A PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE FAUNA OF STAVERTON PARK, SUFFOLK Part 1 PAUL T .
HARDING
Introduction THE area of woodland known as Staverton Park and Thicks lies on the sandlings of East Suffolk near the village of Butley (Grid reference 62/355509). It has long been famous for its ancient pollard oaks, the dense holly thickets of the Thicks, and, before the 1939-45 war, for the heaths surrounding the woodland. The history and the development of the Vegetation leading to the appearance of the area as it is today have been studied by Peterken (1969). Following the precedent of Peterken the name "Staverton Park" is used to refer to the complete medieval Park described by him; this is the Staverton Park of my title. Throughout this paper the name "Park" applies to the area of pollard oak woodland distant from the Butley to Woodbridge road (Tithe field nos. 130, 183, and 184). The name "Thicks" applies to the area of dense holly regeneration among old oaks and hollies near to the road (Tithe field no. 132). Although there is no documentary evidence of tree cover before 1528 Peterken concludes that Staverton Park is of medieval origin, having been emparked before 1275. The area emparked was almost certainly partly woodland that has never been cleared of tree cover in historic times. Staverton Park has been managed and modified by man since its emparkment, and the "primeval" State of the Thicks is only the result of neglect and the absence of grazing during the last 150 years. The Vegetation has changed little since Peterken did his field work in 1968. The boundary track of the Park on the south and west sides has been ploughed and a new track runs just inside the Park margin. Some small areas of bracken have been treated experimentally with a chemical designed to control bracken growth. A few oaks have been felled or lopped as a result of the track reorganisation and the laying of irrigation pipelines across the Park to the arable fields on the south and west sides. The fauna of Staverton Park seems not to have been studied in any detail. Claude Morley, that indefatigable Suffolk entomologist, apparently held the area in high esteem. He selects Staverton and Fakenham Woods for special mention as important examples of old woodland in the forword of his Coleoptera of Suffolk (1899). However, no species of Coleoptera is listed from Staverton in that work, or its later Supplement (1915). Morley, Aston and a few other authors make occasional reference to
FAUNA OF STAVERTON PARK
233
Staverton Park mainly in the Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society. Crowson and Hunter (1964) refer to Staverton Park as being "a well-known example of stands of old oaks". Crowson (1963) and Nash (1972) each record one species of rare Coleoptera from the area. Farmar (1949), listed many species of birds occurring in the area of Staverton Park. This paper (which is to appear in three parts) lists most of the fauna known to occur at Staverton Park. Only the lists of the Coleoptera, Isopoda, Diplopoda, Orthoptera, and Birds can be considered to be at all comprehensive. Most of the other groups are covered either by casual observations or Opportunist collecting, by gathering together lists from published sources, or in the case of the Lepidoptera by a list of the more interesting species recorded by H. E. Chipperfield added to my own casual recording. I made ten single day Visits to Staverton Park between January, 1972 and May, 1973, and on various occasions I was accompanied by Dr. R. C. Welch, Dr. E. Duffey, and Mr. P. C. Tinning. Visits were also made during this period by Mr. C. Johnson and Mr. E. W. Aubrook. Acknowledgements I am most grateful to Mr. J. F. Kemball for permission to work on his land, and for granting permission to several other persons to visit in connection with my work. My colleague, Dr. G. F. Peterken, originally suggested Staverton as a suitable site for study, and has given invaluable help and encouragement throughout. Dr. R. C. Welch, Dr. E. Duffey, and Mr. H. E. Chipperfield, co-authors of various sections have been of great assistance with compiling the relevant sections. Mr. E. W. Aubrook, Mr. C. Barham, Mr. S. Beaufoy, Mrs. E. A. Crowson, Dr. R. A. Crowson, Mr. C. Johnson, Mr. P. E. Jones, Mr. G. J. Moller, Dr. M. G. Morris, Mr. R. A. Plant, Mr. A. E. Stubbs, and Mr. P. C. Tinning have all helped in various ways. To all these I would like to extend my thanks. References Crowson, R. A. (1963). Observations on British Tetratomidae (Col.) with a key to the larvae. Entomologist's mon. Mag. 99, 82-86. Crowson, R. A. and Hunter, F. A. (1964). Some Coleoptera associated with old trees in Grimesthorpe Park, Lines. Entomologist's mon. Mag. 100, 198-200. Farmar, H . (1949). The Cottage in the Forest. Hutchinson, London. Morley, C. (1899). The Coleoptera of Suffolk. J. H. Keys, Plymouth. Morley, C. (1915). The Coleoptera of Suffolk. First Supplement. J. H . Keys, Plymouth.
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Vol. 16, Part 4
Nash, D . R. (1972). Recent captures of some uncommon beetles in SufFolk, including two species probably new to the county list. Entomologist's mon. Mag. 108, 85-86. Peterken, G. F. (1969). Development of Vegetation in Staverton Park, Suffolk. Fld. Stud. 3, 1-39.
Section 1 CRUSTACEA
and
MYRIAPODA
All the species recorded for these groups are common and widespread, both geographically and ecologically. Only the millipede Craspedosoma rawlinsi is notable; being the first record from Suffolk (Harding in press) for a species showing a largely northern and western distribution (Blower, 1972). T h e woodlice Porcellio scaber and Oniscus asellus are probably of considerable ecological importance. Both species, but particularly P. scaber, occur in very large numbers inside hollow oaks. T h e dusty material inside many oaks is composed mainly of the faeces of woodlice. In the Thicks, in places where direct sunlight is shaded out, both species can be seen during the day browsing on the surface of the bark of oaks. Similarly the millipedes Glomeris marginata and Polydesmus angustus as well as Porcellio scaber must contribute importantly to the breakdown of leaf litter on the woodland floor. Nomenclature and Classification follows: Sutton, Harding, and Burn 1972 (Isopoda); Blower 1958 (Diplopoda); Eason 1964 (Chilopoda). CRUSTACEA ISOPODA TRICHONISCIDAE
Trichoniscus pusillus (Brdt.) iii, v, x-1972. Park and Thicks.
Under rotten oak and holly,
ONISCIDAE
Philoscia muscorum (Scop.) 1972, 1973. Common in leaf litter and grass in more open canopy situations, Park and Thicks. Oniscus asellus L. 1972, 1973. Present in large numbers, especially in accumulations of leaf litter inside hollow oaks, Park and Thicks. PORCELLIONIDAE
Porcellio scaber Latr. 1972, 1973. Present in vast numbers in leaf litter and especially inside hollow oaks, Park and Thicks. ARMADILLIDIIDAE
Armadillidium
vulgare (Latr.) v-1972.
Under stones near cottage, Park.
F A U N A O F ST AVERTON
235
PARK
MYRIAPODA DIPLOPODA GLOMERIDAE
Glomeris (Eurypleuroglomeris) marginata in leaf litter, Park and Thicks.
(Villers) 1972, 1973.
Common
CRASPEDOSOMIDAE
Craspedosoma rawlinsi overhang, Thicks.
Leach iv-1972.
In holly litter under low hollv
POLYDESMIDAE
Polydesmus angustus Latz. 1972, 1973. Common especially in leaf litter. Park and Thicks. P. denticulatus C. L . Koch 1972. Occasional in leaf litter, Park. BLANIULIDAE
Proteroiulus fuscus (Am Stein) v, vi-1972. Park.
In leaf litter in bracken glade.
IULIDAE
lulus (Micropodoiulus) scandinavicus Latz, v, vi-1972. In leaf litter and grass in bracken and grass glades, Park. Cylindroiulus (Anculoboiulus) punctatus (Leach) iv, v, viii-1972. In Myrmica rubra (L.) nest in dead wood, and occasionally in leaf litter and grass. Park and Thicks. C. (Aneuloboiulus) lalestriatus glade, Park. Schizopliyllum (Bothroiulus) bracken glade, Park.
(Curtis) v, vi-1972. sabulosum
In leaf litter in bracken
(L.) v-1972.
In leaf litter
in
CHILOPODA GEOPHILIDAK
Geophilus carpophagus Leach. 1972, 1973. under rotten bark, Park and Thicks.
Occasional in d a m p litter and
LITHOBIIDAE
I.ithobius forficatus (L.) 1972, 1973. C o m m o n in litter and under bark, Park and Thicks. L. calcaratus C. L. Koch 1972. Occasional in d a m p litter and u n d e r bark, Park and Thicks. L. crassipes L . Koch 1972, 1973. Occasional in d a m p litter and u n d e r bark, Park and Thicks.
References Blower, J. G . (1958). Synopses of the British Fauna, No. 11, British Millipedes (Diplopoda), Linnean Society, L o n d o n , 74 pp. Blower, J. G . (1972). T h e distribution of British Millipedes as known to the end of 1969. Bull. Br. Myriapod Group 1, 9-38. Eason, F.. H . (1964). Centipedes of the British Isles. Warne, London, 294 pp.
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236
Harding, P. T . (in press). Some Millipedes (Diplopoda) new to Suffolk and Northamptonshire. Entomologist's mon. Mag. Sutton, S., Harding, P., and Burn, D . (1972). Key to British Woodlice. Ginn, London, 27 pp.
Section 2 INSECTA:
SM ALL ORDERS
and
HEMIPTERA
These lists for five of the small Orders and for the Hemiptera are the result of Opportunist collecting together with a few literature records. However, the list of Orthoptera is more comprehensive, largely as a result of the recording done by Mr. P. C. Tinning. The fact that only four species were recorded by him during two days spent at Staverton in August and September, 1972, is difficult to explain. Several common species appear not to occur there, and the four species listed are all common and widespread in Britain although the two Bush-crickets have a southerly distribution. All the Hemiptera are common, and many are associated with Hawthorn, Birch, and Oak. This Order would well repay intensive study at Staverton. Nomenclature and Classification follow Kloet and Hincks 1964. PLECOPTERA NEMOUKIDAE
Nemoura cinerea (Retz.) (JV. variagata
Oliv.) " S t a v e r t o n " Morley 1931.
ORTHOPTERA MECONEMATIDAE
Meconema thalassinum foliage, Park.
(De G.) viii, ix-1972.
C o m m o n , mainly on oak
PHANEROPTERIDAE
Leptophyes punctatissima
(Bosc) viii, ix-1972.
A m o n g brambles, Park.
ACRIDIDAE
Chorthippus brunneus ( T h u m . ) ix-1972. In grass and bracken, Park. C. parallelus (Zett.) ix-1972. In grass and bracken, Park.
DERMAPTERA FORFICULIDAE
Forficula auricularia Thicks.
L . 1972, 1973.
Common in leaf litter, Park and
PSOCOPTERA MESOPSOCIDAE
Elipsocus hyalinus (Steph.) x-1972, v-1973. C o m m o n on hawthorn foliage and blossom, Park. E. westuioodi M c L a c h . x-1972. O n oak, Park.
237
FAUNA OF STAVF.RTON PARK PSEUDOCAECIDIIDAE
Ectopsocus Park.
briggsi
McLach.
v-1973.
Beaten
f r o m havvthorn
blossom,
POLYPSOCIDAE
Stenopsocus immaculatus blossom, Park. Graphopsocus cruciatus 1911 and 1931.
(Steph.)
v-1973.
Numerous
(L.) (Stenopsocus cruciatus
on
hawthorn
L.) " S t a v e r t o n " Morley
HEMIPTERA HETEROPTERA ACANTHOSOMATIDAE
Acanthosoma
haemorrhoidale
(L.) v-1972.
H a w t h o r n blossom, Park.
Elasmostethus interstinctus (L.) v, vi-1972. Beaten f r o m oak a n d birch foliage a n d in rotten holly log, Park a n d T h i c k s . Elasmucha grisea ( L . ) v-1972, v-1973. I n rotten holly log, on b i r c h foliage, Park. PENTATOMIDAE
Piezodorus
lituratus
( F a b . ) v-1973.
O n gorse, Park.
LYCAEIDAE
Stygnocoris pedestris b e s i d e ride, P a r k . Scolopostethus
(Fall.) viii-1972.
grandis H o r v . vi-1972.
S w e p t f r o m grass a n d bracken I n oak/bracken litter, P a r k .
TINGIDAE
Physatocheila Park.
dumetorum
(Herr.-Schaff.)
v-1973.
Hawthorn
blossom,
NABIDAE
Nabis rugosus (L.) viii-1972.
S w e p t f r o m grass glade Vegetation, Park. CIMICIDAE
Anthocoris
nemorum
( L . ) iii-1972.
Beaten f r o m birch, Park. MIRIDAE
Deraeocoris (Camptobrochis) nettles, Park. Harpocera
lutescens
thoracica (Fall.) v-1972.
(Schill.) viii-1972.
Swept
from
H a w t h o r n blossom, Park.
Notostira elongata (Geoff.) viii-1972. b e s i d e ride, P a r k .
Swept
f r o m grass a n d
bracken
HOMOPTERA THELACIDAE
Anoecia
corni ( F a b . ) (Schizoneura corni Fab.) " S t a v e r t o n " M o r l e y 1933.
NEUROPTERA HEMEROBIIDAE
Micromus
variegatus
( F a b . ) viii-1972.
S w e p t f r o m grass, Park.
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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 16, Part 4
MECOPTERA
Panorpidae Panorpa communis L. vi-1972.
U n d e r birch log, Park.
References Kloet, G . S. and Hincks, W . D. (1964). A Check List of British Insects. Second Edition. Pt. 1 xv + 119 pp. Small Orders and Hemiptera. London. Morley, C. (1911). Insects. Victoria County History of Suffolk 1, 102149. Morley, C. (1931). 1, 181-194. Morley, C. (1933). 2, 134-156.
T h e Neuroptera of Suffolk.
Trans. Suffolk Nat.
Soc.
T h e Hemiptera of Suffolk.
Trans. Suffolk Nat.
Soc.
P. T. Harding, Monks Wood Experimental Station, Abbots Huntingdon.
Ripton.