Fascinating Summer in New England Wood

Mid Sussex Times August 6th 1982

NEW ENGLAND WOOD, Cuckfield, has now been preserved for all time as a nature reserve by the dedicated work of the Beech Farm Preservation Society, the Cuckfield Society and other residents of the community. One of them, Mr Stan Hallett, who visited the wood regularly throughout 1981, has produced a 54,000 word diary about it, which the Mid Sussex Times is serialising.

DESCENDING towards the river, in a mossy part of the wood, I disturbed a ground beetle which I believe was Carabus granulatus. It is nocturnal and hence keeps under cover during the day, lurking under stones, logs and moss. Being a scuttling ground predator, which at night attacks and eats many insect pests and earthworms.

This species varies in colour, is metallic and flightless. There is much activity in January at night and the operational working of the food chains is most evident.

I proceeded to leave the wood and on reaching the public footpath decided to go over the new stile which has replaced a wicket gate, now wired up, as in close proximity there are some scrub oaks on which I would expect to find galls.

The various galls on oaks always fascinate me. It is necessary to know that they are named after the generation of gall wasp which develops them rather than the generation which lays the egg leading to their formation.

I found some marble galls. They do tend to be more plentiful on the smaller trees and those in the hedgerows, rather than on the older trees. Marble galls also known as bullet galls, oak nuts or Devonshire galls, are one of the most well known, but very often erroneously called oak apples, which are different galls.

The terminal or axillary buds are galled by the oak cynipid (Gall wasp Andricus kollari). It appears that those that emerge are agamic females and considerable doubt exists as to whether the bisexual generation functions in this country.

The galls are globular, sometimes they grow singly, sometimes in groups. At first they are pale green, changing to brown and becoming woody, both with age and exposure to light. They mature in August and the causers have in September and October, but the previous year's galls often remain on the tree throughout the year.

It is interesting to realise that this species was introduced from the middle east into Devon in about 1830 when they were used for dyeing cloth and ink making. In this country they only contain 1·7% tannic acid and are considered not to give the best results for ink making.

The gall causer leaves by one exit hole, whereas with the oak apple many exit holes appear as many eggs are laid in the base of the buds consequently, many causers leave. However, there are several parasites which occur in marble galls, but their exit holes are normally much smaller.

It is not uncommon for lesser spotted woodpeckers and other birds to be predators.

I retraced my steps downhill and crossed the stream by the footbridge. This is an area where insects of many descriptions abound.

Nearby I paused and admired the common spotted orchids in the low damp meadow at the woodland edge and amongst them the matted circular clumps of soft rush — Juncus effusus. This is a perennial which throws up smooth cylindrical stems containing pith.

At the base of the stems could be seen the brown scales which serve as sheaths. The soft, smooth, pliant stems are pale green, with greenish brown flowers appearing to be half way up the stem, but actually the part above the flower is not really a stem but a spathe. Some stems were barren and thus resembled leaves.

It was now time for me to finish for the day, but the presence of butterflies delayed me as I stalked them in an endeavour to secure photographs. This reminded me that it was appropriate to make some general comments about them, as they are so interesting.

Butterflies are insects of the Lepidoptera group, or scaly wings, which include moths, as they are closely related to butterflies. There are relatively small differences between them, for although it could be said that butterflies are day fliers, so are some moths. Some butterflies fold their wings upright above the body, but so do some moths.

I find the easy way of separation to be that the butterflies have broader forewings and hindwings and the knobs at the tip of the antennae do not have the feathery look that is present in some moths, also the slim waist between the thorax and the abdomen is typical of a butterfly rather than a moth. The synchronisation of fore and hind wings is also different.

The life cycle of a butterfly is interesting. First the egg or ovum, with minute apertures through which the spermatozoa of the male find entry and effect fertilization. Then the caterpillar, the length of this stage is very variable, depending on the species.

After hatching, the egg shell becomes the first meal with many caterpillars. They continue to feed and grow for a day or two, then they fast as a preliminary to moulting. Silk is spun on a leaf or twig and this secures the caterpillar.

Twistings and contortions arise and the caterpillar frees itself from its old skin. The second stage of growth follows the hardening of the new skin and then the skin changing operation is repeated several times more. The final shedding of the skin reveals the chrysalis.

The chrysalis or pupa stage involves many and varied methods of securing, mainly with the use of silken thread.

When the butterfly is ready to emerge it releases itself to a twig or other object from which it can hang until its wings are dry and distended. The circulation of fluids from the body through the wings continues until they attain their proper size.

Butterflies are mainly guided by smell, the antennae or feelers being the organs of smell. Sight is not keen but rather general. It is the proboscis or tongue that probes the nectaries of flowers. The beauty of a butterfly's wings is intimately connected with the form and colour of the scales with which they are covered, as with a kind of mosaic.

Throughout the day I was conscious of the fact that it was St Swithin's day. The day started cloudy, but warm. It was not long before the sun shone which made it very pleasant and the warm wind coming up the valley gave a sheen to the grasses. The rain certainly kept away.