Insects

Butterflies

of which there are 24 species, include meadow browns which abound in summer and all common grass and woodland species are to be found. Unusual species are the purple and white-letter hairstreaks.

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Female Brimstone on Red CampionClouded yellow butterflies had a good year in 2000 on the CommonsClouded yellow butterflies had a good year in 2000 on the CommonsButterfliesButterflies

 

Knot-grass caterpillar

Unidentified caterpillarUnidentified caterpillar

Other Insects

The unusual migrant Humming-bird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum has been seen on the Common. Seven other species of hawkmoth are also to be found.

Moth MothMoth


Roesel's bush-cricket Metriotera roeselii and Long-winged conehead Conocephalus discolor are to be found.

The irridescent longhorn beetle, commonly known as the Musk beetle Aromia moschata whose larvae are found in decaying wood, is also found.

Musk Beetle (photo by Charlie Wicker) SpiderSpiderSpider

Various spiders found on The Commons

Alderfly with eggs

An alderfly which is seen with its eggs

Dragonflies and Damselflies

Wimbledon Common is probably the best dragonfly and damselfly site in London. The Hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense), one of the smallest hawker dragonflies, has been seen on the Common. The following photographs show the male and female Broad bodied chaser (Libellula depressa).

IbellulamLibellulafLibellulaf
Checklist of the families found with the years of observation
    84 86 88 93 95 96
Family Aeshnidae              
Aeshna mixta Migrant hawker     X X X X
Aeshna cyanea Southern hawker X   X X X X
Aeshna grandis Brown hawker X X X X X X
Aeshna juncea Common hawker         X X
Anax imperator Emperor dragonfly X X X X X X
Family Libellulidae              
Libellula depressa Brd-bodied libellula     X X X X
Libellula quadrimacutata Four-sptd libellula     X X X X
Sympetrum danae Black darter X X X X X X
Sympetrum sanguineum Ruddy darter X   X   X X
Sympetrum striolatum Common darter X X X X X X
Sympetrum flaveolum Yellow-winged darter         X  
Orthetrum cancellatum Black-tailed skimmer         X X
Orthetrum coerulescens Keeled skimmer           X
Family Lestidae              
Lestes sponsa Emerald damselfly X X X X X X
Family Coenagrionidae              
Coenagrion puella Azure damselfly     X X X X
Enallagma cyathigerum Common blue X X X X X X
Ischnura elegans Blue-tailed damselfly X X X X X X
Pyrrhosoma nymphula Large red damselfly     X   X X
Erythromma najas Red-eyed damselfly     X      
Family Agridae              
Agrion splendens Banded demoiselle     X      

Exotic Pest Alert

The Horse chestnut leaf mining moth Cameraria ohridella appears to be well established blighting the leaves of most of the Common's Horse Chestnut trees by June/July 2007. A more serious condition, Phytophthora Bleeding Canker, is affecting many of the younger Horse Chestnut trees. Visible signs are bleeding wounds, peeling bark and, as the condition advances, crown die-back. We have felled a few of the smaller avenue Horse Chestnut trees as a safety measure.

Updated January 2008

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