorded where possible. For a few conspicuous species, where field
identification was considered reliable, specimen records were supplemented by
observations.
Coleoptera The list of beetles from the garden has benefitted from regular light trapping
using the Robinson’s light trap during the spring and summer months. Subterranean traps
were used in the early years while Malaise traps and pitfall traps continue to be used.
As the list shows, particular attention has been paid to the faunas of the compost heaps
and water bodies. Much of the list was generated by the hard work over many years of
former Coleoptera researcher, Peter Hammond, more recently augmented by other
members of the Mueum’s Coleoptera team and garden team including volunteers.
Occasional bioblitzes, ‘Big Nature Days’, National Insect Week and other public events
have led to increased recording of all groups of insects by adults and children, especially
conspicuous groups such as ladybirds and species recorded by pond dipping.
Special mention should be made of a systematic survey of ladybirds (Coccinellidae) carried
out by volunteer Emily Shaw, a second-year Zoology student at Cardiff University. She carried
out searches within the vegetation of all habitats. Additional records were collected from
a beating tray, the Robinson light trap and a check was made of historic photographs.
Lepidoptera Between 2005 and 2009, whilst the Lepidoptera section was temporarily
housed in Wandsworth, the Robinson’s light trap was run less frequently. The running of
the trap and the initial sort of specimens was carried out by the garden team, including
volunteers, and as a result of unavoidable inexperience, the number of specimens sent
to Martin Honey for identification at Wandsworth (via the library shuttle) was usually
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 654
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M
information about their rate of spread; e.g. the southern oak bush-cricket Meconema
meridionale and the daffodil fly Norellia spinipes.
There is enormous potential for continuing research, for example, analysing pond water
sample data pre-2009 and post-2009 and the effects of the change from mains water
supply to borehole water on aquatic invertebrate and plant populations; and the continuing
effects of pollution on lichens in the garden. Two possible related areas for PhD projects
have also been suggested (K.Thompson pers. comm.). The first is colonisation in relation
to species traits, such as dispersal ability and life history, plus possible sources of colonists.
The second is the relationship between habitat conditions (e.g. chalk grassland and
heathland) and the exact identity of what has turned up in each habitat.
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
The total number of taxa recorded by the end of 2015 was 2,765. 2,614 taxa have been
identified to species level, the remaining 151 taxa have been identified to genus level.
Additional taxa have been recorded in 2016, these are not included in the garden totals,
but they have been added to the species lists in this article. The species lists below are
additions to groups previously reported (Algae, Bryophytes, Lichens, vascular plants,
aquatic macroinvertebrates including Odonata and Mollusca, Lepidoptera (moths));
complete lists of newly reported groups Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Acari, and complete
lists of those groups which were either incomplete or included errors in the previous
report (Leigh and Ware 2003) including Arachnids and Rotifers. The location of a particular
garden habitat can be found on the plan of the garden (Figure 1).
FLORA AND FUNGI
———
FRESHWATER ALGAE
DAVID M. JOHN, DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
The three ponds (A01, A03, A08) in the Wildlife Garden have been sampled at irregular
intervals since they were last surveyed in 2003. More than a decade has elapsed since
John and York (2003) published the first detailed account of the freshwater algal flora
in which were discussed changes since creation of the ponds in 1995 and possible sources
of the introduced algae. During this decade there has been a change in water chemistry.
Since 2009 the ponds have been increasingly supplied by borehole water containing a
higher level of sodium sulphate.
All ponds require periodic management and these are no exception. Blanket weed had
to be physically removed mainly from the main pond A03 so as to ensure weed-free areas
of open water exist. Over the past decade the amount of these floating mats of filamentous
green algae have declined as floating-leaved (e.g. Nyphaea alba) and submerged aquatics
(e.g. Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Ceratophyllum demersum) have
increased. However since 2009, the abundance of submerged aquatics has also declined.
The principal green filamentous alga in the ponds remains Cladophora glomerata, although
occasionally present are the coarser unbranched filaments of Oedogonium and the more
slimy ones of the zygnematalean algae Spirogyra and Mougeotia. Over the decade the
57
Environmental
Air quality – data from the air monitoring station in the south west corner of the garden
are available on the London Air Quality Network (LAQN) website:
http://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/publicbulletin.asp?la_id=20&MapType=Google.
The RBKC progress report contains a summary of the data from the NHM (Cromwell
Road) site for 2013, (see Chapter 2). The air quality data are used in conjunction with
lichen survey data.
Water chemistry
Samples of water from each of the three ponds and the reservoir have been taken between
three to four times a year, subject to volunteer and staff availability, and the water
chemistry analysed by Stanislav Strekopytov in the Mineralogy Department.
Soil
Soil samples were collected by Natalie Bryson during her MSc project: ‘Development of
next generation sequencing within an integrated strategy for utilising microbial molecular
data as evidence in serious crimes’. Samples collected from woodland and grassland
habitats were analysed.
Additional soil samples were collected by Mark Lane, Garden Manager, Buckingham
Palace, in December 2015. These were analysed by Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories.
Databasing records and voucher specimens
All records are entered on the garden database developed by Mike Sadka in 2002 and
further developed and maintained by Nicky Reilly.
The data are a means to monitor and assess the garden’s value to wildlife, to track
trends since the garden opened in 1995 and to illustrate the development of successful
habitat creation. The continuity of the Wildlife Garden’s species recording over twenty
years will increase in importance over time as an aid to our understanding of urban
ecosystems and how different species respond and adapt to environmental and climate
change. This will add valuable data to London’s environmental records centre, Greenspace
Information for Greater London (GiGL) http://www.gigl.org.uk/.
A few voucher specimens of invertebrates are retained for a small reference collection
that is being assembled and made available as an educational resource. Specimens
collected from the Wildlife Garden form a valuable part of the Collections. The first
specimen of Camilla nigrifrons (Diptera) in the Museum collection was taken from the
Wildlife Garden. The second specimen of Rhyzobius forestieri (Coccinellidae) to be
recorded in Britain in 2014 and found in the garden is in the Museum collection.
A collection of flowering plants from the garden is in progress and kept in the British
Herbarium.
A ‘living laboratory’
The garden provides a ‘living laboratory’ to Museum scientists and others. Records of
first flowers are shared with the Woodland Trust’s Nature’s Calendar – a UK wide phenology
project.
Species expanding their range in Britain can be detected in the garden, giving scientists
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 656
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of shading, caused by the chrysophyte Chromophyton rosanoffii. Such a phenomenon
was first observed in the pond in September and October 2002 although reported from
ponds in Richmond Park in London as far back as the 1940s (Lund 1942).
About 100 algae were recorded in the garden by Leigh and Ware (2003) of which the
majority were planktonic or loosely associated with submerged surfaces, with just a few
from soil or on soil-free surfaces. Only a further 10 taxa have been recorded since 2003
and many of those recorded earlier have not been rediscovered. John and York (2003)
mention that 16 of the taxa reported in a survey carried out in May and November 1992
(Honey et al. 1998) were not rediscovered just five years later although 42 additional
taxa were recorded in 2002. Not too much significance can be placed on these findings
since microalgae are easily overlooked if present in low numbers and only for short periods.
The ford and waterfall area (A10) represents an interesting but particularly unstable
environment for algae since flow is intermittent and dependent on water being pumped
into the upper pond. Occasionally the area is completely dry although sometimes it is
drying out or else wetted by water cascading down the limestone wall. Sometimes present
in the water flow are the dark-greenish, cushion-like clumps of Vaucheria (Xanthophyta,
yellow-green algae), occasionally accompanied by purplish-black mats of the blue-green
alga Phormidium. It is not possible to identify Vaucheria to species unless reproductive
organs are present or samples are grown in laboratory culture under conditions leading
to their formation. Such organs formed on material collected in September 2012 and two
species of Vaucheria were identified, namely V. sessilis and V. taylori. Often small muddy
59
surface of the upper pond is frequently covered in the summer months by floating aquatics
(principally Lemna spp., Cladophora glomerata). Often planktonic forms become trapped
on the surface of aquatic plants, especially if finely divided. Few planktonic forms were
discovered when such plants were collected and the surface water removed by squeezing
and then examined microscopically.
The most conspicuous and abundant alga currently present is the stonewort Chara
globularis which was first observed in 2009 growing in the more alkaline water of the
chalk pond (A01). This stonewort has begun to colonize the main pond where two of the
formerly abundant aquatic plants (Ceratophyllum demersum and Potamogeton crispus)
appear to be declining since the pond began to be topped up with borehole water. Its
olive-green erect branches, arising from a creeping stoloniferous base, reach up to 50
cm in height and characteristically bear whorls of smaller branchlets. This Chara is fairly
frequent in southern and eastern England where it is largely restricted to similar calcareous
and moderately nutrient-rich habitats (Bryant and Stewart 2011). The source of the
introduction is unknown although it most probably arrived as very resistant, thick-walled
spores (oospores) along with aquatic plants or on waterfowl.
The water surface in the relatively wind-sheltered chalk pond (A01) still occasionally
has a golden-coloured iridescence in autumn, varying on the viewing angle and degree
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 658
Freshwater algae Chara globularis: organs of sexual reproduction borne of a corticated
branchlet. Branchlet about 400 micrometres in width. © Chris Carter
Freshwater yellow-green alga Vaucheria taylori: organs of sexual reproduction. Filaments
about 100 micrometres in width. © Chris Carter
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Especially in drier years, the diversity of bryophyte species in the garden has been
very low. However, encouraged by the relatively clean London air and the recent
persistently damp conditions, the number of species occurring in the garden is presently
slowly increasing. Various English-lowland species have begun to colonize the area and
mosses new to the garden are still being found. Sheltered on wooden fencing, Cryphaea
heteromalla was recorded for the first time in February 2013. In the same year,
Cratoneuron filicinum was newly discovered in the reed bed, and in the chalk grassland
stream Leptodictyum riparium appeared. However, the most recent new reappearance
in the garden, recorded in April 2015, was the common woodland moss, Mnium hornum.
The heathland habitat LH04, introduced into the garden in 2012, supported a community
of mosses that included Hypnum jutlandicum, Dicranum scoparium, Polytrichum
juniperinum and Campylopus introflexus. These species have continued to thrive and
are beginning to dominate the soil-hugging flora that grows beneath the heather.
In summary, the bryophyte flora in Wildlife Garden is evolving dynamically, and after
an initial decline, appears to be largely gaining in both diversity and complexity.
61
pools persist at the base of the limestone wall once flow has ceased and these sometimes
contain small flagellated algae (John and York 2003).
The open water in the main and chalk ponds is often relatively clear reflecting relatively
low numbers of planktonic micro algae even during the summer months. Macroscopic
growths of filamentous green algae still develop in early summer although rarely to
nuisance proportions as was the case prior to 2003. Few new algae have been recorded
in the past decade (just 10 taxa) and many of those known prior to 2003 have not been
rediscovered. The only large and conspicuous alga recorded since 2003 has been the
stonewort Chara globularis. Ecologically, the ponds represent closed communities and
the occurrence and periodicity of the algae cannot be considered in isolation from other
organisms and other chance events. No doubt sequestering of nutrients by some of the
submerged aquatic macrophytes, shading by floating macrophytes, changes in water
chemistry since 2009 and high numbers of grazing animals are just some of a complex of
factors contributing to the changes in abundance and diversity of algae within the ponds.
BRYOPHYTES
LEN ELLIS, CURATOR OF BRYOPHYTES, LIFE SCIENCES DEPARTMENT, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Leigh & Ware (2003) reported a high diversity of bryophytes in the Wildlife Garden. Some
56 species (49 mosses, 7 liverworts) flourished for a time. Subsequently, the number of
species represented in the garden has reduced. The factors contributing to this decline
were quite natural and their consequences might have been expected.
When the garden was created, rocks and logs from diverse habitats were imported,
carrying with them mosses rarely found in London and the South East. Many of these
species found themselves in circumstances unfavourable to their growth. For example,
Racomitrium aciculare, a northern/western moss, rare in lowland England, although
persisting in the garden for several years, has long since succumbed to the abnormal
conditions. The disappearance of such mosses, uncomfortable in the garden, accounts
for part of the apparent decline in diversity.
Of other early records, several ephemeral species (e.g. Tortula truncata, Phascum
cuspidatum) had taken advantage of disturbed conditions prevailing in the earlier life
of the garden. These mosses largely disappeared as the various habitats matured. However,
a small range of tiny ephemerals (notably including Barbula unguiculata) persist on a
few areas of bare soil, especially at the margins between habitats.
The successful colonization of the garden by the seed plants has reduced habitat
available for the growth of bryophytes. This is particularly apparent in the chalk grassland
habitat from which various bryophytes have been crowded out, not least the liverwort,
Leiocolea turbinata. The moss, Calliergonella cuspidata, was also ousted by the dense
grass but fortunately occurs elsewhere in the garden.
Through recent years, typical lowland/urban species (Brachythecium rutabulum,
Orthotrichum diaphanum, Grimmia pulvinata, Bryum capillare, Amblystegium serpens,
Kindbergia praelonga) have begun to overtake and dominate the garden’s bryophyte
flora. Brachythecium rutabulum in particular, tolerant of the differing conditions presented
by the various types of habitat, was able to displace more specialized but less robust
mosses and liverworts.
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White-tipped bristle-moss Orthotrichum diaphanum. © The Trustees of the
Natural History Museum, London
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the occasional Oregon grape Mahonia aquifolium and mock-orange Philadelphus
coronarius. Several shrubs of garden privet in area PO5 provide cover for bird feeders.
Hazel Corylus avellana, field maple Acer campestre and elder Sambucus nigra, planted
in the area in 1999, will soon provide sufficient cover to replace the garden privet. Crocus
Crocus spp., Spanish bluebell Hyacinthoides hispanica, ground elder Aegopodium
podagraria, lemon balm Melissa officinalis and green alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens
are remnant herbaceous species that reappear from time to time.
Accidental arrivals
Our most notable arrival since 2003 was a single plant of broad-leaved helleborine Epipactis
helleborine spotted on 26 May 2007 under beech Fagus sylvatica in woodland area (W01).
This is a rare plant in London: the nearest known population, also self-sown and found
in 1997, is in the south-east corner of the London Wetland Centre (Spencer 2012).
In 2010 soil exposed after disturbance along the north boundary, following completion
of the Darwin Centre courtyard, saw a flush of new species, mainly ruderals. These
included black-bindweed Fallopia convolvulus, shaggy soldier Galinsoga quadriradiata,
common cudweed Filago vulgaris rare in London and flixweed Descurainia sophia (which
is a rare archaeophyte in London). Less transitory species were also observed, including
Canadian goldenrod Solidago canadensis (previously recorded and removed from the edge
of fen (F03) in 1999) and hemp Cannabis sativa, the former still present in the hedge
(H08) lining the lane from Queen’s Gate to the Darwin Centre courtyard. C. sativa was
also recorded in other parts of the garden (G04 and LH01) having arrived soon after a
change in bird feed supplier.
Hemlock water-dropwort Oenanthe crocata is a self-sown addition to the waterfall/ford
(A10), appearing initially in 2008 and now spread to the main pond margins and to one of
the moorhen islands – this species is notable in Greater London (Burton 1983). Another arrival
in the Apiaceae was corky-fruited water-dropwort Oenanthe pimpinelloides in the woodland
glade W06, recorded in 2007; however, this was not recorded in the current survey. Other
accidental arrivals include water bent Polypogon viridis, recorded near the waterfall from
May 2011, and Mexican fleabane Erigeron karvinskianus, first recorded in May 2014. Our
most recent arrival, narrow-leaved ragwort Senecio inaequidens, was recorded in July 2015
growing on the green roof of the sheep shed. This non-native species is becoming more
frequent throughout London, having first been recorded around east London (Spencer 2012).
Populations of previously recorded self-sown arrivals have increased, such as common
ragwort, Senecio jacobaea (see also Appendix 2), docks Rumex spp., fleabanes Conyza
spp., willowherbs Epilobium spp. and common nettle Urtica dioica. The last was celebrated
during the Museum’s biennial Nettle Weekends and, as a result, the subject of several
recently published books (Vickery 2006, Edom 2010, Tuffney 2015). As habitats have
developed, leaving fewer gaps between plants, annuals such as groundsel Senecio vulgaris,
Chedopodium spp., annual mercury Mercurialis annua and shepherd’s-purse Capsella
bursa-pastoris have declined.
Plant introductions
The number of introductions within most habitats has decreased as species planted over
the years have developed self-sustaining populations within the habitats. Plant additions
63
VASCULAR PLANTS
CAROLINE WARE, WILDLIFE GARDEN, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
There were over 417 taxa, including microspecies and subspecies, identified in the garden
during the current survey period. The survey results are summarised in Table 1 showing
comparable results for the 1998/1999 and 2002/3 surveys. The list of vascular plants in
Appendix 1 includes all species recorded in 2014-15.
Three categories of plants previously discussed (Honey et al. 1998:24, Ware 1999,
Leigh and Ware 2003:86-93) are present: remnant plants, deliberate introductions and
accidental arrivals, though there have been changes within these categories.
Remnant plants
There are no changes in the numbers of mature trees. The south and west boundaries
of the garden are bordered by seven London planes Platanus x hispanica which cast an
increasing shade over the garden. A small-leaved lime Tilia cordata cv in the centre of
the garden, and two Lombardy poplars Populus nigra ‘Italica’ at the edge and north of
the meadow (G05) provide maturity to the garden and support many insects including
the lime hawk-moth Mimas tiliea and the poplar hawk-moth Laothoe populi. These poplars
also support the Nationally Scarce soldier fly Solva marginata and a number of beetles
including the Nationally Scarce poplar weevil Dorytomus ictor. All mature trees are subject
to Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).
Several large holly Ilex aquifolium remain in the north of the garden in P04, P05 and
the edge of G01 with Ilex x altaclerensis on the edge of meadow (G05). A holm oak Quercus
ilex grows near the western side of the meadow G05. Its leaves are mined by a micromoth
Ectodemia heringella discovered in 1996 but not identified until 2001 (Leigh and Ware
2003:102). The box tree Buxus sempervirens in P05 on the edge of woodland (W03) remains
and is now the food plant of the recently arrived box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis.
Ornamental shrubs that persist include seedlings of garden privet Ligustrum ovalifolium,
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 662
Habitat Code Number of species
1998/1999 2002/2003 2014/2015 Evolution
Woodland W01-W09 172 191 186
Scrub S01-S02 83 89
Hedgerow H01-H06 107 127 124
Grassland G01-G05 162 170 206
Heathland LH01-LH04 42 54 79
Wetland (ponds and banks) A01-A10 112 92 105
Fen F01-F04, R01-R03 92 89 106
Urban U01 37 56
Other DF, P03-P05 71
Total number of species in all areas (not sum) 340 360 417
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Table 1. Number of vascular plant species by habitat type (see Figure 1 for habitat areas)
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M
(1959-2004) who worked in the garden from September 2003. The area, previously a
monoculture of ivy Hedera helix, was cleared. One thousand native bluebell bulbs were
planted together with sweet woodruff Galium odoratum, greater stitchwort Stellaria holostea,
great woodrush Luzula sylvatica, Solomon’s-seal Polygonatum multiflorum and primrose
Primula vulgaris. Wood anemone is spreading into this area from neighbouring W05.
Other species now firmly established include lesser celandine Ficaria verna, sweet
violet Viola odorata, enchanter’s-nightshade Circaea lutetiana, garlic mustard Alliaria
petiolata, bramble and common nettle. Dog’s-mercury Mercurialis perennis is now
spreading its areas within W05 and beneath hornbeam in W09. Sanicle Sanicula europaea,
planted in 2005 in woodland W04, has now self-sown into W03 and W05. Asarabacca
Asarum europaeum, an unexpected arrival in 1999 (Ware 1999), remains constant in W04.
Woodland grasses include wood melick Melica unifora (mainly in W08 and 09) and false
brome. A few plants of wood millet Milium effusum, introduced to W04 in 1999, have
spread throughout woodland and hedgerows. This grass is especially attractive during
April to June. Tufted hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa is tucked away in a few woodland
corners. Successfully grown sedges include wood sedge Carex sylvatica, grey sedge C.
divulsa ssp. divulsa and pendulous sedge C. pendula, the last requires constant thinning.
There are of course several species which, without judicious weeding carried out by the
garden team with volunteers, would dominate the woodland and adjoining habitats.
These, mainly in the family Apiaceae, include cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris, hogweed
Heracleum sphondylium, stone parsley Sison amomum and ground elder Aegopodium
podagraria as well as nettles and creeping thistle Cirsium arvense.
Area W02 is a monoculture of wild garlic or ramsons Allium ursinum and looks
spectacular when in full flower, though needs to be restrained from colonizing further
woodland areas. Yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon is present in most woodland
beds and tends to thrive in partial shade in areas away from London planes such as W01
and W07. Recent plant introductions include bugle Ajuga reptans and nettle-leaved
bellflower Campanula trachelium, the latter providing colour in woodland during summer
months. This corner of the woodland in the north-west of the garden is developing well.
A walk through the area in April and May and you can catch the scent of bluebells, followed
by the scent of wild garlic around the corner in W02. A bee tree observation hive, installed
on the edge of W07 in 2007, is also a popular and informative feature for visitors in this
area. Woodland on the southern boundary has been slower to develop due to heavier
shading by the London planes and greater disturbance caused by annual removal of their
leaves. In recent years however, it has developed with species such as butcher’s-broom
Ruscus aculeatus (now reproducing over ten years since its introduction), stinking iris
Iris foetidissima and dog’s-mercury. This woodland area is managed to provide glimpses
and wider views through to the rest of the garden and the Darwin Centre, with spring
colour provided by primrose, red campion, cherry plum Prunus cerasifera, wild cherry,
hawthorn, elder and dog rose Rosa canina – views that are an unexpected delight from
alongside Cromwell Road! Woodland W08 is now confined to one wild cherry tree (planted
in 1998) with a ground and shrub layer kept low to maximise sunlight entering this south-
western end of the garden.
The more successful plants in W08 and W09 are species with a preference for disturbance
including cow parsley, chickweed Stellaria media, common nettle and red campion.
65
since 2003 are mentioned in the discussion of habitats below. Increasingly, seeds are
collected from the garden, or sometimes sourced from elsewhere, propagated and raised
in the garden’s nursery and planted out from 9 cm pots.
Habitats Summary
Woodland
Many of the originally planted faster growing trees, such as silver birch Betula pendula
and ash Fraxinus excelsior, have been coppiced or pollarded, leaving selected trees to
grow to maturity and to provide gaps to fill with younger trees. All trees have grown
healthily, though field maple is susceptible to damage by grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis.
Unfortunately a small wild service tree Sorbus torminalis, planted in 2003 (Leigh and
Ware) did not survive. Whips of silver birch, pedunculate oak Quercus robur, field maple,
beech Fagus sylvatica and ash Fraxinus excelsior have been planted in remaining gaps
and in recently expanded areas such as W03. However, many species are now self-seeding
including wild cherry Prunus avium, field maple, hornbeam Carpinus betulus, pedunculate
oak, holly and yew Taxus baccata, removing the need to purchase further additions.
Shrubs include hazel, elder, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, guelder-rose Viburnum
opulus, wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana, dog rose Rosa canina, field rose Rosa arvensis,
dogwood Cornus sanguinea and spindle Euonymus europaeus. Many are now self-seeding,
dogwood and spindle excessively so, and require periodic thinning, as does bramble Rubus
fruticosus agg. The shrub layer is managed by coppicing and pruning, providing structural
diversity, food and habitat for invertebrates, birds and small mammals.
Hazel is coppiced in short rotation, approximately every five years, providing material
for educational talks and coppicing demonstrations, as well as for practical use within
the garden such as creating stock-proof woven fences and repairs to the garden coracle.
Larger logs from pollarded trees are used for log piles which, together with naturally
occurring deadwood, provides habitat for invertebrates such as stag beetle larvae and
earthworms, including the rare Dendrobaena pygmaea, hibernating amphibians, bryophytes
and fungi.
Ground flora is developing particularly well in mixed woodland in the north-west side
of the garden with the planted sub-communities of bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta
and wood anemone Anemone nemorosa in W06/W07 and W05 respectively retaining their
identity – and both spreading towards the woodland glade/ride area W06. However,
although native bluebells were carefully sourced during introductions and efforts made
to remove all Spanish bluebells, many have hybridized and are now dominated by the
hybrid H. x massartiana. We accept that this is unavoidable in central London, as in many
urban areas, where Spanish bluebell is a common garden or park plant. The glade (W06),
dominated by false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum, includes red campion Silene dioica,
common spotted-orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii, agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria, wood sage
Teucrium scorodonia and the Nationally Scarce starved wood-sedge Carex depauperata
(the latter donated by the Species Recovery Trust in 2013). Wild daffodils Narcissus
pseudonarcissus have multiplied over the years producing an attractive display in W07
beneath the small-leaved lime.
In the winter of 2004-2005 the raised mound in woodland area W03 – alongside Queen’s
Gate – was planted with a mixed community of woodland species in memory of Sonia Philpotts
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Shade-tolerant species from adjacent habitats have colonized the woodland as previously
noted (Leigh and Ware 2003) including wild angelica Angelica sylvestris, great willowherb
Epilobium hirsutum and hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum – a species notable in
Greater London (Burton 1983).
Ferns, including male fern Dryopteris filix-mas and broad buckler-fern Dryopteris
dilatata in W03 and soft shield-fern Polystichum setiferum in W07, thrive but can be
vulnerable to annual London plane tree leaf-raking.
The ground flora of the beech/ash woodland community W01 includes dog’s-mercury,
sweet violet, common dog-violet Viola riviniana, ramsons, yellow archangel, crosswort
Cruciata laevipes and primrose which is hybridising with cowslip Primula veris to produce
Primula x polyantha. This beech woodland habitat is the area in which broad-leaved
helleborine has appropriately colonised. Ash is coppiced on short rotation to prevent
over-shading of the adjoining meadow G05. Beech is coppiced or pollarded, with additional
beech whip replacements planted as required. Great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum,
previously a dominant in this area (Ware 1999), has now disappeared from this habitat.
Evidence that the garden’s woodland is developing into a more mature and complex
habitat is shown by the presence of diverse invertebrate species, colonising fungi such
as St George’s mushroom Calocybe gambosa, bryophytes and lichens (see below).
Scrub
The most significant scrub area is S02 illustrating the transition stage between grassland
and woodland. This scrub is dominated by bramble of which four subspecies were identified
by David Allen (Leigh and Ware 2003), honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, traveller’s-
joy Clematis vitalba, ivy and hedge bindweed Calystegia sepium with self-sown goat
willow Salix caprea and rowan Sorbus aucuparia. Rosebay willowherb Chamerion
angustifolium was introduced to provide additional colour and nectar in late summer.
The area is largely undisturbed and harbours lesser stag beetle larvae Dorcus
parallelipipedus. The land hopper amphipod Arcitalitrus dorrieni was first recorded in
1999 from pitfall traps set in this scrub.
Chalk scrub S01, between the meadow G05 and chalk area, comprises juniper Juniperus
communis ssp. communis, at the base of the chalk downland with hawthorn, and spindle.
Juniper is also present in the small island bed (S03) adjacent to the teaching area.
Hedgerows
Hedges are an important contribution to the garden’s mosaic of habitats providing
structural interest both to our visitors and to wildlife with links between different habitats.
Since 2003 we have added nearly 60 metres of mixed hedge to the garden (H08 and H09
on Figure 1).
Our hedge species include hawthorn, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, guelder-rose Viburnum
opulus, dog rose Rosa canina, holly, crab apple Malus sylvestris, wayfaring tree Viburnum
lantana, sweet chestnut, elder and sweet briar Rosa rubiginosa – all important sources
of nectar for pollinating insects. Together with hazel, hornbeam and field maple, the
67
Left: Woodland – beech woodland area in November. © The Trustees of the
Natural History Museum, London
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hedges H02 and H04 in 2011 has resulted in thick bushy growth beneficial to nesting
birds. Hedge H02 was poor and gappy in 1999 and is a good example of hedge restoration
through hedge-laying. The garden’s hedges are included on RBKC’s list of flagship species
and sites in the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (RBKC 2010).
Grassland
Chalk downland
The number of species recorded on the chalk downland area in 2014 was 134, compared
to 84 in 2003, the increase partly explained by the extension of the chalk habitat (see
above) with an additional short length of hedge plants alongside the stone wall.
There have been changes in the dynamics of the chalk grassland community over the
past eleven years (see Tables 2 to 5).
There are ten dominant species of forbs (those with over 100 plants per habitat area
(G01) and ten abundant species (between 51-100 plants per habitat area (G01)). However
with different flowering seasons these species do not appear to visually dominate this
69
hedgerow species provides foliage and food for a range of other invertebrates and their
larvae. Azure damselflies and southern hawker dragonflies are frequently seen patrolling
the length of these hedges hunting their prey of midges and other flies.
Woody climbers have increased in abundance since the previous survey (Leigh and Ware
2003) notably honeysuckle and traveller’s-joy. Additional climbers include hops Humulus
lupulus, hedge bindweed and tufted vetch Vicia cracca. White bryony Bryonia dioica was
added in 2013 with the aim of attracting the Nationally Notable bryony bee Andrena florea.
Hedge bank flora includes originally-planted species (Ware 1999): primrose, red campion,
bugle, ground-ivy, yellow archangel, hedge bedstraw Galium album, lords and ladies
Arum maculatum, hedgerow crane’s-bill Geranium pyrenaicum with self-sown nettles
and bramble. Both wood speedwell Veronica montana and germander speedwell Veronica
chamaedrys thrive, the former in hedges H07, the latter in H04. Interestingly, the former
is uncommon in Greater London (Middlesex) and, according to Spencer (2012), the latter
is declining. Both are also present along woodland edges and germander speedwell is
also well established in the meadow G05.
The laying of hedges H03 and H06 in 2010 and 2012 respectively and the relaying of
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Hedge-lined brick lane – west to east. © The Trustees of the
Natural History Museum, London
G01 Dominant species (>100) – forbs
1998 2002-2003 2014-2015
Achillea millefolium Anthyllis vulneraria Achillea millefolium
Leontodon hispidus Galium verum Leontodon hispidus
Leucanthemum vulgare Leontodon hispidus Leucanthemum vulgare
Lotus corniculatus Plantago lanceolata
Plantago lanceolata Primula veris
Primula veris Ranunculus acris
Ranunculus acris Rhinanthus minor
Trifolium repens Poterium sanguisorba ssp. Sanguisorba
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium repens
Below: Table 2. Chalk downland: dominant species – forbs
G01 Abundant species (51-100) – forbs
1998 2002/2003 2014/2015
Galium album Achillea millefolium Daucus carota
Galium verum Galium album Galium album
Origanum vulgare Origanum vulgare Galium verum
Plantago lanceolata Poterium sanguisorba ssp. sanguisorba Knautia arvensis
Scabiosa columbaria Primula veris Leucanthemum vulgare
Rhinanthus minor Lotus corniculatus
Origanum vulgare
Plantago lanceolata
Taraxacum officinale agg.
Trifolium dubium
Below: Table 3. Chalk downland: Abundant species – forbs
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False oat-grass, noted in 2003 as
appearing to the rear of the chalk mound,
has increased greatly and is a target species
for thinning to prevent shading of smaller
species. Its habit has not yet been affected
by the spread of yellow-rattle. Lack of
grazing is considered to be a key factor in
the expansion of this species (Rodwell 1992)
but perhaps in our case, timing of grazing
is the issue. A detailed study of this species
would be helpful. The community grass,
meadow oat-grass Avenula pratensis is
present if not abundant, downy oat-grass
Avenula pubescens is present in small
amounts, mainly on the top of the mound.
Sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina and Yorkshire
fog Holcus lanatus are both present and are abundant only in the recently sown addition
along the east side of the mound. Other species that give the chalk its particular identity
are wild marjoram Origanum vulgare, field scabious Knautia arvensis, wild basil
Clinopodium vulgare, yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata and orchids. Common spotted-
orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii, introduced in 2003 on the south-facing bank, are slowly
spreading. Bee orchids Ophrys apifera and Ophrys apifera var. belgarum, donated by Bill
Temple of the Hardy Orchid Society, were planted in 2013. These are a great attraction
in June and are already spreading to other areas of this habitat. Common poppy Papaver
rhoeas was dominant in 2012, introduced in the seed bank with chalk soil that year. It is
still present in small numbers on the east side of the chalk. Thyme Thymus polytrichus,
out-shaded by other herbs when previously planted in the turf, has been increasing since
2012 when it was planted in cracks on the low wall near the garden entrance.
Plants such as viper’s-bugloss Echium vulgare and harebell Campanula rotundifolia are
now self-seeding close by. It is especially pleasing to see a sustainable colony of harebell
in infertile areas around path edges in the centre of the garden. It is a scarce plant over
much of Greater London (Spencer 2012) although is known to grow in neighbouring
Kensington Gardens.
This chalk community includes ten of the thirteen constant species found in the NVC
chalk downland community CG2 Avenula pratensis-Festuca ovina (Rodwell 1992:140).
However a specific NVC Survey analysis has not been carried out since 2003. This would
be a suitable project for a BSc or MSc student.
Meadows
The hay meadow (G05) has remained one of the most challenging habitats to create due
to the soil’s fertility and its early life as a lawn dominated by perennial rye-grass Lolium
71
chalk habitat. Cowslips have increased and are a welcome sight at the end of winter
with their long flowering period extending from late March to May. Oxeye daisy
Leucanthemum vulgare whose populations fluctuate from year to year has increased in
abundance since 2012 – partly due to its inclusion in the Emorsgate seed mix sown in the
extended area. It is again one of the dominant species but at least now it exists within
a richer tapestry of species and colour than in 1998. Other dominant species (Table 2)
include rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, a consistently dominant species since 1998,
meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris, yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, red clover Trifolium
pratense, white clover Trifolium repens and salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba ssp.
sanguisorba.
Abundant species include Lady’s bedstraw Galium verum and hedge bedstraw (Table 3).
The hybrid of these two species, Galium x pomeranicum, first recorded in 2011, is unusual
and it is thought that this is the only place where it occurs in the London area. Bird’s-foot
trefoil Lotus corniculatus, previously dominant (2003) is abundant whereas kidney vetch
Anthylis vulneraria has declined to less than 50 plants. Yarrow Achillea millefolium has
increased in abundance and is now a dominant species on the chalk downland.
Most of the grasses fall within the abundant category – or less – although it is harder
to accurately measure their abundance. Red fescue Festuca rubra and smaller cat’s tail
Phleum bertolonii are estimated as dominant grasses (Table 4) with glaucous sedge Carex
flacca, which is especially abundant around the top of the chalk mound. Crested dog’s-
tail Cynosurus cristatus, quaking grass Briza media, cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata and
false oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius are abundant (Table 5).
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G01 Abundant species (51-100) – grasses
1998 2002-2003 2014/2015
Agrostis capillaris Agrostis stolonifera Arrhenatherum elatius
Cynosurus cristatus Briza media
Dactylis glomerata Cynosurus cristatus
Festuca ovina Dactylis glomerata
Festuca rubra Festuca ovina
Holcus lanatus Holcus lanatus
G01 Dominant species (>100) – grasses and sedges
1998 2002-2003 2014-2015
Festuca rubra Anthoxanthum odoratum Carex flacca
Festuca rubra
Lolium perenne Arrhenatherum elatius Phleum bertolonii
Festuca ovina
Festuca rubra
Phleum bertolonii
Below: Table 4. Chalk downland: Dominant species – grasses and sedges
Below: Table 5. Chalk downland: Abundant species – grasses
Bee orchid Ophrys apifera var. belgarum on
chalk grassland. © The Trustees of the
Natural History Museum, London
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Five of the dominant species (Table 8) continue to be grasses: Yorkshire-fog, perennial
rye-grass, rough meadow-grass Poa trivialis, false brome (which is hard to restrict to the
adjoining woodland and hedgerow habitats) and crested dog’s-tail, one of the main
species of NVC MG5 Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra ‘hay meadow’ grassland
community on which the meadow is very loosely based, its numbers boosted when the
meadow turf was introduced to extend the meadow in March 2009.
Abundant grass species in meadow (G05) are cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata, soft brome
Bromus hordaceus and Yorkshire-fog (Table 9).
The pond-side meadow (G02), loosely based on NVC MG4 Alopecurus pratensis-
Sanguisorba officinalis, has a total of 76 species compared to 67 in 2002/3. The area is
73
perenne (Ware 1999). Despite its unpromising beginnings the meadow had a total of 93
species in 2002. The area has since been increased by replacing a clump of garden privet
in the eastern corner, in March 2009, with meadow turf sourced from Wildflower Turf.
The total species count in 2014/15 was 109. These figures include woody species around
the edges of the meadow.
Meadow crane’s-bill Geranium pratense continues as a dominant species, its striking
blue flowers are welcome in late summer. Bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus has
greatly increased, now dominant it makes a great impact in May and a contrast to meadow
buttercup Ranunculus acris and creeping buttercup R. repens, present in other grassland
areas. Red clover and betony Betonica officinalis have decreased in abundance, betony
markedly so. White clover has moved from abundant to dominant compared to 2002/03
and, whilst offering little meadow colour, is an important nectar plant. Yellow-rattle has
been slow to establish in this meadow but is now a dominant species. Additional yellow-
rattle seeds are added each year when the sheep return to graze (and trample the seeds)
to help boost its population with the aim of further reducing the abundance of rye-grass.
Yarrow remains abundant (Table 7) with black medick Medicago lupulina, germander
speedwell and common nettle. Common knapweed Centaurea nigra is gradually making
an impact as a community species. Common spotted-orchid, introduced in 2003 and 2004,
is gradually spreading around this meadow.
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Grassland: sheep grazing meadow. © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
G05 Dominant species (>100) – grasses
1998 2002-2003 2014-2015
Agrostis capillaris Agrostis capillaris Anthoxanthum odoratum
Agrostis stolonifera Agrostis stolonifera Cynosurus cristatus
Lolium perenne Anisantha sterilis Holcus lanatus
Poa trivialis Holcus lanatus Lolium perenne
Lolium perenne Poa trivialis
Poa trivialis
Above: Table 8. Meadow G05: Dominant species – grasses
G05 Dominant species (>100) – forbs
1998 2002-2003 2014-2015
Achillea millefolium Trifolium pratense Trifolium repens
Conyza summatrensis Geranium pratense Geranium pratense
Senecio jacobea Betonica officinalis Ranunculus bulbosus
Trifolium repens Ranunculus repens
Geranium pratense Galium album
Leucanthemum vulgare Rhinanthus minor
Above: Table 6. Meadow G05: Dominant species – forbs
G05 Abundant species (51-100) – forbs
1998 2002-2003 2014/2015
Epilobium sp. Achillea millefolium Achillea millefolium
Bellis perennis Stellaria media
Lotus corniculatus Medicago lupulina
Trifolium pratense Trifolium pratense
Trifolium repens Trifolium repens
Plantago lanceolata Plantago lanceolata
Ranunculus acris Galium album
Potentilla reptans Veronica chamaedrys
Rhinanthus minor Urtica dioica
Above: Table 7. Meadow G05: Abundant species – forbs
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Agrostis curtisii comprises low shrubs heather/ling, bell heather Erica cinerea and dwarf
gorse Ulex minor whose flowering peak coincides with the heathers. This community
includes bristle bent Agrostis curtisii, wavy hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa and sheep’s-
sorrel Rumex acetosella with bryophytes and lichens. Gorse was planted in the adjacent
hedge and silver birch planted nearby. The heathland provides rich colour and interest
at a time when the meadows and chalk downland flowers have faded and set seed. Nectar
and pollen are especially beneficial at this time of year for honey bees Apis melifera
and bumblebees, such as Bombus lapidarius and B. terrestris.
The wet heath/bog habitat (LH02) formed in 1999 suffered from the increasing shade
of the London plane trees along the west boundary. Bog-myrtle Myrica gale remained
with purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea but false brome soon colonised the area together
with red campion, common couch Elytrigia repens and wood avens. This habitat was
restored in 2013 using low pH compost made from bracken and sheep wool (Barker and
Bland, Dalefoot Farm) and with plants including yellow flag Iris pseudacorus, ragged-
robin Silene flos-cuculi and devil’s-bit scabious Succisa pratensis (all sourced from British
Wild Flower Plants in 9 cm pots), marsh ragwort Senecio aquaticus (propagated in the
garden’s nursery from seeds sourced from Slapton Ley) and bog-myrtle propagated from
cuttings from plants in the garden. Sedges include false fox-sedge Carex otrubae and
star sedge Carex echinata.
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dominated by cowslips in spring and later includes meadow buttercup, bird’s-foot trefoil,
red clover, great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, wild carrot Daucus carota, bladder
campion Silene vulgaris and small knapweed. Dominant grasses are false oat-grass, smaller
cat's-tail Phleum bertolonii, common bent Agrostis capillaris and cock’s-foot. Common
reed Phragmites australis and greater pond-sedge Carex riparia are beginning to creep
in from the pond margin at the base of this bank. The Nationally Scarce hog’s-fennel
Peucedanum officinale, introduced in 1995, is still thriving, though not self-seeding, near
the edge of the pond.
The orchard area, created in G03, has had mixed fortunes with over-shading from the
London planes along the garden's south boundary and shade from ornamental hawthorn
and crab apple in the centre of the orchard, both retained for their rough bark which
provides niches for invertebrates and nesting holes for blue tits. The area was reduced
in size to make way for the heathland created in 2012. Nevertheless this grassland area
has 48 species of plants including grasses meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, creeping
bent Agrostis stolonifera, cock’s-foot and red fescue. Bladder campion, planted in G02
and G03 in 1995, remains in both areas. Mistletoe Viscum album, planted by Jonathan
Briggs in April 2009, looks spectacular on the small apple tree Malus pumila ‘Brownlees
Russett’. It produced fruit for the first time in 2014. Mistletoe is a target species in the
local RBKC Biodiversity Action Plan.
The small grassland area G04 on the edge of the pond had become invaded by blackthorn
and was increasingly over-shaded by two rowan trees. The rowans have been coppiced,
the blackthorn reduced, and in spring 2013 the area successfully reseeded with a seed
mix of wet grassland species, sourced from Emorsgate Seeds.
Heathland
The original dry heathland LH01, planted in April 1998, has suffered from the shade of
the London planes but retains heather/ling Calluna vulgaris though this is no longer the
dominant species, which are now gorse Ulex europaeaus and bracken Pteridium aquilinum.
Much of the gorse lining the brick lane became woody and replacement plants have been
added during the past five years. Bristle bent Agrostis curtisii remains but false brome
and herbs including red campion and wood avens have colonised despite endless weeding
sessions. The area sustains a small population of self-sown foxglove Digitalis purpurea
and hard fern Blechnum spicant was a recent addition in 2015. The pH of this heathland
has increased from 4.2 in 2001 to between 5.2 and 7.2 in 2012. Lessons learned before
creating the new heathland habitat LH04 included omitting existing garden soil to create
the heathland mound.
The ‘new’ heathland LH04, planted in 2012 – NVC community NVC H3 – Ulex minor-
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Lowland heath habitat in 2015. © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
G05 grasses only Abundant species (51-100)
1998 2002-2003 2014/2015
Dactylis glomerata Bromus hordaceus
Dactylis glomerata
Holcus lanatus
Table 9. Meadow G05: Abundant species – grasses
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pond (A01). Submerged aquatics have been
replaced by the Charophyte, fragile
stonewort Chara globularis (see above).
White water-lily Nymphaea alba and
yellow water-lily Nuphar lutea thrive in the
main pond and chalk pond respectively.
Water soldier Stratiotes aloides, introduced
to the chalk pond in 2007, from the London
Wetland Centre, now requires thinning on
an annual basis.
Pond margins are more species-rich though
there is a risk that common reed Phragmites
australis will dominate the main pond if it is
not controlled by thinning on a regular basis. Emergent plants around the chalk pond include
marsh-marigold Caltha palustris, water mint Mentha aquatica, yellow flag and purple
loosestrife Lythrum salicaria, with ragged-robin, greater bird’s-foot trefoil Lotus pedunculatus
and common valerian Valeriana officinalis on the lower banks. Marsh woundwort Stachys
palustris, an interesting species not known to be well established in urban Greater London
apart from along the Regent’s Canal, is doing well around the chalk pond margins.
The main pond has a diverse range of marginal plants with galingale Cyperus longus,
great water dock Rumex hydropathum and yellow loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris on the
south margin (A05), flowering-rush Butomus umbellatus, reed sweet-grass Glyceria
maxima, water mint and greater spearwort Ranunculus lingua along the south and west
margins (A06) and mare’s-tail Hippuris vulgaris in open water on the north side of A03.
Hemlock water-dropwort which appeared by the waterfall (A10) has now spread to margins
on the west side of the pond. Cowbane Cicuta virosa, one of the many unusual plants
introduced twenty years ago by Clive Jermy, is frequent on the main pond.
Shade-tolerant competitors, great willowherb and hemp agrimony, are frequent around
the pond and are subject to some regular thinning.
The top pond (A09) marginals include bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata and bottle sedge
Carex rostrata. Water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile that thrived around this pond before
the waterfall was restored in 2006 was reintroduced in 2015.
In addition to shrubs of willow Salix phylicifolia and bog-myrtle, soft-rush Juncus
effusus, hard rush Juncus inflexus, brooklime Veronica beccabunga, lesser water-parsnip
Berula erecta and water-plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica are present around the
waterfall area with ferns including hart’s-tongue Asplenium scolopendrium. Opposite-
leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium was added in 2015.
Summer lady's-tresses Spiranthes aestivalis, donated by Bill Temple (Hardy Orchid
Society), was introduced in 2013. This orchid is now extinct in Britain. The last site, in
the New Forest, was drained thus killing the remaining plant. In Europe it lives in wet
acidic conditions and can sometimes be found growing in a mat of earth and vegetation
77
Wetland
Ponds
In recent years, there has been no problem with excessive algae or over-abundant
submerged species as reported in Leigh and Ware (2003). In fact the abundance of all
submerged aquatic macrophytes has greatly declined since the source of water to top up
ponds was changed in 2009 from mains supply to borehole. Samples of water have been
collected annually as noted above but no specific analyses have yet been carried out on
the collected data to fully ascertain the link, if any, between the change in water source
supply, the decline in submerged aquatic macrophytes and the effect on aquatic Mollusca.
Of the submerged aquatics, hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum, once over-abundant
in the main pond, is now scarce. There is no evidence of spiked water-milfoil Myriophyllum
spicatum which was introduced with hornwort in 2000. Similarly, curled pond weed
Potamogeton crispus, the dominant plant in the main pond in 2003 is not evident. Water-
starwort Callitriche sp. remains in all three ponds, the chalk pond (A01), main pond
(A03) and top pond (A08). The non-native duckweed Lemna minuta appeared around
2010 in the top pond (A09) and is present with duckweed Lemna minor and L. gibba,
while the attractive ivy-leaved duckweed L. trisulca is more or less confined to the chalk
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 676
Main pond – east to west. © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
Bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata.
© The Trustees of the Natural History
Museum, London
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LICHENS
PAT WOLSELEY AND HOLGER THÜS, LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Species composition in all habitats changes, either due to arrival of late colonisers over
time or by species replacements in response to changing environmental conditions. With
lichens this is often a slow process as they are usually slow-growing and may hang on in
a location where conditions have already changed in a direction which would not allow
a fresh recolonisation.
The garden was established in 1995 to demonstrate typical plant communities of the
British Isles. However the establishment of the site in an urban environment next to an
arterial road also provided an opportunity to monitor changes in lichen communities over
time in response to changing environmental conditions. Unlike the plant communities in
the garden, lichens have not been introduced deliberately but have either colonised the
area spontaneously or have been introduced on substrates, e.g. rocks, soil, or young
trees that have been transferred to the garden. By 2003 (Leigh and Ware) 43 lichens
were recorded in the garden and 10 permanent quadrats established on lichen
communities. It also included pollution-tolerant lichens such as Lecanora conizaeoides
characteristic of urban habitats at the time and reflecting the history of high
concentrations of acidifying pollutants (mainly SO2). Over time conditions changed and
some of the early colonisers disappeared but it took time for species associated with the
new habitat conditions to arrive. This section charts the losses, gains and changes in
lichen communities between 2003 and 2015.
Lichen quadrats were established in December 2000 to monitor changes in lichen species
which were seen as suitable indicators sensitive to acidifying pollutants but rather tolerant
to elevated levels of ammonia and nitrogen oxides, such as Xanthoria parietina in a site
where atmospheric conditions were monitored as part of a national monitoring network
(Leigh and Ware 2003). Permanent quadrats of 10 x 15 cm were established on a variety
of saxicolous substrates across the garden from limestone boulders with a high base content
to sandstones and hard acid rocks of gneiss. By 2009 some of the quadrats no longer
contained the lichen species that they had been set up to monitor mainly due to changes
in the habitat structure such as increasing shade from growing trees and shrubs and
subsequent overgrowth by flowering plants and mosses. Other changes that affect fixed
quadrats could be very local, such as water birds using a quadrat area on a stone on the
edge of the upper pond as a resting place, resulting in an accumulation of highly nutrient-
enriched droppings on this spot and the loss of the lichens. However, while specimens
may be lost from a quadrat they may still be present in the adjacent area. This required
a different procedure for monitoring changes in a complex mosaic of micro-habitats.
In addition, new habitats were being developed in the garden; a split chestnut fence
was established around the meadow (G05) in 2003 and the chalk downland (G01) in 2004.
The wood from coppiced chestnut was untreated and has been colonised by a
comparatively rich lichen community which contributed many new records for the garden.
More recently in February 2012 a new heathland area was established using turfs
introduced from Merritown Heath, Dorset (see above). We continued to monitor the
quadrats established in 2000 but also extended the monitoring to include species lists
for specified substrata and ‘habitat-areas’ following the delimitation set out in the site
map (Figure 1).
79
floating on top of lakes. The plants now growing in the garden are descendants of a plant
propagated from French seed (Bill Temple pers. comm.). They are a beautiful and rare
addition to the waterfall area.
The ford area includes lesser water-parsnip, water forget-me-not Myosotis scorpiodes,
yellow iris, purple-loosestrife and occasionally common reed along the edge of the
stepping stones. Celery-leaved buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus appeared on the south
edge of the ford (A10) area in 2007 but has not been recorded since.
The Wildlife Garden ponds are included on RBKC’s list of flagship species and sites in
the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (RBKC 2010:47).
Fen and reedbeds
The main fen areas are F01 and F02 with area F03 restored as fen carr in 2008. In spite
of shade from overhanging plane trees, the fen habitats provide a variety of damp-loving
species. These include common reed, reed canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea,
meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, purple-loosestrife, yellow loosestrife, hemp agrimony,
tufted-sedge Carex elata, marsh fern Thelypteris palustris, meadow-rue Thalictrum
flavum and fen nettle Urtica dioica ssp. galeopsifolia. Marsh sow-thistle Sonchus palustris,
an interesting addition, was successfully introduced to the fen (F01 and F02) and pond
margin (A04) in 2012 and 2013, and originated from remaining plants collected from
Crayford Marsh by Mark Spencer (2012).
The three reedbeds have been cut in rotation since 2003. The beds require regular
weeding as other wetland plants self-seed into this area, including purple-loosestrife,
marsh-marigold and alder. Monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus is an occasional unwanted
arrival in this area.
Problems of edge influence
In 1998 the number of species occurring in 15 or more habitat plots was 10 compared to
20 in 2003. However the number of plots in which some of those species occurs has
increased, for example red campion was recorded in 14 plots in 1999, 20 in 2003 and
now in 43. A few species have decreased such as Yorkshire-fog, present in 23 beds in
1998, 18 in 2003 and now in just 11 plots. Bramble, originally introduced to just one
habitat, scrub S02, has now spread to 32 plots.
Whilst plants such as bramble, common angelica and common nettle are relatively
easy to find and thin out or remove, smaller species such as wood avens and herb-Robert
are less easy to find and remove from plant communities where they might be considered
inappropriate. However several of these are catholic species found in a range of habitats
anyway. It is the larger and more invasive plants such as cow parsley, hogweed Heracleum
sphondylium, bindweeds Calystegia spp. and nettles that need most regular monitoring
and thinning to prevent over-shading of smaller light-demanding species. It is with the
help from our generous volunteers that we are able to carry out this work and maintain
the distinctiveness of our main plant communities in small areas of habitat.
The different plant communities are dynamic and show changes over time. Different
survival strategies of individual plants in this urban setting are a continual source of
interest and study. As the garden matures, there is further potential for studying
associations between plants and insects in this unique garden of native species.
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The air quality data are recorded in a hut on the boundary of the WLG with Cromwell
Road and are available on the Defra site (http://ukair.defra.gov.uk/data/data_selector).
Since 2010 RBKC have recorded the data including NO2, CO and particulates (PM10). The
results for NO2at the roadside remain in exceedance of the objective of 40 µg/m3in all
years (RBKC report). However, the increasing vegetation in the garden acts as a filter
and even at an early stage between October 2001 and July 2002 the measurement of
gaseous nitric oxide (NO) and nitric dioxide (NO2) across the garden using diffusion tubes
showed a distinct gradient of both components from the road to 75m inside the garden
(Leigh and Ware 2003). Since 2002 the woodland areas adjacent to Cromwell Road and
Queen’s Gate have become well established. Similar to many studies elsewhere it was
confirmed that in London there is a strong correlation between bark pH and atmospheric
pollutant levels (Larsen et al. 2007, Wolseley et al. 2006). In 2015 the pH of a range of
substrata across the garden including oak trees, rocks, walls and chestnut fence rails
was recorded using a flat-tip electrode.
Results and discussion
The location of quadrats and sites that we monitored or surveyed is shown in Table 10
together with the pH of substrata recorded in 2015.
All species and their locations are shown in Table 11.
Of the 94 species that have been recorded in the garden since the lichen recording
started, 23 of these have not been recorded recently. Many of these species were pioneers,
colonisers of new substrates where both habitat and environmental conditions have
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 680
Substrate Map code Changes in environment substrate pH
Limestone wall top P05 overgrown with moss 7.6 7.1 6.7 7.2 7.3
Schist boulder F03 shaded + undergrowth 5.8 6.9 6.9 6
Purbeck limestone boulder DF shaded
Gneiss boulder W08 shaded + undergrowth
Brick path edge LH01 moss
Old red sandstone boulder S03 dense undergrowth
Chalk and flint boulder G01 overgrown adjacent pond
Chestnut paling G05 exposed 6.7 4.8 5 6.2
Chestnut paling G01 exposed 7.2 7.1 6.4
Brick path edge U01/2 exposed
Bee tree W06 exposed
Heathland peat LH04 exposed
Wall LH04 exposed
Woodland W01/4/5/6/7 increased shade
Oak tree W04 woodland area 6.4 6.2 6.7
Oak tree W09 adjacent monitoring station 6.8 6.6 6.8
New limestone wall to heathland G03 exposed 7.4 7.7 7.3
NHM west facing wall G06 exposed 7.8 7.9 7.8
Table 10: Lichens in the NHM Wildlife Garden. Location of quadrats and sites monitored or
surveyed together with pH measurements of different substrata in 2015
Species list Sub. 2003 2005 2009 2011/12 2014/15
Amandinea punctata ep,li WLG G01 A02,G05 A02,G05,
W04/9
Anisomeridium polypori ep P05 P05,W09
Arthonia radiata ep W01 P04,W04/9
Arthopyrenia punctiformis ep WLG P05,W09
Bacidia adastra ep G01,G04 A02,P05 A02,P05 P05,W09
Bacidia egenula sx W08
Bacidia neosquamulosa sx G04
Bacidia inundata sx F03 F03 F03
Bacidia delicata ep WLG G05
Bacidia sp. li G05
Buellia griseovirens li A01
Caloplaca crenulatella sx A10,P05
Caloplaca cerina li G05
Caloplaca decipiens li G05
Caloplaca flavocitrina sx P05,G01 U01/2, A10 G01
G05,G01
Caloplaca flavovirescens sx U01/2 A10
Caloplaca holocarpa agg. sx DF,P05 DF
Caloplaca lithophila sx WLG A10
Caloplaca saxicola sx WLG DF G06
Caloplaca variabilis sx P05
Candelaria concolor sx G05
Candelariella aurella li F03,S03 G01 P05 G05,P05
Candelariella medians sx WLG
Candelariella reflexa ep G05 P05
Candelariella vitellina sx WLG A01/2 G01
Catillaria chalybeia sx F03
Cladonia chlorophaea* ter WLG
Cladonia ciliata* ter WLG
Cladonia coniocraea* ter WLG LH04
Cladonia crispata* ter WLG
Cladonia 'diversa' ter G03
Cladonia fimbriata ter WLG G03 LH04
Cladonia floerkeana ter WLG
Cladonia furcata ter G03 LH04
Cladonia portentosa ter G03 LH04
Cladonia pyxidata ter G03
Cladonia ramulosa* ter WLG
Collema tenax ter WLG
Cyrtidula quercus ep WLG
Table 11. All species of lichenised fungi and their locations recorded in the NHM Wildlife
Garden 2003-2015
changed radically in the last 12 years especially in areas that are now overgrown or
shaded by vegetation as in the woodland area. However, some changes suggest wider
changes in London’s environmental conditions, such as the loss of Lecanora conizaeoides
(previously often called ‘the pollution lichen’) which formerly grew in a large patch on
the lime tree in the centre of the garden. In the years of high SO2deposition as acid rain
this lichen was common but the Clean Air Acts resulted in a decrease in SO2. The reduction
of SO2levels revealed the effect of other pollutants and particularly atmospheric nitrogen
compounds from traffic along Cromwell Road became more obvious. The result was an
increase in species tolerant of atmospheric nitrogen oxides and ammonia such as Xanthoria
parietina (Leigh and Ware 2003), Phaeophyscia orbicularis and more recently two more
Physciaceae, Hyperphyscia adglutinata on both rocks and trees and Phaeophyscia nigricans
on rocks. Hyperphyscia adglutinata is abundant on plane trees along the Cromwell Road
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TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 682
Species list Sub. 2003 2005 2009 2011/12 2014/15
Evernia prunastri ep G05
Felhanera viridisorediata sx DF,G01 DF,S03,A02
Flavoparmelia caperata li G01 G05
Hyperphyscia adglutinata ep,sx G01 G01 G05,P04/5,
W08/9
Hypogymnia physodes ep WLG
Lecania erysibe sx F03 P05
Lecania rabenhorstii sx A10 P05 to DF
Lecanora albescens sx A10,P05,DF P05 P05 to
DF,G06
Lecanora campestris li G01
Lecanora chlarotera ep WLG W01/5 W04
Lecanora conizaeoides ep WLG
Lecanora dispersa agg. li P05,F03,DF G05 A10,DF,P05 G06,P05
Lecanora expallens ep A01
Lecanora hagenii li G01 G01
Lecanora muralis sx A10, F03, U01/2, A10 G06
W08,S03 G01/4/5
Lecanora persimilis ep LH01
Lecanora saligna li G05 G05
Lecanora symmicta ep A01 G05
Lecidea fuscoatra sx G06
Lecidella elaeochroma ep G01 W04/5
Lecidella scabra li,sx A01,G04
Lecidella stigmataea sx P05,W08, U01/2 P05,DF,G01 DF,Q9,G01 F03,P05
S03,G01
Lepraria incana li G05
Lepraria lobificans sx WLG P05
Melanelixia subaurifera ep WLG G05
Micarea denigrata li G05,Q7
Opegrapha vulgata li WLG
Opegrapha vermicellifera li W07
Parmelia sulcata li WLG G05 G05
Parmotrema perlatum li G05
Peltigera cf. hymenina ter U01
Phaeophyscia nigricans li,sx G05 G05/6,F04
Phaeophyscia orbicularis ep,li A10,S03 G01/5 G01 DF,W08,G01 G05, P04/5,
W04/8/9
Physcia adscendens ep S03,G01 G05 G05/6
Physcia caesia sx G05 G06
Physcia dubia sx WLG G06
Physcia tenella ep,li,sx S03 A01,G01/5 G01 G01 G05
Placynthiella icmalea li G05
Species list Sub. 2003 2005 2009 2011/12 2014/15
Porina chlorotica li WLG
Porpidia tuberculosa sx WLG
Protoblastenia rupestris sx G04 P05 P05,F03
Punctelia subrudecta ep,li G05 G03/5
Ramalina farinacea ep WLG G05
Rinodina oleae (gennarii) li A02,DF,F03, G05 G01 F03
W08,G01
Sarcogyne regularis sx WLG G04 P05
Scoliciosporum chlorococcum li WLG G01
Scoliciosporum umbrinum sx WLG
Steinia geophana sx WLG G01
Thelidium minutulum sx WLG G01
Thelidium zwackhii sx G01
Trapelia coarctata sx WLG G06
Trapelia glebulosa sx G06
Trapelia obtegens sx WLG
Trapeliopsis flexuosa li,sx G05
Verrucaria muralis sx WLG
Verrucaria nigrescens sx A10,DF,P05 A10 P05
Verrucaria dolosa sx G01
Xanthoria parietina ep,li,sx A10,P05,DF, G05,W01 A10 F03,P05,W09
W08,S03,G01
Xanthoria polycarpa ep WLG A01/5 F05,P05,G05
Xanthoria ucrainica ep G05
Xanthoparmelia mougeotii li WLG G05
* Introduced with heathland habitat
Subtrate: ep = epiphytic (on living plants), li = lignicolous (on dead wood), sx=saxicolous (on rock),
ter=terricolous (on soil)
For habitat locations – see Figure 1
WLG = exact localities within the Wildlife Garden not recorded
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M
with 4.8 was recorded on the chestnut fence rails (G05). This fence has a small-scale
mosaic of micro-habitats and pH values ranging from 4.8 to 6.7. This habitat diversity is
reflected in a count of 23 species on rails and posts including rather sensitive taxa which
become more common on suburban trees, and in parks and woodlands, e.g. Flavoparmelia
caperata, Evernia prunastri, Ramalina farinacea and Parmotrema perlatum, together
with nitrophytes. Other interesting species that have appeared in 2015 on this substrate
include the beautiful Caloplaca cerina with its orange fruiting bodies and Xanthoparmelia
mougeottii, a pioneer species which is widespread in the south of Britain and apparently
increasing in recent years particularly on acidic tombstones in graveyards, but rather
rare on dead wood. This habitat is today a hotspot of lichen species richness in the garden
(and inner London). All other substrata in the garden have a higher pH which suggests
that this is a limiting factor for many of the species that prefer a neutral to acidic pH.
The result in the garden is that the trees in the woodland areas (W0 numbers) are still
low in lichen species numbers and tend to support nitrophytic species. The surprisingly
high pH values and dominance of nitrophytic lichens on all of the rock surfaces may be
influenced by the accumulation of dust and of plane tree seeds which cover the horizontal
surface of the boulders and which also alter the nutrient status and surface pH. This,
together with the increased shade, has resulted in the loss of pioneer species such as
Lecidella stigmatea, Lecania erysibe and Rinodina oleae from the quadrats on boulders
85
and Queen’s Gate but still comparatively
rare in the garden where the dense shrub
layer acts as a pollution filter but also
increases the shading which may contribute
to the low frequency of the Hyperphyscia
in most parts of the garden. The pH of all
substrata in 2015 is consistently relatively
high (Table 10), even on siliceous rocks
which naturally have acidic surfaces.
Strongly acidophytic species that were
present during the high SO2regime of the
last century (e.g. Lecanora conizaeoides)
are now absent and replaced by species
associated with a high pH, elevated nitrogen and dust deposition. The pH values measured
on two young oaks range from 6.4 to 6.7 and contrast with the results of an earlier survey
of oaks across London which reported pH ranges between 4.6 and 5.9 with an average
of 4.92 in Hyde Park only five years ago (Larsen et al. 2007). The lowest pH in the garden
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 684
Right: Foliose Xanthoria parietina growing
with the crustose lichen Candelariella
vitellina in 2001, the latter disappeared
after 2009.© The Trustees of the Natural
History Museum, London
Below: Parmotrema perlatum on chestnut paling to meadow where the surface
pH remains low. © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
Below left: Lichen quadrat on a flint boulder in 2002 showing early colonisation of chalk
by crustose species Lecidella stigmatea, Caloplaca citrina and a small Physcia adscendens
(centre). © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
Below right: Detail of flintstone surface colonized by Hyperphyscia adglutinata in 2009.
© The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
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two years ago but continues to thrive in this shaded environment in the absence of
stronger competitors.
The chalk downland has always produced surprises. Early on Steinia geophana, an
ephemeral species of disturbed habitats, was recorded on flint in the chalk and
subsequently two species of Thelidium were recorded on pebbles near the stream (Leigh
and Ware 2003). In 2009 Holger Thüs found Verrucaria dolosa on flint at the edge and in
temporarily inundated parts of the small stream rising in the chalk, and in 2014 Thelidium
zwackhii on pebbles on the opposite side of the meadow, inside the shaded gate by the
path leading out of the garden. Although these species are found in urban habitats across
Britain they are often under-recorded (Gilbert 1990). In December 2005 Dr Andre Aptroot
from the Netherlands paid a visit to the Museum and we spent a morning in the garden.
This led to several records of species associated with an increase in nitrogen compounds
in the Netherlands that are now appearing in the UK; Bacidia adastra (Sparrius and Aptroot
2003) was found on rocks near the pond in GO4 and on the fence rails by the chalk
downland, Bacidia neosquamulosa (usually a corticolous species) described in 1999 by
Aptroot and van Herk was found on the same rock as Bacidia adastra. A close look at the
gneiss rock in heavily shaded WO8 where Q7 had become dominated by bryophytes
produced Bacidia egenula – a species characteristic of this shady habitat. In 2011 Bacidia
inundata was found in Q5 on another gneiss rock. Bacidia inundata is a species which is
often abundant on river banks but also occurring in other often half-shaded habitat types.
Corticolous species have also increased. In 2005 the trees in the woodland area, planted
between 1993 and 2000, supported eight species. Today the highest cover and species
richness is found on the bark of younger trees which are not (yet) as shaded as the first
generation of trees on the site (Table 10). The pattern of colonisation during sun-exposed
early periods followed by disappearance and replacement with shade-tolerant species
later is evident for the epiphytic species. Phaeophyscia nigricans was first observed in
the garden on trees from where it has disappeared due to the shading but it is now
starting to colonize sun-exposed limestone blocks in large numbers on the wall which
surrounds the heathland patch as well as the walls of the west end of the main Museum
building alongside Gill’s meadow, GO6.
Overall, the composition of the lichen biota in the garden is mainly driven by three
factors, two external and one internal:
• the change from a dominant acidic pollution by SO2to a pollution cocktail which
continues to contain a high level of NOx from traffic. This is reflected in the dominance
of Xanthorion-related communities in sun-exposed parts (particularly on trees and
dead wood) and Bacidia-rich communities in the shaded areas (on rocks and trees).
• Introduction of species by transferring materials from areas outside of the urban
environment (e.g. heathland soil and Ericaceae plants, ‘bee-tree’). These introductions
constitute an active manipulation of the species pool and although unintended can
be used to assess the role of pollution tolerance versus dispersal limitation in a range
of lichen species.
• Succession of the marginal areas towards a more typical woodland microclimate with
an increase of (heavily) shaded areas resulting in the loss of light-demanding pioneer
species on older trees and rocks and the appearance of woodland species on the
chestnut fence.
87
although they are still present on exposed surfaces on the walls along the edge of the
meadow in G06. In 2003 Xanthoria parietina was still abundant and recorded in six of
the quadrats on sandstone and calcareous boulders (though not on granite boulders)
(Leigh and Ware 2003). In recent years although it has been lost in quadrats that have
become shaded and overgrown it has appeared in other habitats as on young ash trees
in the woodland area as well as on fallen plane twigs and on the chestnut fence rails
around the meadow.
Species that came in with an introduced habitat element have rarely survived for long.
However the heathland that was sourced from Merritown Heath in February 2012 included
five species of Cladonia on the turf between the Calluna stems. Cladonia species are
regarded as sensitive to even low levels of eutrophication yet two species are still present
in 2015 in a site situated less than 50m from Cromwell Road. The cover of these species
however is decreasing constantly and more and more of the Cladonia is outcompeted
mainly by mats of the moss Hypnum jutlandicum. Peltigera cf. hymenina which still
continues to grow, for example, on graves in nearby Brompton Cemetery had colonised
the heathland patch spontaneously but disappeared within two years with Hypnum
jutlandicum now also occupying the once open space where the Peltigera lived. A
remarkable survivor of an introduction is Opegrapha vermicellifera on a dead oak trunk
which is used as an observation beehive. This species is typical of extensive lowland
woodlands and rarely found in urban areas. It was certainly introduced with the oak trunk
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 686
Pink apothecia and pale green soredia of Bacidia adastra.
© The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
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exuviae of southern hawker Aeshna cynea and migrant hawker Aeshna mixta have recently
been collected. The former collected from marginal vegetation around the top pond (A09),
the latter from the main pond margins. The regular presence of these dragonflies as well
as large red damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula, common blue damselfly Enallagma
cyathigerum, emperor dragonfly Anax imperator and common darter dragonfly Sympetrum
striolatum, strongly suggests that these seven species are breeding in the ponds.
ORTHOPTERA
DUNCAN SIVELL, LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Eight Orthoptera species are listed for the Wildlife Garden, including a recent addition
to the British fauna, the southern oak bush-cricket Meconema meridionale and a very
unexpected species for central London, the bog bush-cricket Metrioptera brachyptera.
Some common London species are still missing from the list, however, and three species
that were recorded early in the garden's history are now presumed to be absent.
The southern oak bush-cricket was first recorded in Britain in 2001 and has been
expanding its range in southern England ever since. This bush-cricket was found in the
garden in 2013 and its appearance is consistent with an increase in sightings across
London. More unexpected was the discovery of an adult bog bush-cricket in 2012. This
was caught and photographed, then released back into the garden. There are few records
of this species within the M25 and the nearest population appears to be at least 10 miles
from South Kensington. As this species has not been seen or heard since its first discovery
we presume the record was a stray individual, probably introduced with the heathland
plants in 2012.
Two species noticeably absent from the garden are the common green grasshopper
Omocestus viridulus and Roesel’s bush-cricket Metrioptera roeselii, which are both
relatively common within London. The common green grasshopper was present in the
garden between 1995 and 1998, along with the common ground-hopper Tetrix undulata
and slender ground-hopper Tetrix subulata (Honey et al. 1998), but as none of these
three species have been recorded in recent years we assume their populations died out
and have failed to recolonize. The ground-hoppers are relatively small and cryptic and
may be missed by casual recording, although some populations can be ephemeral, lasting
just a few years (Baldock 1999). Both ground-hopper species are considered to be good
colonizers and may reappear if other populations exist near the Museum.
The common green grasshopper is quite large and distinctive and is easily recognized
by its song, so it is unlikely this species has been overlooked. Roesel’s bush-cricket is
similarly distinctive in appearance and song, and although it has not been recorded in
the garden one was seen resting on the wall of the Museum’s Darwin Centre in 2015,
literally a stone’s throw away. This individual was a female of the long-winged form of
the bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii f. diluta). This recent sighting suggests Roesel’s
bush-cricket could soon be added to the garden’s Orthoptera list.
A total of eleven Orthoptera species has been recorded since the garden was created,
but the Orthoptera community has changed and developed over time and not all of these
species persist. There is potential for new colonizers to arrive and targeted survey effort
is recommended for this group, particularly for the more cryptic species.
89
FAUNA
———
INVERTEBRATES
AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATES
ADRIAN RUNDLE, LEARNING CURATOR, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
The aquatic insect fauna is still very diverse in all the ponds. The true bugs (Hemiptera)
are well represented and there are several new additions. A small juvenile water scorpion
Nepa cinerea was found in the main pond. There were three species of surface-dwelling
bugs: Gerris argentatus, Hydrometra stagnorum and Mesovelia furcata, the last being
new. The water boatmen Notonecta glauca and Hesperocorixa linnei were both common.
Water beetles were especially common in the main pond and included Acilius sulcatus,
Hygrobia tarda, Hyphydrus ovatus and Haliplus sp. Whirligig Beetles (Gyrinus sp.) were
common in the chalk pond but were always out of reach. Of the larger crustaceans
present, only Asellus aquaticus was seen and A. meridionalis doesn't seem to occur. Only
two species of water fleas were seen between June and August 2014. These were Daphnia
longispina and Scapholeberis mucronata. Caddis fly Limnophilus spp. reported as absent
from previous surveys (S.Brooks, in Ware and Leigh 2003: 100) are now commonly found,
as are mayfly Cloeon dipterum, midge larvae Chaoborus species and Chironomus species.
Larvae of azure damselflies Coenagrion puella are commonly found during pond-dipping
sessions but whilst dragonfly larvae have not been recorded during the current pond surveys,
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 688
Blue-tailed damselfly Ischnura elegans. © The Trustees of the
Natural History Museum, London
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(Bantock 2011). Populations have also been found in Yorkshire and Oxfordshire, suggesting
a pattern of repeated introduction. Two other recently arrived Heteroptera species are
known from the garden, both of which were found as singletons in malaise trap samples
during 2012. The anthocorid Buchananiella continua is most frequently associated with
dead woody vegetation and was first recorded in Britain from Buckingham Palace Gardens
in 1995 (Kirby 1999). The mirid Tropidosteptes pacificus feeds exclusively on ash and is
a very recent arrival in Britain (Bantock and Stewart 2013). This bug is native to the USA
but was recorded in Holland in 2007 and 2008 as a probable horticultural introduction
on ornamental ash (Aukema et al. 2009).
The remaining four species are leafhoppers, all of which were found in Malaise trap
samples during 2012. Fieberiella florii, a large and attractive chestnut coloured leafhopper
covered with black dots, was first recorded in 1998 at Park Royal in west London. Since
then, it has turned up in several places in the London area on ornamental plantings in
suburban settings (Stewart et al. 2015). Both European species in this genus have now
been recorded in Britain (Bantock and Stewart 2011). Zygina nivea, which feeds on white
poplar, was discovered in Britain in 2010 and is now probably widespread in the London
area (Bantock et al. 2010). Acericerus ribauti was first recorded in London in 2008 and
is found on maples, usually with its close relative A. vittifrons, while Eupteryx
decemnotata is most frequently associated with sage and is now widespread in the south-
east since its discovery in 2002 (Maczey and Wilson 2004).
91
HEMIPTERA – TERRESTRIAL HETEROPTERA AND AUCHENORRYNCHA
T.M. BANTOCK, 101 CROUCH HILL, LONDON N8 9RD
Most terrestrial Heteroptera (‘true’ bugs) and all Auchenorrhyncha (leafhoppers and
allies) are herbivores which feed on one or more plant species. As such, they have a
direct relationship with the flora of any given site and reflect the plant communities
present. Since the various zones created in the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Garden
may be seen as small islands of ‘natural’ habitat within a highly urbanised local
environment, the range of species which have colonised them is of particular interest.
A total of 42 species of Heteroptera (‘true’ bugs) have been recorded in the garden as
of 2015, 34 of which are terrestrial and eight are aquatic. The Auchenorrhyncha
(leafhoppers and allies) are represented by 29 species. Of the 63 terrestrial species, 7
are grass-feeding, 19 have herbaceous host plants and 37 are associated with woody
shrubs and trees. All the grass-feeders are generalists which are typical of semi-improved
grasslands in southern Britain, although some require areas of longer grasses in order to
persist, for example the mirid Megaloceroea recticornis. Those feeding on herbs include
three very widespread bugs which are ubiquitous on stinging nettle: the leafhopper
Eupteryx aurata and the mirids Liocoris tripustulatus and Plagiognathus arbustorum.
However, some of these species are rather more typical of natural habitats, in particular
Eupteryx tenella, a leafhopper found on yarrow and Polymerus nigrita, a mirid on
bedstraws. The relatively large number of species feeding on shrubs and trees is perhaps
not surprising, since most of the native British tree fauna is represented in the garden.
Hornbeam, hawthorn, hazel, birch, poplar, ash, sycamore and London plane are amongst
the specific hosts for this group.
The British Hemiptera fauna has seen much change in recent years and more than 50
new species of Heteroptera and Auchenorrhyncha have been added to the British list
since 1990. The majority of these are new colonists, as opposed to taxonomic splits or
overlooked native species and have generally arrived here following natural dispersal
from the near Continent or via the horticultural trade as accidental imports in ornamental
plants and landscaping materials (Stewart and Kirby 2010). The London area benefits
from a significantly milder climate than other parts of southern Britain and it is pertinent
that a number of these new colonists appear to be found nowhere else.
Eight such species have been recorded from the garden, of which the best known is
perhaps Arocatus longiceps. This red and black lygaeid feeds on the seeds of London plane
and was discovered in central London in 2006 (Nau and Straw 2007). It has been prolific
in the garden since at least 2007 and attracted considerable media attention during 2008.
The bugs were originally identified as A. roeselii, a species long thought to be associated
with alder on the Continent. After some debate (Barclay 2007, 2009; Hoffmann 2008),
consensus was reached that all plane-feeding Arocatus in western Europe refer to the very
similar A. longiceps. However, morphologically indistinguishable bugs have now appeared
on alder in Britain and recent molecular work has failed to discriminate populations of
Arocatus on plane and alder in Germany (Hoffmann 2012). The species limits of these taxa
now seem confused and may be in need of reassessment (Bantock 2014).
The mirid Closterotomus trivialis was found in numbers in the garden during the Natural
History Museum’s Big Nature Day in 2011. This polyphagous species is native to the
Mediterranean but has been recorded widely from the London area in recent years
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Plane tree bug Arocatus longiceps. © Tristan Bantock
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develop and adult females develop as egg-layers known as oviparae. In parallel with the
production of oviparae, adult males also develop and these mate with oviparae to produce
fertile, overwintering, eggs. In summer, when the sap of primary (woody) hosts is not as
nutritious as in spring and autumn, host-alternating aphids employ winged females to
seek out their secondary hosts – usually herbaceous plants that are only distantly related
to the primary host(s).
The observation that aphids appear apparently suddenly and often in huge colonies
arises from a highly specialised biology that exploits plants in optimum condition to
support aphid development. Perhaps the most important aspect of aphid biology is
parthenogenesis, a long word that means reproduction without recourse to sex.
Parthenogenesis means that for all or most of the time (according to species) all individuals
in a colony are females. As soon as an individual matures she begins to give birth to first-
instar nymphs. Depending on climatic conditions and the suitability of a host plant, one
individual can be mother to many offspring. Not only this but there can be ‘telescoping
of generations’ where as-yet unborn embryos are already carrying their own offspring,
i.e. the mother carries her own daughters, and their daughters too, within her abdomen.
Aphid populations can crash every bit as dramatically as they can burgeon. The optimum
conditions of the host plant last only for a short period. In actively growing populations the
adults of most species of aphids are wingless. As the condition of the host deteriorates, and
as crowding leads to jostling amongst the aphids, chemical and physical signals trigger the
development of winged individuals, still female, which can leave the scene and seek plants
in better condition (if these winged morphs have managed to reach adulthood in time!).
The life cycles of most British aphids are now well understood but one particular aphid
species has failed to reveal its secret for
overwintering and this aphid has been
observed in the garden on several
occasions. Tuberolachnus salignus (Gmelin)
feeds only on the trunks and woody main
stems of willows (Salix spp.), which are
deciduous. It has no alternative host and
must, therefore, overwinter on willow.
However, colonies sampled in late autumn
and early winter contain only
parthenogenetic (sex-less) females:
oviparae and eggs have never been found,
anywhere. Stranger still, this rather large
grey aphid has only been found in autumn
and winter: the Museum’s collection has no
summer material of this species. Observed
93
HEMIPTERA – STERNORRHYNCHA
JON H. MARTIN, SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATE, LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
To the vast majority of people aphids are either ‘greenfly’ or ‘blackfly’ and only come
on to their radar when large colonies appear (often quite suddenly) on their vegetable
or flowerbed plants. A second group of people, those with more interest in the group
through being entomologists or other biologists, will certainly know that there are many
more species of aphids than this but may be blissfully unaware of just how many there
are! To date 44 aphid species have been recorded colonising plants in the garden –a
seemingly high total to most people but actually representing but a small proportion of
the aphid species that are likely to be present periodically.
There are in the region of 4,400 named aphid species worldwide and Britain is home
to over 400. That Britain is home to c10% of the entire world fauna immediately indicates
one thing – that aphids are predominantly a group inhabiting temperate regions. In fact
it is the northern temperate regions that are particularly rich in aphid species – a belt
running from North America, across Europe and Russia to northern parts of Asia. Rather
few species are tropical natives.
Aphids belong to the insect order Hemiptera, whose members feed on liquid food via
piercing stylets. Some hemipterans (for example, assassin bugs, toe-biters, anthocorid
bugs and some capsid and pentatomid bugs) feed on other arthropods, and others feed
on blood (bed bugs and triatomid assassin bugs). However, the entire suborder
Sternorrhyncha, which contains the aphids, whiteflies, scale insects and jumping plant
lice, contains only plant-feeding (phytophagous) species. Aphids are divided between
three families (Aphididae, Adelgidae and Phylloxeridae) and species within the Aphididae
are further divided between ten subfamilies.
All aphids are very small, the largest having a body length of around 8 mm but some
are only a millimetre or so long. Their impact on their host plants arises from the sheer
numbers that can develop in a very short space of time when conditions are right. Most
aphids feed on actively-growing plant shoots which have more nutritious sap. This results
in spring being the ‘peak season’ for aphids, with most plants growing fast. In fact there
is also an autumn peak, too, as senescence leads to tree sap being more nutritious than
in summer.
As well as being very small, almost all aphids are soft-bodied and individuals are delicate
and vulnerable: the phrase ‘safety in numbers’ is particularly apt. Most species possess
a pair of structures, siphunculi or cornicles, which are unique to aphids. Siphunculi are
tubular and can discharge alarm pheromones and defensive lipids. The bigger the colony,
the more likely it is that this defence will help to ward off would-be predators or
parasitoids.
Most aphids are monoecious, undergoing their life cycle entirely on one host or on a
small number of closely related hosts. Very few aphids are truly polyphagous and can
develop on a wide range of hosts in many plant families: unsurprisingly polyphagous
aphids tend to be pests of agriculture and horticulture. Aphids are ‘mistresses of invention’
and about 10% of species can utilise seasonally deciduous trees and shrubs through host
alternation. So-called primary hosts are usually deciduous and the aphids need a way of
surviving on their host in the absence of leaves or rising sap: it is here that sexual morphs
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Rhopalomyzus lonicerae – an aphid with a
common yet highly specialised life cycle,
abundant in Britain yet relatively unknown.
© The Trustees of the Natural History
Museum, London
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Garden habitats
The situation of the garden might at first appear challenging for wildlife, being surrounded
by high buildings and with the pollution of a large city including an adjacent major road,
however, careful habitat management by the garden team has created a wide variety of
habitats (Leigh and Ware 2003) of value for bees, in particular the flower-rich chalk
grassland tump, heathland, wildflower meadow and urban habitats which provide nectar
and pollen forage throughout the year. The heathland was recently upgraded with plants
from Dorset including ling Calluna vulgaris, bell heather Erica cinerea and dwarf gorse
Ulex minor (Ware 2013). The marginal vegetation around the ponds is rich in flowers
attractive to bees such as purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria, hemp agrimony Eupatorium
cannabinum and great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum. Flowering trees, shrubs and
climbers make an important contribution with gorse Ulex europaeus, hawthorn Crataegus
monogyna, domestic apple Malus pumila, holly Ilex aquifolium, ivy Hedera helix, buckthorn
Rhamnus catharticus, cherry plum Prunus cerasifera, wild cherry Prunus avium and
blackthorn Prunus spinosa. The goat willow Salix caprea around the pond is important
as one of the few early season pollen sources. The ground flora and smaller flowering
shrubs in the woodland areas are valuable mainly in the spring before the canopy closes
over, including primrose Primula vulgaris, bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, nettle-
leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium and bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. Unfortunately
these areas are strongly shaded by mature London plane trees around the perimeter of
the garden which is bad for sun-loving bees. Although outside the garden proper, recent
reduced mowing of the grassland strip immediately in front of the west wing of the
Waterhouse building has resulted in a fine display of flowering herbs including clovers
Trifolium sp., cat’s ears, Hypochaeris sp., bird’s-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, wild
carrot Daucus carota and ragwort Senecio jacobaea which have attracted many bees.
Bee activity is often high here because the south-facing front of the building acts as a
heat sink/reflector, maintaining a high temperature. Areas of short vegetation with access
to soil for digging nest burrows are of value to mining bees and diggers wasps include
the meadow, grassland and urban habitats, hedge bases and outside the garden proper,
the west lawns. Undisturbed grassland sward, cavities in banks/under stumps provide
nesting and hibernation opportunities for bumblebees. Artificial habitats (hives, tree
cavity observation hive) provide living space for the Museum’s honey bees. The rich mix
of plant species and vegetation structure provide niches for a variety of insect prey
species upon which the digger wasps depend, while flowers with accessible nectar
especially Apiaceae, such as wild carrot Daucus carota and angelica Angelica sylvestris,
are suitable for the digger wasps since they have shorter tongues than many bees. Standing
dead wood, log piles, brash piles and hollow plant stems, which have been deliberately
left, provide opportunities for both cavity-nesting bees and digger wasps.
Discussion of results
A fair diversity of bees and digger wasps was recorded with 48 species of bee and 21
species of digger wasp confirmed. Most of these may be presumed to nest on site because
immediately surrounding habitats (mainly tall buildings and hard surfacing) are unsuitable
and, while no systematic search was made for nests, seven species certainly have nested
in the garden or nearby: honey bee Apis mellifera (artificial hives), tawny mining bee
95
colonies have always gradually reduced and disappeared before spring. That T. salignus
seems only to be found in autumn, but without a sexual generation, remains a puzzle
and observations in the garden may yet discover how this enigmatic aphid lives during
the rest of the year (when most aphid populations are burgeoning).
So, what about other aphids in the garden? The garden is a mixture of woodland trees
and shrubs, interspersed with the herbs and grasses of the more open areas. Areas of
such mixed flora tend to be rich in aphids. That the current aphid list for the garden is
relatively small reflects the sporadic and rather short nature of most aphid searches
(often in staff lunch-times!).
Early in the writer’s career at the Natural History Museum, he conducted aphid searches
in the garden of the family home in suburban Nottinghamshire from 1974 to 1981. These
searches were more thorough and regular and yielded over 120 species of aphid in this
one garden in Radcliffe-on-Trent: the key to this large species count is that the garden
was actively used for vegetables, lawn, herbaceous border, troughs for other ornamental
plants and several tree species. Aphids thrive on such managed habitats.
In conclusion, the garden is a valuable resource that has a high botanical diversity and
is actively managed. This combination will undoubtedly have resulted in it being home
to considerably more aphid species than the limited collecting hitherto might indicate.
HYMENOPTERA: APOIDEA - BEES AND DIGGER WASPS
DAVID G. NOTTON, LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Bees and digger wasps are part of the Hymenoptera, the order of insects including bees,
social wasps, ants, digger wasps, cuckoo wasps, parasitoid wasps of many kinds, gall
wasps, sawflies, wood wasps and their allies. Together bees and digger wasps form the
superfamily Apoidea, represented by almost 400 species in Britain. They are found in
most terrestrial ecosystems in the UK, the vegetarian bees foraging for pollen and nectar
and the predatory digger wasps hunting prey to provision their nests. The great majority
of bees and digger wasps are solitary, nesting in a burrow in the ground, or cavity in wood
or plant stems, some are cleptoparasites, using the nest provisions of other bees/digger
wasps for their own brood, while a few bees are social including the familiar honey bee
and bumblebees.
In previous articles, formal lists although extensive in other respects, have barely
touched on the Hymenoptera: Honey et al. (1998) did not record any bees or digger
wasps; Leigh and Ware (2003) recorded two species of bumblebee (Bombus); some popular
articles have been published on bees (Hine 2012, Notton 2009) and the garden’s honey
bees (Dixon 2006); a recent MSc project on the suitability of wildlife gardens, parks and
surrounding areas as bee habitat in London recorded a few bees (Mosbery 2014), although
this was based on field observations only so no vouchers were available for re-examination
from this project and no distinction could be made between Bombus terrestris and B.
lucorum.
The current paper is the first attempt to provide a reasonably comprehensive list of
the species of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Andrenidae, Apidae, Colletidae, Halictidae,
Megachilidae and Melittidae) and digger wasp species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Crabronidae)
occurring in the garden, based largely on critically identified voucher specimens.
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digger wasp Crossocerus distinguendus is Nationally Notable A, although possibly a recent
colonist to England and may have extended its range recently; thirdly the large yellow-
face bee Hylaeus signatus is Nationally Notable B, this bee visits only Reseda species for
pollen, in the Wildlife Garden it was found on wild mignonette, Reseda lutea; fourthly
the digger wasp Lestiphorus bicinctus is Nationally Notable B, a predator of froghoppers.
One of the most spectacular recent range extensions among British bees was documented
in the garden, that of the tree bumblebee Bombus hypnorum; this species was recorded
as new to Britain in 2001 on the strength of a single specimen from Wiltshire (Goulson
and Williams 2001), only five years later it was found by the author in the garden (Notton
2009) and has since gone on to extend its range as far as Scotland.
The value of recording and monitoring complements educational activities in the
garden, which have highlighted bees and wasps, and these include:
• Personally directed study and walk showing visitors bees/wasps in near-natural
habitats
• Wildlife Garden bee tree – an observation hive for honey bees
• Bumblebee walks
• Making insect hotels for mason bees and leafcutter bees
• Insect identification activities incorporating bees and wasps, e.g. Bugs Count ID
Challenge incorporated into events: Open Air Laboratories (OPAL), National Insect
Week, Hedgerow Harvest, etc.
• Drawing for Bee Diversity: garden artist in residence, Jessica Albarn, draws bumblebee
specimens in support of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust – visitors join in too during
Insect Weekend on National Insect Week
• OPAL Species Quest
Ecological and other scientific activities in the garden which have utilised bees/wasps
include:
• Specimens collected in the garden have been added to the national reference
collection
• Specimens from the garden have been used to provide DNA sequences for the
forthcoming DEFRA national database of pollinator DNA barcode sequences; this will
facilitate rapid automated mass identification of pollinators by non-taxonomists,
underpinning large scale surveys of pollinators in the UK
• Surveys have been carried out to record the species of flowers visited by bees – see
Appendix 2
In conclusion, the garden provides a range of suitable habitats in an inner city context
for 48 species of bee and 21 species of digger wasp including the very rare digger wasp
Crossocerus congener and three other Nationally Notable species, the digger wasps
Crossocerus distinguendus and Lestiphorus bicinctus and the bee Hylaeus signatus. The
bees in particular have provided the subject of a number of educational and scientific
activities, supporting the aims of the garden.
Recent and proposed improvements to the garden which will enhance habitats for bees
are recommended and have now been incorporated into the Wildlife Garden Management
Plan.
97
Andrena fulva (burrows in west lawn),
short-fringed mining bee Andrena dorsata
(burrow in meadow), common carder
bumblebee Bombus pascuorum (nest in
grass in urban area), buff-tailed bumblebee
Bombus terrestris (nests in hole in ditch
wall and under stump), Rhopalum
coarctatum (nest in beetle burrow in fence
post) and Stigmus solskyi (nests in beetle
burrows in dead Fraxinus excelsior stem). The list of flowers visited (Appendix 2) shows
the wide range of plants on which these insects are dependant. Some rare species were
found: firstly, the digger wasp Crossocerus congener, probably a very rare and previously
overlooked native species, still only known in Britain from a handful of specimens; while
it does not yet have a conservation status assessment because of its recent discovery,
its very limited distribution suggest that it may merit one (Archer 2007); secondly, the
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 696
Common carder bumblebee Bombus
pascuorum, male at common knapweed
Centaurea nigra. © The Trustees of the
Natural History Museum, London
Tree bumblebee Bombus hypnorum, male at purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria.
© The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
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casts doubt on what at the time was a confident identification not seeming to require a
voucher specimen. The flightless burrowing water beetle Noterus crassicornis is another
example; this has suffered nomenclatural and taxonomic confusion with the similar but
commoner, flying, Noterus clavicornis, which appears not to have been found in the
garden. I was initially tempted, in the apparent absence of a specimen, to discard Noterus
crassicornis from the list, but have been reassured by my colleague Adrian Hine, who is
a specialist of water beetles and has examined Wildlife Garden specimens, that the
identification is correct, and that the rare flightless species is indeed present, maybe
having originally been introduced to the ponds with water plants. These two examples
do emphasise the importance of retaining voucher specimens, even of supposedly obvious
or common species, for any long-term on-going survey, to allow future users of the data
to confirm identifications in years, decades or centuries to come. The Natural History
Museum’s insect collections provide, of course, the perfect facility for long term
preservation of specimens.
Comments on Coleoptera species of note recorded from the
Wildlife Garden.
Water beetles
‘Water beetles’, for the purposes of this list, refers to the Adephagan families Gyrinidae,
Haliplidae, Hygrobiidae, Dytiscidae and the Polyphagan family Hydrophilidae, the last
of which includes several terrestrial genera including some members of Cercyon,
Cryptopleurum, Sphaeridium and Megasternum recorded from the garden. Thanks to
regular pond dipping, more than 40 species have been noted (although the whirligig
beetle has not been identified to species, it is almost certainly the abundant Gyrinus
substriatus Stephens). ‘Notable’ species include Noterus crassicornis (see above) and
Hydaticus seminiger. The Screech Beetle Hygrobia hermanni, a taxonomically very isolated
insect, and capable of producing a clearly audible squeak when handled, and the Great
Diving Beetle Dytiscus marginalis are also worthy of mention. The abundance of water
beetles may be at least in part due to the absence of fish from the garden’s ponds.
Ground Beetles
The ground beetle family Carabidae is well represented in the garden because of the
wide range of suitable habitats and because of intermittent pitfall trap surveys over the
years. However, the most interesting species were collected using light, probably because
they frequent habitats that are not easily accessible for hand searching or pitfall trapping.
These include Perigona nigriceps, a species with a wide global distribution but infrequently
recorded in Britain; Elaphropus parvulus, an extremely small and fast moving species
not easily collected or even seen except by trapping; Curtonotus convexiusculus, a scarce,
primarily seed-feeding species generally associated with saline environments, and most
interestingly Polystichus connexus, a striking and very rare species with only a handful
of recent records, also generally associated with salty or brackish habitats. The presence
of the two latter species may be linked to the tidal Thames, and associated riverside
saline brownfield sites within flying distance. Conspicuous by their absence are the
generally very common, large flightless predators, such as representatives of the genera
Carabus, Cychrus, Abax and the bigger Pterostichus spp. (e.g. niger, melanarius). There
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BEETLES (COLEOPTERA) RARITIES, NEWCOMERS, AND THE
BIODIVERSITY VALUE OF A SMALL URBAN OASIS
MAXWELL V. L. BARCLAY, LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
The Natural History Museum’s wildlife garden is of considerable interest and not just as
a rare green space with native vegetation in the midst of a built up part of the city. It
has been maturing for 20 years and was designed to represent in microcosm many of the
UK’s most important natural habitats: lowland heath, chalk grassland, flower rich
meadows. It also has a number of mature trees and well-established, fish-free ponds,
but its particular importance is that it is one of the most intensely monitored wildlife
sites in London, possibly in the UK. Few other sites can boast such a large number of
scientists based within just a few hundred metres. This intensity of study has meant that
it has provided the earliest records of a number of insect species newly colonising the
British Isles and has also yielded a very comprehensive species list. The garden thus
provides a useful record of species coming in from abroad, as well as a guide to which
of our native species are able to colonise and survive in small areas of reconstructed
natural habitat in an urban landscape, an increasingly relevant question for conservationists
in the modern world, since the relative importance of urban habitats will only increase.
The total list of beetles from the wildlife garden stands at 356 species in 47 families.
Some 10% of the British beetle species have been recorded, which is impressive considering
the small size of the garden, and the fact that that many habitats (coastal, montane
etc.) are understandably absent. Nomenclature used in the list has been updated to
follow Duff (2012), as does the systematic order of the families, but genera and species
are listed alphabetically within families. Metadata and collection dates are not given in
the present list, though this information is retained in the Wildlife Garden database.
Rarity status (Notable or Red Data Book) are based on Hyman (1992, 1994). The highest
is ‘RDB1’ (Red Data Book category 1: Endangered), going through RDB ‘K’ and ‘I’ for
poorly known species of very rare occurrence, to the two notable categories, ‘Notable
A’ denoting a species reported from 30 or fewer 10km squares of the UK National Grid,
and ‘Notable A’ fewer than 100. Water beetle status are updated based on Foster (2010);
more recent treatments are available for several other taxa, but these remain incomplete
at the time of writing, and use an incompatible evaluation system, so are disregarded
in the interest of a uniform approach. The number of species with a conservation status
is rather higher than might be expected and several of these rarer beetles, as well as
other species of interest, are discussed in more detail below.
Specimens were identified by a number of people, often Peter Hammond and Roger
Booth, but including many other entomology and enquiries staff, past and present, in
some cases from photographs. Identifications have been verified wherever possible, but
as the list was assembled over many years by a number of people, and voucher specimens
were not always retained, some species still require confirmation by examination of
additional material. As is frequently the case, the more ‘obvious’ species that collectors
don’t retain can be the most problematic. One identification included in the list is
particularly questionable; the ladybird Harmonia quadripunctata, generally associated
with conifers, is listed for the garden based on a single un-vouchered specimen from a
light trap in August 2008. This was comparatively soon after the introduction of its
extremely variable, and strongly light-attracted, congener Harmonia axyridis, which
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on the garden’s London plane trees. Of the Ptinidae, three species are of particular note:
Anobium nitidum, reported at light on two occasions in the garden, is very rare in Britain,
with only a handful of records; like a number of the other scarcer species, adults probably
breed in dead branches and sticks on the two Lombardy poplars that are a centrepiece
of the Museum’s garden. Priobium carpini was added to the British list based on specimens
from South Kensington and Ptinus sexpunctatus is a local species that seems, at least in
part, to be associated with the nests of solitary bees.
Cleroidea, Cucujoidea and Tenebrionoidea
This group of three superfamilies includes some 75 species from the garden. Of the rarer
species in these three superfamilies, Dasytes plumbeus (Melyridae) appears to do quite
well in the London area, with larvae probably in the twigs of the poplars. Langelandia
anophthalma (Colydiidae) is an eyeless subterranean species of infrequent occurrence,
though its rarity is probably partly because few entomologists use underground trapping
techniques, which have been used widely in the garden. Conopalpus testaceus
(Melandryidae) is a scarce dead-wood feeding ‘false darkling’ beetle, probably associated
with dead twigs on the two Lombardy poplars, and collected in June 2012 by Tristan
Bantock while surveying for Hemiptera. Mordellistena acuticollis (Mordellidae) is a
phytophagous species of ‘tumbling flower beetle’, of generally infrequent occurrence,
probably associated with thistles. The ‘cardinal beetle’ Pyrochroa serraticornis
(Pyrochroidae) was reported breeding for the first time in 2015; its predatory larvae were
found under the bark of logs in a log pile. Two metallic green species of the genus Oedemera
(Oedemeridae) are common in the meadow, flying in sunshine from flower to flower.
Most familiar amongst the many cucujoid families are the ladybirds (Coccinellidae). A
special project has been carried out on the garden’s ladybirds by student Emily Shaw, and
the list stands at 19 species, including Britain’s largest, the eyed ladybird Anatis ocellata.
The rare Clitostethus arcuatus can occasionally be found overwintering in ivy on the plane
trees; this tiny black ladybird with a distinctive yellow horseshoe mark is known from only
one or two sites in Britain. On the gorse bushes alongside Queen’s Gate is a population of
the cottony cushion scale insect Icerya purchasi Maskell (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) which
supports three Australian ladybird species,
Rodolia cardinalis, Rhyzobius lophanthae and
Rhyzobius forestieri – all of which were added
to the British list from London, and the last
from the wildlife garden itself, after a
specimen was collected at light by volunteer
Anders Dennis. Similarly Rodolia cardinalis
was first noted in the garden by a group of
children testing a ladybird identification
application. Other cucujoids include
Meligethes gagathinus and M. rotundicollis
101
is sufficient food for these species (slugs, snails, worms etc.) so it is assumed that they
have so far been unable to colonise the garden, because of their inability to fly.
Staphylinoidea
For the purposes of this work, the Staphylinoidea include Leiodidae, Ptiliidae and
Staphylinidae, and comprise almost 100 species in the garden, many of which are predators
in various dead organic matter. The close attention paid to the compost heaps, and NHM
staff Peter Hammond and Roger Booth’s special interest in and knowledge of these groups,
have made this a long and impressive list, including many species of the particularly
taxonomically challenging staphylinid subfamily Aleocharinae.
Scarabaeoidea
The scarabs and their relatives the stag beetles are represented in the garden by only
eight species but these include the magnificent Lucanus cervus, the greater stag beetle,
the largest of Britain’s beetles. The lesser stag beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus is commonly
seen and the presence of both of these species indicates a reasonable supply of dead
wood, in which their larvae develop. The true scarabs include several species of the dung
beetle genus Aphodius, and the emerald green rose chafer Cetonia aurata, another beetle
often developing in dead logs and stumps, and one which declined dramatically throughout
most of the 20th century and seems only recently to be making a comeback. Finally, in
2015 Saprosites natalensis was reported from the garden for the first time; this uncommon
small wood-inhabiting scarab, thought to be, as the name suggests, of southern African
origin, is only known in Britain from a few records in the London area.
Elateriformia
This infraorder includes a large slice of beetle diversity, but for the purposes of this paper
unites the families Scirtidae, Byrrhidae, Heteroceridae, Throscidae, Elateridae and
Cantharidae, with only 10 species reported between them from the garden. The lack of
records may be because many of the adults are short-lived and hence under-recorded,
and there may be scope to extend this list by targeted surveys in the right season. None
of the species reported are of particular interest, perhaps the least common being the
small, spiny pill beetle Syncalypta spinosa, reported from the chalk grassland habitat.
Bostrichoidea
This superfamily comprises the Dermestidae (skin, hide and museum beetles) and Ptinidae,
so-called ‘spider beetles’, which has been extended to include the former woodworm
family Anobiidae. The 14 bostrichoids known from the garden are mostly synanthropic,
associated with human dwellings, and some, such as Anthrenus spp., Dermestes spp. and
Stegobium include species that, as larvae, can be pests in the museum’s collections.
Dermestes, which has flesh-eating larvae, is the genus used by the Museum to clean
delicate vertebrate skeletons for study. Anthrenocerus australis and Anthrenus sarnicus
are species of infrequent occurrence in Britain; the latter was described new to science
from Guernsey in the 1960s, though no doubt introduced from further afield. Ctesias
serra is one of the few entirely ‘outdoor’ species of Dermestidae in Britain; the distinctive
hairy larvae feed on insect exoskeletons discarded by spiders under bark, and are common
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Rhyzobius forestieri – a second sighting (July
2014) in Britain. © The Trustees of the
Natural History Museum, London
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horticulture. The Magdalis bores as a larva in the twigs of living woody Rosaceae such
as hawthorn and Pyracantha. Polydrusus formosus is a polyphagous species on the northern
edge of its range in Britain; it has several synonyms in common use, including P. splendidus
(Herbst) and P. sericeus (Schaller), and all its names (‘beautiful’, ‘splendid’, ‘silky’) refer
to its very attractive metallic golden-green scales. Dorytomus ictor is a very uncommon
species feeding on foliage of poplars and overwintering as an adult under the bark.
Trypophloeus binodulus is rarer still; often referred to as Trypophloeus asperatus, it is
now known from only four English counties, and it bores in small twigs and branches of
mature poplar trees. The last two beetles are amongst the rarest of the native species
reported from the garden, both of considerable interest from a conservation and
distributional point of view, and both dependent on the two large poplar trees in the
centre of the garden.
LEPIDOPTERA – MOTHS IN THE WILDLIFE GARDEN
MARTIN R. HONEY, SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATE (AND FORMER CURATOR OF LEPIDOPTERA),
LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM.
Despite the interruption of experienced light-trap checking mentioned above new species
have continued to be recorded in the garden and some have proved to be significant
records for Middlesex (the Vice County in which the garden is situated), or the London
area in general. The list of new additions is as follows, with dates when they were first
captured and some comments on their status:
0015 Triodia sylvina (Linnaeus 1761) orange swift 08.vi.2015
0075 Stigmella floslactella (Haworth 1828), leafmines on hornbeam 23.vi.2011 and
1.viii.2012
0077 Stigmella tityrella (Stainton 1854), leafmines on beech 7.xi.2007
0102 Stigmella aceris (Frey 1857), untenanted mines on field maple, probably of this
species, 2.xi.2004 and 3.xi.2006
0123 Tischeria ekebladella (Bjerkander 1795), at light 24.v.2012
0125 Coptotriche marginea (Haworth 1828), at light 24.v.2012
0148 Nemophora degeerella (Linnaeus 1758), by day 13.v.2008
245 Tinea pallescentella Stainton 1851 large pale clothes moth, at light 24.iv.2004
0304 Parornix devoniella (Stainton 1850), leafmine on hazel Corylus 3.xi.2006 and
27.ix.2007
0309 Deltaornix torquillella (Zeller 1850), at light 3.viii.2006
0317 Phyllonorycter heegeriella (Zeller 1846) pale oak midget 18.viii.2015 Plant (2002:136)
gives four previous localities
0332 Phyllonorycter corylifoliella (Hübner 1796), to light 24.v.2012
0342 Phyllonorycter coryli (Nicelli 1851), leafmine on hazel 3.xi.2006 (moth reared)
leafmine on hazel 27.ix.2007
0362 Phyllonorycter acerifoliella (Zeller 1839) leafmines on field maple, probably of this
species, 2.xi.2004 and 3.xi.2006
0364 Phyllonorycter geniculella (Ragonot 1874), leafmine, probably of this species,
14.vii.2004
103
(Nitidulidae) are scarce pollen beetles
associated with mint (Mentha) and yellow
rocket (Barbarea). Olibrus flavicornis
(Phalacridae) is another extremely rare
species, more or less restricted to the
Thames Gateway area, but with a record
from the wildlife garden. It is probably
associated with hawkbits (Leontodon spp.),
and is generally a species of brownfield sites
along the Thames. Enicmus brevicornis
(Latridiidae) is a small black beetle associated with ‘sooty bark fungus’ Cryptostroma
corticale, a disease of sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. Anommatus duodecimstriatus
(Bothrideridae), like Langelandia anophthalma above, is a blind subterranean species
reported from underground pitfall traps, and with rather few records nationwide.
Chrysomeloidea
The superfamily Chrysomeloidea includes the longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) and leaf
beetles (Chrysomelidae). The former family are charismatic beetles, generally associated
with forest habitats, and are represented in the garden by seven species; of these, most
develop as larvae in small twigs and branches, though Rhagium bifasciatum and Rutpela
maculata are larger insects and generally found in fallen trunks and larger logs. Pseudovadonia
livida is a grassland species that breeds in the soil, in the mycelia of the fairy ring mushrooms.
The least common of the garden’s longhorns is the tiny Nathrius brevipennis, a cosmopolitan
species breeding in small sticks, including basket-work; it is generally very rare in Britain.
The 23 species of leaf beetles mostly feed on living plants and most are widespread. The
formerly rare Longitarsus parvulus has increased its range strikingly in recent decades, and
the red and black Luperomorpha xanthodera is a recent import probably with flowers from
China via Italy, and is found sporadically in urban areas in Britain.
Curculionoidea
The weevils, Curculionoidea, characterised in most cases by the distinctive elongation
of the front of the head into a snout or ‘rostrum’, include many more uncommon species
in the garden than the ecologically similar Chrysomeloidea. Bruchela rufipes and Kalcapion
semivittatum are warmth-loving species of early successional vegetation, breeding on
wild mignonette Reseda lutea and annual mercury Mercuriaris annua respectively, and
neither is at all frequently reported. Oxystoma cerdo is also scarce, but apparently
increasing, and associated with vetches Vicia spp. Magdalis barbicornis and Polydrusus
formosus are both ‘Notable A’ listed species, and Hyman (1992) gives no post-1970 records
for either from the London area, but both have recently become more abundant, almost
certainly because of introduction of more vigorous stock from southern Europe with
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 6102
Mature harlequin ladybird Harmonia
axyridis larvae on oxeye daisy, chalk
downland habitat. © The Trustees of the
Natural History Museum, London
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M
2007 Pheosia tremula (Clerck 1759) swallow prominent 29.vii.2015. A good central London
record, undoubtedly dependant on the poplar trees that are currently present in the
garden but which are under threat of felling at the time of writing under new plans
for the garden.
2020 Diloba caeruleocephala (Linnaeus 1758) figure of eight 17.vi.2015
2028 Calliteara pudibunda (Linnaeus 1758) pale tussock, at security light 14.v.2012; a
scarce central London species according to the distribution map in Plant (1993:123)
2117 Eugnorisma glareosa (Esper 1788) autumnal rustic, found on 1st floor of Entomology
Department 1.x.2004
2138 Anaplectoides prasina ([Denis & Schiffermüller] 1775) green arches, to light on
2.vii.2011 which appears to be only the second record for Middlesex
2275 Xanthia gilvago ([Denis and Schiffermüller] 1775) dusky-lemon sallow, at light in
DC2 on 10.x.2010; regarded by Plant (1993:185) as a very local and rare resident
2276 Xanthia ocellaris (Borkhausen 1792) pale-lemon sallow, at light 16.ix.2003; Plant
(1993:185) lists this species as an extremely local and apparently rare resident, which
is dependent on the catkins and leaves of black poplar and its varieties
2292 Cryphia algae (Fabricius 1775) tree-lichen beauty, at light on 13.viii.2007; not
included by Plant (1993), this species is now resident in the London area and has been
expanding since it was rediscovered in the UK in the early 1990s
105
0382 Bembecia ichneumoniformis ([Denis & Schiffermüller] 1775) six-belted clearwing
moth. This species was seen by day on the chalk mound on 15.vii.2009 and 12.viii.
2009. Plant (1993:12) regarded it as an extremely local resident in the London area,
restricted to the chalk downs, with only two recent records during his study period.
It has been recorded to my knowledge in a few West London localities since then but
it remains an uncommon species
0476 Acrolepia autumnitella (Curtis 1838), leafmines on bittersweet 24.v.2006 and
1.viii.2012
0617 Elachista obliquella (Stainton 1854), at light 21.v.2010 and 22.v.2010 and leafmines
on Brachypodium on 1.viii.2012, plus at light on 24.v.2012 and 18.vi.2013; a species
of microlepidoptera new to Middlesex
0816 Scrobipalpa obsoletella (Fischer von Röslerstamm 1841), at light on 5.viii.2003
0844 Syncopacma larseniella (Gozmany 1957), at light 31.vii.2012 (gen. det.)
0856 Anarsia spartiella (Schrank 1802), at light 29.vii.2010; Plant (2002) cites just two
records of this species from Middlesex, both in the early 1970s
0889 Mompha divisella (Herrich-Schäffer 1854) 20.v.2004 found dead in sticky trap in DC2
0890 Mompha jurassicella (Frey 1881), pre-2003 record
0936 Cochylimorpha straminea (Haworth 1811), to light 28.viii.2012
0938 Agapeta zoegana (Linnaeus 1767), at light 28.viii.2010; Plant (2002) cites just two
records of this species from Middlesex, both from Ruislip, the most recent in 2000
0999 Adoxophyes orana (Fischer von Röslerstamm 1834) summer fruit tortrix, at light
5.viii.2003
1020 Cnephasia stephensiana (Doubleday [1849]) grey tortrix 30.vi.2015 Plant (2002:163)
gives a number of localities
1084 Hedya ochroleucana (Frölich 1828) buff-tipped marble 30.vi.2015 Plant (2002:165)
gives just three previous localities for this species
1111 Bactra lancealana (Hübner 1799), at light 28.viii.2012
1120 Ancylis mitterbacheriana ([Denis & Schiffermüller] 1775) red roller 30.vi.2015 Plant
(2002:167) cites one previous record from Ruislip (Minnion 1959)
1329 Donacaula forficella (Thunberg 1794) pale water-veneer 30.vi.2015 Plant (2002:176)
gives a number of localities for this species
1134 Epinotia ramella (Linnaeus 1758), at light 4.vi.2009
1175 Epiblema uddmanniana (Linnaeus 1758) bramble shoot moth, at light 30.vi.2009
1183 Epiblema foenella (Linnaeus 1758), at light 2.viii.2010
1408 Palpita vitrealis (Rossi 1794) olive-tree pearl 17.vi.2015 Plant (2002:181) gives two
localities for this migrant species, Ruislip 1957 (Minnion) and Hampstead 25.ix.1997
(Softly)
1409a Cydalima perspectalis (Walker 1859) box-tree moth 09, 14 and 21.vii.2015. This
Asian adventive and expanding species has colonised the UK since Plant (2002). There
have been several records.
1853 Eupithecia dodoniata (Guenée 1857) oak-tree pug, at light 26.iv.2010; regarded by
Plant (1993:74) as a very local and uncommon resident
1934 Agriopis marginaria (Fabricius 1777) dotted border, 19.viii.2014
1947 Ectropis bistortata (Goeze 1781) engrailed, found in basement of Entomology
Department 19.vii.2005
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Poplar hawk-moth Laothoe populi. © Martin Honey
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M
Agrotis trux (Hübner, [1824]) crescent dart 21.vii.2015. In the UK this is almost exclusively
a coastal species and mainly in the west of the country and, of course, it is the
form/subspecies lunigera. The continental forms are rare or non-existant here.
Unfortunately the record cannot be checked as no voucher was retained.
Noctua janthina ([Denis & Schiffermüller] 1775) Langmaid's yellow underwing. This species
has relatively recently been split from N. janthe but is still often misidentified. In
Britain I regard it as a mainly coastal species, probably as an immigrant, and usually
on the south coast. Inland records that I have seen have, on close examination, often
been specimens of N. janthe. The specimen from the Wildlife Garden was identified
by a colleague and I have to trust his identification. However, it would have been
preferable to retain the specimen as a voucher.
Idaea dilutaria (Hübner [1799]) silky wave 15.vii.2015. In the UK this is a very local
species, occurring in only a few localities in Wales, and occasionally in England. Almost
certainly a misidentification but without a voucher specimen it is not possible to say
of which species.
Day-flying moths
With more awareness of butterflies and moths in the garden, both by staff and volunteers,
there have been records of day-flying moths in addition to the moth trapping records.
Zygaena filipendulae (Linnaeus 1758) six spot burnet moth. The garden supports a breeding
colony on the chalk mound and it is now also commonly seen on chalk and meadow
(G02) also Gill’s meadow (G06) and the meadow area behind the railings along front
of the west side of the Waterhouse building.
Pyrausta aurata (Scopoli 1763) purple and gold. This species is regularly seen on common
marjoram Origanum vulgare on chalk downland habitat and has also been recorded
from the light trap.
Macroglossum stellatarum (Linnaeus 1758) hummingbird hawkmoth. Absent for a while,
this charming moth has returned and is breeding on the chalk downland habitat, where
larvae and pupae were found amongst hedge bedstraw Galium album and lady’s
bedstraw Galium verum. The moth can
be seen flying in different areas within
the garden, much to the delight of
members of the public, volunteers and
Visitor Assistants.
Nemophora degeerella (Linnaeus 1758)
yellow-barred long-horn. Occasionally
seen in woodland areas W05 and W06,
also seen flying in group around willows
in fen F03.
Anthophila fabriciana (Linnaeus 1767)
107
2303 Thalpohila matura (Hufnagel 1766) straw underwing, to light 28.viii.2012
2425 Colocasia coryli (Linnaeus 1758) nut-tree tussock, to security light 4.viii.2004; Plant
(1993:220) shows this species to be absent from all of the more urban parts of London,
only occurring as a resident in woodland in the outer districts
2442 Autographa pulchrina (Haworth 1809) beautiful golden Y, to light on 22.vi.2009;
apparently uncommon in the central London area
2463 Euchlidia glyphica (Linnaeus 1758) burnet companion, one specimen of this day-
flying species, plus a pair mating, seen on 9.vi.2004; Plant (1993:226) regards this
species as a widespread but local resident
2488 Pechipogo plumigeralis (Hübner [1825]) plumed fan-foot, first recorded at light on
29.vi.2009; this is another species that has colonized the UK since the mid-1990s and
is now resident and spreading in the London area
A number of historic records were discovered during the decant of the Lepidoptera
collections to Wandsworth and the installation of a new British Lepidoptera collection
and although they were recorded before the garden was created, they have been included
for completeness. They include:
1473 Ephestia elutella (Hübner 1796) cacao moth, one found in the Insect Room on 7
August 1894
1478 Cadra calidella (Guenée 1845) dried fruit moth, one found in the basement of the
Entomology Department on 5.xi.1982
1790 Triphosa dubitata (Linnaeus 1758) tissue, historic record from 2.xi.1964 which
probably relates to a hibernating individual; regarded by Plant (1993:56) as an extremely
local and scarce resident
1936 Menophra abruptaria (Thunberg 1792) waved umber, historic record from 6.v.1960
There have also been several sightings of the day-flying Jersey tiger moth Euplagia
quadripunctaria (Poda, 1761), since its successful colonization of South London.
Slightly more worrying, however, are the records of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar
(Linnaeus 1758) and oak processionary Thaumetopoiea processionea (Linnaeus 1758).
These are almost certainly progeny arising from an accidental introduction of these pest
species in the London area and which are still surviving and spreading despite attempted
eradication programmes.
Some species have been recorded as adventives to the Wildlife Garden, having been
discovered as a result of new plantings, and these include Pempelia palumbella ([Denis
and Schiffermüller] 1775) Lycophotia porphyrea ([Denis & Schiffermüller] 1775) true
lover's knot and Eilema complana (Linnaeus 1758) scarce footman on 17.vii.2012 that
almost certainly were brought in accidentally when fresh heathland turves were planted,
in February 2012. Neofaculta ericetella (Geyer 1832) was recorded on 18.v.2013, probably
as a result of larvae being accidentally introduced with the heathland turves.
Since 2014, when I retired from the Museum, moth trapping has still been undertaken.
However, it is clear that a few misidentifications have been made and I have attempted
to review them. Where I am convinced that they were in error, I have omitted the records
from the main list but have included them here with comments. Time will hopefully tell
if this was the correct decision.
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 6106
Day-flying moth Nemophora degeerella in
mixed woodland area W05. © The Trustees
of the Natural History Museum, London
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M
this species. The few British records for this species that exist are nearly all in the south-
east of England.
The Notable Solva marginata (Xylomyidae) is another dead-wood species, associated
specifically with poplars, especially black and balsam varieties. The larvae live under
the bark in early stages of cambial rot. This species is recorded regularly in the garden
indicating that the mature poplar trees support a healthy and viable population.
Three of the Notable species are semi-aquatic soldierflies (Stratiomyidae). Beris clavipes,
Stratiomys potamida and Vanoyia tenuicornis are all associated with lush fens and seepages,
probably favouring areas with wet moss. The garden’s fenland habitat and the water
margins around the three ponds would provide larval habitat for these scarce flies.
Specimens of the fifth Notable species Neoleria propinqua (Heleomyzidae) were
collected in 2014 by Dr Martin Hall as part of his forensic research. Described as a new
species in 1952, very few records of this fly exist and it has not yet been found outside
Britain. The ecology of other Neoleria species suggests that N. propinqua prefers
decomposing vegetable or animal matter with a liquid phase.
A number of other interesting species are associated with carrion or rotting organic
matter. Fannia atripes (Faniidae) is an uncommon fly most likely associated with decaying
organic matter, based on the ecology of closely related species, although this still needs
to be confirmed. Another uncommon species living on carrion is Athyroglossa glabra
(Ephydridae). This fly is normally confined to northern and western Britain and specimens
from the garden were the first to be added to the Museum collection in 60 years. Shore
flies (Ephydridae) are typically associated with pond margins and it is possible that A.
glabra is taking advantage of the wet habitats within the garden as well as decaying
organic matter.
The species list for the garden highlights the following habitats as important for Diptera:
mature trees with some stages of decay, wet fen, pond margins and decaying organic
matter or carrion. A variety of larval habitats is the critical factor in supporting a diverse
Diptera community, combined with a sustainable supply of nectar and pollen or small
prey items for adult flies. The mosaic habitat structure of the garden provides these
conditions in close proximity, so good species diversity is expected. The Diptera are still
under-recorded, however, and we would expect the species list to grow considerably
with increased survey effort.
DIPTERA – BLOWFLIES
MARTIN HALL, RESEARCHER AND HEAD OF LS PARASITES AND VECTORS DIVISION,
LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
A novel forensic entomology study was undertaken in the Museum’s Wildlife Garden during
the summer of 2013, to assess the potential for blowflies to colonise bodies disposed
inside suitcases. Chicken liver baits were presented below a stiff plastic sheet that
incorporated a zip to determine which species would lay eggs on zips within the first 24-
hours of bait exposure. Eggs were recorded on 95% (19/20) of replicates after 24 hours.
They were laid on the zip or on and between the zip’s teeth. Those laid between the
teeth formed “stalactites” of eggs that extended down to the bait. The dominant species
reared from cultured eggs was the bluebottle blowfly Calliphora vicina (Diptera:
109
nettle tap. The larvae of this species can be seen feeding on common nettle Urtica
dioica with the adult moths occasionally being seen around nettle plants.
Euplagia quadripunctaria (Poda 1761) jersey tiger. This distinctive and brightly coloured
moth is usually seen during August in most years. Sightings have been recorded annually
since 2008 apart from 2010.
There have also been two special projects undertaken by garden volunteers as part of
their broader educational studies. One was a study of Phyllonorycter platani (Staudinger
1870) the plane tree leaf-miner and its guild of hymenopteran parasites (Fieldsend 2013).
This species was discovered as new to Britain from the Museum grounds in 1990, one of
three such new additions to our moth fauna that have been discovered during the moth
trapping studied. The other was a project looking at the role of temperature and humidity
on the number of moths recorded at light (Mackey 2015).
DIPTERA
DUNCAN SIVELL, CURATOR (DIPTERA), LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
The current Diptera list for the garden is rather atypical as although it is relatively small
with 235 species its coverage is broad encompassing 51 different families. The unusual
composition of this list partly reflects the varied research interests of Museum staff. Two
Endangered (Chrysopilus laetus and Acinia corniculata) and five Notable species (Beris
clavipes, Solva marginata, Stratiomys potamida, Vanoyia tenuicornis and Neoleria
propinqua) have been recorded so far, and the garden supports a number of uncommon
Diptera that have yet to be given a conservation status.
The Endangered tree snipefly Chrysopilus laetus (Rhagionidae) is known from a single
male specimen caught in a Malaise trap in June 2015. For many years this snipefly was
thought to be restricted to Windsor Great Park, but it has recently appeared at a small
number of other sites in south-east England. The adults can be elusive and many historic
records were made by rearing larvae. A dead-wood species, this fly requires mature trees
with stages of rot where the larvae can develop. Chrysopilus laetus larvae have so far
been recorded from beech and poplar.
A female Acinia corniculata was
photographed in the garden in August 2009
and was identified from the picture by its
distinctive wing pattern. This Endangered
picture-winged fly (Tephritidae) is believed
to breed in the flower heads of common
knapweed Centaurea nigra, although this
has still to be confirmed. Environmental
factors other than the food plant obviously
restrict the abundance and distribution of
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 6108
Acinia corniculata: a Red Data Book fly.
© The Trustees of the Natural History
Museum, London
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them is the very local Theridiosoma gemmosum, a Nationally Scarce (Notable B) species.
Though London has many green spaces, the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Garden
is unique because it is a planned mosaic of major habitats found in southern England
(Vickery 2004) and so would be expected to have an interesting fauna, not only amongst
the arachnids, especially as the plant communities mature.
Harvestmen tend to be autumnal creatures and, as collecting has only been during the
spring and early months, more may be found later on in the year. However, as the
harvestmen are poorly represented, by just two to four species in the current survey, it
may be that they are not such good colonisers. Nevertheless, as the garden’s habitats
continue to mature other species may come in.
ACARI – MITES
ANNE BAKER, LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
This is the most detailed survey of mites that has been carried out in the garden and the
first one to look at those in birds’ nests. Previously, the presence of the water mites
Piona coccinea stjordalensis (now P. stjordalensis) and Arrenurus sp. was reported in
Honey et al. (1998), while plant galls have been attributed to five species of Eriophyidae
(gall mites) (Leigh and Ware 2003). The gall/mite associations, however, were based on
the plant host and type of formation rather than on the identification of mite specimens.
The species list in Leigh and Ware (2003) also includes Pergamasus crassipes, a terrestrial
predator frequently found in soil and leaf litter. It has rarely been recorded in birds’
nests and was not found in the present survey.
The mite fauna of birds’ nests is not well known; in the UK, only six studies have been
111
Calliphoridae) (200/204), with some specimens of the greenbottle blowfly Lucilia sericata
(Diptera: Calliphoridae) (4/204) also reared.
In addition to the studies above using zips in simulated suitcase placements, two studies
were undertaken in the garden as ‘proof of principle’ in which a pig’s head (4.2 kg) was
used as bait within each of two dark brown zippered suitcases of aircraft cabin approved
size (c. 42 x 33 x 17 cm). The heads within each suitcase became infested with insects
within 24-72 hours, depending on ambient temperatures (longer delay at lower
temperatures).
A third suitcase study was conducted in November 2014 and shown in the BBC4
documentary, ‘Catching History’s Criminals: the forensic story’, on 18 June 2015, when
Martin Hall was interviewed by the presenter, Gabriel Weston, in the garden. In that
study there was a two-week delay in fly colonisation of the suitcase due to low
temperatures but a larval infestation with Calliphora vicina was established on 28
November 2014 that resulted in adult flies emerging in the garden from 12 March 2015.
Larvae of a variety of fly species were recorded developing on the pigs’ heads inside
the suitcases including: Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Lucilia sericata (Diptera:
Calliphoridae), Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Hydrotaea capensis
(Diptera: Muscidae) and Fannia manicata (Diptera: Fanniidae). Many of the pupae resulting
from these larvae did not complete their development to the adult stage because they
became infested as larvae with parasitic wasps (Nasonia vitripennis, Pteromalidae). The
research was published in 2014 (Bhadra et al. 2014).
ARACHNIDA
ARANEAE – SPIDERS AND OPILIONES - HARVESTMEN
THOMAS J. THOMAS, FBNA, 142 SELBOURNE ROAD, LUTON, BEDS LU4 8LS
As Hillyard pointed out in Leigh and Ware (2003) the Wildlife Garden has a richer spider
fauna than expected. This is borne out by regular collecting resulting in some very
interesting captures. Two spiders of particular note, Anyphaena sabina (Milner 2012) and
Cryptachaea blattea (Marriott 2012), were first found during 2011 in the UK. The former
may be spreading having been found on the
garden roof of Transport for London’s
building (Wilson 2015).
Originally, nineteen species were listed
(Leigh and Ware 2003) though Bathyphantes
concolor was listed in addition to Diplostyla
concolor and they are in fact the same
species – a name change having taken
place. With the recent additions from
various collectors and methods including
the malaise trap, the number of spiders
known in the garden is now ninety. Amongst
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 6110
Crab spider Misumena vatia (female) in the
meadow G05. © Naomi Lake
Tegenaria domestica (female) inside one of the soil profile doors. © Thomas J. Thomas
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common find in stored food products but also in outdoor situations such as haystacks in
open fields, bee hives and birds’ nests. In the UK, it has been recorded in a dipper nest
(Fain et al. 1991). The garden samples comprised all life stages of the mite, indicating
the nests supported sufficient microfungi for the populations to thrive. Anystis baccarum,
found in two blackbird or robin nests and one of a moorhen, is a generalist predator and
a common sight running in a rapid cork-screw path over vegetation. It is likely it was
attracted by the plentiful supply of mites and insects living in the study nests.
Other predatory, detritivorous and fungivorous mites occurred in small numbers in one
or two nests. These are probably accidental inhabitants that could have been introduced
with nest material or species that had invaded from adjacent vegetation. Two are of
particular interest. Cheletomimus berlesei (a blackbird/robin and blackbird nest),
represented by immatures, belongs to the predatory family Cheyletidae. The few previous
UK findings have been on fruit trees and pasture weeds, although the species was present
in a bird’s nest in Hawaii. Several life stages of Aphelacarus nr acarinus were extracted
from one of the moorhen nests. The genus has evidently only been recorded a few times
here, from moorland in north Yorkshire and amongst bat dung and straw in the attic of
a house in Hampshire, and also on a grassland weed in the Republic of Ireland.
MYRIAPODA
DUNCAN SIVELL, LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
The Chilopoda and Diplopoda (Myriapoda) are typically studied together, even though
they are quite distinct in their morphology and ecology, as they occur in the same
microhabitats. Both groups have been recorded in the garden for a number of years. The
current list of myriapods represents a fifth of the British fauna and includes two Nationally
Scarce species.
Centipedes (Chilopoda) are predatory, feeding on springtails, woodlice and other small
invertebrates. Those adapted to hunting amongst leaf litter or under bark or stones can
move very quickly, while those living in the soil have flexible segmentation allowing them
to negotiate their way through tight angles and cramped spaces. All centipedes are adept
at moving in reverse, the hindmost legs are usually elongate and act as a rear pair of
antennae.
The centipedes found in the garden are indicative of a human-influenced site with a
woodland component located in southern England. Nationally common and widespread
species include Cryptops hortensis, Lithobius forficatus, Lithobius microps, Lithobius
variegatus, Stigmatogaster subterranea and Schendyla nemorensis. More restricted
species are Cryptops anomalans, Stenotaenia linearis and Henia brevis, the latter of
which is Nationally Scarce. These last three centipedes all have a southern distribution
and are associated with synanthropic habitats.
In contrast, the millipedes (Diplopoda) are detritivores and slow-moving, relying on
chemical defence for protection. Many are quite catholic in their choice of habitat but,
as with the centipedes, the species list reflects a site with woodland and human influence
and is consistent with a London setting. Blaniulus guttulatus, Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus,
Ophiodesmus albonanus and Polydesmus coriaceous are associated with cultivated or
synanthropic sites whereas Julus scandinavius and Cylindroiulus punctatus are typical
113
dedicated to this ecosystem before now (Hull 1915, Woodroffe and Southgate 1951,
Woodroffe 1953, 1954, Turk 1954, Fain et al. 1991). All but one species identified in the
garden have been recorded in the UK, although a few only rarely.
The only obligate bird ectoparasite found came from a robin nest built on the eaves
of the garden’s shed. Dermanyssus carpathicus is a new record for the UK fauna, although
it is possible that examples collected in the past were identified as the morphologically
similar D. hirundinis. The original description (Zeman 1979) appears to have been
overlooked during subsequent studies as further records were not published until thirty
years later (Roy et al. 2009a, b), although unpublished ones from 2006–2008 are mentioned
by Roy et al. (2009b). A review of samples from Slovakian birds and their nests resulted
in many specimens determined as D. hirundinis being reassigned to D. carpathicus (Masan
et al. 2014). Members of the genus parasitize a wide range of wild and domesticated
birds, feeding on the host at night, but hiding in and around the nest or roost during the
day. If nests are deserted, the mites eventually go in search of a new host. The occurrence
of D. carpathicus in only one of the sites is suspected to be due to the nests being empty
for some time before collection.
Blattisocius tarsalis was extracted from five nests or nestboxes (blackbird, robin,
blue/great tit, moorhen and an unknown occupant). Both adults and immatures were
present, indicating the populations were established. This species is well known in UK
grain stores where it feeds on pest Lepidoptera and mites. It has also been found in birds’
nests in other countries. Females use adult moths for dispersal and have been found on
at least two species, Plodia interpunctella and Tineola bisselliella, recorded in the garden
(Treat 1975, Honey et al. 1998). The latter has also been found, albeit in small numbers,
in UK birds’ nests (Woodroffe and Southgate 1951). Transport by moth could explain the
mites’ route to the nests.
Holoparasitus lawrencei, from two robin or blackbird nests, was represented by adults
and nymphs in both sites. Immatures have not been documented for this species and
morphological data from the specimens will enable future identifications to be based on
nymphal stages alone. This mite is widely distributed in the UK (Hyatt 1987) but has
never before been found in the London area. Habitats include leaf litter, humus, moss,
tree-holes and the nest of a blackbird (Hyatt 1987). It has also been found in a dipper
(Cinclus cinclus aquaticus) nest in Wales (Fain et al. 1991). Little is known about the
food preferences of Holoparasitus species, but two have been reported feeding on spider
mites, while other members of the family Parasitidae are known to feed on small insects
and other mites, both of which were plentiful in the nests examined.
The mite fauna of one of the moorhen nests included numerous female Androlaelaps
casalis. This species thrives in a wide range of habitats, e.g. house dust, broiler house
litter, grassland, farm-stored cereals, and on birds and mammals and in their nests. It
occurred in dipper nests in the UK (Fain et al. 1991) and those of a variety of other
species elsewhere, although not the moorhen. Androlaelaps casalis takes food of both
animal and plant origin, e.g. lightly sclerotized mites, immature insects and wheat germ,
and will also feed opportunistically on blood and haemolymph. It has been found on adult
moths, mainly noctuids, which it is suspected to use for dispersal.
Tyrophagus longior was the most abundant species, occurring in three blackbird or robin
nests, and one of a blackbird and wren. This cosmopolitan, mainly fungivorous, mite is a
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designated as C. tenuiseta var. americana by Donner (1949) in Austria, for which Koste
(1978) gives a range of 205-314 μm. Varieties are not now recognised according to the
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and have more recently been regarded
as ecotypes, but these are not normally thought to co-habit and are deemed to be separate
species. However both the large and much smaller animals do occur together at the
Wildlife Garden and it was observed that the larger, sensu-stricto species was actually
preying on the smaller animal in one of the ponds in which they both occurred.
Deterioration of the Rotifer and Anomopodan Crustacean fauna in the
Wildlife Garden Ponds
During the twelve years since the last report (2003), there has been a considerable decline
in both of these groups.
In February 2006, to reduce leakage, the top pond was dredged-out. This pond and
the waterfall were relined before refilling. At the same time a much more powerful
circulatory system was installed pumping a much larger volume of water from the main
pond to the top pond for the waterfall. From that time onward, the phytoplankton
(especially the nano-plankton on which many of the rotifers depend for their food supply)
declined and many of the species previously listed were absent or present in only very
small numbers. The Chydorid Anomopoda almost completely disappeared. Although since
2009 borehole water was used to top up the ponds there is nothing in the water analyses
that might be considered harmful or indeed distinguish the borehole water from that
already in the ponds.
Both the rotifer and anomopodan crustacean groups tend to prefer fairly still water.
The circulation has been much reduced since 2011 and there has been recently some
recovery in numbers of some species. With the most recent samples (May 2013) the Top
Pond (A09) had the greatest number of individuals, Keratella brevispina, Polyarthra
dolichoptera and now Daphnia longispina and these were seen to be carrying Proales
daphnicola as did the Main Pond (A03) Daphnia in an earlier (February) collection. Thus,
although the situation is much improved it has not yet regained its former richness either
in respect to actual species or the number of their individuals.
MOLLUSCA
ADRIAN RUNDLE, LEARNING CURATOR, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Land Gastropods
Seventeen species of land molluscs were found in survey work carried out between June
and August 2014. Of these ten are new records for the Wildlife Garden. The most surprising
find was of a small juvenile slug, Testacella cf. maugei, which was too small for reliable
species identification. Testacella is a subterranean genus which hibernates for much of
the year and feeds on earthworms. Several minute snails were found in soil and leaf litter
near the boundary wall in a wooded area (W09). These were living Lauria cylindracea
and shells of Carychium minimum and Cecilioides acicula. Cochlicopa lubricella was
common in all wooded areas and it is surprising that it wasn't recorded before. The other
species of the genus, Cochlicopa lubrica, was found near the shed in P05. Another very
common species throughout the garden which was not found in the previous survey in
115
woodland species. The Nationally Scarce Choneiulus palmatus is associated with both
synanthropic and woodland habitats, tending to become more urbanised in the northern
parts of its range.
Cylindroiulus vulnerarius and Haplopodoiulus spathifer are two relative newcomers
to Britain, first recorded in this country by Adrian Rundle in the mid-1970s. Cylindroiulus
vulnerarius has since spread to more than twenty, mostly urban, locations that reach as
far north as central Scotland. Haplopodiulus spathifer is more localised and until recently
the garden was only the fourth known site for this species in Britain (Corbet and Jones
1996). Despite their restricted national distributions both Cylindroiulus vulnerarius and
Haplopodoiulus spathifer can be relatively abundant within the garden.
Although the garden supports some scarce myriapods, there are some common and
widespread species that have not been recorded. In particular, the millipede Proteroiulus
fuscus, a woodland species that lives under bark, is notable by its absence. The omission
of this and some other common species may be due to the relative isolation of the garden
and the varying abilities of different myriapod species to disperse and colonize new areas.
The garden currently supports a fifth of the British myriapod fauna. This may represent
a large proportion of the species actually present, although additional centipede and
millipede species will no doubt be discovered as more survey work is carried out.
ROTIFERA AND CRUSTACEA
ROTIFERA AND ANOMPODAN CRUSTACEA
ERIC D. HOLLOWDAY, 45 MANOR ROAD, AYLESBURY, BUCKS.
Taxonomy and Listing
In the previously published account (Lond. Nat. 82, 2003), at some stage during the
preparation of the ‘Species lists’, some typographic and taxonomic errors were introduced.
(In particular the Anomopoda had erroneously been placed under Amphipoda). Owing to
an administrative oversight, this final version was not seen by the recorder prior to
publication but the necessary corrections have now been addressed with the present
updated listing.
With the current listing it must be emphasised that the designation of Cephalodella
tenuiseta americana, as a subspecies, is purely provisional in order to ensure the inclusion
of this taxa in the list. Both the very large sensu-stricto species, first described by W.
B. Burn (1890) {page 34, Fig. 22 was at that time designated as Furcularia teniuseta with
a dimension of 1/40th of an inch [≡625 μm]}, and the very similar but much smaller
animal occur together in the same pond at the Wildlife Garden. The designation for the
listing may in fact be taxonomically incorrect as there has been considerable confusion
and misunderstanding concerning Cephalodella tenuiseta for almost a century. The
taxonomic status of C. tenuiseta americana is still unresolved, requiring further
investigation, possibly involving SEM microscopy. Also, in the opinion of the recorder, it
is probably almost certain that Cepahalodella gigantea, Remane (1933), is a synonym of
Burn’s (1890) original Cephalodella tenuiseta.
The smaller animal was first found and described [total length 380-390 μm] in Wisconsin
in 1924 by Harring & Myers (1924) who identified it as Burn’s species despite the great
difference in size. It has later been found in other parts of the world and in 1949 was
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here. It has only been recorded once from
the compost so is not prevalent currently.
12) Dendrobaena pygmaea – the most
significant find to date. This worm had not
been collected in the UK for 32 years until
its sighting in deadwood in the garden on
the 24 June 2015. It likes rich organic
matter but with its full size being
approximately 1-1.5 cm it is extremely
difficult to find and collect.
In the 2003 (Leigh and Ware) the species list comprised just five of the species listed
above. With the addition of compost heaps, and as the garden’s managed woodland and
grassland mature, new niches have been created to enable other species to inhabit the
area. Further regular monitoring needs to continue to capture fully the range of these
species. Digging, hand sorting and a vermifuge (mustard solution is used here) is needed
to systematically sample the area. In the previous study only a vermifuge was used
(washing up liquid), this would limit the species found.
VERTEBRATES
BIRDS
GAY CARR (ARTICLE SUBMITTED IN JANUARY 2013)
WITH RECENT UPDATE BY DANIEL OSBORNE, WILDLIFE GARDEN, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Since 2003 there have been a few changes to the birds in the Wildlife Garden. From the
list printed in the last report we have not seen pied wagtail Motacilla alba, house sparrow
Passer domesticus or pheasant Phasianus colchicus. We have seen starling Sturnus vulgaris
once in the last 10 years (October 2009) and song thrush Turdus philomelos has not been
seen since March 2004. However, apart from starling, these species were never frequent
visitors. Grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea was seen only infrequently until 2014 and 2015
when its visits became relatively frequent. Although mistle thrush Turdus viscivorus had
only been seen three times in October and December 2007 and in November 2008, it was
a regular visitor in the winter of 2013/14 feeding off late berries on the garden’s rowans.
However, we have gained some species such as long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus
which bred successfully in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011, using the gorse bushes (in
LH01 and W08). Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, first seen in September 2007, was recorded
twice in 2012 (May and September), twice in 2014 and once, so far, in 2015. Green
woodpecker Picus viridis was seen for the first time on 14 December 2009 and again on
6 August 2012. It has been sighted twice in 2015 and heard calling from the poplar tree
several times.
117
2003 was Aegopinella nitidula. Several live specimens of Oxyloma elegans were found
on reeds in a wet area next to the main pond.
Several previously common species were not found. They were Arion hortensis, Milax
budapestensis, Milax sowerbyi and Oxychilus draparnaudi. However Arion intermedius,
not recorded since 1996, was found in September 2015. Additional new species include
Oxychilus alliarius from around silver birch logs on the boundary wall adjacent to heathland
LH04. This species probably came with heathland plants in 2012.
Freshwater Mollusca
The freshwater mollusc fauna in the garden seems to have depleted since the last report
and only eight species were found. Two of three new additions: Hippeutis complanatus
and Pisidium obtusale turn up regularly in educational pond-dipping sessions. Both
occurred in the main pond and the shadier top pond (A08). Both species of Bithynia (B.
leachii and B. tentaculata) were common in all the ponds. The bivalve Musculium lacustre
that was fairly common in the leaf debris of the main pond (Leigh and Ware 2003) has
not been seen since April 2005. The following species could not be found: Anisus vortex,
Bathyomphalus contortus and Gyraulus albus, all normally found amongst submerged
aquatics, this may possibly be due to changes in the submerged aquatic vegetation since
the introduction of borehole water and the increased colonisation of Charophytes, notably
Chara globularis. Radix balthica (= Lymnea peregra), Lymnaea stagnalis and Physa acuta,
normally widespread species, were not found in the current survey. Great ramshorn nail,
Planorbarius corneus continues to be found in the main (A03) and top pond (A08)
sporadically.
A freshwater limpet Acroloxus lacustris, possibly overlooked in previous surveys, is the
most recent new find.
OLIGOCHAETA - EARTHWORMS
EMMA SHERLOCK, LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
With its differing habitats of leaf litter-rich wooded areas, compost heaps, waterlogged
pond edges and meadow, the garden attracts a variety of earthworm species. Over the
ten year period, twelve different species have been located in the garden so far: 1)
Eisenia fetida – a constant in the compost heaps, 2) Lumbricus terrestris – mainly found
in the meadow, 3) Allolobophora chlorotica – in both woodland and meadow areas, 4)
Aporrectodea caliginosa – found in most habitats and also thought to be quite tolerant
of disturbance, 5) Aporrectodea longa – only found in the grassland, 6) Aporrectodea
rosea – only found once in the meadow. This is surprising as it is usually relatively common
in grassland and wooded areas but it does usually prefer neutral and alkaline soils so
potentially the meadow soil can on occasion be more acidic. 7) Aporrectodea icterica –
another grassland species found in the grassland once, 8) Lumbricus rubellus – a ubiquitous
earthworm that can do well in acidic conditions, found in the fen and grassland, 9)
Octolasion lacteum – generally has a preference for wet habitats, found once in the
meadow, 10) Eiseniella tetredra – has a preference for waterlogged soils and was found
once at the pond edge in 2008, 11) Dendrobaena veneta – like Eisenia fetida, this worm
has a preference for high organic matter and is usually found in compost bins as it was
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 6116
Dendrobaena pygmaea. This worm had not
been collected in the UK for 32 years until
its sighting in deadwood (24 June 2015).
© The Trustees of the Natural History
Museum, London
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MAMMALS
LARISSA COOPER, WILDLIFE GARDEN, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Nine mammal species have been recorded in the garden since 2004, though the species
and abundance have altered since the previous survey period.
Sightings of foxes Vulpes vulpes were once rare but can now be seen regularly in the
garden – mornings and often during the day – to the delight of visitors and staff. Foxes
have bred in the garden since 2010, with three cubs in 2013, four in 2014 and three in
2015 utilising two earths within the garden - one in the fen carr and one on the edge of
woodland (W01) not far from the staff shed. Along with visual observations, scat is often
found in prominent positions and evidence of their evening’s activities can be seen in
the mornings through foraged rubbish, tennis balls and squashed vegetation.
Grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis are the most visible mammal in the garden for visitors
to see, climbing trees and foraging below the bird feeders and on hazel nuts and rosehips
in late summer. For a short while during autumn to winter months 2007 to 2010 a solitary
rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus was occasionally sighted all around the garden, possibly originating
from Kensington Gardens. There have been no sightings of wild rabbits in the garden during
the past five years though they are regularly sighted in neighbouring Kensington Gardens.
Regular trapping using Longworth traps and hair traps for small mammals has revealed
good mixed-sex populations of house mouse Mus domesticus, especially in the woodlands
and the log piles. However these trapping methods have failed to confirm the presence
of any wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus. The last record in the garden was in 2009 from
a single visual sighting of a juvenile, whilst records of wood mouse in 2002 were obtained
through hair traps and covered a large proportion of the garden suggesting a large
population (Harbord, in Leigh and Ware 2003:108). Both species of mice are able to
coexist providing there are enough resources (Derek Crawley, Mammal Society pers.
comm.). However, as suggested by The Mammal Society, when resources are limited, the
wood mouse tends to out-compete the house mouse due to its larger size (Crawley 2013).
This has not been the case in the garden. Further investigation into records of wood mice
in the wider geographical area reveals few records. However small mammals are often
under recorded (e.g. Battersby 2005, Mammal Society 2014) which is likely to account
for some of the absence in the London datasets. Given the few records of wood mice in
the wider area, along with the high numbers in the current population of house mice in
the garden, it may be possible that the previous records for wood mouse were
misidentified. However wood mice are present in neighbouring Kensington Gardens (Julia
Clark pers. comm.). We shall continue to monitor the small mammal populations.
Common rats Rattus norvegicus are rarely seen, the last sighting was in March 2014.
MAMMALS – BATS
JOHN TOVEY, THE LONDON BAT GROUP
Bats have been routinely recorded by a number of experts over this period. The bats are
visiting the garden to forage utilising the insect resources. The garden contains an
invertebrate-rich pond, open compost heaps and a good variety of vegetation, shrubs
and mature trees. There is also an excellent selection of bat boxes that have not been
used to date.
119
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita still occurs occasionally as a passage bird, having
been seen six times since 2006. Willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus is another rare
passage bird having only been seen in April and October 2010 and reed warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceus only seen on 21 August 2005. Redwing Turdus iliacus, which first
appeared in December 2002, was seen five times at the beginning of 2004 with six birds
in March. Redwing has been a regular visitor feeding off rowan and holly berries in
December/January in 2005, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Peregrine falcon Falco
peregrinus has been seen four times since December 2014 when a probable breeding pair
were observed for around half an hour, circling above the garden and alighting on the
west side of the Waterhouse building.
The regular breeders in the garden are robin Erithacus rubecula (1–2 pairs), wren
Troglodytes troglodytes (1–2 pairs), blackbird Turdus merula (several pairs), blue tit
Cyanistes caeruleus (1–2 pairs), great tit Parus major (1–2 pairs), greenfinch Chloris
chloris (1 pair) and moorhen Gallinula chloropus (1 pair) which has ousted the mallard
Anas platyrhynchos, which is now only a occasional visitor. Other species which have
bred successfully are blackcap Sylvia atricapilla (1 pair) which was first seen in May 2006
and bred for the first time in 2012, carrion crow Corvus corone (1 pair) which has bred
every year since 2004 and magpie Pica pica (1 pair) which has bred during a couple of
years. Dunnock Prunella modularis (1 pair) and chaffinch Fringilla coelebs (1 pair) have
been breeding in the garden or nearby since 2004 and coal tit Periparus ater (1 pair),
which became a regular visitor in 2006, has certainly bred in the vicinity since 2010.
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus is a regular visitor and probably breeds nearby, as is
great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major, seen frequently since 2012. Other new
visitors include nuthatch Sitta europaea, observed in a mixed flock of tits, in July 2014
and there was one sighting of tufted duck Aythya fuligula on 7 May 2009.
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis which became a regular winter visitor with a flock of
over 10 birds being seen in March 2012 is now, since 2014, seen in the garden daily,
feeding on seedheads of common knapweed, alder, and amongst the foliage of beech
and silver birch. Goldcrest Regulus regulus is a winter visitor, seen ten times since 2004
and is probably overlooked and even more frequent. Jay Garrulus glandarius is also a
regular visitor but more usually in the winter. Kestrel Falco tinnunculus is an infrequent
but regular visitor. A juvenile was seen in a tree on a number of occasions in August 2012.
Feral rock pigeon Columba livia is occasionally seen in the garden but stays mainly in
other areas of the Museum grounds though more recently gathers in high numbers (up
to ten) below the bird feeders.
In the London area in general, the same birds that have increased or newly appeared
in the garden have also increased in London and those that have declined in general have
declined in the garden. Carrion crow and magpie have both increased in London and now
breed in the smallest of gardens with only 1 or 2 trees suitable for nesting. Blackcap has
increased by 102% in London since 1995 and goldfinch, chaffinch, long-tailed tit and
goldcrest have also increased in the London area. Blackbirds, however, which are stable
in the garden, have declined by 18% since 1995 and, although raptors such as sparrowhawk
have increased, kestrel is declining. The Greenfinch, which has declined significantly in
recent years, has a stable population of around twenty birds in the garden.
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The identified sightings have all been single pipstrelles feeding in the tree canopy and
above the pond, with durations of feeding activity at any one time ranging from 5 to 55
minutes. Since the number of bat sightings was falling during surveys in 2013 and 2014,
an Anabat automated recorder was installed in August 2014 for three weeks on the lime
tree overlooking the pond at a height of about 3m. This showed extensive all night foraging
by common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus and soprano pipistrelle P. pygmaeus (and
possibly Nathusius’ pipistrelle P. nathusii) in mid-August which soon declined to occasional
visits. This corresponds to the early dispersal of breeding roosts seen this year (J.Tovey
pers. obs.).
The usual pattern of recordings showed single bat visits starting well after dusk and
continuing through the night. This implies the bats are using the garden as a secondary
feeding site most of the time and signifies the importance of this site of varied habitats
as a foraging area in South Kensington.
As we conclude this paper, and following analysis of recordings from an Anabat installed
on 24 August 2015, we can now report confirmation of foraging Nathusius’ pipistrelle on
several nights in September and a visit by Leisler’s bat Nyctalus leisleri.
SPECIES LISTS
———
The species are additions to the lists of Honey et al. 1999 and Leigh and Ware 2003, with
full lists for previously unreported groups: Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Acari, and for
groups which included errors or omissions in 2003 (Leigh and Ware).
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FLORA AND FUNGI
FRESHWATER ALGAE
Additional species recorded since 2003
(Leigh and Ware)
Chlorophyta: Green algae
Chara globularis Fragile stonewort
Closterium moniliferum
Coelastrum microporum
Pediastrum biradiatum (=Parapediastrum
biradiatum)
Pediastrum boryanum var. corniculatus
Pleurotaenium truncata
Cyanophyta: Blue-green Algae
Anabaena sp.
Phormidium sp.
Dinophyta
Peridinium bipes
Xanthophyta: Yellow-green Algae
Characiopsis saccata
Vaucheria sessilis
Vaucheria taylori
BRYOPSIDA
All records since 2003 (Leigh and Ware)
* Previously listed in 2003
Amblystegiaceae
Amblystegium serpens*
Calliergonella cuspidata
Cratoneuron filicinum*
Leptodictyum riparium
Brachytheciaceae
Brachythecium albicans
Brachythecium rutabulum*
Kindbergia praelonga*
Platyhypnidium riparioides
Rhynchostegium confertum*
Bryaceae
Bryum argenteum
Bryum capillare
Bryum dichotomum*
Bryum sp.
Pohlia melanodon*
Pohlia nutans*
Cryphaeaceae
Cryphaea heteromalla
Dicranaceae
Campylopus introflexus*
Ceratodon purpureus*
Dicranum scoparium*
Fissidentaceae
Fissidens taxifolius*
Grimmiaceae
Grimmia pulvinata*
Grimmia sp.
Schistidium apocarpum*
Schistidium crassipilum*
Hypnaceae
Hypnum cupressiforme*
Hypnum cupressiforme var. resupinatum
Hypnum jutlandicum
Mniaceae
Mnium hornum*
Orthotrichaceae
Orthotrichum affine
Orthotrichum cf. anomalum*
Orthotrichum diaphanum*
Orthotrichum sp.
Oxyrrhynchium hians
Oxyrrhynchium sp.
Polytrichaceae
Polytrichum juniperinum
Pottiaceae
Barbula convoluta*
Barbula unguiculata
Didymodon insulanus
Didymodon luridus*
Phascum cuspidatum
Syntrichia ruraliformis
Tortula muralis
Tortula truncata*
VASCULAR PLANTS
See Appendix 1 for full list of vascular
plants recorded 2014-2015
LICHENISED FUNGI 2003-2015
Acarosporaceae
Sarcogyne regularis
Arthoniaceae
Arthonia radiata
Arthopyreniaceae
Arthopyrenia punctiformis
Candelariaceae
Candelaria concolor
Candelariella aurella
Candelariella medians
Candelariella reflexa
Candelariella vitellina
Catillariaceae
Catillaria chalybeia
Cladoniaceae
Cladonia chlorophaea*
Cladonia ciliata*
Cladonia coniocraea*
Cladonia crispata*
Cladonia 'diversa'
Cladonia fimbriata
Cladonia floerkeana
Cladonia furcata
Cladonia portentosa
Cladonia pyxidata
Cladonia ramulosa*
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Collemataceae
Collema tenax
Lecanoraceae
Lecanora albescens
Lecanora campestris
Lecanora chlarotera
Lecanora conizaeoides
Lecanora dispersa agg.
Lecanora expallens
Lecanora hagenii
Lecanora muralis
Lecanora persimilis
Lecanora saligna
Lecanora symmicta
Lecidella elaeochroma
Lecidella scabra
Lecidella stigmataea
Lecideaceae
Lecidea fuscoatra
Steinia geophana
Monoblastiaceae
Anisomeridium polypori
Parmeliaceae
Evernia prunastri
Flavoparmelia caperata
Hypogymnia physodes
Melanelixia subaurifera
Parmelia sulcata
Parmotrema perlatum
Punctelia subrudecta
Xanthoparmelia mougeotii
Peltigeraceae
Peltigera cf. hymenina
Physciaceae
Amandinea punctata
Hyperphyscia adglutinata
Phaeophyscia nigricans
Phaeophyscia orbicularis
Physcia adscendens
Physcia caesia
Physcia dubia
Physcia tenella
Rinodina oleae
Pilocarpaceae
Felhanera viridisorediata
Micarea denigrata
Porinaceae
Porina chlorotica
Porpidiaceae
Porpidia tuberculosa
Psoraceae
Protoblastenia rupestris
Ramalinaceae
Bacidia adastra
Bacidia delicata
Bacidia egenula
Bacidia inundata
Bacidia neosquamulosa
Buellia griseovirens
Lecania erysibe
Lecania rabenhorstii
Ramalina farinacea
Roccellaceae
Opegrapha vermicellifera
Opegrapha vulgata
Scoliciosporaceae
Scoliciosporum chlorococcum
Scoliciosporum umbrinum
Stereocaulaceae
Lepraria incana
Lepraria lobificans
Teloschistaceae
Caloplaca cerina
Caloplaca crenulatella
Caloplaca decipiens
Caloplaca flavocitrina
Caloplaca flavovirescens
Caloplaca holocarpa agg.
Caloplaca lithophila
Caloplaca saxicola
Caloplaca variabilis
Xanthoria parietina
Xanthoria polycarpa
Xanthoria ucrainica
Trapeliaceae
Placynthiella icmalea
Trapelia coarctata
Trapelia glebulosa
Trapelia obtegens
Trapeliopsis flexuosa
Verrucariaceae
Thelidium minutulum
Thelidium zwackhii
Verrucaria dolosa
Verrucaria muralis
Verrucaria nigrescens
genera incertae sedis
Cyrtidula quercus
FAUNAL RECORDS
INSECTA
ODONATA – Dragonflies and damselflies
*Previously listed in 2003 (Leigh and
Ware)
Calopterygidae
Calopteryx splendens Banded demoiselle
Coenagrionidae
Pyrrosoma nymphula Large red damselfly
Coenagrion puella* Azure damselfly
Enallagma cyathigerum* Common blue
damselfly
Ischnura elegans* Blue-tailed damselfly
Aeshnidae
Aeshna mixta* Migrant hawker
Aeshna cyanea* Southern hawker
Aeshna grandis* Brown hawker
Anax imperator* Emperor dragonfly
Libellulidae
Libellula depressa* Broad-bodied chaser
Orthetrum cancellatum Black-tailed
skimmer
Sympetrum striolatum* Common darter
ORTHOPTERA – Crickets and
grasshoppers
* Previously listed in 2003 (Leigh and
Ware)
Acrididae
Chorthippus albomarginatus* Lesser
marsh grasshopper
Chorthippus brunneus* Common field
grasshopper
Chorthippus parallelus Meadow
grasshopper
Conocephalidae
Conocephalus discolour Long-winged
cone-head
Meconematidae
Meconema meridionale Southern oak
bush-cricket
Meconema thalassinum Oak bush-cricket
Phaneropteridae
Leptophyes punctatissima Speckled bush-
cricket
Tettigoniidae
Metrioptera brachyptera Bog bush-
cricket
HEMIPTERA – True Bugs
* previously listed in 2003 (Leigh and
Ware)
TERRESTRIAL HETEROPTERA AND
AUCHENORRYNCHA
Acanthosomatidae
Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale (Linnaeus)*
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Cyphostethus tristriatus (Fabricius)
Elasmostethus interstinctus (Linnaeus)*
Elasmucha grisea (Linnaeus)*
Pentatomidae
Palomena prasina (Linnaeus)*
Pentatoma rufipes (Linnaeus)*
Piezodorus lituratus (Fabricius)
Coreidae
Coreus marginatus (Linnaeus)
Rhopalidae
Rhopalus subrufus (Gmelin)
Anthocoridae
Anthocoris nemoralis (Fabricius)
Anthocoris nemorum (Linnaeus)
Buchananiella continua (White)
Miridae
Asciodema obsoletum (Fieber)
Camplyloneura virgula (Herrich-Schäffer)
Closterotomus norwegicus (Gmelin)
Closterotomus trivialis (Costa)
Deraeocoris flavilinea (Costa)
Deraeocoris lutescens (Schilling)
Deraeocoris ruber (Linnaeus)
Dicyphus errans (Wolff)
Liocoris tripustulatus (Fabricius)
Lygocoris pabulinus (Linnaeus)
Lygocoris rugicollis (Fallén)
Malacocoris chlorizans (Panzer)
Megaloceroea recticornis (Geoffroy)
Orthops campestris (Linnaeus)
Orthops kalmii (Linnaeus)
Pantilius tunicatus (Fabricus)
Phylus coryli (Linnaeus)
Pinalitus cervinus (Herrich-Schäffer)
Plagiognathus arbustorum (Fabricius)
Polymerus nigrita (Fallén)
Stenodema laevigata (Linnaeus)
Tropidosteptes pacificus (Van Duzee)
Reduviidae
Empicoris vagabundus (Linnaeus)
Lygaeidae
Arocatus longiceps (Stål)
Kleidocerys resedae (Panzer)
Corixidae
Hesperocorixa linnaei (Fieber)
Notonectidae
Notonecta glauca (Linnaeus)
Notonecta maculata (Fabricius)
Gerridae
Gerris lacustris (Linnaeus)
Gerris argentatus (Schummel)
Hydrometridae
Hydrometra stagnorum (Linnaeus)
Naucoridae
Ilyocoris cimicoides (Linnaeus)
Nepidae
Nepa cinerea (Linnaeus)
Mesovelidae
Mesovelia furcata (Mulsant & Rey)
Pleidae
Plea minutissima (Leach)
AUCHENORRYNCHA
Aphrophoridae
Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus)
Cicadellidae
Acericerus ribauti (Nickel & Remane)
Arboridia ribauti (Ossiannilsson)
Arthaldeus pascuellus (Fallén)
Balclutha punctata (Fabricius)
Edwardsiana avallanae (Edwards)
Edwardsiana crataegi (Douglas)
Edwardsiana rosae (Linnaeus)
Empoasca vitis (Göthe)
Eupteryx aurata (Linnaeus)
Eupteryx decemnotata (Rey)
Eupteryx florida (Ribaut)
Eupteryx melissae (Curtis)
Eupteryx tenella (Fallén)
Euscelis incisus (Kirschbaum)
Fieberiella florii (Stål)
Hauptidia maroccana (Melichar)
Iassus lanio (Linnaeus)
Kybos populi (Edwards)
Linnavuoriana decempunctata (Fallén)
Mocydia crocea (Herrich-Schäffer)
Ossiannilssonola callosa (Then)
Rhytidodus decimusquartus (Schrank)
Ribautiana debilis (Douglas)
Ribautiana tenerrima (Herrick-Schäffer)
Tremulicerus vitreus (Fabricius)
Zonocyba bifasciata (Boheman)
Zygina angusta (Lethierry)
Zygina nivea (Mulsant & Rey)
Zyginidia scutellaris (Herrich-Schäffer)
HEMIPTERA – STERNORRHYNCHA
Aleyrodidae
Siphonius phillyreae
Aphididae
Acyrthosiphon pisum
Acrythosiphon primulae
Amphorophora gei
Amphorophora rubi*
Aphis fabae*
Aphis pomi
Aphis rumicis
Aphis sambuci
Aulacorthum solani*
Brachycaudus cardui
Brachycaudus klugkisti
Brevicoryne brassicae
Capitophorus similis*
Cinara juniper
Drepanosiphum platanoidis
Euceraphis betulae
Hayhurstia atriplicis
Hyadaphis foeniculi
Hyalopterus pruni
Hyperomyzus lactucae*
Linosiphon galiophagum
Macrosiphoniella millefoliae
Macrosiphum euphorbiae
Macrosiphum rosae*
Megoura viciae
Metopolophium dirhodum
Myzocallis carpini
Myzocallis coryli
Myzus ligustri*
Myzus ornatus
Myzus persicae*
Pemphigus bursarius*
Pemphigus spirothecae*
Periphyllus acericola
Periphyllus testudinacea
Phorodon humuli
Phyllaphis fagi
Rhopalosiphum padi*
Sitobion fragariae
Schizolachnus pineti
Tuberolachnus salignus
Uroleucon sp.*
Utamphorophora humboldti
Vesiculaphis theobaldi
Diaspididae
Unaspis euonymi
Psyllidae
Psyllopsis fraxini
Psyllopsis fraxinicola
Monophlebidae
Icerya purchasi
Triozidae
Trioza urticae (Linnaeus)
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HYMENOPTERA
ANTHOPHILA – BEES
Andrenidae
Andrena bicolor
Andrena cineraria
Andrena dorsata
Andrena flavipes
Andrena fulva
Andrena haemorrhoa
Andrena nigroaenea
Andrena nitida
Andrena scotica
Andrena (Micrandrena) sp.
Panurgus banksianus
Apidae
Anthophora furcata
Anthophora plumipes
Apis mellifera
Bombus hortorum
Bombus hypnorum
Bombus lapidarius
Bombus lucorum sensu lato
Bombus pascuorum
Bombus pratorum
Bombus terrestris
Bombus vestalis
Melecta albifrons
Nomada fabriciana
Nomada flava/panzeri
Nomada flavoguttata
Nomada goodeniana
Nomada ruficornis
Colletidae
Colletes daviesanus
Colletes similis
Hylaeus communis
Hylaeus confusus
Hylaeus hyalinatus
Hylaeus signatus Notable B
Halictidae
Lasioglossum calceatum
Lasioglossum lativentre
Lasioglossum morio
Lasioglossum smeathmanellum
Sphecodes monilicornis
Megachilidae
Anthidium manicatum
Chelostoma campanularum
Coelioxys elongata
Megachile centuncularis
Megachile willughbiella
Osmia bicornis
Osmia caerulescens
Osmia leaiana
Melittidae
Melitta haemorrhoidalis
SPHECIFORMES – DIGGER WASPS
Crabronidae
Astata boops
Crossocerus annulipes
Crossocerus congener
Crossocerus distinguendus Notable A
Crossocerus elongatulus
Crossocerus ovalis
Ectemnius cavifrons
Ectemnius cephalotes
Ectemnius continuus
Lestiphorus bicinctus Notable B
Mimumesa dahlbomi
Passaloecus gracilis
Passaloecus singularis
Pemphredon lethifera
Pemphredon lugubris
Psenulus concolor
Psenulus pallipes
Rhopalum coarctatum
Spilomena sp.
Stigmus solskyi
Trypoxylon figulus
Pompilidae
Auplopus carbonarius Notable B
Although Pompilidae are not included in
the Apoidea list, the Nationally Notable B
– Auplopus carbonarius is worthy of
inclusion at this point.
COLEOPTERA – Beetles
All records since 1995 formatted to most
recent checklist. 356 species, of 47
families, and including 28 species with a
published conservation status, as of
November 2015.
Gyrinidae – Whirligig Beetles
Gyrinus sp.
Haliplidae – Crawling water beetles
Haliplus immaculatus Gerhardt
Haliplus lineatocollis (Marsham)
Haliplus ruficollis (De Geer)
Noteridae – Burrowing water beetles
Noterus crassicornis (Müller) Notable
Hygrobiidae – Screech Beetle
Hygrobia hermanni (Fabricius)
Dytiscidae – Diving beetles
Acilius sulcatus (Linnaeus)
Agabus sturmii (Gyllenhal)
Dytiscus marginalis Linnaeus
Hydaticus seminiger (De Geer) Notable
Hydroglyphus geminus (Fabricius)
Hydroporus planus (Fabricius)
Hygrotus confluens (Fabricius)
Hygrotus inaequalis (Fabricius)
Hyphydrus ovatus (Linnaeus)
Laccophilus minutus (Linnaeus)
Rhantus suturalis (MacLeay)
Carabidae – Ground beetles
Acupalpus dubius (Schilsky)
Acupalpus parvulus (Sturm)
Amara aenea (De Geer)
Amara apricaria (Paykull)
Amara ovata (Fabricius)
Anchomenus dorsalis (Pontoppidan)
Asaphidion curtum (Heyden)
Badister bullatus (Schrank)
Bembidion articulatum (Panzer)
Bembidion deletum (Audinet-Serville)
Bembidion guttula (Fabricius)
Bembidion lampros (Herbst)
Bembidion lunulatum (Geoffroy)
Bembidion obtusum (Audinet-Serville)
Bembidion tetracolum (Say)
Bembidion varium (Olivier)
Bradycellus harpalinus (Audinet-Serville)
Bradycellus verbasci (Duftschmid)
Curtonotus convexiusculus (Marsham)
Dromius meridionalis (Dejean)
Elaphroprus parvulus (Dejean) Notable B
Harpalus affinis (Schrank)
Harpalus rubripes (Duftschmid)
Harpalus rufipes (De Geer)
Leistus rufomarginatus (Duftschmid)
Nebria brevicollis (Fabricius)
Notiophilus biguttatus (Fabricius)
Notiophilus rufipes (Curtis)
Notiophilus substriatus (Waterhouse)
Ophonus rufibarbis (Fabricius)
Paradromius linearis (Olivier)
Paranchus albipes (Fabricius)
Perigona nigriceps (Dejean)
Platyderus depressus (Audinet-Serville)
Notable B
Polystichus connexus (Geoffroy) RDB2
Pterostichus madidus (Fabricius)
Pterostichus strenuus (Panzer)
Pterostichus vernalis (Panzer)
Stenolophus mixtus (Herbst)
Trechus obtusus (Erichson)
Trechus quadristriatus (Schrank)
Hydrophilidae – Water scavenger
beetles
Anacaena limbata (Fabricius)
Cercyon analis (Paykull)
Cercyon laminatus (Sharp)
Cercyon lateralis (Marsham)
Cercyon marinus (Thomson)
Cercyon melanocephalus (Linnaeus)
Cercyon terminatus (Marsham)
Cercyon unipunctatus (Linnaeus)
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Cryptopleurum minutum (Fabricius)
Cryptopleurum subtile (Sharp)
Cymbiodyta marginellus (Fabricius)
Enochrus bicolor (Fabricius) Notable
Helochares lividus (Forster)
Helophorus brevipalpis (Bedel)
Hydrobius fuscipes (Linnaeus)
Megasternum concinnum (Marsham)
Sphaeridium marginatum (Fabricius)
Histeridae
Carcinops pumilio (Erichson)
Kissister minimus (Aubé)
Margarinotus brunneus (Fabricius)
Ptiliidae – Featherwing beetles
Acrotrichis fascicularis (Herbst)
Acrotrichis sericans (Heer)
Ptenidium nitidum (Heer)
Ptenidium pusillum (Gyllenhal)
Leiodidae – Round fungus beetles
Catops fuliginosus (Erichson)
Liocyrtusa vittata (Curtis)
Ptomaphagus medius (Rey)
Ptomaphagus subvillosus (Goeze)
Staphylinidae – Rove beetles
Acrotona aterrima (Gravenhorst)
Acrotona muscorum (Brisout)
Acrotona parvula (Mannerheim)
Alaobia trinotata (Kraatz)
Aleochara lanuginosa (Gravenhorst)
Aloconota gregaria (Erichson)
Amischa analis (Gravenhorst)
Amischa decipiens (Sharp)
Amischa nigrofusca (Stephens)
Anotylus complanatus (Erichson)
Anotylus rugosus (Fabricius)
Anotylus sculpturatus (Gravenhorst)
Anotylus tetracarinatus (Block)
Astenus pulchellus (Heer)
Atheta crassicornis (Fabricius)
Atheta oblita (Erichson)
Atheta triangulum (Kraatz)
Atheta vaga (Heer)
Atheta xanthopus (Thomson)
Autalia rivularis (Gravenhorst)
Bisnius fimetarius (Gravenhorst)
Bisnius parcus (Sharp)
Bisnius sordidus (Gravenhorst)
Bledius spectabilis (Kraatz)
Callicerus rigidicornis (Erichson)
Carpelimus bilineatus (Stephens)
Carpelimus corticinus (Gravenhorst)
Carpelimus rivularis (Motschulsky)
Carpelimus similis (Smetana) Notable
Chaetida longicornis (Gravenhorst)
Cypha longicornis (Paykull)
Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz)
Datomicra nigra (Kraatz)
Datomicra sordidula (Erichson)
Gabrius appendiculatus (Sharp)
Gabrius nigritulus (Gravenhorst)
Gabronthus thermarum (Aubé)
Gnypeta carbonaria (Mannerheim)
Gnypeta rubrior (Tottenham)
Gyrohypnus angustatus (Stephens)
Gyrohypnus fracticornis (Müller)
Habrocerus capillaricornis (Gravenhorst)
Leptacinus pusillus (Stephens)
Lithocharis nigriceps (Kraatz)
Megarthrus prosseni (Schatzmayr)
Metopsia clypeata (Müller)
Microdota amicula (Stephens)
Micropeplus fulvus (Erichson)
Mocyta amplicollis (Mulsant & Rey)
Mocyta clientula (Erichson)
Mocyta fungi (Gravenhorst)
Mocyta orbata (Erichson)
Mycetoporus clavicornis (Stephens)
Mycetota laticollis (Stephens)
Neobisnius lathrobioides (Baudi)
Ocypus olens (Müller)
Oligota inflata (Mannerheim)
Oligota parva (Kraatz)
Oligota pumilio (Kiesenwetter)
Omalium caesum (Gravenhorst)
Omalium italicum (Bernhauer)
Omalium rivulare (Paykull)
Oxypoda haemorrhoa (Mannerheim)
Oxypoda umbrata (Gyllenhal)
Philhygra elongatula (Gravenhorst)
Philhygra palustris (Kiesenwetter)
Philonthus carbonarius (Gravenhorst)
Philonthus cognatus (Stephens)
Philonthus discoideus (Gravenhorst)
Philonthus politus (Linnaeus)
Philonthus quisquilarius (Gyllenhal)
Philonthus rectangulus (Sharp)
Philonthus varians (Paykull)
Proteinus ovalis (Stephens)
Quedius curtipennis (Bernhauer)
Quedius humeralis (Stephens)
Quedius levicollis (Brullé)
Quedius mesomelinus (Marsham)
Quedius schatzmayri (Gridelli)
Rugilus orbiculatus (Paykull)
Stenus brunnipes (Stephens)
Stenus ossium (Stephens)
Sunius propinquus (Brisout)
Tachinus rufipes (Linnaeus)
Tachyporus dispar (Paykull)
Tachyporus hypnorum (Fabricius)
Tachyporus nitidulus (Fabricius)
Tachyporus pusillus (Gravenhorst)
Tachyporus tersus (Erichson)
Tasgius ater (Gravenhorst)
Trichiusa immigrata (Lohse)
Xantholinus linearis (Olivier)
Xantholinus longiventris (Heer)
Lucanidae – Stag beetles
Dorcus parallelipipedus (Linnaeus)
Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus) Notable B
Scarabaeidae – Scarab beetles
Amphimallon solstitiale (Linnaeus)
Aphodius contaminatus (Herbst)
Aphodius rufus (Moll)
Cetonia aurata (Linnaeus)
Oxyomus sylvestris (Scopoli)
Saprosites natalensis (Peringuey)
Scirtidae – Marsh beetles
Cyphon variabilis (Thunberg)
Byrrhidae – Pill beetles
Chaetophora spinosa (Rossi)
Simplocaria semistriata (Fabricius)
Heteroceridae
Heterocerus fenestratus (Thunberg)
Throscidae
Trixagus dermestoides (Linnaeus)
Elateridae – Click beetles
Dalopius marginatus (Linnaeus)
Cantharidae – Soldier beetles
Cantharis lateralis (Linnaeus)
Cantharis rufa (Linnaeus)
Cantharis rustica (Fallén)
Rhagonycha fulva (Scopoli)
Dermestidae – Skin and hide beetles
Anthrenocerus australis (Hope)
Anthrenus museorum (Linnaeus)
Anthrenus sarnicus (Mroczkowski)
Anthrenus verbasci (Linnaeus)
Ctesias serra (Fabricius) Notable B
Dermestes haemorrhoidalis (Küster)
Dermestes peruvianus (Laporte)
Ptinidae (including Anobiinae) – Spider
and woodworm beetles
Anobium nitidum (Fabricius) RDB ‘I’
Anobium punctatum (De Geer)
Ochina ptinoides (Marsham)
Priobium carpini (Herbst)
Ptilinus pectinicornis (Linnaeus)
Stegobium paniceum (Linnaeus)
Ptinus sexpunctatus (Panzer) Notable B
Melyridae
Axinotarsus marginalis (Laporte)
Dasytes plumbeus (Müller) Notable B
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Kateretidae
Brachypterus glaber (Stephens)
Brachypterolus pulicarius (Linnaeus)
Kateretes rufilabris (Latreille)
Nitidulidae – Pollen beetles
Meligethes aeneus (Fabricius)
Meligethes carinulatus (Förster)
Meligethes gagathinus (Erichson) Notable
Meligethes rotundicollis (Brisout) Notable
Meligethes ruficornis (Marsham)
Monotomidae
Monotoma bicolor (Villa & Villa)
Monotoma picipes (Herbst)
Rhizophagus perforatus (Erichson)
Phalacridae – Smut beetles
Olibrus affinis (Sturm)
Olibrus flavicornis (Sturm) RDB ‘K’
Olibrus liquidus (Erichson)
Stilbus testaceus (Panzer)
Cryptophagidae – Silken fungus beetles
Atomaria apicalis (Erichson)
Atomaria atricapilla (Stephens)
Atomaria fuscata (Schönherr)
Atomaria lewisi (Reitter)
Atomaria linearis (Stephens)
Atomaria nitidula (Marsham)
Atomaria pusilla (Paykull)
Atomaria rubella (Heer)
Atomaria testacea (Stephens)
Cryptophagus acutangulus (Gyllenhal)
Cryptophagus reflexus (Rey)
Cryptophagus scanicus (Linnaeus)
Ephistemus globulus (Paykull)
Bothrideridae
Anommatus duodecimstriatus (Müller)
Notable A
Coccinellidae – Ladybirds
Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus)
Adalia decempunctata (Linnaeus)
Anatis ocellata (Linnaeus)
Calvia quattuordecimguttata (Linnaeus)
Chilocorus renipustulatus (Scriba)
Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi) RDB1
Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus)
Exochomus quadripustulatus (Linnaeus)
Halyzia sedecimguttata (Linnaeus)
Harmonia axyridis (Pallas)
Harmonia quadripunctata (Pontoppidan)
Propylea quattuordecimpunctata
(Linnaeus)
Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata (Linnaeus)
Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Herbst)
Rhyzobius forestieri (Mulsant)
Rhyzobius litura (Fabricius)
Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell)
Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant)
Stethorus punctillum (Weise)
Corylophidae
Sericoderus lateralis (Gyllenhal)
Latridiidae
Cartodere bifasciata (Reitter)
Cartodere nodifer (Westwood)
Corticarina fuscula (Gyllenhal)
Cortinicara gibbosa (Herbst)
Enicmus brevicornis (Mannerheim)
Notable
Stephostethus lardarius (De Geer)
Mycetophagidae – Fungus beetles
Typhaea stercorea (Linnaeus)
Ciidae – Minute fungus beetles
Cis boleti (Scopoli)
Melandryidae – False darkling beetles
Conopalpus testaceus (Olivier) Notable B
Mordellidae – Tumbling flower beetles
Mordellistena acuticollis (Schilsky) RDB ‘K’
Mordellistena variegata (Fabricius)
Colydiidae
Langelandia anophthalma (Aubé) RDB3
Tenebrionidae – Darkling beetles
Lagria hirta (Linnaeus)
Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus)
Tenebrio obscurus (Fabricius)
Oedemeridae – Thick-legged flower
beetles
Oedemera lurida (Marsham)
Oedemera nobilis (Scopoli)
Pyrochroidae – Cardinal beetles
Pyrochroa serraticornis (Scopoli)
Anthicidae – Ant-like flower beetles
Omonadus floralis (Linnaeus)
Omonadus formicarius (Goeze)
Scraptiidae
Anaspis fasciata (Forster)
Anaspis lurida (Stephens)
Anaspis maculata (Geoffroy)
Anaspis regimbarti (Schilsky)
Cerambycidae – Longhorn beetles
Clytus arietis (Linnaeus)
Grammoptera ruficornis (Fabricius)
Leiopus nebulosus (Linnaeus)
Nathrius brevipennis (Mulsant)
Pseudovadonia livida (Fabricius)
Rhagium bifasciatum Fabricius
Rutpela maculata (Poda)
Chrysomelidae – Leaf beetles
Aphthona euphorbiae (Schrank)
Bruchidius varius (Olivier)
Bruchus rufimanus (Boheman)
Chaetocnema concinna (Marsham)
Chaetocnema hortensis (Geoffroy)
Crepidodera aurata (Marsham)
Galeruca tanaceti (Linnaeus)
Galerucella lineola (Fabricius)
Lilioceris lilii (Scopoli)
Longitarsus flavicornis (Stephens)
Longitarsus luridus (Scopoli)
Longitarsus melanocephalus (De Geer)
Longitarsus parvulus (Paykull) Notable A
Longitarsus pratensis (Panzer)
Longitarsus succineus (Foudras)
Luperomorpha xanthodera (Fairmaire)
Phratora laticollis (Suffrian)
Phyllotreta diademata (Foudras)
Phyllotreta nigripes (Fabricius)
Phyllotreta undulata (Kutschera)
Psylliodes chrysocephala (Linnaeus)
Psylliodes napi (Fabricius)
Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull)
Anthribidae – Fungus weevils
Bruchela rufipes (Olivier)
Apionidae – Seed weevils
Apion frumentarium (Linnaeus)
Aspidapion aeneum (Fabricius)
Aspidapion radiolus (Marsham)
Exapion ulicis (Forster)
Kalcapion semivittatum (Gyllenhal)
Notable A
Malvapion malvae (Fabricius)
Oxystoma cerdo (Gerstaecker) Notable B
Perapion hydrolapathi (Marsham)
Protapion apricans (Herbst)
Protapion fulvipes (Geoffroy)
Pseudapion rufirostre (Fabricius)
Nanophyidae
Nanophyes marmoratus (Goeze)
Curculionidae – True weevils
Barypeithes pellucidus (Boheman)
Ceutorhynchus erysimi (Fabricius)
Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus (Marsham)
Cionus scrophulariae (Linnaeus)
Dorytomus dejeani (Faust)
Dorytomus ictor (Herbst) Notable B
Dorytomus melanophthalmus (Paykull)
Euophryum confine (Broun)
Magdalis barbicornis (Latreille) Notable A
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Mecinus pascuorum (Gyllenhal)
Mecinus pyraster (Herbst)
Otiorhynchus rugosostriatus (Goeze)
Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius)
Phyllobius pomaceus (Gyllenhal)
Phyllobius pyri (Linnaeus)
Pityophthorus pubescens (Marsham)
Polydrusus formosus (Mayer) Notable A
Rhinusa antirrhini (Paykull)
Scolytus intricatus (Ratzeburg)
Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham)
Sitona hispidulus (Fabricius)
Sitona lepidus (Gyllenhal)
Sitona lineatus (Linnaeus)
Trichosirocalus troglodytes (Fabricius)
Trypophloeus binodulus (Ratzeburg)
Notable A
Tychius picirostris (Fabricius)
Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg)
LEPIDOPTERA – Moths
New since 2003 (Leigh and Ware)
Adelidae
Nemophora degeerella Yellow-barred
long-horn
Autostichidae
Oegoconia sp
Bedelliinae
Bedellia somnulentella Bindweed bent-
wing
Coleophoridae
Coleophora glaucicolella Grey rush case-
bearer
Coleophora spinella Apple & plum case-
bearer
Crambidae
Cydalima perspectalis Box tree moth
Donacaula forficella Pale water-veneer
Palpita vitrealis Olive-tree pearl
Elachistidae
Elachista obliquella Wood dwarf
Erebidae
Calliteara pudibunda Pale tussock
Eilema complana Scarce Footman
Euclidia glyphica Burnet companion
Euplagia quadripunctaria Jersey tiger
Lymantria dispar Gypsy moth
Spilosoma lubricipeda White ermine
Eriocraniidae
Dyseriocrania subpurpurella Common oak
purple
Gelechiidae
Anarsia spartiella Small crest
Athrips mouffetella Dotted grey
groundling
Neofaculta ericetella Heather groundling
Scrobipalpa obsoletella Summer
groundling
Syncopacma larseniella White-strap
sober
Geometridae
Agriopis marginaria Dotted border
Chesias legatella The streak
Dysstroma citrata Dark marbled carpet
Ectropis crepuscularia The engrailed
Eupithecia tripunctaria White-spotted
pug
Idaea dilutaria Silky wave
Idaea rusticata Least carpet
Thera cupressata Cypress carpet
Glyphipterigidae
Acrolepia autumnitella Bittersweet
smudge
Gracillariidae
Cameraria ohridella Horse-chestnut leaf-
miner
Parornix devoniella Hazel slender
Parornix torquillella Blackthorn slender
Phyllonorycter acerifoliella Maple
midget
Phyllonorycter coryli Nut leaf blister
moth
Phyllonorycter corylifoliella Hawthorn
midget
Phyllonorycter geniculella Sycamore
midget
Phyllonorycter heegeriella Pale oak
midget
Phyllonorycter leucographella Firethorn
leaf miner
Phyllonorycter nicellii Red hazel midget
Phyllonorycter tristrigella Elm midget
Hepialidae
Triodia sylvina Orange swift
Incurvariidae
Incurvaria masculella Feathered bright
Momphidae
Mompha divisella Neat cosmet
Mompha jurassicella Scarce cosmet
Nepticulidae
Ectoedemia heringella
Ectoedemia sp.
Stigmella aceris Scarce maple pigmy
Stigmella floslactella Coarse hazel pigmy
Stigmella sp.
Stigmella tityrella Small beech pigmy
Noctuidae
Abrostola tripartita The spectacle
Agrotis trux Crescent dart
Anaplectoides prasina Green arches
Autographa pulchrina Beautiful golden Y
Cirrhia gilvago Dusky-lemon sallow
Cirrhia ocellaris Pale-lemon sallow
Colocasia coryli Nut-tree tussock
Cryphia algae Tree lichen beauty
Diarsia mendica Ingrailed clay
Diloba caeruleocephala Figure of eight
Eugnorisma glareosa Autumnal rustic
Hoplodrina blanda The rustic
Leucania comma Shoulder-striped
wainscot
Melanchra persicariae Dot moth
Oligia strigilis Marbled minor
Pechipogo plumigeralis Plumed fan-foot
Thalpophila matura Straw underwing
Notodontidae
Pheosia tremula Swallow prominent
Psychidae
Psyche casta Common sweep
Pterophoridae
Amblyptilia acanthadactyla Beautiful
plume
Pyralidae
Achroia grisella Lesser wax moth
Acrobasis advenella Grey knot-horn
Cataclysta lemnata Small china-mark
Ephestia unicolorella False cacao moth
Eudonia angustea Narrow-winged grey
Eudonia pallida Marsh grey
Eudonia truncicolella Ground-moss grey
Pempelia palumbella Heather knot-horn
Scoparia ambigualis Common grey
Sesiidae
Bembecia ichneumoniformis Six-belted
clearwing
Tineidae
Tinea pallescentella Large pale clothes
moth
Tischeriidae
Coptotriche marginea Bordered carl
Tortricidae
Adoxophyes orana Summer fruit tortrix
Agapeta zoegana Knapweed conch
Ancylis mitterbacheriana Red roller
Bactra lancealana Rush marble
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Celypha lacunana Common marble
Cnephasia stephensiana Grey tortrix
Cochylimorpha straminea Straw conch
Cydia fagiglandana Large beech piercer
Endothenia oblongana Downland marble
Epiblema foenella White-foot bell
Epiblema uddmanniana Bramble shoot
moth
Epinotia ramella Small birch bell
Hedya ochroleucana Buff-tipped marble
Orthotaenia undulana Woodland marble
Pammene aurita Sycamore piercer
Phtheochroa rugosana Rough-winged
conch
Yponomeutidae
Argyresthia semitestacella Large beech
argent
DIPTERA - Flies
All species recorded since 1995
Tipulidae
Nephrotoma appendiculata
Nephrotoma flavescens
Nephrotoma flavipalpis
Nephrotoma quadrifarea
Tipula oleracea
Tipula paludosa
Tipula rufina
Limoniidae
Cheilotrichia cinerascens
Dicranomyia mitis
Dicranomyia modesta
Helius flavus
Limonia nubeculosa
Rhipidia maculata
Trichoceridae
Trichocera annulata
Trichocera hiemalis
Bibionidae
Dilophus febrilis
Keroplatidae
Macrocera phalerata
Sciaridae
Bradysia albanensis
Epidapus gracilis
Lycoriella ingenua
Lycoriella solani
Cecidomyiidae
Campylomyza flavipes
Hartigiola annulipes
Macrodiplosis dryobia
Macrolabis heraclei
Parepidosis longinodis
Wachtliella rosarum
Psychodidae
Clogmia albipunctata
Psychoda albipennis
Anisopodidae
Sylvicola fenestralis
Dixidae
Dixella aestivalis
Chaoboridae
Chaoborus crystallinus
Culicidae
Anopheles claviger
Culex pipiens
Culiseta annulata
Ceratopogonidae
Culicoides obsoletus
Chironomidae
Chironomus dorsalis
Chironomus plumosus
Chironomus tentans
Cricotopus trifasciatus
Polypedilum sordens
Procladius choreus
Smittia aterrima
Xylomyidae
Solva marginata Notable
Stratiomyidae
Beris clavipes Notable
Beris fuscipes
Beris vallata
Chloromyia formosa
Chorisops tibialis
Oxycera rara
Pachygaster atra
Pachygaster leachii
Sargus bipunctatus
Stratiomys potamida Notable
Vanoyia tenuicornis Notable
Rhagionidae
Chrysopilus asiliformis
Chrysopilus laetus Endangered
Bombyliidae
Bombylius major
Therevidae
Thereva nobilitata
Asilidae
Dioctria baumhaueri
Dolichopodidae
Campsicnemus curvipes
Campsicnemus picticornis
Dolichopus griseipennis
Dolichopus ungulatus
Gymnopternus metallicus
Liancalus virens
Rhaphium appendiculatum
Sciapus longulus
Sciapus platypterus
Sympycnus desoutteri
Xanthochlorus galbanus
Phoridae
Diplonevra nitidula
Megaselia aequalis
Megaselia badia
Megaselia brevicostalis
Megaselia dimidia
Megaselia infraposita
Megaselia largifrontalis
Megaselia latifemorata
Megaselia longicostalis
Megaselia spinicincta
Megaselia subtumida
Lonchopteridae
Lonchoptera lutea
Syrphidae
Baccha elongata
Cheilosia pagana
Cheilosia scutellata
Cheilosia soror
Dasysyrphus tricinctus
Epistrophe eligans
Episyrphus balteatus
Eristalis intricarius
Eristalis pertinax
Eristalis tenax
Eupeodes corollae
Helophilus pendulus
Helophilus trivittatus
Melanostoma mellinum
Melanostoma scalare
Merodon equestris
Myathropa florea
Neoascia podagrica
Platycheirus albimanus
Sphaerophoria scripta
Syritta pipiens
Syrphus ribesii
Volucella inanis
Volucella pellucens
Volucella zonaria
Micropezidae
Calobata cibaria
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Conopidae
Sicus ferrugineus
Pallopteridae
Palloptera umbellatarum
Palloptera ustulata
Piophilidae
Liopiophila varipes
Parapiophila vulgaris
Protopiophila latipes
Stearibia nigriceps
Ulidiidae
Physiphora alceae
Seioptera vibrans
Tephritidae
Acinia corniculata Endangered
Anomoia permunda
Euleia heraclei
Rhagoletis alternata
Terellia tussilaginis
Lauxaniidae
Minettia inusta
Tricholauxania praeusta
Sciomyzidae
Elgiva cucularia
Pherbina coryleti
Sepsidae
Nemopoda nitidula
Sepsis punctum
Clusiidae
Clusiodes albimana
Clusiodes gentilis
Agromyzidae
Amauromyza labiatarum
Phytomyza agromyzina
Phytomyza horticola
Phytomyza ilicis
Phytomyza lappae
Phytomyza minuscula
Phytomyza ranunculi
Phytomyza spondyii
Opomyzidae
Geomyza tripunctata
Opomyza florum
Opomyza germinationis
Opomyza petrei
Chloropidae
Oscinella frit
Oscinella pusilla
Heleomyzidae
Neoleria propinqua Notable
Suillia affinis
Suillia bicolor
Suillia variegata
Tephrochlamys rufiventris
Trixoscelididae
Trixoscelis frontalis
Sphaeroceridae
Copromyza equina
Copromyza nigrina
Leptocera caenosa
Leptocera fontinalis
Leptocera nigra
Limosina vitripennis
Opacifrons coxata
Pullimosina moesta
Pullimosina pullula
Spelobia clunipes
Spelobia palmata
Spelobia rufilabris
Sphaerocera monilis
Drosophilidae
Scaptomyza pallida
Campichoetidae
Campichoeta punctum
Camillidae
Camilla nigrifrons
Ephydridae
Athyroglossa glabra
Notiphola riparia
Scathophagidae
Cordilura albipes
Norellia spinipes
Norellisoma spinimanum
Scathophaga lutaria
Scathophaga stercoraria
Anthomyiidae
Anthomyia procellaris
Botanophila fugax
Delia criniventris
Delia platura
Emmesomyia socia
Hydrophoria ruralis
Hylemya vagans
Leucophora obtusa
Pegomya bicolor
Pegomya flavifrons
Fanniidae
Fannia atripes
Fannia canicularis
Fannia fuscula
Fannia genualis
Fannia hamata
Fannia manicata
Fannia monilis
Fannia scalaris
Fannia umbrosa
Muscidae
Coenosia agromyzina
Coenosia femoralis
Coenosia testacea
Coenosia tigrina
Hebecnema nigra
Hebecnema umbratica
Hebecnema vespertina
Helina depuncta
Helina evecta
Helina reversio
Hydrotaea armipes
Hydrotaea dentipes
Hydrotaea ignava
Hydrotaea meteorica
Limnophora olympiae
Muscina levida
Muscina prolapsa
Muscina stabulans
Phaonia errans
Phaonia fuscata
Phaonia halterata
Phaonia palpata
Phaonia serva
Calliphoridae
Calliphora vicina
Calliphora vomitoria
Lucilia ampullacea
Lucilia caesar
Lucilia illustris
Lucilia sericata
Pollenia rudis
Protocalliphora azurea
Rhinophoridae
Rhinophora lepida
Tricogena rubricosa
Sarcophagidae
Sarcophaga agnata
Sarcophaga albiceps
Sarcophaga carnaria
Sarcophaga incisilobata
Sarcophaga rosellei
Sarcophaga subvicina
Tachinidae
Linnaemyia picta
Phasia barbifrons
Thelera nigripes
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ROTIFERA
All species recorded since 1995
Brachionidae
Anuraeopsis fissa
Brachionus angularis
Brachionus urceolaris
Keratella brevispina
Keratella cochlearis
Keratella quadrata f. dispersa
Keratella testudo
Notholca acuminata
Platyias quadricornis
Collothecidae
Collotheca ambigua
Collotheca ornata ssp. cornuta
Dicranophoridae
Dicranophorus forcipatus
Euchlanidae
Euchlanis deflexa
Euchlanis dilatata
Euchlanis incisa
Euchlanis triquetra
Flosculariidaea
Floscularia melicerta
Floscularia ringens
Ituridae
Itura aurita
Lecanidae
Lecane bulla
Lecane closterocerca
Lecane luna
Lecane lunaris
Lecane quadridenata
Lepadellidae
Colurella adriatica
Colurella colurus
Colurella obtusa
Colurella uncinata
Lepadella ovalis
Lepadella patella
Lepadella patella ssp. similis
Squatinella lamellaris
Mitilinidae
Mytilina bisulcata
Mytilina crassipes
Mytilina mucronata
Mytilina ventralis
Mytilinidae
Lophocharis oxysternon
Notommatidae
Cephalodella auriculata
Cephalodella gibba
Cephalodella tenuiseta americana*
Cephalodella tenuiseta tenuisets*
Cephalodella ventripes
Monommata dentata
Pleurotrocha petromyzon
Philodinidae
Rotaria rotatoria
Proales daphnicola
Proales decipiens
Synchaetidae
Polyarthra dolichoptera
Polyarthra sp.
Synchaeta oblonga
Synchaeta pectinata
Synchaeta tremula
Testudinellidae
Testudinella patina
Trichocercidae
Trichocerca carinata
Trichocerca dixon-nuttalli
Trichocerca porcellus
Trichocerca rattus
Trichotriidae
Trichotria pocillum
Trichotria tetractis
CRUSTACEA
BRACHIOPODA
Bosminidae
Bosmina longirostris
Daphniidae
Ceriodaphnia quadrangula
Daphnia hyalina
Daphnia longispina
Daphnia pulex
Scapholeberis mucronata
Simocephalus vetulus
Eurycercidae
Alona quadrangularis
Chydorus sphaericus
Graptoleberis testudinaria
Sididae
Sida crystallina
MYRIAPODA
All species recorded since 1995
* previously listed in 2003 (Leigh and
Ware)
CHILOPODA – CENTIPEDES
Cryptopidae
Cryptops anomalans
Cryptops hortensis
Dignathodontidae
Henia brevis Notable (Nationally Scarce)
Geophilidae
Geophilus flavus
Stenotaenia linearis
Himantariidae
Stigmatogaster subterraneus
Lithobiidae
Lithobius forficatus
Lithobius melanops
Lithobius microps
Lithobius variegatus
Schendylidae
Schendyla dentate
Schendyla nemorensis
DIPLOPODA – MILLIPEDES
Blaniulidae
Blaniulus guttulatus* Notable (Nationally
Scarce)
Julidae
Brachyiulus pusillus*
Cylindroiulus britannicus
Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus*
Cylindroiulus punctatus
Cylindroiulus vulnerarius
Haplopodoiulus spathifer
Julus scandinavius
Ophyiulus pilosus*
Tachypodoiulus niger*
Macrosternodesmidae
Ophiodesmus albonanus
Polydesmidae
Brachydesmus superus*
Polydesmus angustus
Polydesmus coriaceus
Polydesmus inconstans*
ANNELIDA
Erpobdellidae
Erpobdella octoculata
Trocheta bykowskii
Glossiphoniidae
Alboglossiphonia heteroclite
Helobdella stagnalis
Theromyzon tessulatum
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OLIGOCHAETA - Earthworms
Lumbricidae
Allolobophora chlorotica
Aporrectodea caliginosa
Aporrectodea icterica
Aporrectodea longa
Aporrectodea rosea
Dendrobaena pygmaea
Dendrobaena veneta
Eisenia fetida
Eiseniella tetraedra
Lumbricus rubellus
Lumbricus terrestris
Octolasion lacteum
ARACHNIDA
ARANEAE – SPIDERS
*Previously listed in 2003 (Leigh and
Ware)
Pholcidae
Pholcus phalangioides
Psilochorus simoni
Dysderidae
Dysdera crocata*
Harpactea hombergi
Mimetidae
Ero aphana
Theridiidae
Steatoda grossa
Steatoda nobilis
Anelosimus vittatus
Achaearanea lunata
Achaearanea riparia
Theridion pictum
Theridion varians*
Theridion melanurum*
Theridion mystaceum
Theridion tinctum
Neottiura bimaculata
Paidiscura pallens
Enoplognatha ovata*
Cryptachaea blattea
Nesticidae
Nesticus cellulanus
Theridiosomatidae
Theridiosoma gemmosum Notable
Linyphiidae
Dicymbium nigrum
Gnathonarium dentatum
Gongylidium rufipes
Maso sundevalli
Oedothorax fuscus
Gongylidiellum vivum
Micrargus herbigradus*
Micrargus subaequalis
Panamomops sulcifrons
Milleriana inerrans
Erigone dentipalpis*
Erigone atra*
Ostearius melanopygius
Meioneta rurestris
Microneta viaria
Centromerita bicolor
Bathyphantes gracilis
Bathyphantes parvulus
Diplosyla concolor
Megalepthyphantes nebulosus
Lepthyphantes leprosus
Lepthyphantes minutus
Lepthyphantes tenuis*
Lepthyphantes zimmermanni
Lepthyphantes mengei
Lepthyphantes flavipes
Lepthyphantes ericaeus*
Lepthyphantes pallidus
Linyphia triangularis
Linyphia hortensis
Neriene clathrata
Tetragnathidae
Tetragnatha montana
Pachygnatha degeeri
Pachygnatha clercki
Meta mengei
Araneidae
Gibbaranea gibbosa
Araneus diadematus
Araneus sturmi
Zilla diodia
Zygiella x-notata
Araniella opisthographa
Lycosidae
Pardosa pullata
Agelenidae
Agelena labyrinthica
Tegenaria gigantea
Tegenaria domestica
Tegenaria silvestris
Hahniidae
Hahnia nava
Dictynidae
Dictyna arundinacea
Dictyna uncinata
Nigma puella
Nigma walckenaeri
Lathys humilis
Amaurobiidae
Amaurobius similis
Anyphaenidae
Anyphaena accentuata
Anyphaena sabina
Clubionidae
Clubiona terrestris
Clubiona comta*
Clubiona brevipes*
Philodromidae
Philodromus dispar
Philodromus aureolus*
Philodromus cespitum
Philodromus albidus
Tibellus spp.
Thomisidae
Misumena vatia
Xysticus cristatus*
Ozyptila praticola
Salticidae
Heliophanus cupreus
Salticus scenicus
Euophrys frontalis
OPILIONES – HARVESTMEN
Phalangiidae
Paroligolphus agrestis
Gyantinae
Dicranopalpus ramosus
Odiellus spinosus*
Opilio saxatilis*
ACARI - MITES
Acaridae
Thyreophagus sp.
Tyrophagus longior
Ameroseiidae
Ameroseius sp.
Anystidae
Anystis baccarum
Aphelacaridae
Aphelacarus nr acarinus
Ascidae
Zerconopsis remiger
Bdellidae
Spinibdella sp.
Blattisociidae
Blattisocius tarsalis
Cheyletidae
Cheletomimus berlesei
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Dermanyssidae
Dermanyssus carpathicus
Eupodidae
Linopodes sp.
Humerobatidae
Humerobates rostrolamellatus
Laelapidae
Androlaelaps casalis
Oribatellidae
Oribatella sp.
Oribatulidae
Oribatula tibialis
Zygoribatula nr exilis
Parasitidae
Holoparasitus lawrencei
Phenopelopidae
Eupelops sp.
Phthiracaridae
Phthiracarus sp.
Thyrisomidae
Banksinoma nr lunare
Tydeidae spp.
VERTEBRATES
Additions since 2003 (Leigh and Ware)
AMPHIBIANS
Lissotriton helveticus Palmate newt
BIRDS
Accipter nisus Sparrowhawk
Anser anser Greylag goose
Athene noctua Little owl
Aythya fuligula Tufted duck
Falco peregrinus Peregrine falcon
Periparus ater Coal tit
Picus viridus Green woodpecker
Sitta europaea Nuthatch
MAMMALS
Oryctolagus cuniculus European rabbit
Pipistrellus nathusii Nathusius’
pipistrelle
Nyctalus leisleri Leisler’s bat
Water chemistry
The water in the main pond now (August 2015) has a pH of 7.86 (readings taken 19/08/15),
the upper pond water pH 7.70 and the lower chalk pond pH – 7.79. Previous pH reading
of the pond water samples were taken on 31/03/2015 and pH ranged from 8.02 on the
hedge side of the top pond to pH 8.53 in the chalk pond. Further analyses are planned
as discussed above.
Air quality
See: www.defra.gov.uk and www.aeat.com/netcen/airqual/data/sitelon.html
Soil pH
Heathland LH04: 4.00
Meadow G02: 6.8
Scrub S02: 6.7
Woodland W03: 6.7
Woodland W09: 6.5
Meadow G02: 6.8
CONCLUDING COMMENT
The Natural History Museum’s first living exhibition continues to be of great value to
local urban biodiversity. The number of species recorded with an increasing presence of
species higher up the food chain, demonstrates how habitat creation and wildlife
conservation can be successfully achieved in the inner city.
The on-going biological recording is carried out almost completely by people offering
their free time – that of volunteers, Museum scientists and professional and amateur
naturalists. Further expertise in any group is welcome. As the Wildlife Garden matures
its value for biodiversity and as an educational tool can only increase.
A further paper is already in preparation covering soil algae, fungi, plant galls,
Lepidopera – butterflies, tardigrades, amphipods, springtails and amphibians.
Acknowledgements
The Wildlife Garden has been managed and monitored with the generous support of
numerous individuals and organizations and the Museum particularly appreciates the kind
support over the past 10 years from the following: Honeymonster Foods: for funding;
Woodland Trust: for donating the tree trunk for the Bee Observation Hive in 2007; The
Monument Trust: for a generous donation towards the costs of a new sheep shed in 2012
and funding our sheep care from 2009 to 2011; Western Riverside Environmental Fund
(WREF), Bournemouth Airport, Dorset County Council and Adams Loxton Partnership: for
help with funds and in kind for the heathland restoration in 2012; Joan Gilbey: for her
generous donation towards the new greenhouse; Rama Sarkhel: for organizing a sponsored
walk to raise funds for the new greenhouse; Further funding from an anonymous donor
was received in 2013 for restoration of the Bee Tree hive.
With thanks to Bill Temple of the Hardy Orchid Society for donations of bee orchids
Ophrys apifera, Ophrys apifera var. belgarum and summer lady’s-tresses Spiranthes
aestivalis, and to Pat Acock for donations of ferns and water horsetails. Thanks also to
colleagues, Fred Rumsey, Mark Spencer and Pat Wolseley and to British Wild Flower Plants
and Dominic Price (Species Recovery Trust) for donations of plants over the past ten years.
The authors are extremely grateful to all of the recorders and to many colleagues for
giving freely of their time and expertise in recording and identifying numerous specimens
from the garden and from collected samples. Many, too numerous to mention, have
contributed over the years.
Below, we thank those who have contributed to surveys and identifications in 2013-2015.
Life Science departments, Natural History Museum: Zoe Adams, George Beccaloni, Jan
Beccaloni, Roger Booth, Anne Baker, Maxwell Barclay, Steve Brooks, Kath Castillo, Len
Ellis, Beulah Garner, Michael Geiser, Gavin Broad, Adrian Hine, Stuart Hine, David John,
Alessandro Giusti, Martin Hall, Martin Honey, John Hunnex, Jon Martin (Scientific Associate),
Erica McAlister, Alex Monro, David Notton, Alison Paul, Ben Price, Fred Rumsey, Duncan
Sivell, Mark Spencer, Mary Spencer-Jones, Holger Thues, Roy Vickery (Scientific Associate),
Pat Wolseley, Nigel Wyatt, Alberto Zilli.
Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity: Stuart Hine, Florin Feneru, John Tweddle,
Lucy Robinson, Steph West and her team of trainees: Sally Hyslop, Kate Potts, Anthony
Roach, Chloe Rose, Michael Waller. Daniel Whitmore and Peter Wing passed on specimens
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M
Spencer, Denis Vickers, Elza Blankenbergs.
All volunteers – too numerous to mention – for the many regular hours of gardening,
conservation and biological recording skills over the past few years.
Finally in memory of Clive Jermy (1932-2014) who had the foresight and vision to
initiate and oversee the creation and early development of the Natural History Museum’s
Wildlife Garden, an inspiration to current and future generations of naturalists and all
those who care about their environment.
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TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 6144
from their Malaise trapping; Department of Mineralogy for Water chemistry analysis,
Gary Jones (until 2008) and (from 2008) Stanislav Strekopytov.
Public Engagement Group, Natural History Museum: Rosie Cooper, Adrian Rundle and
Work experience students: Mariam Ahmed, Naomi Berry, Jamie Bernstein, Caris Jaffe.
Naomi Lake, Susannah Maas, Nicky Reilly, Isabel Varela Garrido.
And others who have given freely of their time: Gay Carr (deceased), Belinda
Bandman,Tristan Bantock, Elza Blackenburgs, Margaret Bloomer, Christina Bolsher, Joan
Bovarnick, Philip Briggs (Bat Conservation Trust), Rosemarie Bryant, James Chadwick,
Antaia Christou, Luis Cachazo, Joana Cristovao, Anders Dennis, Josephine Dessmann,
Frances Dismore, Alex Domenge, Rhiannon Dowling, Pauline Entwisle, Paula Entwisle,
Francesc Ferrando, Imogen Fieldsend, Tommy Fieldsend, Sean Hanna, Olivia Hewson,
Eric D. Hollowday (Quekett Microscopial Club), Daniel Johnson, Lesley Lander, Krisztina
Lahonya, Pamela Leaves, Keita Matsumoto, Jake Mackey, Nicola Mort, Noreen Musikant,
Hannah Papapetrou, Thomas Phillips, Russell Richin, Anne Roach, Rama Sarkhel, Margaret
Schofield, Emily Shaw, Amy Shirley, Brian Spooner (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), Bryan
Tabor (Quekett Microscopial Club),Thomas J Thomas FBNA, Shirley Thompson (Bat
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With thanks to those volunteers who studied the Wildlife Garden and shared their
dissertations:
Rachel Julie Clark – The Variation of characteristics between inner city birds and town
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2011, Hadlow College, University of Greenwich.
Timothy So – The effects of invasive amphipod, Arcitalitrus dorrieni on soil structure
and associated soil macrofauna, within London green spaces. B.Sc. 2010. Imperial College,
University of London.
Thomas Fieldsend – An investigation into the relationship between photoperiod and
emergence of Phyllonorycter platani imagos from pupa. FdSc Animal Conservation and
Biodiversity year 2 – Spring 2013. Hadlow College, University of Greenwich.
Mark Mosberry –Bumblebees in London – suitability of wildlife gardens, parks, and
surrounding areas as bee habitat. MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management.
2014. University of London.
Jake Mackay – Moth Abundance in correlation to temperature, humidity and wind speed
in the Wildlife Garden, Natural History Museum, London FdSc Animal Conservation and
Biodiversity year 2 – 2015. Hadlow College, University of Greenwich.
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improving the Wildlife Garden database, to Alex Domenge, Daniel Osborne and Larissa
Cooper for their time adding records and to Angela Self and Jose Valdivia Leon for their
help with data presentation.
Derek Adams, Jonathan Jackson and Harry Taylor, Image Resources, and Naomi Lake,
Wildlife Garden, Natural History Museum for the photographs.
Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) to the Wildlife Garden for checking the respective
sections of this paper: Len Ellis, Steve Brooks and Roy Vickery (SAG member until 2007),
to other colleagues for their helpful comments on drafts of sections of this paper: Mark
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APPENDIX 1
VASCULAR PLANTS RECORDED 2014-2015
Nomenclature follows Stace (2011)
1- Remnant plants
2- accidental arrival
3- W07 only
149
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Aceraceae
Acer campestre Field maple
Acer pseudoplatanus1Sycamore
Alismataceae
Alisma plantago-aquatica Water-plantain
Amaryllidaceae
Allium oleraceum2Field garlic
Allium schoenoprasum2Chives
Allium triquetrum2Three-cornered leek
Allium ursinum Ramsons
Galanthus nivalis2Snowdrop
TH E W IL DL IF E G A RD EN AT T HE N AT U RA L H IS TO RY M US EU M 151
TH E L ON DO N NAT UR AL IS T NO .9 5 2 01 6150
Narcissus pseudonarcissus Wild daffodil
Apiaceae
Aegopodium podagraria1Ground-elder
Aethusa cynapium2Fool's parsley
Angelica sylvestris Wild angelica
Anthriscus sylvestris Cow parsley
Berula erecta Lesser water-parsnip
Cicuta virosa Cowbane
Daucus carota Wild carrot
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Oenanthe aquatica2Fine-leaved water-
dropwort
Oenanthe crocata2Hemlock water-
dropwort
Petroselinum segetum3Corn parsley
Peucedanum officinale Hog's fennel
Sanicula europaea Sanicle
Sison amomum2Stone parsley
Torilis japonica Upright hedge-parsley
Aquifoliaceae
Ilex aquifolium1Holly
Ilex x altaclerensis1Highclere holly
Araceae
Arum maculatum Lords-and-ladies
Araliaceae
Hedera helix Ivy
Aristolochiaceae
Asarum europaeum2Asarabacca
Asparagaceae
Hyacinthoides hispanica2Spanish bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell
Hyacinthoides x massartiana
Ruscus aculeatus Butcher's-broom
Aspleniaceae
Asplenium scolopendrium Hart's-tongue
Asteraceae
Achillea millefolium Yarrow
Arctium minus2Lesser burdock
Artemisia vulgaris2Mugwort
Bellis perennis Daisy
Centaurea nigra Common knapweed
Centaurea scabiosa Greater knapweed
Cirsium arvense2Creeping thistle
Cirsium vulgare2Spear thistle
Conyza canadensis2Canadian fleabane
Conyza sumatrensis2Guernsey fleabane
Crepis capillaris Smooth hawk's-beard
Erigeron karvinskianus2Mexican fleabane
Eupatorium cannabinum Hemp-agrimony
Helminthotheca echioides2Bristly
oxtongue
Hypochaeris radicata Cat's-ear
Lactuca serriola2Prickly lettuce
Lapsana communis2Nipplewort
Leontodon hispidus Rough hawkbit
Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye daisy
Petasites fragrans Winter heliotrope
Picris hieracioides2Hawkweed oxtongue
Pilosella aurantiaca Fox-and-cubs
Pulicaria dysenterica Common fleabane
Senecio inaequidens2Narrow-leaved
ragwort
Senecio jacobaea2Common ragwort
Senecio squalidus2Oxford ragwort
Solidago canadensis2Canadian goldenrod
Sonchus asper2Prickly sow-thistle
Sonchus oleraceus2Smooth sow-thistle
Sonchus palustris Marsh sow-thistle
Tanacetum vulgare2Tansy
Taraxacum officinale agg.2Dandelion
Tripleurospermum inodorum2Scentless
mayweed
Tussilago farfara2Coltsfoot
Betulaceae
Alnus glutinosa Alder
Betula pendula Silver birch
Betula pubescens Downy birch
Carpinus betulus Hornbeam
Corylus avellana Hazel
Blechnaceae
Blechnum spicant Hard-fern
Boraginaceae
Echium vulgare Viper's-bugloss
Myosotis arvensis Field forget-me-not
Myosotis scorpioides Water forget-me-not
Pentaglottis sempervirens1Green alkanet
Symphytum grandiflorum Creeping
comfrey
Symphytum orientale White comfrey
Brassicaceae
Alliaria petiolata Garlic mustard
Arabidopsis thaliana2Thale cress
Barbarea vulgaris2Winter cress
Cardamine flexuosa2Wavy bitter-cress
Cardamine hirsuta2Hairy bitter-cress
Cardamine pratensis Cuckooflower
Diplotaxis muralis2Annual wall-rocket
Hirschfeldia incana2Hoary mustard
Raphanus raphanistrum2Wild radish
Sinapis arvensis2Charlock
Sisymbrium officinale2Hedge mustard
Buddlejaceae
Buddleja davidii Butterfly-bush
Butomaceae
Butomus umbellatus Flowering-rush
Buxaceae
Buxus sempervirens1Box
Callitrichaceae
Callitriche stagnalis Common water-
starwort
Campanulaceae
Campanula glomerata Clustered
bellflower
Campanula latifolia Giant bellflower
Campanula rotundifolia Harebell
Campanula trachelium Nettle-leaved
bellfower
Cannabaceae
Cannabis sativa2Hemp
Humulus lupulus Hop
Caprifoliaceae
Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle
Sambucus nigra Elder
Symphoricarpos albus1Snowberry
Viburnum lantana Wayfaring-tree
Viburnum opulus Guelder-rose
Caryophyllaceae
Cerastium arvense Field mouse-ear
Cerastium fontanum Common mouse-ear
Sagina procumbens2Procumbent
pearlwort
Silene dioica Red campion
Silene flos-cuculi Ragged-robin
Silene latifolia ssp. alba White campion
Silene uniflora Sea campion
Silene vulgaris Bladder campion
Stellaria holostea Greater stitchwort
Stellaria media2Common chickweed
Celastraceae
Euonymus europaeus Spindle
Ceratophyllaceae
Ceratophyllum demersum Hornwort
Chenopodiaceae
Atriplex prostrata2Spear-leaved orache
Cistaceae
Helianthemum nummularium Common
rock-rose
Clusiaceae
Hypericum androsaemum Tutsan
Hypericum hirsutum Hairy St John's-wort
Hypericum perforatum Perforate St
John's-wort
Hypericum tetrapterum Square-stalked
St John's-wort
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Convolvulaceae
Calystegia sepium2Common bindweed
Calystegia silvatica2Large bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis2Field bindweed
Cornaceae
Cornus alba 'Sibirica' Siberian dogwood
Cornus sanguinea Dogwood
Crassulaceae
Sedum acre Biting stonecrop
Sedum album White stonecrop
Sedum anglicum English stonecrop
Sedum rupestre Reflexed stonecrop
Umbilicus rupestris Navelwort
Cucurbitaceae
Bryonia dioica White bryony
Cupressaceae
Juniperus communis ssp. communis
Common juniper
Cyperaceae
Carex acutiformis Lesser pond-sedge
Carex depauperata Starved wood-sedge
Carex divulsa Grey sedge
Carex echinata Star sedge
Carex flacca Glaucous sedge
Carex hirta Hairy sedge
Carex otrubae False fox sedge
Carex panicea Carnation sedge
Carex pendula Pendulous sedge
Carex riparia Greater pond-sedge
Carex rostrata Bottle sedge
Carex sp.
Carex sylvatica Wood-sedge
Cyperus longus Galingale
Dennstaedtiaceae
Pteridium aquilinum Bracken
Dioscoreaceae
Tamus communis Black bryony
Dipsacaceae
Dipsacus fullonum Wild teasel
Dipsacus pilosus2Small teasel
Knautia arvensis Field scabious
Scabiosa columbaria Small scabious
Succisa pratensis Devil's-bit scabious
Dryopteridaceae
Dryopteris borreri Borrer's male-fern
Dryopteris dilatata Broad buckler-fern
Dryopteris filix-mas Male-fern
Equisetaceae
Equisetum arvense Field horsetail
Equisetum fluviatile Water horsetail
Ericaceae
Calluna vulgaris Heather
Erica cinerea Bell heather
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia amygdaloides Wood spurge
Euphorbia peplus2Petty spurge
Mercurialis perennis Dog's mercury
Fabaceae
Anthyllis vulneraria Kidney vetch
Cytisus scoparius Broom
Lathyrus pratensis Meadow vetchling
Lotus corniculatus Common bird's-foot-
trefoil
Lotus pedunculatus Greater bird's-foot-
trefoil
Medicago Arabica Spotted medick
Medicago lupulina2Black medick
Medicago polymorpha2Toothed medick
Melilotus officinalis Ribbed melilot
Ononis repens Common restharrow
Trifolium campestre Hop trefoil
Trifolium dubium Lesser trefoil
Trifolium pratense Red clover
Trifolium repens White clover
Ulex europaeus Gorse
Ulex minor Dwarf gorse
Vicia cracca Tufted vetch
Vicia hirsuta2Hairy tare
Vicia lathyroides2Spring vetch
Vicia sativa2Common vetch
Vicia sepium2Bush vetch
Fagaceae
Castanea sativa Sweet chestnut
Fagus sylvatica Beech
Quercus ilex Evergreen oak
Quercus petraea Sessile oak
Quercus robur Pedunculate oak
Garryaceae
Aucuba japonica1Spotted-laurel
Gentianaceae
Blackstonia perfoliata Yellow-wort
Geraniaceae
Geranium lucidum Shining crane's-bill
Geranium pratense Meadow crane's-bill
Geranium pusillum Small-flowered
crane's-bill
Geranium pyrenaicum Hedgerow crane's-
bill
Geranium robertianum Herb-robert
Geranium sanguineum Bloody crane's-bill
Geranium sylvaticum Wood crane's-bill
Geranium versicolor Pencilled crane's-bill
Geranium x oxonianum Druce's crane's-
bill
Hippocastanaceae
Aesculus hippocastanum1Horse-chestnut
Hippuridaceae
Hippuris vulgaris Mare's-tail
Hydrangeaceae
Philadelphus coronarius1Mock-orange
Hydrocharitaceae
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Frogbit
Stratiotes aloides Water-soldier
Iridaceae
Crocus sp.1Crocus
Iris foetidissima Stinking iris
Iris pseudacorus Yellow iris
Juncaceae
Juncus effuses Soft-rush
Juncus inflexus Hard rush
Luzula multiflora Heath wood-rush
Luzula sylvatica Great wood-rush
Lamiaceae
Ajuga reptans Bugle
Ballota nigra2Black horehound
Betonica officinalis Betony
Clinopodium vulgare Wild basil
Galeopsis tetrahit Common hemp-nettle
Glechoma hederacea Ground-ivy
Lamiastrum galeobdolon Yellow
archangel
Lamium album White dead-nettle
Lamium purpureum2Red dead-nettle
Lycopus europaeus Gipsywort
Melissa officinalis2Lemon balm
Mentha aquatic Water mint
Origanum vulgare Wild marjoram
Prunella vulgaris Selfheal
Salvia verbenaca Wild clary
Stachys palustris Marsh woundwort
Stachys sylvatica Hedge woundwort
Teucrium scorodonia Wood sage
Thymus polytrichus Wild thyme
Lemnaceae
Lemna minor Common duckweed
Lemna minuta2Least duckweed
Lemna trisulca Ivy-leaved duckweed
Lythraceae
Lythrum salicaria Purple-loosestrife
Malvaceae
Malva moschata Musk-mallow
Malva neglecta2Dwarf mallow
Malva sylvestris Common mallow
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Menyanthaceae
Menyanthes trifoliata Bogbean
Myricaceae
Myrica gale Bog-myrtle
Nymphaeaceae
Nuphar lutea Yellow water-lily
Nymphaea alba White water-lily
Oleaceae
Fraxinus excelsior Ash
Ligustrum lucidum1Shiny privet
Ligustrum ovalifolium1Garden privet
Ligustrum vulgare Wild privet
Onagraceae
Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay
willowherb
Circaea lutetiana Enchanter's-nightshade
Epilobium ciliatum2American willowherb
Epilobium hirsutum Great willowherb
Epilobium palustre2Marsh willowherb
Epilobium sp.
Orchidaceae
Dactylorhiza fuschii Common spotted-
orchid
Epipactis helleborine2Broad-leaved
helleborine
Ophrys apifera Bee orchid
Ophrys apifera var. belgarum Bee orchid
Spiranthes aestivalis Summer lady's-
tresses
Oxalidaceae
Oxalis acetosella Wood-sorrel
Papaveraceae
Chelidonium majus Greater celandine
Papaver rhoeas Common poppy
Phrymaceae
Mimulus guttatus2Monkeyflower
Pinaceae
Pinus nigra Austrian pine
Pinus sylvestris Scots pine
Plantaginaceae
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort plantain
Plantago major Greater plantain
Platanaceae
Platanus x hispanica1London plane
Plumbaginaceae
Armeria maritima Thrift
Poaceae
Agrostis capillaris Common bent
Agrostis curtisii Bristle bent
Agrostis gigantea2Black bent
Agrostis stolonifera Creeping bent
Alopecurus pratensis Meadow foxtail
Anisantha sterilis2Barren brome
Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet vernal-
grass
Arrhenatherum elatius2False oat-grass
Avenula pratensis Meadow oat-grass
Avenula pubescens Downy oat-grass
Brachypodium pinnatum Tor-grass
Brachypodium sylvaticum False brome
Briza media Quaking-grass
Bromopsis erecta Upright brome
Bromopsis ramosa Hairy-brome
Bromus hordaceus Soft-brome
Calamagrostis canescens Purple small-
reed
Cynosurus cristatus Crested dog's-tail
Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot
Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted hair-grass
Festuca rubra Red fescue
Festuca vivipara Viviparous sheep's-
fescue
Glyceria maxima Reed sweet-grass
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog
Hordeum murinum2Wall barley
Hordeum secalinum Meadow barley
Koeleria macrantha Crested hair-grass
Lolium perenne Perennial rye-grass
Melica uniflora Wood melick
Milium effusum Wood millet
Molinia caerulea Purple moor-grass
Phalaris arundinacea Reed canary-grass
Phleum bertolonii Smaller cat's-tail
Phleum pratense Timothy
Phragmites australis Common reed
Poa annua2Annual meadow-grass
Poa humilis2Spreading meadow-grass
Poa pratensis Smooth meadow-grass
Poa trivialis Rough meadow-grass
Polypogon viridis2Water bent
Trisetum flavescens Yellow oat-grass
Polygonaceae
Rumex acetosa Common sorrel
Rumex acetosella Sheep's sorrel
Rumex crispus2Curled dock
Rumex hydrolapathum Water dock
Rumex obtusifolius2Broad-leaved dock
Rumex sanguineus Wood dock
Rumex sp.
Polypodiaceae
Polypodium cambricum Southern
polypody
Polystichum setiferum Soft shield-fern
Primulaceae
Lysimachia nummularia Creeping-jenny
Lysimachia vulgaris Yellow loosestrife
Primula elatior Oxlip
Primula veris Cowslip
Primula vulgaris Primrose
Primula x digenea
Ranunculaceae
Anemone nemorosa Wood anemone
Aquilegia vulgaris Columbine
Caltha palustris Marsh-marigold
Clematis vitalba Traveller's-joy
Ficaria verna Lesser celandine
Helleborus foetidus Stinking hellebore
Ranunculus acris Meadow buttercup
Ranunculus bulbosus Bulbous buttercup
Ranunculus flammula Lesser spearwort
Ranunculus lingua Greater spearwort
Ranunculus repens2Creeping buttercup
Thalictrum flavum Common meadow-rue
Resedaceae
Reseda lutea Wild mignonette
Rhamnaceae
Frangula alnus Alder buckthorn
Rhamnus cathartica Buckthorn
Rosaceae
Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony
Agrimonia procera Fragrant agrimony
Cotoneaster sp.1
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet
Filipendula vulgaris Dropwort
Fragaria vesca Wild strawberry
Geum rivale Water avens
Geum urbanum2Wood avens
Malus pumila Apple
Malus sylvestris Crab apple
Potentilla anserine Silverweed
Potentilla reptans Creeping cinquefoil
Potentilla sterilis Barren strawberry
Poterium sanguisorba Salad burnet
Poterium sanguisorba ssp. sanguisorba
Salad burnet
Prunus avium Wild cherry
Prunus cerasifera Cherry plum
Prunus padus Bird cherry
Prunus spinosa Blackthorn
Rosa arvensis Field-rose
Rosa canina Dog-rose
Rosa rubiginosa Sweet-briar
Rosa sp.
Rubus armeniacus 'Himalayan Giant'
Himalayan giant
Rubus caesius Dewberry
Rubus crespignyanus Bramble
Rubus euryanthemus Bramble
Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble
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Rubus polyanthemus Bramble
Sanguisorba officinalis Great burnet
Sorbus aria Common whitebeam
Sorbus aucuparia Rowan
Rubiaceae
Cruciata laevipes Crosswort
Galium album Hedge bedstraw
Galium aparine2Goosegrass
Galium odoratum Woodruff
Galium verum Lady's bedstraw
Galium x pomeranicum
Salicaceae
Populus nigra 'Italica'1Lombardy-poplar
Populus tremula Aspen
Salix alba White Willow
Salix alba x fragilis Hybrid crack-willow
Salix caprea Goat willow
Salix cinerea Grey willow
Salix phylicifolia Tea-leaved willow
Santalaceae
Viscum album Mistletoe
Scrophulariaceae
Cymbalaria muralis Ivy-leaved toadflax
Digitalis purpurea Foxglove
Linaria vulgaris Common toadflax
Rhinanthus minor Yellow-rattle
Scrophularia auriculata Water figwort
Verbascum nigrum Dark mullein
Verbascum sp.
Verbascum thapsus Great mullein
Veronica beccabunga Brooklime
Veronica chamaedrys Germander
speedwell
Veronica hederifolia2Ivy-leaved
speedwell
Veronica montana Wood speedwell
Veronica persica2Common field-
speedwell
Veronica polita Grey field-speedwell
Veronica serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved
speedwell
Solanaceae
Solanum dulcamara2Bittersweet
Solanum nigrum2Black nightshade
Sparganiaceae
Sparganium erectum Branched bur-reed
Taxaceae
Taxus baccata Yew
Thelypteridaceae
Thelypteris palustris Marsh fern
Tiliaceae
Tilia cordata1Small-leaved lime
Urticaceae
Urtica dioica2Common nettle
Urtica dioica ssp. Galeopsifolia2
Valerianaceae
Valeriana officinalis Common valerian
Violaceae
Viola odorata Sweet violet
Viola palustris Marsh violet
Viola reichenbachiana Early dog-violet
Viola riviniana Common dog-violet
APPENDIX 2
LIST OF FLOWER SPECIES VISITED BY BEES
Achillea millefolium
Colletes daviesanus
Sphecodes monilicornis
Allium ursinum
Lasioglossum smeathmanellum
Osmia bicornis
Anemone nemorosa
Bombus pascuorum
Ballota nigra
Bombus pascuorum
Calluna vulgaris
Bombus pascuorum
Campanula glomerata
Chelostoma campanularum
Campanula rotundifolium
Chelostoma campanularum
Campanula trachelium
Chelostoma campanularum
Melitta haemorrhoidalis
Centaurea nigra
Bombus lapidarius
Bombus pascuorum
Bombus vestalis
Osmia leaiana
Centranthus ruber
Bombus pratorum
Cirsium arvense
Bombus pascuorum
Hylaeus sp.
Cirsium vulgare
Andrena flavipes
Osmia leaiana
Clinopodium vulgare
Bombus pascuorum
Convolvulus arvensis
Apis mellifera
Crataegus monogyna
Andrena cineraria
Apis mellifera
Hylaeus hyalinatus
Osmia bicornis
Crepis sp.
Osmia leaiana
Daucus carota
Apis mellifera
Bombus terrestris
Hylaeus communis
Hylaeus hyalinatus
Lasioglossum smeathmanellum
Nomada flavoguttata
Sphecodes monilicornis
Dipsacus fullonum
Bombus hypnorum
Bombus pascuorum
Echium vulgare
Lasioglossum sp.
Epilobium hirsutum
Bombus hypnorum
Erica cinerea
Bombus lapidarius
Bombus pascuorum
Bombus terrestris
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Eupatorium cannabinum
Apis mellifera
Filipendula ulmaria
Apis mellifera
Bombus terrestris
Galium sp.
Hylaeus hyalinatus
Geranium sp.
Lasioglossum morio
Osmia bicornis
Osmia caerulescens
Geranium pratense
Lasioglossum sp.
Melitta haemorrhoidalis
Hyacynthoides non-scripta
Bombus pascuorum
Hypericum sp.
Bombus pascuorum
Hypochaeris sp.
Lasioglossum sp.
Ilex aquifolium
Andrena nitida
Knautia arvensis
Bombus pascuorum
Bombus terrestris
Bombus vestalis
Lamium galeobdolon
Bombus pascuorum
Leucanthemum vulgare
Colletes daviesanus
Lotus corniculatus
Bombus lapidarius
Bombus pascuorum
Osmia caerulescens
Lythrum salicaria
Bombus hypnorum
Bombus pascuorum
Melilotus officinalis
Andrena dorsata
Bombus pascuorum
Origanum vulgare
Apis mellifera
Bombus hypnorum
Bombus pascuorum
Lasioglossum sp.
Pentaglottis sempervirens
Bombus hypnorum
Potentilla reptans
Bombus lapidarius
Primula veris
Anthophora plumipes
Bombus pascuorum
Primula vulgaris
Anthophora plumipes
Prunus avium
Andrena fulva
Anthophora plumipes
Apis mellifera
Bombus pascuorum
Bombus terrestris
Melecta albifrons
Osmia bicornis
Prunus cerasifera
Apis mellifera
Prunus padus
Andrena haemorrhoa
Prunus spinosa
Andrena fulva
Ranunculus sp.
Andrena (Micrandrena) sp.
Coelioxys elongata
Lasioglossum smeathmanellum
Osmia bicornis
Osmia caerulescens
Reseda lutea
Hylaeus signatus
Rubus fruticosus agg.
Hylaeus sp.
Salix sp.
Andrena fulva
Anthophora plumipes
Apis mellifera
Bombus pascuorum
Osmia bicornis
Scrophularia nodosa
Bombus pascuorum
Senecio jacobaea
Andrena dorsata
Andrena flavipes
Apis mellifera
Coelioxys elongata
Hylaeus communis
Lasioglossum calceatum
Lasioglossum smeathmanellum
Megachile centuncularis
Panurgus banksianus
Solidago canadensis
Hylaeus communis
Sorbus aucuparia
Bombus pascuorum
Stachys officinalis
Bombus pascuorum
Symphytum orientale
Andrena nitida
Anthophora plumipes
Trifolium pratense
Bombus pascuorum
Ulex minor
Bombus pascuorum
Veronica chamaedrys
Andrena (Micrandrena) sp.
Vicia cracca
Bombus pascuorum
Vicia sativa
Osmia caerulescens
