Hi all,
Following my recent post where I was asking for good locations for the Southern Green Shield Bug, Loripo PM'd me - thanks
- with a tip-off: both the SGSB and the mystery bug of the NHM gardens, the one that created a bit of a buzz in 2007, were both present in Battersea Park. What's more, the nymphs of both had been seen within the prior 10 days! As the owner of a London Invertebrate website I duly followed up with a trip down there today...
Well, wouldn't you know it? Raining. All morning and up until about 4pm 
Anyway, I headed up to
The Herb Garden first off, and had a few peapods I think but can't remember the name. Now, this I thought was a perfect spot, a kind of allotment-setting, and should be home to this decreasing new UK species. Try as I might, and no matter how many leaves I turned looking for nymphs or adults, nothing
Anyway, I found this...
Giant Willow Aphid, Tuberolachnus salignus. I had to look twice, thinking it was a
Lacewing or
Mayfly! Obviously it would have been out of season if so, but it was that big.
I then left and headed to the
Old English Garden, a short distance away. A very decorative area, with very attractive planting. As it was quite cool, I knew very little would be sunning on vegetation, so I carefully began leaf-turning making my way anti-clockwise.
Orange Ladybird In stark-contrast to the regular green of the undersides, was my first
Orange Ladybird of 2009! There were several pupal cases dotted underneath subsequent foliage from
Harlequins. I saw a further three
OLs, which was nice to see them doing well there. Later a
7-spotted.
About 45mins later I left, and began walking along the outer-extremity nearest the Thames, stopping to have a quick look at each plane tree where Loripo had seen both target species. So far, no sign of either. I kept checking though, and found this obliging Cranefly...
Tupulidae member 
Tiny mites Upon careful searching of the bark I saw what looked like tens of grains of pepper! Funny, they started moving... obviously a mite of some description. Only about 1.5mm each.
Ichneumon wasp Catching my eye later on was this little beauty, a small wasp. No real idea which, but what a little stunner!
Lichen and Moss Plenty of lichens and mosses were in evidence, here are just two...
Now, I thought the rain and low temperatures -
a high of just 14' - had convinced the targets to stay asleep. I was heading back to the exit and with only another five or so Planes left to look around. I then saw a black fuse cupboard by one, and had a quick look whilst heading to the exit.
Funny, glad I stopped off... 
Arocatus longiceps Well, one of the two insects anyway. With such poor light I was unable to get a particularly good shot, but so happy to have this opportunity to see this new bug. Talk about the final hour!!
I even got to pick him up...
So, no
Southern Green Shield Bug as yet, but maybe one day - at least I got to see one of the two! Look out for an ID thread soon, I may need some help with one or two others.
Thanks for reading!!
Take care,
Jason 
Trip Report: Battersea Park 
Linear Mode
