What's Happening in July 2011

I realised many years ago that there is no such thing as an ‘average’ year and so far, this one has been far from typical. Apart from the very cold spell in December 2010 whose consequences are reverberating through 2011, we’ve experienced an outstandingly dry and sunny spring to be followed by a prolonged but welcome wet spell. Yet nature is incredibly adaptable and responsive to these varied events.

Butterflies, beetles and bugs

So, with moisture rejuvenating many plants in July, the scene is set for a fascinating parade of insects ranging from dragonflies and butterflies to grasshoppers and bush-crickets, beetles and bugs. Make a point of stopping to look at some different flowerheads, in bramble bushes and amongst the grass to take in the variety of insects in midsummer. You could get hooked!

More dragonflies on the wing in July

There are more dragonflies and damselflies on the wing in July than in any other month of the year. If you have a garden pond or walk by a well-vegetated body of water, you may get close views of damselflies mating. In the photo the male blue-tailed damselfly is above and has grasped the female by the neck. Before this happens the male has already transferred sperm into an accessory organ near the base of his abdomen. The picture shows the female curving her abdomen to make contact with the accessory organ to obtain sperm to fertilize her eggs.

Most damselflies stay ‘in tandem’ with the male in front during the egg-laying process. They may land on floating vegetation while the female inserts individual eggs into the vegetation itself. Alternatively, you may see them walk backwards down the vertical stem of a waterplant as they descend underwater where, once again, the female inserts her eggs into vegetation to give them protection from aquatic predators.

Most dragonflies separate after mating before the females lay their eggs (the darters are an exception) and in the case of the female emperor dragonfly, eggs are laid within the tissues of water plants. However, some other dragonflies simply scatter their eggs freely over the surface of the water.

Secrets in the flowers

As for butterflies, July is when we expect to see the adult peacock, small tortoiseshell and comma butterflies resulting from eggs laid by butterflies that survived overwinter. Did the caterpillars hatching from these eggs find sufficient food in the form of stinging nettles to grow to maturity and change into the chrysalis despite the drought? Keep an eye on the flowers in your garden this month to check for butterfly numbers.

Whereas grasshoppers have short antennae, in bush-crickets they exceed the length of the body. One bush-cricket, the long-winged conehead, has colonised much of southern and eastern Dorset in the last 30 years and can be found in a variety of different habitats in long grass from mid-July. Notice the long ovipositor of the female in the picture.

Sticky carnivorous plants

The variety of flowers to be seen across Dorset remains spectacular throughout July particularly if, like me, you still have plenty of DWT reserves to visit on your 42toDo challenge. From a waterside walk along the Tadnoll Brook, to the flower meadows of Fontmell or the developing heathland colours of Higher Hyde Heath, there is always something new to discover. I am intrigued by the carnivorous plants of our wet heaths and their attempts to capture insects. Round-leaved and oblong-leaved sundews with their sticky leaf secretions are now in flower and the diminutive pale butterwort with sticky glandular leaves and modest flower can also be found if you have a sharp eye.

Upton Heath fire impact

Finally, can there be anyone whose heart didn’t sink at the news of the devastating fire on Upton Heath and its impact on the wildlife, the local home-owners who use the heath and all those who value our internationally famous heathlands?

The pictures of wildlife taken by DWT staff spoke volumes, but so did the public response in offering practical help to rescue reptiles left with no food and in imminent danger of predation. No one can deny that the consequences of this fire will be felt for years to come but nevertheless, in the coming weeks and months, grasses, gorse and heather will start to appear once more and later the complex web of insects, spiders, reptiles and birds will start to reassemble over the coming years. It will be fascinating to encourage and observe this process. 

You can donate to the Upton Heath Appeal here
 

Written by John Wright
Dorset Wildlife Trust Member & Volunteer

Emperor Dragonfly - Ken Dolbear

Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ken Dolbear

 Peacock butterfly - Dorset Wildlife Trust

Long-Winged Conehead - Ken Dolbear

Oblong Sundew - Nigel Brooks

Upton Heath aftermath - Noel Bergin