Invertebrates

Invertebrates in Shrewsbury Park

Jason Regreen

I popped down to Shrewsbury Park today – my first visit, despite living just over 30mins away! I’m currently a columnist for the 10,000-circular SEnine magazine, writing monthly articles based on local wildlife – birds, mammals, wildflowers and insects – my first natural history love is amateur entomology. This formed the focus of my visit today …

The first area I visited today was the good standing of Thistles on the margin of the large open area containing the fallen tree. One great invertebrate I came across was the Parasitic Fly, Gymnosoma rotundatum. Quite a nice rarity, only really found in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and sometimes London – though it is spreading North now. Please find the image below.

Elsewhere, plenty of beetles such as the Common Red Soldier-beetle Rhagonycha fulva and Thick-kneed Flower Beetle Oedemera nobilis, Hoverflies such as Eupeodes corollae, Merodon equestris and Volucella pellucens and bees such as the White-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lucorum, Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius (I think – it needs catching for certainty) and Common Carder-bee Bombus pascuorum, as well as a White-faced Bee called Hylaeus communis.

 

Formed in 2006, the Friends of Shrewsbury Park encourage the use of Shrewsbury Park and support the development of facilities for recreation, education and amenities for local people and to encourage a sense of community around the park.