BR. J. F-NT. NAT. MIST., 7: 1994 



of plants and invertebrates to the restored areas. The research has four main aims. 

 These are: (1) to update the records for certain selected groups of invertebrates in 

 and around the core experimental areas; (2) to establish suitable sheep grazing regimes; 

 (3) to monitor the distribution and structure of plants on the site; (4) to monitor the 

 distribution and abundance of insects and spiders on the site. The main sampling 

 method for invertebrates is the use of vacuum suction equipment. The target groups 

 of invertebrates selected for the survey are Coleoptera, spiders, leafhoppers and 

 heteropteran bugs, as these are suitable for collection by this means. Leaf miners 

 are also recorded as their feeding activities enable many species to be identified, even 

 if the insects are no longer on the plants. Certain target species of plants and their 

 associated insects have been intensively surveyed to map their arrival and distribution 

 through the plots. 



Dr Gibson concluded that the early indications of the survey are that in the right 

 places a great deal can be achieved quite quickly in restoring the habitat, and with 

 a suitable management regime it should, in the long term, be possible to regain 

 something resembling the original ancient grassland. 



22 February 1994 



Mr R. A. Jones showed a range of specimens of Mycetophagus piceus (F.) 

 (Coleoptera: Mycetophagidae) collected under the fungoid bark of an oak stump in 

 Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, on 15.xi.93. The delicate pattern of this species varies 

 from light with darker markings to dark with lighter markings. The range of patterns 

 is aptly summed up by a term one might borrow, or translate, from German authors — 

 Aberrationsspektrum . 



Mr Jones also showed a specimen of M. quadripustulatus (L.). Typically this species 

 varies very little; it is dark brown or black with four large orange spots on its elytra. 

 However, this specimen, from under the bark of a sycamore tree on Bookham 

 Common, Surrey, found on 13.xi.77, showed a peculiar departure from this. The 

 anterior spot on the left elytron was drawn out behind into a long droplet-shaped 

 appendage, while just in front of the posterior mark on the right elytron was a small 

 supernumerary spot. Whatever process caused the aberrant pattern, its development 

 was controlled independently across each of the beetle's wing-cases. 



Mr Jones's third exhibit was of a specimen of a Philonthus spp. (Coleoptera: 

 Staphylinidae) attacked by a parasitic entomophagous fungus. The beetle was found 

 dead among grass roots near Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth, Dorset, on 8.viii.93. 

 The unidentified fungus was characterized by long sinuous tendrils extruded between 

 the chitinous plates of the insect's body. 



Mr C. W. Plant showed a specimen of Hemerobius fenestratus Tjeder (Neuroptera: 

 Hemerobiidae). This lacewing was added to the British list by the exhibitor when 

 he took a male during a BENHS field meeting at Etchden Wood, East Kent, in 1986. 

 This was the only British record until the exhibited specimen, a female, was taken 

 in a Rothamsted light trap by Geoff Burton in his garden at the Isle of Sheppey, 

 East Kent, between 30.vii and 5.viii.92. It is closely related to H. pini Steph. and 

 H. contumax Tjeder, all three originally being regarded as a single species. It can. 

 however, be distinguished in the field by the lack of dark shadowing on the outer 

 series of gradate cross-veins in the forewings and the transparent forewing patch 

 anterior to the cubital vein, from which the specific epithet fenestratus is derived. 



Mr A. J. Halstead showed an undersized male Platystoma serninationis (L.) 

 (Diptera: Platystomatidae). It had a wing span of 8.5 mm and body length of 4 mm. 

 compared with the more usual 12 mm wingspan and 6 mm body length. A typical male 



