While the rain, and not the thought of searching for creepy crawlies in the park after dark, clearly dampened the attendance for our beetle hunt, a few hardy souls were eventually rewarded by the sight of some remarkable animals. With our encyclopedic beetle guide John Lock to lead us, the group headed for a 'secret' location to scout out suitable sites for emerging great root borer beetles (Prionus coriarius). However, as beetles do not typically emerge until after dark, the group took the opportunity to seek out other wierd and wonderful creatures. With one of our group admitting to being a self-confessed slug fan, it wasn't long before we came across several exquisitely patterned and wonderfully named leopard slugs (Limax maximus). As the sun went down, a few common pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) were seen swooping overhead, while a tiny baby toad was spotted in amongst the damp leaves.
Then it was torches at the ready as the beetle hunt was on. The group spread out to examine the mostly oak and sweet chestnut woodland, but to no avail. Perhaps the most exciting discovery was a cluster of about half a dozen lesser stag beetles (Dorcus parallelipipedus) and one devil's coach horse beetle (Ocypus olens) gorging themselves on sap seeping from an oak tree.
As the evening's hunt came to a close and the group's enthusiasm was waning, John decided to produced his trump card to lift everyone's spirits, a female root borer beetle collected the previous evening and kept in an old jam jar. After a few obligatory photographs, the beetle was given its freedom, and promptly disappeared down a leafy hole. Being well prepared for such events, John then produced a female stag beetle (Lucanus cervus), which was also set free. While slightly disappointed not to have found any emerging beetles, perhaps due to the rather cool conditions of around 10 degrees Celsius, the group had spent a fascinating few hours in the fantastic surroundings of Richmond Park, and thanks to John's careful planning had gained a new appreciation for some of the less appreciated and more elusive residents of the park.
Leopard slug (Limax maximus).
Lesser stag beetle (Dorcus parallelipipedus).
Lesser stag beetle on a dead beech tree.
A victim of the Great Storm of 1987, but now providing habitat for a whole host of creatures.
Sunset over Richmond Park.
Female stag beetle (Lucanus cervus).
Gotcha! This is the species of longhorn beetle we were hunting, the great root borer (Prionus coriarius).
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