The Anton River Conservation Association (TARCA)

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16/11/2023

For chalk streams, few animals are more important than riverflies. As a food source for fish, birds, and mammals, their absence directly impacts other wildlife populations, making them ‘canaries in the coal mine’ 🐛

In this talk, the Riverfly Partnership will share how they use riverflies to monitor the health of freshwater habitats. Join us to hear what data they collect and how it can be used to tackle environmental pressures 💧

Thursday at 7pm, free to attend. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/riverflies-the-canaries-of-chalk-streams-tickets-727544805097

Wessex Rivers Trust National Lottery Heritage Fund

Go check out my latest mini article for an online blog in a project I’m trying to help onLink in profile 😀
28/06/2021

Go check out my latest mini article for an online blog in a project I’m trying to help on

Link in profile 😀

Forgot to show this the other week… mainly due to weather!This is my new lucent actinic moth trap. I asked for a portabl...
27/06/2021

Forgot to show this the other week… mainly due to weather!

This is my new lucent actinic moth trap. I asked for a portable trap for my birthday. This nicely packs up into a suitcase. I also have a battery and inverter so that it can be carried and run remotely.

Last night was it tester. Had 6 moths- heart & dart, dark arches, udea prunalis, garden carpet, marbled minor agg. and a swallowtailed 😃

Tree hopper (Centrotus cornutus)One of two species found in the U.K.This one is found in woodland rides and glades on a ...
23/06/2021

Tree hopper (Centrotus cornutus)

One of two species found in the U.K.

This one is found in woodland rides and glades on a wide range of plants.

It is a very sticky looking bug and has horns protruding from the front which also give it a common name of horned treehopper.

The larvae have a two year life cycle and feed upon nettles, thistles and other plants by using their piercing mouthparts to suck up plant juices.

The adults prefer poplars, brambles and oaks to feed upon.

They can be seen from April to August.

🐞

Dull day so had a look in the garden to see how my moth babies are doing.The dark mullein and buddleja are being munched...
21/06/2021

Dull day so had a look in the garden to see how my moth babies are doing.

The dark mullein and buddleja are being munched by these hungry caterpillars and thankfully so far they are doing well.

Gardening for wildlifeKidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)Kidney vetch is a plant of chalk/limestone grassland, sand dune...
18/06/2021

Gardening for wildlife

Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)

Kidney vetch is a plant of chalk/limestone grassland, sand dunes and other areas. It is an important nectar source, as well as a food source. In the past it was also used in herbal medicine.

Planting this in your wildlife lawn or even in contains is a must. It likes a little soil disturbance to survive if not regularly planted out.

It is a food plant for the Small Blue Butterfly who lays its eggs on the flower heads. To show how well this can work, my garden was colonised this week a year after creation.

Kidney vetch also supports the following moths- Aproaerema anthyllidella, Six-belted clearwing moth, Periclepsis cinctana (very rare, last England record 1950, Scotland 1984) and Coleophora vulnerariae - extinct. Maybe one say these extinct/rare ones will reappear if we plants for them.

Lovely sunny day, went out into the garden to plant my new wildflowers and admire the small blues flying amongst the kid...
15/06/2021

Lovely sunny day, went out into the garden to plant my new wildflowers and admire the small blues flying amongst the kidney vetch....wait! small blues! I don't have small blues?!

On closer inspection, a year of wildlife gardening....I have small blues :-)

No longer have to walk to the local reserve lol 😂

🦋 @ Stroud, Gloucestershire

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Andover

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