Merseyside Nature (2015 February-March)

Feb/March 2015 Issue 24

Merseyside Nature Friends of Merseyside BioBank

Phil continues his excellent articles around and about the Sefton Coast

Created by and for Volunteer Naturalists. Edited by Bob Jude Views expressed in this newsletter are those of individual authors.

Hugh Harris visits Risley Moss to study Mosses and Mycos Hugh Harris and Tony Carter provide an insight into slime moulds of the area from separate perspectives.

Jim Pearson researches the transmission of parasites and disease from the Honey bee to the Bumble bee A guide to Dragonflies of Lancashire and Merseyside Bob and Norma take a short walk around a section of Brockholes Nature Reserve The National Plant Monitoring Scheme requests help from volunteer naturalists

Inside this issue: Phil Smith’s Wildlife Notes

2-3

The ‘new’ Shieldbug Project

3

Mosses and Mycos

4-5

Introduction to the Biodiverse 6 Society The Magic of Slime Moulds

7-8

A Matter of Slime

9

The Transmission of Bee Parasites

10-12

The Dragonflies of Lancashire 12 and Merseyside NWFG A First Visit to Brockholes

13 14-16

National Plant Monitoring Scheme

17

Events

18-19

Sue Marley posted this image of a Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) at Crosby on the MBAN Facebook Page

Articles, photographs, real life stories, web links and events from active naturalists are welcome additions to this newsletter. Please send them in.

Stories from 250 words with accompanying photographs will take us all on your journey. Please E-Mail your work to: newsletter@activenaturalist.org.uk

Breaking News: Found and recorded by Steve Mcwilliam and posted on MBAN Facebook page were these Australian flatworms (Kontikia ventrolineata (Dendy, 1892)) at Calderstones Park, Liverpool, (18/03/2015).

A small flatworm of approx 2cm in length, black with two pale grey stripes down either side of the dorsal mid-line with a dark black stripe between. This species eats small snails and slugs and was found under sandstone rocks in an Ivy rich area of the park along with Porcellio scaber.

Naturalists are always welcome at MBB to freely use the available equipment and facilities

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WILDLIFE NOTES FEBRUARY 2015 - Dr Phil Smith There were only nine “rain-days” in February, the first fortnight being completely dry. Although the regional rainfall for the month was measured at 80% of normal, I suspect that, as usual, the Sefton Coast had far less than that.

My perception of a dry winter was confirmed by water-table data for Ainsdale National Nature Reserve provided by Dr Derek Clarke of Southampton University. These show that the mid-winter level was the lowest since 1997/98. This does not augur well for our hard-pressed Natterjack Toads who rely on winter recharge of the water-table to flood their breeding pools.

blooming abundantly at Marshside. This tiny white-flowered dune annual is invariably the first to appear. The first Avocets turned up at both Marshside and Martin Mere on 16th, the latter reporting 44 by the end of the month.

Snowdrops are always easy to find in February, almost all being the common Galanthus nivalis. Our best site is at Cabin Hill Wood where it puts on a spectacular show. A small population of the Green Snowdrop (G. woronowii) at Hesketh Road, Marshside, now supports ten large plants with their characteristic broad, bright-green leaves but the single individual of Greater Snowdrop (G. elwesii) that I found a few years ago at Kenilworth Road dunes had no flowers. Another non-native in flower at this time of year is the Corsican Hellebore; I counted 35 plants at its long-established colony south of Wicks Lake, Formby. Also here is a large population of Primrose, the first flowers of which were just showing, while on the bank above was scatter of Siberian Squill, naturalised here for many years. Several bushes of Siberian Violetwillow were already producing their remarkably furry catkins.

Bullfinch

As usual, February was a quiet month for wildlife sightings but a visit to Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve was rewarded with close views of four superb Bullfinches on the feeders. At least 16 species of birds and a Brown Rat were taking advantage of the free handouts!

Signs of spring always raise the spirits after a long winter. My first singing Skylark was on 20th, while the following day Common Whitlowgrass was

Corsican Hellebore

Management activity on our coastline continues apace in winter and I was pleased to see that the National Trust has cleared lots of Gorse on Larkhill Heath, Formby. To tackle the Gorse problem on parts of Freshfield Dune Heath Nature Reserve, the Lancashire Wildlife Trust organised an experimental burn of half a hectare, supervised by a fire crew from Formby Community Fire Station who used it as a training exercise.

Reg Yorke drew my attention to a fascinating 200-year-old account of our area. A voyage around Great Britain by Richard Ayton was published in eight volumes around 1814. Volume 2 (pp. 97-100) finds our hero roughing it on a walk from Liverpool to Southport.:

Salix acuifolia

“I now turned from the shore and proceeding for about a mile and a half inland arrived at the village of Formby, sheltered by a few stunted and weather-beaten trees, which, in a neighbourhood generally so bare of wood, were something to boast of. In the morning,

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WILDLIFE NOTES FEBRUARY 2015 - Dr Phil Smith I returned to the shore over a waste of sand-hills, on a scale of such grandeur and covering such an extent of ground, that familiarised as I was with sand, the effect was something novel to me. They extended for at least a mile in depth; and were thrown into very striking groups, exactly resembling a range of mountains, with all their ridges, peaks and precipices. Many of them were fully sixty feet in height, rising precipitously on all sides. They were all very thinly sprinkled with the sea-bent, and exhibited a sense of frightful and irredeemable barrenness…. I did at length arrive at some bathing machines….. and paused for a rest at Southport ….. Amidst a waste of sand-hills, there were planted a dozen houses …. The situation is as disagreeable as possible; a windy day smothering you with sand and a calm one suffocating you with heat….

When out of doors, there is no quarter; all is open and exposed, without a tree or a bush to fly to for shade.”

Controlled Burning of Gorse

What a difference a couple of centuries make!

NORTH MERSEYSIDE SHIELDBUG PROJECT - Ben Deed Over the last year or so a number of MBAN members have noted the lack of records for even some common and widespread species of Shieldbug in North Merseyside (Aaron!). This is not just a lack of records at the LRC, but generally, information on Shieldbugs in our area appears to be rather absent.

With this in mind, keen office based volunteer David Mallaburn, has taken on responsibility for creating resources and directing a Shieldbug recording project through the MBAN membership.

The recording project has been developed entirely by volunteers and will be entirely volunteer led. I have kept my nose well out of it! In a way this will be the first in what we hope might become an increasing amount of MBAN member activity and ownership over the direction of the group and the first of similarly developed recording projects.

The project will kick off as of 1st April 2015 and we will provide updates via the Newsletter of Shieldbug records submitted to Merseyside BioBank. All records will also be provided to Tristan Bantock and the national recording scheme. You are welcome to submit your records direct to the scheme but unfortunately we will not be able to include them in our feedback.

We would also like to encourage the submission of photos with the records for future newsletter articles and to aid in confirming your species identification!

Parent Shieldbug (Elasmucha grisea)

Common Shieldbug (Palomena prasena)

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MOSSES & MYCOS - Hugh Harris RISLEY MOSS NATURE RESERVE (LNR, SSSI, SAC) – SJ 664920

On a cold damp Valentine’s morning in February, the newly-formed Warrington Plant Group met at the Visitors’ Centre in Risley Moss. Mark Cozens, Ranger led us to the ‘mini-moss’, an area full of Purple Moor-grass Molinia caerulea, Cotton grass Eriophorum angustifolium and Sphagnum moss Sphag-

num fallax.

At this location Mark explained how he was managing the hydrology of the Moss and the threat of its drying-out: internal ditches had been dug and dammed to maintain the water table and seal the Moss from draining away.

Birch trees had been felled and log-piled to reduce water loss through transpiration thereby re-contouring the land and modifying the bog habitat.

Mark then left us with our able Group Leader, Gail Quartly-Bishop who showed us how to identify the Bryophyta with hand-lens, field-guide and key (“Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland”, British Bryological Society).

Mosses and liverworts are generally small low-growing plants susceptible to desiccation (drying-out) because, unlike vascular plants they do not retain water, and so are limited to damp or humid environments like the meres, mosses and bogs of temperate latitudes.

Soon, our baseline taxonomic knowledge and diagnostic skills increased from the questions; “Is it a moss or liverwort?” and “Is it an acrocarpous or pleurocarpous moss?” as we became more interested and familiar with the terminology. ‘Capsule, seta, leaf, perianth, thallus, rhizoids’, “It’s a new world and language,” commented one of the group.

Within an hour we had found and keyed a distribution and abundance of five mosses and one liverwort in our moss-land quadrat.

Cotton grass Eriophorum angustifolium, in flower, Ben Nevis, Tim Bekaert, Wiki Commons, Accessed: 24/2/15

The variable grass is an indicator species found in most parts of the British Isles, in wet or damp peaty areas on moorland heaths, commons and in the fens; usually abundant and dominating large areas, often to the exclusion of other flowering plants, according to Hubbard.

The moss is characteristic of waterlogged acid areas. These waterlogged and acidifying conditions caused by bogmoss have pickled dying plants, forming layers of peat.

Acrocarpous Moss

Pleurocarpous Moss

Sphagnum

Leafy Liverwort

Campylopus flexuosus Aulacomnium palustre Polytrichastrium formosum

Hypnum cupressiforme

Sphagnum fallax

Lophocolea heterophylla

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MOSSES & MYCOS - Hugh Harris After a relaxed lunch in the Reception Area we explored the woodland habitat behind the Visitor Centre and did not have to walk far along the trail before discovering a further nine species of moss under decking, on tree trunks, around ponds, on stone troughs etc. We also added to our anatomical knowledge as we delved deeper into the structure of the capsules; calyptra, operculum, annulus, peristome and urn.

The highlight of the day was finding a loose cushion of Thick point Grimmia Schistidium crassipilum growing on a stone trough outside the Visitor Centre.

After an enjoyable day of identifying and recording in a random sample of lowland bog in the unique landscape of Risley Moss we ended up with a species list of 14 mosses and 1 liverwort.

Fellow field group members

The complete list of 15 species is: Scientific name

Common name

Hypnum cupressiforme

Cypress-leaved Plait-Moss

Sphagnum fallax

Flat-topped Bog moss

Campylopus flexuosus

Rusty Swan-neck Moss

Lophocolea heterophylla

Variable-leaved Crestwort

Aulacomnium palustre

Bog Groove-moss

Polytrichastrium formosum

Bank Haircap

Plagiomnium undulatum

Hart’s-tongue Thyme-moss

Atrichum undulatum

Common Smoothcap

Kindbergia praelonga

Common Feather-moss

Calliergonella cuspidata

Pointed Spear-moss

Bryum capillare

Capillary Thread-moss

Brachythecium rutabulum

Rough-stalked Feather Moss

Ulota crispa/bruschii

Crisped Pin-cushion

Schistidium crassipilum

Thick point Grimmia

Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus

Springy Turf-moss

If this is the model for future field assignments then I shall be accepting more invitations to the Warrington Plant Group’s monthly meetings.

References: (“Grasses”, C.E. Hubbard, Penguin 1984. “Features of Mosses and Mere”, FSC, 2012. “Dictionary of Plant Sciences”, ed. Jill Bailey, Penguin 1999) (“Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland”, British Bryological Society (2010))

HH@MBAN

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AN INTRODUCTION TO LWS AND THE BIODIVERSE SOCIETY - Iain Mackennon Local Wildlife Sites (LWS's) are wildlife-rich sites selected for their local nature conservation value. The designation of LWS’s are non-statutory and their only protection comes through the local planning system, unlike SSSI designations which are protected by law. Though LWS’s don’t receive the same level of protection as statutory designated sites, they are still hugely important for local nature; providing wildlife refuges, protecting rare species and habitats and acting as corridors in ecological networks.

months as a Biodiverse Society Project trainee for

After an extensive induction, the Biodiverse Society team have been preparing for surveying, undertaking some site visits in preparation for the ecology season come spring time.

On a recent visit, records of Giant Hogweed were made at Otterspool Park, and it is records like this that can actually be used to recommend site management. Other interesting wildlife observations on our site preparations include a close encounter with a Buzzard along Netherley brook, Tawny owls preparing for nesting next to our office at Court Hey Park, and skeins of Pink Footed Geese flying over Holiday Moss in Rainford.

Iain reports on his first two

As a trainee, I have had a really enjoyable first 2 months. We all took part in an induction, which has helped us settle into the project, and trained us up in skills like outdoor first aid, and Phase 1 surveys. We also had an enjoyable residential in Arnside, where we carried out habitat management with The National Trust and got to meet similar trainees with the Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

Trainee officers Matt, Ami, Iain and Patrick

The Biodiverse Society project is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund & is a partnership project between The Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Merseyside BioBank, and LERN (Lancashire Environment Record Network).

The project is aiming to enhance sustainable ecological data collection on Local Wildlife Sites in both North Merseyside and Lancashire, by enabling and supporting volunteers, local naturalists and community groups to monitor and record wildlife on these sites.

The Biodiverse Society is a 3 year project, with the team surveying around 35 LWS a year. Some of the more wellknown wildlife sites include; Leeds Liverpool canal, Speke Hall, Halewood Triangle, Formby National Trust, parts of Sankey Valley Park, and Stadt Moers Country Park.

North Merseyside Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae )

Phase 1 with Martin and Jules from LWT

The North Merseyside team consists of project officer; Julia Simons, and two trainees; Ami Weir and myself, Iain MacKennon. We will be conducting wildlife surveys and monitoring the condition of local wildlife sites, assessing the sites against the guidelines for which it was designated. We will also be assisting in community outreach events and supporting Merseyside’s wildlife groups, with the team really looking forward to meeting and working alongside Merseyside’s hard working community of naturalists.

Our site visits will provide great opportunities for volunteers to get involved in the project, undertaking various ecological surveys. Some of our volunteers are currently being trained for breeding bird, and brown hare surveys, with plenty of other surveys to get involved with, throughout the year.

If you would like to get involved in the project, have knowledge of Merseyside’s Local Wildlife Sites or would like to help add to our survey data, we would love to hear from you. You can contact the North Merseyside project officer, Julia Simons, at jsimons@lancswt.org.uk, or come down to BioBank for an informal chat.

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THE MAGIC OF SLIME MOULDS - Hugh Harris A short talk by Bruce Ing, North West Fungus Group at the Risley Moss Centre, Warrington. February 2015.

Bruce Ing focused his talk on four questions and used his comprehensive collection of slides to illustrate their individual characters and ecological information.

What are they? - Protozoans related to amoebae as Bruce said, “Honorary fungi and can be lovely to look at.”

What do they do? They are definitely NOT decomposers or parasites but basically consumers (like animals) that ingest food - Bruce described them as ‘scavengers’. They eat bacteria (especially) + fungi and other protozoans. As they do this phosphate is released from the food eaten Where do they live? - They are found in the tropics and the temperate zones. Typically they are found in decaying, moist, and shady places, such as in the leaf litter on the forest floor. Some are known to live in aquatic systems. One is a parasite of eelgrass, and there is one that parasitizes the grass of golf courses.

What use are slime moulds? - improve soil fertility, used in anti-biotics, medicinal uses, engineering uses, computational uses and playing the piano!

The features of different forest zones and the growth/feeding characteristics were described; corticolous

Grows on bark of trees or shrubs

lignicolous

Lives on or in wood without bark

fungicolous

Grows on other fungus

follicolous

Lives on leaves

muscicolous

Grows on or among mosses

fimicolous

Grows on dung

Certain species were regarded as indicators of climate change e.g. Licea biforis found in the London Parks.

Some of the more common species that Bruce Ing showed us were:

Ceriatomyxa fruticulosa, Lycogala terrestre, Reticularia Lycoperdon, Arcyria denudata, Stemonitis fusca, Stemonitopsis typhina, Fuligo septica and Mucilago crustacea - all different colours, shapes and sizes.

Myxomycetes (one of three groups of true slime moulds).

Once thought of as bizarre fungi, slime moulds are now recognised as being entirely unrelated, they are placed in the kingdom Protozoa.

Slime moulds start life as single-celled amoeboid organisms that are freeliving and feed by ingesting mainly bacteria but also fungi.

When feeding conditions are good, and they encounter suitable mating partners they coalesce into a plasmodium stage of interconnecting strands. In larger slime moulds, these slimy masses often form colourful coatings on vegetation and fallen timber can be observed in autumn.

Plasmodium This stage is the creepy stage, the slime mould plasmodium is a mass of glistening vein-like material that moves slowly across dead leaves or wood at the rate of as much as an inch per hour, growing and eating. There are no cell walls in the plasmodium, and its motion is the result of protoplasm flowing rhythmically through the organism.

Sporangia When the plasmodium runs out of food (or when light or moisture changes alter its environment), it converts itself into sporangia--globes or balls made up of spores. In some kinds of slime moulds, the sporangia have stems; in others the stem is missing; in still others a large, single sporangium is developed. How, exactly, the spores are dispersed is unclear but eventually, a single spore germinates, becomes amoeba-like that may or may not have a flagellum, hooks up with some other amoeba-like organism and becomes a zygote, which eventually grows into a plasmodium.

Slime moulds are usually found in soil, lawns, and on the forest floor, commonly on deciduous logs. However, in tropical areas they are also common on inflorescences, fruits and in aerial situations (e.g., in the canopy of trees).

In urban areas, they are found on mulch or even in the leaf mould in gutters, and also grow in air conditioners, especially when the drain is blocked. One of the most commonly encountered slime moulds is the yellow Physarum polycephalum, found both in nature in forests in temperate zones, as well as in classrooms and laboratories.

Arcyria denudate, Larich Rig, Wiki Commons: Accessed March 2015

One of Bruce Ing’s anecdotes that I took away from the talk is about the North Wales Farmer and his field full of Friesian cows and Dog’s Vomit

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THE MAGIC OF SLIME MOULDS - Hugh Harris Slime Mould Fuligo septica whose plasmodial stage is a bright yellow spongy mass resembling ‘scrambled eggs’.

When asked by the farmer how he could get rid of it, Bruce replied “Wait until it rains!” The farmer expecting a bio-chemical solution to his cattle-grazing problem was suitably un-impressed.

It was an impressive talk covering a range of mysterious myxomycetes and I rank Bruce Ing among the top naturalists whom I wish I’d met sooner.

Acknowledgement: Dr. Irene Ridge, Chair, NWFG. Citation: Kuo, M (2003, August) Myxomycetes: Hugh@MBAN

Stemonitopsis typhina, HelenGinger, Wiki Commons: Accessed March 2015

A MATTER OF SLIME - Tony Carter A contributor to the decomposition of vegetable matter is the Myxomycete.

Known as a Slime Mould this is a misleading description as Myxomycetes are not moulds and only a few are slimy.

Fuligo septica, commonly known as Dog’s Vomit. One of the largest, the spores are dispersed by beetles. Very common on many substrates, usually on wood. This one at Ainsdale.

They ‘feed’ on microorganisms found on soil, lawns, litter and wood. They are single cell organisms but if food is in short supply, they will combine together to form a structure that can move when they detect a food source. They engulf bacteria, fungal spores, protozoa etc. When the time is right they are able to turn into a spore bearing fruit body and the cycle starts again. Because they produce spores they are often recorded as fungi, which they are not.

Many are very small but a combined structure can measure in square metres.

Some of the larger ones that can be found locally include Reticularia lycoperdon or Bark Puffball. This one is from Calderstones Park. Often on dead Beech trees, the ‘casing’ often breaks to reveal a brown spore mass.

Following a theme, Mucilago crustacea is known as Dog Sick Slime Mould (do I detect a lack of imagination?) Common on grass and soil in large patches. Recorded at Sefton Meadows.

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A MATTER OF SLIME - Tony Carter Tubifera ferruginosa ( Red Rapberry Slime) was seen at Ainsdale on wood.

Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa or Coral Slime.

Stemonitis Tubifera ferruginosa ( Red Rapberry Slime)

The small finger like projections can appear in large masses on fallen trees, this group at Pennington Flash.

Arcyria Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa or Coral Slime

Lycogala epidendron/terrestre (Wolf’s Milk or Toothpaste Slime) is a common slime mould on wood, seen at Allerton Golf Course. When broken, the spore mass is either grey or pink, depending on which species it is.

Trichia

This Reticularia lycoperdon image in the slime stage was seen on a later visit to Ainsdale on 6th April 2015.

Lycogala epidendron/terrestre (Wolf’s Milk or Toothpaste Slime)

There are hundreds of much smaller species that may only be easily seen if they form a sizeable group structure. In the adjacent column there are examples of Stemonitis, Arcyria and Trichia species, all locally sourced.

Reticularia lycoperdon Ainsdale, 6/4/2015

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THE TRANSMISSION OF PARASITES FROM HONEY BEES TO BUMBLE BEE SPECIES - Jim Pearson There are approximately 250 bee species in the UK comprising one species of honeybee (Apis mellifera), 25 species of bumblebee (Bombus spp. - including 6 species of cuckoo bumblebees) and 225 solitary species.

Until now, Honeybees have been declining largely because of diseases such as varroa mite, whereas falls in our solitary and social bumblebee populations have been caused by agricultural intensification and increasing urbanisation over the past 70 years causing the loss of more than 97% of the UK’s wild flower meadows thus reducing the foraging and nesting sites for bees. As a result approximately 32% of our UK species have declined with two bumblebee species becoming extinct and seven listed as priority species on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).

Bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers (80%) and high value agricultural crops (84%) a valuable (and free) activity worth £560 million per year to Figure 1: Apis mellifera, Photo: Thomas Bresson our economy.

Different species of solitary, honeybee and bumblebee have differing tongue lengths allowing for pollination of different crops and wildflowers which have varied corolla lengths. Therefore protection and conservation of all types is vital. Bumblebees are unique in the UK in causing buzz pollination or ‘sonication’ where crops, such as tomatoes, which hold the pollen tightly on their anthers, can be made to release it by a bumblebee landing on the flower and vibrating its body, causing the anther to shake and shed its pollen.

Although there is no evidence that Albert Einstein ever made the claim shown in Figure 2, it can be of little doubt that declines in our bee populations will result in widespread damage both to our economy and our environment.

If the bee populations fell to zero, then Aristotle’s dictum “ nature abhors a vacuum” might apply with other pollinators stepping in to fill the gaps.

Whether this would occur sufficiently quickly to avert disaster and whether the organisms replacing the bees would also bring associated pests and disease are moot points. Therefore, ignoring threats to our bee populations and hoping for the best is foolhardy.

Figure 2: Albert Einstein

However, populations of bumblebees face a new threat, according to scientists reporting in the Journal ‘Nature’ who have found that two disease agents, deformed wing virus (DWV) and Nosema ceranae (a fungal parasite, harboured by honeybees are spilling over into wild bumblebees.

Figure 3: "Bumblebee October 2007-3a" by Alvesgaspar - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https:// commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bumblebee_October_2007-3a.jpg#/media/ File:Bumblebee_October_2007-3a.jpg

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THE TRANSMISSION OF PARASITES FROM HONEY BEES TO BUMBLE BEE SPECIES - Jim Pearson In honeybees, deformed wing virus (DWV), one of the most prevalent infections in recent years, causes well-defined disease symptoms including shrunken, crumpled wings, decreased body size, deformed abdomen, leg paralysis, and weakness of the neck muscles, discoloration in adults and impaired learning capabilities, although the mechanisms are unclear. Some infected adults may appear normal but have a reduced life span.

The severity of its effects are worsened by the presence of the varroa mite; although deformed wing virus is also found in colonies not infected with varroa, it appears commoner and more destructive where varroa is well established, possibly leading to colony collapse.

Figure 4: Deformed wing virus in a honeybee 30 May 2013, Author, Xolani90

The other disease-causing agent, Nosema ceranae is contributing to worldwide honey bee colony losses. Originally noted in Apis cerana, the Asiatic honey bee, it causes nosemosis, the most widespread of the adult honey bee diseases. Nosema invades and destroys cells in the bees gut. Affected bees display unconnected wings, missing hair, dysentery marked by brown faecal marks in the comb and death.

Bees get infected by eating contaminated water or honey. Its spores can persist 2 years in faecal droppings and one year in honey and bee carcasses. It has now been identified in bumblebee species in England, with studies indicating it is more virulent in bumblebees than honeybees.

In 26 sites across Great Britain and the Isle of Man, about 11% of bumblebees were infected with DWV and 7% were infected with Nosema ceranae. By comparison, about 35% of honeybees carried DWV and 9% had the fungus.

Figure 5: An adult female of Varroa destructor, a mite parasiting the honeybee - frontal view, on the head of a bee nymph. 3 October 2010, 22:54, Uploaded by Jacopo Werther, Author, Gilles San Martin from Namur, Belgium

Bumblebees do not carry the Varroa mite, but the scientists found that those infected with DWV had a dramatically shortened lifespan; Nosema ceranae has also been shown to have an impact on bumblebee longevity.

According to Professor Brown, the distribution pattern of the diseases indicates transmission is occurring among these species of bee which are sharing parasite strains.

Although not definite, the most likely explanation is that the honeybees are acting as the source of the virus for the bumblebees. The team says that controlling disease in honeybee hives is vital to stopping the spread.

Dr David Aston, president of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), claims that beekeepers can reduce the impact of pests and diseases on honeybee colonies using biotechnical controls and practices such as apiary hygiene, regular brood comb changes, ensuring the colonies are strong and well-nourished and the use of authorised treatments although beekeepers need new effective medications and other and that this should be a high priority for action.

Furthermore, researchers want to investigate whether neonicotinoid pesticides are playing a role in problem.

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THE TRANSMISSION OF PARASITES FROM HONEY BEES TO BUMBLE BEE SPECIES - Jim Pearson A recent paper in the ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ suggested neonicotinoids are affecting the immune systems of honeybees, making them more susceptible to pathogens .

References AHP Disease Manual https://www.spc.int/lrd/ext/Disease_Manual_Final/b454__nosemosis.html Bee Viruses, Beeologics, Honey Bee Health Summit http://www.beeologics.com/colony-health/bee -viruses/ Cameron, S. A. et al. Patterns of widespread decline in North American bumble bees. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 108, 662–667 (2011) M.A. Fürst, D.P. McMahon, J.L. Osborne, R.J. Paxton & M.J.F. Brown (20014) Disease associations between honeybees and bumblebees as a threat to wild pollinators, Nature, Vol. 506, No. 7488 Morelle, Rebecca, (2014) Bumblebees infected with honeybee diseases http://www.bbc.co.uk/ news/science-environment-26242960

Figure 6: Extended data - host bee species and sampling site distributions. The commonest Bombus species is represented by the colour of the letters, the second most common by the colour of the dots. M.A. Fürst, D.P. McMahon, J.L. Osborne, R.J. Paxton

The Short-haired bumblebee project, http://www.bumblebeereintroduction.org/the-project/whyconserve-bumblebees/ Root, A.I. (2012) The ABC and XYZ of bee culture; a cyclopedia of everything pertaining to the care of the honey-bee bees, hives, honey, implements, honey-plants, etc., p 129-132

THE DRAGONFLIES OF LANCASHIRE AND NORTH MERSEYSIDE - Steve White and Philip H. Smith An invaluable guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Lancashire and North Merseyside.

This latest guide, produced by the Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Society and published in 2015, brings together local expertise and information on all species known to occur in North Merseyside and Lancashire. It provides a superb insight into how populations of Dragonflies in Lancashire and North Merseyside have changed over time such as the earlier emergence of many species, changes in abundance and their current breeding status and considers what factors may be causing these changes.

An in-depth account is provided for each species. This includes distribution, frequency and breeding status maps, illustrations of flight periods, photos and ecological information as well as notes on any significant records and findings.

This is the go-to guide for experienced and budding Dragonfly enthusiasts and will help you to uncover their hidden world, gain insight into their ecology and behaviour and perhaps discover unknown populations in our region.

Perhaps even contribute to future publications and the conservation of dragonflies.

Details on how to get hold of the excellent guide, costing only £10, can be found on the Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society website http://www.lacfs.org.uk/ Libellula quadrimaculata, Green Beach 19 06 13

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THE NORTH WEST FUNGUS GROUP - Tony Carter Foray Programme 2015 Held in association with the British Mycological Society

help and advice on a range of fungi related topics.

Membership Individual membership - £7.50 Family membership - £10.00 Members joining after November 1st will receive membership for the following year.

Please contact the Membership Secretary for a membership form.

the Mway but then turning back north until to you reach a roundabout signposted to Beacon Park.

Take right up A577 Windmill Road and continue, turning right then left into Upholland. At wrought iron clock in town centre, turn sharp left onto Mill Lane /Beacon Lane. Continue 2 miles to Beacon Park Golf Centre on left, turning down to car park continuing left to the far end of this car park and the Rangers' cabins.

Leader - John Watt (07768 043 461/01695 578843).

Officers

Bring strong footwear. Details about terrain and accessibility of sites can be obtained by contacting the foray leader.

Most venues have their own website.

Forays are planned so that they can continue into the afternoon. If you intend to so continue please bring food and drink.

If travelling a considerable distance to a foray it is advisable to confirm with the leader that the foray is taking place, as on extremely rare occasions, forays have had to be changed at short notice.

Changes will be on the NWFG website.

Beginners are welcome at ALL forays.

Please note that forays are not suitable for very small children.

DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

About the North West Fungus Group The North West Fungus Group is a regional umbrella group aiming to promote an interest in fungi across the counties of Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cumbria, Flintshire & Denbighshire. Benefits of membership include:two newsletters per year. forays and special events.

Chair: Dr. Irene Ridge, Smalley’s Farm, Whalley Old Road, Billington Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 9JF Tel. 01254 247274 Treasurer and Membership Secretary: Liz Moore, 48 Alan Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport, Cheshire, SK4 4LE Tel. 0161-432-9124

Recorder: Tony Carter

Sunday 28th June - Spring Wood, nr Whalley.

Meet 10.30 at Spring Wood Car Park, adjacent to Visitor Centre / Picnic Area on A671. SD741361 (Sheet103) (BB7 9TD).

Leader – Mike Valentine (07541 240874) Sunday 19th July - Goyt Valley, Errwood.

Meet at 10.30. From A6 approaching Whaley Bridge Turn right at the roundabout (Signed Macclesfield B5470) and go forward A5004 at the TL where B5470 turns right.

In about 5 miles turn right (Goyt Lane) signposted Goyt Valley. Cross dam to meet at car park SK 013758 (Sheet 119).

Leader - Norman Bamforth (0161-336-3914).

NWFG Home Page: http://fungus.org.uk/nwfg.htm Sunday 12th April – Freshfield and Ainsdale NNR, Merseyside. Ken Jordan Memorial Foray.

Meet 10.30 at Freshfield Station car park SD291084 (Sheet 108) (L37 7DD). Leave A565 Formby-by-Pass onto B5424 at roundabout signposted for Formby Point BUT at mini roundabout keep straight on until Freshfield Road then turn right. (OR go by train).

Leader - Tony Carter (0151-724-4600) Sunday 17th May - Beacon Hill Country Park, Upholland, West Lancashire.

Meet at 10.30 in Rangers' car park, Elmers Green Lane, off Beacon Lane SD505067 (Sheet 108) (WN8 7RU). From M58 Junction 5 exit for A577 Skelmersdale East, passing south under

Sunday 9th August - Clock Face Colliery Country Park, Bold, St. Helens.

Meet 10.30 at Gorsey Lane Car Park. From Jct 7 of M62 follow A57 Warrington Rd. After 2 miles turn left on to A569 Clock Face Road. After 1.5 miles, (passing back under M’way), turn right into Gorsey Lane (blue cycling sign Burtonwood). Continue to entrance on right. SD 535915 (Sheet 108) (WA9 4SN).

Leader – Tom Ferguson (01744 739774 /07743 509671 (m)) Sunday 16th August - Moor Piece NR, Bashall Eaves.

Meet 10.30 in Bashall Eaves Village Hall car park at SD696434 (Sheet 103) (BB7 3DA) on right just past Red Pump Inn before onward journey to the Reserve. (Follow signs for Whitewell/Trough of Bowland). Terrain is rough and wet.

Leader – Mike Valentine (07541 240874)

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THE NORTH WEST FUNGUS GROUP - Tony Carter Sunday 23rd August – BEGINNERS FORAY at Risley Moss, north Warrington.

Meet 10.30. Access from M62 Jct 11. Continue along A574 to first island, turn left. Reserve signposted.

Ample parking space. SJ665922 (Sheet 109) (WA3 6QS).

Leader - Irene Ridge (01254-247274. A morning foray will be followed by an afternoon microscope workshop.

Sunday 6th September - Styal Woods, Cheshire.

Nr. M/c Airport.

Meet 10.30, small National Trust car park off road by Styal Village, 600 yds past the Ship Inn on opposite side of road. SJ836836 (Sheet 109) (SK9 4JE).

Leader - John Taylor (0161-445-3308) Sunday 13th September – Roudsea Wood, south Cumbria.

Meet 10.30 am on the road by the Anglers Arms, Haverthwaite – we will park there and take full cars on for the final mile or so to Roudsea as parking there is limited. Via Newby Bridge A590 west to Haverthwaite. Take B5278 left, the pub is directly in front of you. Roudsea woods location SD330827 (Sheet 97) (LA12 8AJ).

Leader – Helen Speed (01539 733959). No dogs.

Sunday 27th September – Rostherne Mere.

Meet 10.30. Take the third turn on the left going south on the Chester Road (A556) from the M56 Jct 8. The car park is 200 yards past the church on the left hand side SJ743833 (Sheet 109) (WA16 6SB). Or park on the road.

Leader - Tim Rogers (07890949997).

Friday 2nd October to Monday 5th October Residential Foray at Keswick Convention Centre.

Cost inc. meals, for members and for nonmembers will be announced later. Booking form in Newsletter.

Contact Irene Ridge (01254-247274) Sunday 4th October – BEGINNERS FORAY at Moore Nature Reserve, Warrington Meet 10.30. 2 miles south of Warrington on A56 turn north to Moore at traffic lights at Higher Walton. 1 mile turn right, crossing railway and ship canal. Go to end of road to reach entrance. Car park to right of entrance road. SJ578855 (Sheet 108). Leader - Paul Hamlyn (0161-434-1401).

Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October – National Fungus Day. See website for events Sunday 18th October – Raven Meols Hills, Formby Meet 10.30. From A565 Formby-By-Pass turn west to Formby at Tesco traffic lights on to B5195 Altcar Road. Continue to travel west to Formby Point, past Formby Railway Station to end of Kirkdale Road (1.8miles). Turn left, past church to Shorrocks Hill Night Club (L37 2EB) then right on to Lifeboat Road to car park Bay One. Leader – Tony Carter (0151-724-4600) Sunday 1st November – Turn Slack Clough, Littleborough.

Meet at 10.30 at Clough. Left off A58 onto Whitelees Road approaching Littleborough from west, continue along Calderbrook Road turning left at Clough Road. SD935173 (Sheet 109) (OL15 9JZ).

Leader - Norman Bamforth (0161-336-3914).

A FIRST VISIT TO BROCKHOLES - Bob Jude Free to enter, these fees are essential in continuing the work in developing this Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Conservation site.

At first the view of the site in early March was rather disappointing, mainly due to the drab winter colours. The floating village site has been deliberately created on a wetland that overlooks a large lake. We wanted to support the continued development and so ordered lunch at the village cafeteria. The large windows give panoramic views over the lake and as we sat down for our meal of fish, chips and mushy peas we were able to see Coots (Fulica) and Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the distance and a seemingly lonely beautiful Mute Swan ( Cygnus olor) that gently and serenely swam past.

The Lake at Brockholes

On 6th March 2015 Norma and I decided to visit Brockholes Nature Reserve for the first time, attracted by the reports of other volunteers and the possibility of obtaining images of Brown Hare and Deer. We arrived at around 11.30 am. at Junction 31 on the M6.

Close to the entrance we noted cars who owners clearly had not wished to pay the relatively modest parking fees.

After lunch we called in at the visitor centre and obtained a free map and asked about Brown Hares and Deer and were told that hares could sometimes be seen in the car park and central areas and deer had often been seen around the east portion of the site close to the boundary with the motorway.

Following the map we went in the opposite direction towards the river, despite not having the advised waterproof footwear and tracked the wooden paths from the car park up the hill towards the western edge of the site.

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A FIRST VISIT TO BROCKHOLES - Bob Jude A brightly coloured male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) hid in the reeds with his mate and we watched as two intrepid kayakers traversed the weir before trekking along the fenced woodland edge back towards the main path.

A path diverges northwards through Red Scar Woods and we stopped to talk to some keen nature watchers who told us of some excellent photo opportunities.

Canada Geese on the Ribble

The dull early morning had turned to beautifully warm spring sunshine and clouds had given way to clear blue skies.

Sitting on a bench for a short time was most relaxing but there was no sign of the river which was invisible among the grassland as the land drops away. As we walked over the fields dodging boggy ground and shallow puddles, skirting the trees, there emerged wonderful distant views over the farmland. The Ribble forms the boundary of the western edge of the reserve where there were sevNuthatch (Sitta europaea) eral anglers along the opposite bank. Far in the distance a working bright red combined harvester could be heard.

They were not wrong. One particular section of the woods contained very large numbers of Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), Great Tits (Parus major), We kept stopping to try for photographs, searching in vain the bare branches of Treecreepers (Certhiidae), a Nuthatch (Sitta) and Robin (Erithacus rubecudeciduous trees to find the source of the numerous bird calls. A flock of Canada la). The birds rummaged among the mosses quite oblivious to our presence Geese (Branta Canadensis) calmly swam undisturbed by young couples walking mere yards from the path. hand in hand along the river edge and a Carrion Crow perched on a branch of a Another nature photographer we met was looking to take pictures of foxes single small tree on the far bank. and after a brief chat he disappeared into the undergrowth.

Great tit (Parus major) Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

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A FIRST VISIT TO BROCKHOLES - Bob Jude Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) darted among the tree branches where the canopy had become less dense. At the far end of the wood we rejoined the main path and decided to avoid the north east edge of the site due to the traffic noise.

This was the area we may have found deer but time was pressing and the unpleasant traffic noise disturbs the calm serenity of the site so we traversed our way back towards the car park.

There are specific guided walks and though we like to independently wander it would be good to see those hidden places and charms we missed on our first visit. This is a visit I would thoroughly recommend to naturalists even in late winter/early spring.

Kayaking on the Ribble

South East across the lake through cafe window

Looking west to farmland across the river Ribble

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

A short distance in front of us, a Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), that we had earlier seen high in the sky, hovered searching for prey just a few metres from the ground.

Arriving back in the car park just as the light was fading we were disappointed in our failure to see all the reported mammal life but were happy to have viewed the wonderful bird life and resolved to return in the early summer when meadow flowers would be in bloom adorning the fields and pastures of this excellent site attracting a variety of insect species, migrant birds and extraordinary wildlife.

Treecreeper (Certhiidae ) clambering up a trunk at Red Scar Woods

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NATIONAL PLANT MONITORING SCHEME: Information Courtesy Felicity Harris All volunteers will be able to access telephone and email support provided by the volunteer coordinator All volunteers will be able to access free training courses Additional information Squares have been randomly selected across the UK and it will be possible to see if there is a square in your area from the 1st of March by visiting the website above.

Volunteers are asked to record up to 30 plant species in any one square or linear plot as long as it fits into 1 of the 28 NPMS habitats Volunteers are asked to survey between 3-5 plots within their kilometre square Volunteers are required to carry out the survey of their plots 2 times per year Volunteers may be individuals or small groups

How can you help?

The project can be followed on Twitter twitter @thenpms and retweet us as we launch on March 1st and send out tweets throughout the week.

We do hope that people will be inspired to take part.

Felicity Harris informed us of the new National Plant Monitoring Scheme which was launched on March 1st2015.

The scheme asks for volunteers across the United Kingdom to visit a kilometre square local to them and record the plants they find there in several different plots.

The scheme will enable the exploration of how plants in different habitats are responding to changes in the environment.

It may be that there are people who would like to be involved in this government backed scheme which is being delivered by a partnership comprising Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland; Centre for Ecology; Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Plantlife.

Felicity Harris Head of Outreach Direct Dial: 01722 342740 Mobile: 07753 495971 Felicity.Harris@plantlife.org.uk

What support will volunteers get?

All volunteers registering for a square on www.npms.org.uk will receive a survey pack (survey guidance; species list; species guidebook)

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EVENTS SUMMARY Events are run throughout the year by Liverpool Museum.

These include Mammal Trapping at Knowsley Park and other venues.

Please contact Tony.Parker@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk for details and to book places. Museum collections are open to amateur naturalists and volunteers (by appointment) Other activity events Knowsley: www.knowsley.gov.uk/things-to-see-and-do/ events.aspx Liverpool Parks: liverpool.gov.uk/leisure-parks-andevents Wildlife Trust: www.lancswt.org.uk/what-s-on Court Hey Park: www.courtheypark.co.uk National Wildflower Centre: www.nwc.org.uk/events North West Fungus Group There are forays and special events, with help and advice on a range of fungi related topics.

NWFG Home Page: http:// www.fungus.org.uk/nwfg.htm

Liverpool Botanical Society www.liverpoolbotanicalsociety.co.uk

Merseyside Naturalist Association The MNA organize informal nature events including field trips, talks and practical sessions Visit www.mnapage.info for the programme of events Merseyside & West Lancashire Bat Group The group runs events and training throughout the year check the group website, twitter or Facebook.

Facebook links require membership of Facebook Some links may additionally require permission which can be obtained by contacting the group over Facebook as a pre-requisite. These links are increasingly becoming a major contact point for rapidly expanding naturalist groups and volunteers. Interested then link to: Merseyside BioBank www.facebook.com/MerseysideBioBank

Interested in arranging one yourself next year?

For advice contact ben.deed@merseysidebiobank.org.uk

MBAN www.facebook.com/groups/ActiveNaturalists/ UK Hoverflies www.facebook.com/groups/609272232450940/ WeBS www.facebook.com/pages/Mersey-Estuary-WeBS Lancashire Lepidoptera https://www.facebook.com/ groups/119829941488294/ British Wildlife Photography https://www.facebook.com/ groups/415160405188412/ Lancashire Mammal Group https://www.facebook.com/pages/LancashireMammal-Group/169476803103866?

BTO Garden Birdwatch https://www.facebook.com/gardenbirdwatch RSPB https://www.facebook.com/RSPBLoveNature British Spider ID https://www.facebook.com/ groups/829354860449271/ British Mycological Society (BMS) https://www.facebook.com/groups/18843741618/ Conopids https://www.facebook.com/groups/british.conopids/

HELP! BIRDERS STILL NEEDED The Mersey Estuary is one of Britain’s best wetlands. We know this because each month we count the waterfowl as part of the national Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS).

However, we need ‘new blood’ volunteers. You don’t need to be an experienced wildfowl counter, though you should be able to identify common waders and wildfowl. If you think you can help then please email Dermot Smith at dermot.smith71@gmail.com or phone 07505 418832 for further details.

For more information plus recent reports and photos visit the Mersey Estuary WeBS page on Facebook

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SUMMARY of EVENTS PROGRAMME of 2015 at SEFTON COAST PARTNERSHIP www.seftoncoast.org.uk Booking is essential for these events Call 01519342964

Biodiverse Society Project Volunteer Recruitment Event Sat, 21/02/2015 - 11:00am - 2:00pm - The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Venue: Berkeley Drive Find out all about our exciting new Biodiversity project and have a chat with the Project Team.

Walks last around 2.5-3 hours and require good footwear. The walk may include small hills and undulations. It would also be advisable to wear appropriate clothing for the day.

Heritage & Health Walks “Discover the heritage along with coastline with a series of walks. Part of the Sefton Coast Landscape Partnership scheme” “The walks will take you through a variety of habitats including woodlands, sand dunes and beach walks”

Other Events Why not visit Facebook page SeftonCoast?

More event info Friends of MSW Talk - Wigan Flashes Wed, 15/04/2015 - 7:30pm - 9:00pm - The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Venue: Mere Sands Wood nature reserve Join us for the Friends of Mere Sands Wood's monthly event, which is a talk about the iconic Wigan Flashes.

More event info Friends of MSW - Dawn Chorus Sat, 09/05/2015 - 4:00am - 7:00am - The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Venue: Mere Sands Wood nature reserve Join us for the Friends of Mere Sands Wood's monthly event, which is a Dawn Chorus walk around the reserve.

More event info

RSPB Tel: 01704 226190 Thursday 9 April Wildlife Home Event at Marshside Sunday 19 April Big Tide Bird Walk at Marshside

Lancashire Wildlife Trust Events

Bird Watching and Beyond Course Detailed Description Part Time Course £225 Includes monthly seminar and field trip One Wednesday every month “Edge Hill University are offering a part-time course which involves a mixture of field excursions and a taught programme. On one Wednesday of every month there will be a seminar at Edge Hill University, Ormskirk in the BioSciences building (at 7.00 pm).

These Wednesday sessions will be followed by a fullday field excursion on either the following Saturday

or Sunday. These field trips will focus on bird identification and will initially take advantage of the many varied local sites. Trips further afield will be used to extend your experience. The taught programme will involve informal seminars that will deal with the principles which underpin birdwatching.

This will cover the biological topics relevant to birds including bird anatomy and physiology, general ecology and population dynamics, migration, the principles of census techniques, conservation etc. In addition to reinforcing your existing knowledge, this course should also help you to take your birdwatching further.”