9
6. DERMESTID BEETLES Two members of the beetle family Dermestidae are joint 6th.
The CARPET BEETLE, Attagenus pellio and Dermestes peruvianus. Both are
medium sized household pests whose larvae feed on dry animal matter from food
scraps to carpets. They fall into category 1.
7. THE GARDEN SPIDER (Araneus diadematus) is joint 7th with PSOCIDS. The
Garden Spider attracts attention when large pregnant females start to appear in
people's gardens in September and October. Especially obvious are those vivid red
individuals. By contrast, Psocids, which are species of the order Psocoptera, are
very tiny but can occur in huge numbers in people's kitchens. Commonly called
Book-lice they feed on starchy foods and like humid conditions.
8. Two most unusual insects hold 8th place. THE FLY BUG (Reduvius personatus) and
JUNIPER SHIELD BUG (Cyphostethus tristriatus). Fly bugs are category 1 insects and
usually it is the nymphs that are discovered. They are strange creatures like mobile balls of
fluff which are usually only noticed when they decide to crawl up walls. They feed on dead
and dying insects, especially along window sills and are quite common in the Southend area.
The adult is large and black and is more likely to be found outside. Juniper Shield bugs fall
into Category 3. They are either found in the house or garden often in Autumn or early
Spring (they hibernate). It is their bright colours and distinctive shape that catches people's
eye. Children often keep them as pets. Once very rare, this insect is now mainly a garden
species feeding on conifers.
9. Jointly at 9th place are 2 moths, THE VAPOURER (Orgyia antiqua) and LIME HAWK-
MOTH (Mimas tiliae). Vapourer moth caterpillars are colourful, very hairy caterpillars
with conspicuous tufts. A great many often occur together and they have been known to
defoliate whole shrub borders. They therefore fall into Category 3. Lime Hawk-moths are
brought in either as caterpillars or as adults. The caterpillars are often seen crawling on
paths when looking for pupation sites (Lime is a very common street tree in Southend).
Their large size attracts attention. The adult moths are attracted to light and it is their
unusual colour (shades of green, usually) and large size which makes people think they
must be exotic.
10. Two very different creatures arejoint 10th. THE HEDGEHOG TICK (Ixodes ricinus) and
THE GARDEN TIGER MOTH (Arctia caja). Hedgehog or Castor bean ticks are
occasionally found indoors having been brought in on pets. They do not bite humans but
are commonly found on several mammals including foxes. A full sized, fully fed female is
like an animated blob of lead about the size of a pea. People in towns are not familiar with
ticks and their unusual appearance catches the eye. It is the bright colours of the Garden
Tiger adult that attract many people's attention. The moth rests during the day but often is
conspicuous places such as on doorsteps or walls. Many enquirers believe it to be an
exotic butterfly as of course all moths are dull and brown! Much less commonly the large
hairy caterpillars are brought in. Garden Tiger enquiries stopped in 1988, suggesting a
decline in recent years.
Roger G. Payne
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NEXT NEWSLETTER
Please send contributions for the next Newsletter, due out in November, to the
Editor, Mr Peter Harvey, 9 Kent Road, Grays, RM17 6DE by the middle of October.
Remember that the production of the Newsletter depends on contributions from
members. 1 am sure that many members must have news, observations or the results
of fieldwork that would be of interest to others. If text has been typed on a PC
computer then a disk with the file would be very helpful.