David Element

Wildlife Photography

and Digital Video Images

Chalk Downland Insects

                   GREAT GREEN BUSH-CRICKET Tettigonia viridissima (m)

                 STRIPE-WINGED GRASSHOPPER Stenobothrus lineatus (f)

                      RUFOUS GRASSHOPPERS Gomphocerippus rufus (m,f)

                                    DUSKY COCKROACH Ectobius lapponicus (f)

                                    BRASSICA  BUGS Eurydema oleracea (m,f)

                                          BOX BUG Gonocerus acuteangulatus

                                             CLOUDED YELLOW Colias croceus

                                        CHALKHILL BLUE Lysandra coridon (m)

                                        ADONIS BLUE Lysandra bellargus (m,f)

                                     DARK GREEN FRITILLARY Argynnis aglaja

                                       MARBLED WHITE Melanargia galathea

                                               GRIZZLED SKIPPER Pyrgus malvae

                              SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER Hesperia comma (m)

                        COMMON CRIMSON-AND-GOLD Pyrausta purpuralis

                     HUMMINGBIRD HAWK MOTH Macroglossum stellatarum

                                                    LACE BORDER Scopula ornata

                              CHALK CARPET Scotopteryx bipunctaria cretata

                                                TREBLE-BAR Aplocera plagiata

                                       BURNET COMPANION Euclidia glyphica

                                              GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius major 

                                       HOVERFLY Chrysotoxum festivum (m)

                               HOVERFLY Chrysotoxum cautum (f) OVIPOSITING

                                               HOVERFLY Doros profuges (f)

                                               HOVERFLY Callicera aurata (f)

                                     TACHINID FLY Gymnosoma rotundatum

                               YELLOW-LEGGED MINING BEE Andrena flavipes

                                MINING BEE Andrena hattorfiana (f) (RED FORM)

                                   LEAF-CUTTER BEE Megachile willughbiella

                                    GREEN TIGER BEETLE Cicindela campestris

                                      TORTOISE BEETLE Pilenostoma fastuosa

                     THICK-LEGGED FLOWER-BEETLE Oedemera nobilis (m)

• The above selection of photographs illustrate just a few of the numerous interesting insects that inhabit British chalk downlands. It is easy to forget that this type of (artificial) habitat would not have existed without human influence and the clearance of the forests for agricultural purposes. It is therefore a matter of paradox that the resultant rich biodiversity has been entirely due to interference with the original natural environment, but this is actually the case for almost every form of habitat in the British Isles! Without careful management the natural tendency would be for a reversion to scrub and ultimately to thick woodland. Some of the insects shown here have very specific micro-habitat requirements which may be influenced by a number of factors. These inevitably include human influence (e.g. grazing regimes), but at a more subtle level there may be symbiotic relationships with other species (e.g. blue butterflies and ants), or the effects of erosion, warmth, humidity and prevailing wind direction. These insects are often rare as a consequence and therefore particularly vulnerable to any alterations in land use. The warmer, south-facing downland slopes are often the most productive areas for entomologists.

© David Element.

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-> Heathland Insects

-> Wildlife of the Wandle Corridor - Insects

-> Wildlife of the Wandle Corridor - Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals

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