Seeing the Changes 331

Came across a ravenous herd of small (late?) Buff-tip moth (Phalera bucephala) larvae on Willow at Bynea. In Loughor, lots of leaves were dropping from the trees but the 'season of mellow fruitfulness' was also marked by prickly Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), acorns of the Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), winged seeds of the Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), hips of the Dog rose (Rosa canina), red berries of Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) and orange fruit of the Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides). There was also lots of evidence of Hymenoptera activity with numerous red galls of Pontania proxima on the Willow, profusions of spangle galls of Neuroterus quercusbaccarum on oak and a busy Ophion luteus searching for caterpillars on Rosebay willowherb. Larvae of the Large white (Pieris brassicae) were evident elsewhere. There were also lots of Speckled wood butterflies (Pararge aegeria tircis) making the most of any sunshine. The Willow also revealed a large froghopper (Aphrophora alni).