Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders' Newsletter Issue 10 Spring 2014

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Greater Gwent Biodiversity Action Group

Glamorgan Biodiversity Advisory Group

Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders’ Newsletter Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Glow worms in Glamorgan

Hello everyone and welcome to the 2014 Spring edition of the Gwent – Glamorgan Recorders Newsletter. This is my first time editing and I have really enjoyed putting it together. In this edition we have updates from Andy Karran on the Local Wildlife Sites – SE Wales Project , Rob Parry on Parc Slip Nature Reserve and Alice Rees on the GWT Watervole reintroduction at Magor Marsh. As always we keep you up to date with our data and recording projects including Square of the Month and SEWBReCORD. As this year is our 10th Anniversary we have a special extra Biodiversity-blitz planned. Thank you to everyone that contributed to the newsletter, I hope you enjoy reading it. Libby Wilcox, SEWBReC

Included in this issue: Glow worms in Glamorgan

1

SEWBReC News & events

2-4

Newport Urban Bat Survey

5-6

Mary Gillham Data Project

6

Parc Slip Nature Reserve Update

7

Exotic trees in the Gwent landscape

8

Local Wildlife Sites

9-10

Watervoles at Magor Marsh

11-12

Moths of Glamorgan

12

Butterflies at Silent Valley

13

Monitoring of Great Black-backed Gulls

14-15

Brynna Woods Observations

16

Botanical news in VC35

17-18

Glamorgan fungus group

19

Volunteering at Parc Taf Bargoed

20

SEWBReC Biodiversity Blitz Days

21

Other events

22

Last summer I did a Glow worm survey at 3 sites in Glamorgan (1. Oldcastle Down, 2. Ogmore Down, 3. Parc Slip Nature Reserve). I spent a month wandering around my sites (with my Dad) after dark, looking for glowing females. We managed to record 22 glowing females across the 3 sites. I hope to carry out the survey every year to get a better idea of the local Glow worm population. The Glow worm (Lampyris noctiluca) belongs to a family of beetles known as Lampyridae. As the name suggests, Glow worms are able to emit light from their bodies by means of a reaction between two chemicals, luciferin and luciferase. The light is emitted from the tip of the underside of the abdomen as a green glow. The adult females use the light to attract males. The larvae, eggs and adult males can also produce a glow, but this is not as bright as the females. The Glow worms life cycle consists of 4 main stages (1. The Egg, 2. The Larva, 3. The Pupa, 4. The Adult). The eggs are laid in July/August and hatch in the autumn. The larvae then feed and hibernate through the winter, they become active again in the spring, feeding and growing throughout the year before hibernating again for their second winter. In their third year the larvae become active in the spring and continue feeding to build up energy reserves before pupation in the early summer, the adults will

Male and Female Glow worms at Oldcastle Down, South Wales © Rudi Bright

emerge usually in June and July and mate, lay eggs and then die. Glow worm larvae feed on snails and slugs. Adults do not feed and survive on energy reserves laid down through the larval stage. Adult Glow worms live for a short period of approximately 14 days. Once mated the female will cease glowing and lay between 20 and 150 eggs under stones, logs or vegetation. Glow worms can be very difficult to find so your best chance of recording them are during the glowing season. If you want to record Glow worms you should go out into suitable habitat (unimproved grassland/ downland/canal towpaths/disused railway lines etc) between mid-June and mid-July. They are best seen on moonless or overcast nights between 10 and 11pm. You are more likely to see one if you let your eyes adjust to the dark so you can wander around without using a torch. If you want to know more have a look at my Youtube guide to Glow worms http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=eDZ3nx7bUu4&feature=share&list=UUwg yaduvWuKjLkldP9TTBLw If you manage to find any please report them to the UK Glow Worm Survey (http:// www.glowworms.org.uk/) as well as SEWBReC (or your own Local Records Centre). Good Luck!

Female Glow worm at Oldcastle Down © Rudi Bright

Rudi Bright (age 10)


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Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders' Newsletter Issue 10 Spring 2014 by SEWBReC - Issuu