Friends of Brierdene Species

This page will contain photos and information on all the New Species.

If we run out of new species we will use this page to display information on some of the species found in the Dene.

Total Number of Recorded Species in the Brierdene 31/07/2018

Groups	Number
Arachnids	36
Bats	3
Birds	125
Bugs & Beatles	51
Bumblebees - Bees - Solitary Bees	15
Butterflies	21
Centipedes	1
Crustaceans	5
Dragonflies	6
Fish and Amphibians	5
Flies	51
Fungi	39
Harvestman	2
Ladybirds	8
Mammals	10
Molluscs	9
Lichen, Liverworts Mosses and Slime Moulds	121
Moths & Miners	151
Plants, Bushes & Trees	323
Reptiles	1
Wasps	9
Worms	11

Four new species were found during June

Giant House Spider Tegenaria atreica

The Giant House Spider is one of several similar looking species which inhabit houses and outbuildings - hence the common name house spiders.

It has earthy tones of brown and muddy red or yellow. They also have conspicuously hairy legs, palps and abdomen. Despite its English name, this species is not the largest species in the genus

The female body size can reach 18.5 millimetres (0.73 in) in length, with males having a slightly smaller body at around 12 to 15 millimetres (0.47 to 0.59 in) in length.

The female leg span is typically around 45 millimetres (1.8 in). The leg span of the male is highly variable, with spans between 25 to 75 millimetres (0.98 to 2.95 in) being common.

The bite of this species does not pose a threat to humans or pets, and it is generally reluctant to bite, preferring to escape.

Found throughout the UK. All year round

Purple Toadflax Linaria purpurea

An erect perennial with stiff stems and pale green leaves, it bears tall dense flower spikes of dainty pale purple flowers, each with two lips and spurs, rather like snapdragons.

It's extremely attractive to bees and butterflies.

Ultimate height0.5-1 metres June to August.

Potter Wasp Ancistrocerus nigricornis

Ancistrocerus nigricorniscan reach a length of 6–10 millimetres (0.24–0.39 in) in males, of 9–13 millimetres (0.35–0.51 in) in females.

These potter wasps live in wet meadows, in open landscapes, sometimes in gardens and in areas where their feeding and preferred nesting sites are present

Adults emerge in late summer. Males can be seen from June until September, while females have been recorded from February to October.

After mating the males die and the females overwinter and reappear in the spring

Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica

These are very hairy bees and at 10 to 14 mmand one of the larger species, the male being slightly smaller than the female.

Mid March to late June - peaking late April and May.The Chocolate Mining Bee is a common communal mining bee occurring in many habitats found in the U.K.

Females share a common entry during nesting. Underground however each female takes care of her own chamber

One of the most common Andrenaspecies, with most British records coming from southern, central and north-eastern England.