Insects - Summer

Robin Pincushion (or Bedeguar) Gall

Now when we found this small round ball and red fluffy object (well it’s the best way we can think to describe it!) on a plant we knew this was a gall, but we were foxed beyond that. However, after a bit of searching we found a man who wasn’t. We’d like to thank Brian Ecott for his fantastic knowledge and words. He says. ‘The photograph shows last year's (brown), and this years (red), galls of the Robin Pincushion or Bedeguar gall caused by the gall wasp Diplolepis rosae on wild rose. The galls are multichambered and the larvae overwinter in the gall which becomes brown. They are sought after by birds who peck them to extract the grubs. You can see the chambers in the old galls. At this time of year the gall wasp will have already hatched, hence the new red gall’. There is a link on the right (in the useful links column) to the Hainault Forest website which Brian runs. The brown galls are small about 3/4 of an inch (18 millimetres) in diameter, whilst the red fluffy galls are about an inch and half (37 millimetres) diameter
Top Spots
On the North side of the smaller pit at Roswell Pits on Kiln Lane close about 5 yards from the edge of the pit. We’ve provided a very specific GeoCache for this to help you find it (TL 5815 8058 or N+52 24' 3.95" E+0 16' 38.47")

Painted Lady Butterfly

Found extensively across Britain Painted Lady butterflies are a far-flung migrant from the hot fringes of North Africa and the Middle East. Orange wings with black tips, the latter with white spots and a beige body identify this frequent visitor to gardens and hedgerows. Often found round the purple-lilac flowers of the Buddliea where they are searching for nectar to drink. Their caterpillars are hairy, black (with very small white spots) and a yellow stripe on the sides
Top Spots
Look out for these fine butterflies on Buddliea in gardens all around Ely10

Purple Hairstreak Butterfly

Looking towrds the top of an old Oak Tree is the best way to see this small canopy loving butterfly. A pair of binoculars would be very useful to see them a little better. Or a visit early in the morning may reveal one a little lower catching the low morning sun. Although not uncommon in southern Britain they are seldom seen due to their high flying behaviours. They have metallic purple like sheen on the upper wings (the female has more black than purple) and a grey undersides to their wings. About an inch and a quarter to and inch and three quarters wide (30-45 millimetres) they are part of a family named after the thin white hairline mark on the underwing
Top Spots
Look up into a magnificent Oak at the bottom of Kiln Lane, a hundred yards West of the railway level crossing, just at the start of the footpath that leads to Pocket Park (TL 554 805 or N+52 24' 3" E+0 16' 58.5")

Six Spot Burnet

With six large red spots on each wing (the name gives it away) this very common daytime moth, is one of the most widely spread in Britain. Despite this commonality it is a fantastic reminder of just how colourful moths can be - the palette for moths goes way beyond greyish brown. With a wingspan of one and a quarter to two inches (32-50 millimetres), Six Spot Burnet find Bird’s Foot Trefoil a great place to find the nectar they feed on. We’ve suggested Kiln Lane as a good searching ground as it’s food there is plentiful, and we just can’t believe how many there were there when we were looking for plants a week ago
Top Spots
On the ‘bridge’ between the Roswell Pits on Kiln Lane. Look on the bank just over the fence on the South pit (the smallest one) closet to the Cathedral (TL 553 806 or N+52 24' 5" E+0 16' 51")