An Insect talk and walk led by myself
took place on Sunday 26th June at the Harbour Club and on Shoreham Beach Local
Nature Reserve as part of celebrations taking place nationwide for National
Insect Week which runs from 20-26 June 2016.
This free event was part of the
programme of educational events sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Grant Awards
for All.
The PowerPoint presentation at the Harbour Club discussed
the rare vegetated shingle habitat and its special adaptations before I
spoke about some of the insects that can be found on the shingle plants and
also the importance of pollinators to the shingle plants.
I explained how
vegetated shingle is only a partial habitat for insects as the shingle plants
die back and lay dormant for several months of the year.
I discussed how
and why the gardens adjacent to the nature reserve are important to the
invertebrates (especially outside the flowering period of the shingle plants
and during bad weather) and also as nesting and hibernation sites for bees.
The
gardens on Shoreham Beach are an important extension to the nature reserve
habitats. The talk concluded with ways we can all help these valuable insects.
I also addressed invasive species and explained how invasive plants such as
red valerian and silver ragwort can entice pollinators to this ‘easy’ nectar
source causing them to ignore the smaller shingle plants that area much smaller
source of nectar with a risk that they may die out on the beach.
Following the talk everyone meet by the Shoreham Fort for an
exploration of the shingle plants for insects.
Several species of bee where on
the wing including red tailed bumble bee, buff/white tailed bumble bee, common
carder bee, honey bee and two solitary bee species.
Other insects included
several garden tiger moth caterpillars, butterfly (small white) several small
moths (we disturbed but did not settle in view) 7 spot lady birds, hoverflies, 
