Invertebrates in Olav's Wood
Here are a records of invertebrates, including insects and other arthropods, and molluscs, found in the woods. Thanks to Lee Johnson and Andy Mitchell for most of these records. The unacknowledged records on this page are those from Lee Johnson's record list.
One of the recent developments illustrating the value of Olav's Wood for wildlife is that several species new to Orkney have been discovered in the woods. These are marked * below.
There is a separate butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) page. For invertebrates in the burn, see the Fauna of Oback Burn page.
Insects
1. Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps, Ants, etc.)
The BWARS (Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society) website is recommended for Hymenoptera in Britain and Ireland.
Bees
This list of bumblebee species in the woodland is supplied by Andy Mitchell:
- Bombus distinguendus - Great Yellow Bumblebee
- Once widespread in Britain its range has "contracted alarmingly". It is now restricted to some Hebridean islands, the north coast of Scotland and Orkney. Elsewhere it is distributed widely in the northern Palaearctic from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
- Bombus lucorum - White-tailed Bumblebee
- A common and widespread bumblebee (a queen was recorded in the woods by Lee Johnson, April 2015)
- Bombus pascuorum - Common Carder Bee
- A fairly recent incomer to Orkney and, in Britain, is extending its range northwards.
- Apis mellifera - European Honey Bee (L. Johnson, April 2015)
- Bombus (Megabombus) hortorum - Small Garden Bumblebee (L. Johnson, June 2015)
- A widespread bumblebee in Britain.
- Bombus muscorum - Moss Carder Bee (L. Johnson, on Hestily side of woodland)
- An uncommon and declining bumblebee, formerly found across large parts of Britain. Its stronghold is in the north and west of Scotland, but it is found in some coastal and hill areas elsewhere.
Ants
From Lee Johnson's records (2015):
- Myrmica ruginodis
Sawflies
- Dolerus sp.
- Pontania proxima - Willow Redgall Sawfly
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Wasps
- Andricus curvator - A Cynipid Wasp
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- Doliuchovespula (Pseudovespula) sylvestris - Tree Wasp
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- Ichneumonoidea - Ichneumon Wasps
- Vespula rufa - Red Wasp
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2. Diptera (Flies)
From Lee Johnson's records (2014-18):
- Aphidoletes sp. - An Aphid Midge
- Argyra sp. - A Long-legged Fly
- Beris sp. - A Soldier Fly
- Beris chalybata - Murky-legged Black Legionnaire
- Bibio pomonae - Red-thighed St. Mark's Fly/Heather Fly
- Calliphora vicina
- Chrysopilus cristatus - Black Snipefly
- Dicranomyia modesta - A Crane Fly
- Dolichopodidae - Long-legged Flies
- Ectopsocus petersi - A barkfly
- Elachiptera cornuta agg. - A frit (or grass) fly (Chloropidae), a possible first record for Orkney
- Empididae - Dagger Flies
- Haematopota - A Horsefly
- Hydrotaea diabolus
- Lauxaniidae
- Limonia nubeculosa - A Crane Fly
- Limonia trivittata - A Crane Fly
- Meiosimyza rorida
- Muscidae - House Flies
- Mesembrina meridiana - Noon Fly
- * Molophilus ater - A small crane fly
- A new record for Orkney (Lee Johnson, May 2016)
- Ptychoptera albimana - A Phantom Crane Fly
- This species is more commonly recorded in the south of Britain.
- Rhypholophus varius - A Crane Fly
- Scathophaga furcata - A Yellow Dung Fly
- Scathophaga stercoraria - Common Yellow Dung Fly
- Tabanidae - Horse Flies (on Hestily side of woodland)
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- Tipula maxima - A Crane Fly
- The largest of the British crane flies.
- Tipula oleracea - A Crane Fly
- Tipula paludosa - A Crane Fly
- Tipula rufina - A Crane Fly
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This small crane fly, Molophilus ater, was recorded in Olav's Wood in May 2016 by Lee Johnson.
This is a new record for Orkney. This species is locally common in other parts of the UK. Adults
appear in late May or early June. Although it has wings, it is essentially flightless. |
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This little frit (or grass) fly (Chloropidae) was found in leaf litter and rough grass on the edge of Olav's Wood, Elachiptera cornuta agg. This is possibly a first record for Orkney. Lee Johnson (March, 2017).
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Red-thighed St Mark's Fly (Bibio pomonae) photographed on Rosa rugosa leaves in Olav's Wood in July 2016. |
A Sawfly (Tenthredo sp.?) photographed in Olav's Wood in July 2016. |
Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) photographed in Olav's Wood in July 2016. |
Hoverflies
This list of hoverflies found in the woods was contributed by Lee Johnson (2015/16)
- Episyrphus balteatus - Marmalade Hoverfly
- Eristalis abusivus - Levels Drone Fly
- Eristalis arbustorum - A Drone Fly
- Eristalis intricarius - A bumblebee mimic
- Eristalis pertinax - Tapered Drone Fly
- Eristalis tenax - Common Drone Fly
- Eupeodes corollae
- Helophilus pendulus
- Leucozona lucorum
- Melanostoma scalare
- * Melangyna lasiophthalma - A new record for Orkney (Lee Johnson 2016, see photograph below)
- Platycheirus albimanus
- Platycheirus granditarsus
- Platycheirus manicatus
- Rhingia campestris
- Scaeva pyrastri (on the Hestily side of the woodland)
- Sericomyia silentis
- Syritta pipiens - Thick-legged Hoverfly
- Syrphus sp.
- Volucella bombylans - A bumblebee mimic
- Xylota segnis
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The hoverfly Melangyna lasiophthalma recorded in Olav's Wood in April 2016 by Lee Johnson. This is a new record for Orkney. It is a Spring-flying hoverfly and was spotted sunning itself high in a tree. |
The hoverfly Rhingia campestris photographed in a Rosa rugosa flower in Olav's Wood in July 2016. |
3. Coleoptera (Beetles)
From Lee Johnson's records (2015/17):
- Aphidecta obliterata - Larch Ladybird
- Picture (L. Johnson) from Olav's Wood below. This is only recently (2015) recorded in Orkney, by Lee Johnson,
and records in the far north of Scotland are rare.
- Aphodius (Acrossus) depressus - a Dung Beetle
- Cantharis nigricans - A Soldier Beetle
- This species is more commonly recorded in the south of Britain than the north.
- Elaphrus riparius - An attractive, jewel-like Ground Beetle, with a distinctly southerly distribution in the UK. This is only the third record for Orkney. Pictured below.
- Elateridae - Click Beetles
- Gastrophysa viridula - Green Dock Beetle
- Nebria brevicollis - a common Ground Beetle, sometimes called a Gazelle Beetle
- * Otiorhynchus nodosus - A Weevil
- Olophrum piceum - A Rove Beetle
- Philonthus laminatus - A Rove Beetle
- Rhagonycha lignosa - A Soldier Beetle
- This species is more commonly recorded in the south of Britain than the north.
- Staphylinidae - Rove Beetles
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A Larch Ladybird recorded in Olav's Wood - only recently (2015) discovered in Orkney. [L. Johnson, Sept 2015] |
A jewel-like Ground Beetle (Elaphrus riparius). Magnify the image twice to see the beautifully- patterned elytra (wing-cases). This is the third record for Orkney for this beetle which is more common in southern parts of the UK. Inhabits wet areas, especially watersides. [L. Johnson, June 2016] |
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A weevil (Otiorhynchus nodosus) found by Lee Johnson (March 2017). This is a first record for Orkney. |
4. Hemiptera (Bugs)
- Anthocoris nemorum - Common Flower Bug
- Evacanthus interruptus - A black and yellow Leafhopper
- Leptopterna ferrugata - A Grass Bug
- Stenodema (Brachystira) calcarata - A Grass Bug
5. Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths)
See the separate butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) page.
6. Odonata (Dragonflies and damselflies)
A dragonfly was seen in Olav's Wood by Andy Mitchell (Sept 2015). Believed to be the Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea).
7. Psocoptera (Barklice, booklice, barkflies)
- Graphopsocus cruciatus ? - See pictures below.
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A barkfly nymph (possibly Graphopsocus cruciatus, a common species) and (second picture) hatched barkfly eggs covered in a net of threads on the underside of a leaf in Olav's Wood. Lee Johnson, 13th April, 2017.
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Collembola - Springtails
- * Dicyrtomina saundersi - A globular springtail. This is a new record for Orkney (Lee Johnson, November 2016, see the photograph below)
- * Entomobrya nivalis A common springtail, but a new record for Orkney (Lee Johnson, May 2017)
- Tomocerus minor - A common springtail (pictures below).
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A springtail (Dicyrtomina saundersi) found by Lee Johnson on rotting twigs and in leaf litter near the burn in Olav's Wood. This is a first record for Orkney and the northernmost record in the UK for this species. The individuals are approx. 2mm long. |
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A common springtail, Tomocerus minor, found in leaf litter under the trees at Olav's Wood. They are 4.5 mm long and covered in little blueish scales as shown in the second picture. The top one has lost most of its scales so looks very yellow. Lee Johnson, March 2017. |
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Other arthropods
Arachnida (Spiders, Mites etc)
From Lee Johnson's records (2015):
- Araneus diadematus - Garden Spider
- Araneus quadratus - Four-spot Orbweaver
- Enoplognatha ovata sensu lato
- * Larinioides cornutus - A Furrow Spider
- Linyphiidae - Money Spiders
- Lycosidae - Wolf Spiders
- Metellina mengei - A Long-jawed Orbweaver (Tetragnathidae)
- Metellina merianae - Shaded Orbweaver spider
- Metellina segmentata sensu lat - A Long-jawed Spider (Tetragnathidae)
- Microlinyphia pusilla - A Money Spider
- Pardosa nigriceps - A Wolf Spider (on Hestily side of woodland)
- Robertus lividus - A Comb-footed Spider (Theridiidae)
- Tetragnatha extensa - A Long-jawed Orb-weaver Spider
- Tibellus possibly T. oblongus - rarely recorded in Orkney (April 2018, see below)
Harvestmen:
- Leiobunum rotundum
- Paroligolophus agrestis
- A Damaeidae mite - see pictures below
- Mesostigmata sp.- A Mite
In May 2015, Lee Johnson recorded the furrow spider Larinioides cornutus in the woods (photograph below). This has been confirmed by Edward Milner as a first record for Orkney.
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A furrow spider (Larinioides cornutus) in Olav's Wood - a first record for Orkney. [L. Johnson, May 2015] |
A 'Long-jawed Spider'(Metellina merianae) in the conifers of Helen's Wood. [L. Johnson, 2015] |
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Tibellus (possibly oblongus) in Olav's Wood. [L. Johnson, April 2018] |
A Shaded Orbweaver spider (Metellina merianae) in Olav's Wood. [L. Johnson, April 2018] |
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This is a Damaeidae mite from leaf litter in Olav's Wood. The first photograph shows it next to the end of a pin as a size comparison. Lee Johnson, March, 2017.
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Woodlice
From Lee Johnson's records (2015):
- Oniscus asellus - Common Woodlouse
Molluscs
From Lee Johnson's records (Spring 2015):
- Limacus maculatus - Green Cellar/Irish Yellow Slug
Flatworms (Platyhelminthes)
From Lee Johnson's records (Spring 2015):
- Arthurdendyus triangulatus - New Zealand Flatworm
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