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the bush. Dark Bush (Pholidoptera
griseoaptera), our most common Orthoptera
species and the most nocturnal in habit,
was found only on a couple of occasions as
it began its customary chirping late on in
the afternoon.
Our two commonest grasshoppers - Common Field
(Chorthippus brunneus) and Meadow (Chorthippus
parallelus) were found in their normal type
habitats - Common Field preferring a drier,
sparse grassland to that of Meadow which is
much more catholic in its taste, and is the
one more commonly found in lusher type grass.
A few other insects were seen, among them
two Dragonflies hawking - Migrant Hawker
(Aeshna mixta) and the Southern Hawker
(Aeshna cyanea), whilst the Brown Hawker
(Aeshna grandis) delighted us by posing for
photographs. The Birch Shield Bug put in
an appearance whilst beating for the Oak
Bush Cricket and a Wall Butterfly was seen
flitting along a ride on the edge of wood-
land. A magnificent Elephant Hawk Moth
caterpillar was found in grassland as well
as the Broom Moth caterpillar.
Fungi (thirty three of them) were collected
by Ian Rose and Martin Gregory, among them
being a huge Boletus edulis , almost a f,oot
across and probably weighing a couple of
pounds. Other species were:- Lycoperdon
foetidum , Inonotus dryadeus, Amanita citrina ,
Collybia maculata, Phallus impudicus, four
species of Lactarius and five Russula.
ALAN WAKE