Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2008 | Page 67

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING Wasp Spiders First recorded in Britain in 1922 (thought to be introduced) sightings of the Wasp Spiders are steadily increasing. The females are more commonly identified because of their yellow and black abdomen and are the larger of the species at 11-15 cm the pale brown male, measures in at a meagre 4-4.5mm. They live in long grass and low vegetation and feed on flying insects and grass hoppers. Many males are eaten while mating. Great Green Bush Crickets This is our largest cricket species, found throughout late summer until early autumn. In the past they have been kept as pets because of their singing, (more a prolonged buzzing sounding similar to a sewing machine) heard in the day time , but mostly in the evening. They feed mainly on small insects such as flies, caterpillars, butterflies and moths but will also nibble plants. life Autumn Lady’s Tresses Not what you expect an orchid to look like, but this is a real treat when you do discover it, simply by its ‘special’ factor. Found flowering in short grassland during August and September usually on lime rich soils along the coastline. Its flower is white spiralling up around the stem. Numbers fluctuate with an abundant showing followed by a scattering the following year. A good summer for vampires It’s been a great couple of months for some very special Island plants – the Broomrapes. They have no chlorophyll (and so aren’t green) and therefore no means of photosynthesising their food, and that’s because they don’t need to. Their special stabbing roots puncture the root systems of the plants around them and drink their water and nutrients. They don’t kill their hosts but they can weaken them. Some broomrapes are very choosy, and two of the rarest of these have put on an excellent show this summer. Pictured is the beautiful Purple or Yarrow Broomrape (Yarrow being its chosen host plant) at Arreton. Others you might see are the Oxtongue Broomrape (feeds on Oxtongue and Hawk’s-beard – both Dandelion-like plants) and the much less fussy Common Broomrape. www.island2000.org.uk No experience necessary The People’s Trust for Endangered Species are looking for volunteers to help carry out practical work at their woodland reserve near Wootton Bridge. There will be various opportunities to get involved over the coming year including a special one-off volunteer weekend and monthly work parties with the Island Conservation Volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved, please call Laura on 020 7498 4533 or email [email protected] Nature week 11th to 17th August During this years Nature Week all activities will have an Island Climate Care theme. From wild food walks to spotting kingfishers on our wetlands or seeing how Ventnor is coping with climate change, there will be loads of great activities to get involved with. Check our websites for dates and times www.gifttonature.org.uk. Businesses can get involved by signing up to Gift to Nature and supporting Island Climate Care projects. www.wightfrog.com/islandlife 67