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
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