Category Archives: Insects

Looking down 2

Posted on 2014/11/17 by Fay Newbery

Under some of the oak trees on campus, as well as the fallen leaves, tiny pale discs are appearing. Sometimes these are present in large numbers. They show up particularly well on tarmac pavements. These are button galls which were … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Fagaceae, Galls, Insects, Plant Pathology Research Group | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Whiteknights Flower Rich Campus

Posted on 2014/10/10 by Alastair Culham

This gallery contains 5 photos.

Victoria Wickens from the Centre for Agri-Environmental Research (CAER) has kindly provided a series of photos taken on campus over the summer.

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Ideal home or revolting distortion?

Posted on 2014/10/07 by Fay Newbery

If you need a safe place to live, why not get a home built to your own specifications? That’s what the larvae of Dasineura sisymbrii, a kind of gall midge do. The presence of the larvae amongst the developing flower buds … Continue reading →

Posted in Brassicaceae, Flowering Plants, Galls, Insects, Plant Pathology Research Group, Plants | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Harris garden honey

Posted on 2014/09/29 by Alastair Culham

A beautful sunny September morning set the scene for the culmination of the first season of honey production in the School of Biological Sciences Walled garden at the west end of the Harris Garden.

Posted in Animals, Bees, Insects, Meetings/Events | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Rusts affect weeds as well as crops!

Posted on 2014/09/25 by Fay Newbery

A species of plant that is present on campus in greater numbers this year is Black bindweed, Fallopia convolulus. It has appeared in quite large numbers behind the Agriculture Buildings and also around the Harborne Building.

Posted in Animals, Flowering Plants, Fungi, Insects, Plant Pathology Research Group, Plants, Polygonaceae | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Marble galls on oak

Posted on 2014/09/23 by Fay Newbery

Early autumn is a great time to go looking for galls. Most have had time to develop but those on leaves are still on the trees for easy spotting. Two of the larger galls on oak are Knopper galls and … Continue reading →

Posted in Fagaceae, Flowering Plants, Galls, Insects, Plant Pathology Research Group | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Whiteknights Moths

Posted on 2014/06/16 by Chris Foster

Continuing the overhaul of our campus species lists, moths are the next group to have received a thorough treatment. More than 2400 species of moth have been recorded in the UK, so the current total of 113 for Whiteknights campus … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects, Lepidoptera, Moths | 1 Comment

Harlequin Ladybirds on Whiteknights Campus

Posted on 2014/05/22 by Alastair Culham

Harlequin ladybirds arrived in the UK in 2004 and are spreading rapidly.  This week I have noticed many mating pairs on campus – some in the traditional red-with-black-spots colours but also many that are predominantly black.  The UK Ladybird Survey … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Beetles, Insects | Leave a comment

Miner Matters: Eric Carle revisited?

Posted on 2014/05/08 by Waheed

After reading Fay’s blog on the holm oak (Quercus ilex) under attack, I – like you – was in a better position to look for and recognise leaf-mining beasties on campus. What better way to follow her blog than to … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Fagaceae, Insects, Lepidoptera, Moths, Plant Pathology Research Group, Plants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Under attack!

Posted on 2014/04/24 by Fay Newbery

Holm oak (Quercus ilex) is a Mediterranean tree species that was introduced to Britain in the 1500s. Unlike our native oak species, Holm oak is evergreen and holds its leaves all year round. It’s latin name, ilex, refers to the fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Fagaceae, Flowering Plants, Galls, Lepidoptera, Moths, Plant Pathology Research Group, Plants | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment