If you look a little closer whilst you are visiting the park, you will be amazed at what you will find; here is a small selection of what has been spotted on Leverhulme Park, hopefully we have managed to identify them for you, feel free to post your comments.
(Above) Comb footed Spider (also known as "Mothercare Spider")
The Comb Footed Spider, Latin name: Enoplognatha ovata
Size: Approximately 6mm from front of head to back of abdomen
Distribution: Found throughout the UK Months seen: May to October
Habitat: Hedgerows, grassland, gardens and rides Food: Small insects.
Special features: The comb-footed spider produces a scrappy web consisting of a loose network of criss-cross threads.
As their adopted name indicates; "mothercare spiders" are one of the few spiders that look after their young after they hatch. You can see the female sitting on her egg sack. They vary from black and white to pale brown and white and they inhabit bushes and low vegetation. This species is also available in a pale creamy-green colour. There's another variation where the two red stripes are replaced by a single thick red stripe along the abdomen. The black spots on both sides of the abdomen are present in all three forms.
The female produces a bluish egg sac which is sometimes concealed in a rolled up leaf. Be warned though; despite their small size, they are capable of killing bees and wasps - amazing!
(above) possibly a "Field Cuckoo Bumblebee"
Latin name: Bombus campestris
Attacks the nests of comon carder bees; Males are sometimes entirely black.
Cuckoo bumblebees
There are 6 species of cuckoo bumblebees in the UK. They used to be like other bumblebees, but they have switched from collecting pollen to parasites. The female cuckoo bumblebees will kill or evict the a "true" bumblebee queen and take over her workers as her own, using them to rear her own brood.
(above) Common Wasp, collecting pollen
Latin name: Vespula vulgaris
The common/social wasp is a yellow jacket wasp; Social wasps are the famous stingers of the insect world. Generally you are unlikely to be stung by a wasp until Autumn, unless you accidentally put your hand on one and they are defending themselves, or unless you are unlucky enough to disturb a wasps nest.
Up until late July and early August they are busy raising their young, chasing other insects, and foraging for food and maintenance materials for the nest. After the have raised their young, their job is mainly complete and they begin to gorge themselves on the food they collect, especially on ripe and fermenting fruit; they become more and more dependent on sweet foodstuffs (which is why we get pestered by them in parks etc) they will aggressively seek it out. During this time they are more likely to deliver a wasp sting.
Wasps are a group of insects that includes social wasps, potter wasps, mason wasps, digger wasps, parasitic wasps and sawflies.Wasps, along with bees and ants, form the group called Hymenoptera (which means "membranous wings").
Some sting and immobilise other invertebrates to feed to their larvae. Others, such as the parasitoid wasps, lay eggs directly into the bodies of their hosts.
Although most people think of wasps as pests, they benefit mankind and the environment in many ways. They help control arthropod pests (flies, caterpillars, bugs, spiders, etc.) by preying on them. This really does help to cut down on the use of harmful pesticides. This is healthier for our environment in the long run.
Photos kindly donated by: David Gaskell - "Sleepy G Photography" - all enquiries to > dgaskell@ymail.com
