Recorded to 15 March 2025
LISTS of FLORA & FAUNA IN CHARLTON DOWN NATURE AREA
Existing photograph and post on website *
PLANTLIFE
TREES & SHRUBS Ash * Fraxinus excelsior Beech * Fagus sylvatica Blackthorn * Prunus spinosa Bramble * Rubus fructicosus Buckthorn, Purging Rhamnus cathartica Copper Beech Fagus sylvatica var purpurea Dog Rose Rosa canina Dogwood Cornus sanguinea Elder Sambucus nigra Field maple Acer campestre Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Hazel * Corylus avellana Holly Ilex aquifolium Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum Ivy Hedera helix Lime Tilea x europaea or x vulgaris Oak, English, pedunculate Quercus robur Rowan Sorbus aucuparia Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris Spindle * Euonymus europaeaus Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Wayfaring Tree Viburnum lantana Whitebeam, Common Sorbus aria Wild Cherry * Prunus avium Wild Privet Ligustrum vulgare Willow, Goat Salix capraea Willow, Grey Salix cinerea
AQUATIC PLANTS Bog Bean Menyanthes trifoliata Canadian Waterweed Elodea canadensis Common Water-starwort Callitriche stagnalis Duckweed Lemna minor Greater Spearwort Ranunculus lingua Lesser Spearwort Ranunculus flammula Marsh-Marigold Caltha palustris Water Mint Mentha aquatica White Water Lily Nymphaea alba Yellow Iris (Yellow Flag) Iris pseudacorus Pond Water Crowfoot Ranunculus peltatus Frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
WILDFLOWERS Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria Annual Mercury Mercurialis annua Arum Lily Arum maculatum Avens, Wood Geum urbanum Bedstraw, Hedge Galium mollugo Bedstraw, Lady’s Galium verum Betony Stachys officinalis Bindweed, Field Convolvulus arvensis Bindweed, Hedge Calystegia sepium Birds-foot Trefoil, Greater Lotus pedunculatus Bog Bean Menyanthes trifoliata Bramble Rubus fructicosus Bryony, White Bryonia dioica Burdock, Greater/Lesser Arctium lappa/minus Buttercup, Meadow Ranunculus acris Campion, Red Silene dioica Celandine, Lesser Ranunculus ficaria Clover, Red Trifolium pratense Clover, White Trifolium repens Corncockle Agrostemma githago Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris Cranesbill, Small-flowered Geranium pusillum Creeping Jenny Lysimachia nummularia Daisy, Common Bellis perennis Daisy, Oxeye Leucanthemum vulgare Dandelion, Common Taraxacum officinale Dock, Broad-leaved Rumex obtusifoliius Dock, Curled Rumex crispus Dock, Sharp Rumex conglomeratus Duckweed, Common Lemna minor Fat Hen Chenopodium album Field Scabious Knautia arvensis Field Speedwell, Common Veronica persica Fleabane, Common Pulicaria dysenterica Foxglove Digitalis purpurea Frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea Groundsel, Common Senecio vulgaris Hemp-Agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum Hemp-Nettle, Common Galeopsis tetrahit Hogweed, Common Heracleum sphondyllium Horsetail, Rough Equisetum hyemale Ivy Hedera helix Knapweed, Common Centaurea nigra Knot Grass Polygonum aviculare Lily, White Water Nymphaea alba Mallow, Common Malva sylvestris Mare’s tail Hippuris vulgaris Marjoram, Wild Origanum vulgare Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria Medick, Black Medicago lupulinus Medick, Spotted Medicago arabica Mugwort Artemesia vulgaris Mullein, Great Verbascum thapsus Nettle, Common Urtica dioica Nettle, Red Dead Lamium purpureum Pendulous Sedge Carex pendula Penny Royal Mentha pulegium Plantain, Ribwort Plantago lanceolata Primrose Primula vulgaris Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Queen Anne’s Lace/Wild Carrot Daucus carota Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi Ragwort, Common Senecio jacobaea Ragwort, Hoary? Senecio erucifolius Rocket, Tall Sisymbrium altissimum Rush, Soft Juncus effusus *Scarlet Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis Selfheal Prunella vulgaris Shepherd’s Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris Sorrel Rumex sp. Spearwort, Greater Ranunculus lingua Spearwort. Lesser Ranunculus flammula St John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum Starwort, Common Callitriche stagnalis Teasel, Wild Dipsacus fullonum Thistle. Spear Cirsium vulgare Thistle, Prickly Sow Sonchus asper Toadflax, Common Linaria vulgaris Water-crowfoot, Pond Ranunculus peltatus Water Forget-me-not Myosotis scorpiodes Water Mint Mentha aquatica Willowherb, Hoary Epilobium parviflorum Yarrow Achillea millefolium Yellow Iris (Yellow Flag) Iris pseudocorus Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor Vipers Bugloss Echium vulgare Woundwort, Hedge Stachys sylvatica
LICHEN Candelariella vitellina Candelariella vitellina Common Greenshield Lichen Flavoparmelia caperata Common Orange Lichen? Xanthoria parietans?
MOSS Flavoparmelia soredians Flavoparmelia soredians Net-marked Parmelia Parmelia sulcata Oak Moss Lichen Evernia prunastri Tufted Bush Lichen Ramalina fastigiata
GRASSES & SEDGES Cocksfoot * Dactylis glomerata False Oat Grass Arrhenatherum elatius Pendulous Sedge Carex pendula Perennial Rye Grass Lolium perenne Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus
GALLS OAK GALLS Knopper Gall Andricus quercuscalcis (wasp)Common Spangle Gall & Currant Gall Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (wasp)Marble Gall (Oak Apple) Andricus kollari (wasp) Silk Spangle Gall * Neuroterus numismalis (wasp)Swellings near leaf base Andricus curvator (wasp)Leaf Edge Gall 1 Macrodiplosis pustularis (midge)Leaf Edge Gall 2 Nacrodiplosis roboris (midge)Pea gall Cynips divisa (wasp)BEECH GALLS Leaf Edge Gall 1? Acalitus stenapsis (mite)Leaf Gall between veins? Aceria nervisequa (mite)Leaf Gall cylindrical growths? Hartigiola annulipes (midge)SYCAMORE GALLS Felt Galls on leaves Aceria pseudoplatani (mite)DOG ROSE GALLS Robin’s Pincushion * Diplolepsis rosae (wasp)CLEAVERS GALLS Leaf Roll Cecidophyes spp (mite)NETTLE GALLS Pink swellings on leaves Dasineura urticae (midge)
INVERTEBRATES
INSECTS
BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS Angle Shades Moth * Phlogophora meticulosa Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta eronymella? Brimstone * Gonepteryx rhamni Brown Argus * Aricia agestis Cinnabar Moth * Tyria jacobaeae Comma * Polygonia c-album Common Blue * Polyommatus icarus Dark Strawberry Tortrix * Celypha lacunana Dingy Footman * Eilema griseola Elephant Hawk Moth (caterpillar) * Deilephila elpenor Gatekeeper * Pyronia tithonus Green Carpet Moth * Calostygia pectinataria Green-veined White * Pieris napi Holly Blue * Celastrina argiolus Jersey Tiger * Euplagia quadripunctaria Large White Pieris brassicae Marbled White * Melanargia galathea Meadow Brown * Maniola jurtina Mother of Pearl? * Pleuroptya ruralis? Muslin Moth? Diaphora mendica Painted Lady * Vanessa cardui Parsnip Moth/Parsnip Webworm * Depressaria radiella Peacock * Aglais io Pug Moth? * Eupithecia sp. Red Admiral * Vanessa atalanta Ringlet * Aphantopus hyperantus Ruby Tiger Moth * Phragmatobia fulginosa Shark Cucullia umbratica Silver Y Moth * Autographa gamma Small Copper * Lycaena phlaeas Small Ermine Moth Yponomeuta sp. Small Purple and Gold Moth * Pyrausta aurata Small Skipper * Thymelicus sylvestris Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae Small Yellow Underwing * Panemena tenebrata Small White * Pieris rapae Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Spindle Ermine * Yponomeuta cagnagella Wall Brown * Lasiommata megera White Plume Moth * Pterophorus pentadactyla
BEETLES 7-spot Ladybird * Coccinella 7-punctata 14-spot Ladybird Propylea 14-punctata 22-spot Ladybird Psyllobora 22-punctata 24-spot Ladybird Subcoccinella 24-punctata Cockchafer Melolontha melolontha Common Red Soldier Beetles * Rhagonycha fulva Common Whirlygig Beetle Gyrinus substriatus Diving beetle 2 Green Leaf Beetles Lesser Diving Beetle Acilius sulcatus Long horned beetle Grammoptera ruficornis Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis f. axyridis Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis f. conspicua Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis f. spectabilis Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis f. succinea Sap Beetle Meligethes sp Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis Violet Oil Beetle Meloe violaceus
LACEWINGS Common Green Lacewing * Chrysoperla carnea Dash Lacewing Hemerobius micans
DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES Azure Damselflies * Coenagrion puella Banded Demoiselle * Calopteryx splendens Black-tailed Skimmer * Orthetrum cancellatum Blue Emperor * Anax imperator Broad-bodied Chaser * Libellula depressa Common Bluet * Enallagma cyathigerum Common Darter * Sympetrum striolatum Large Red Damselfly * Pyrrhosoma nymphula f. intermedia Large Red Damselfly * Pyrrhosoma nymphula f. fulvipes Migrant Hawker * Aeshna mixta Southern Hawker * Aeshna cyanea
SHIELDBUGS Green Shieldbug * Palomena prasina Hairy Shieldbug * Dolycoris baccarum Parent Shieldbug Elasmucha grisea Red-legged Shieldbug Pentastoma rufipes Spiked Shieldbug Picromerus bidens Tortoise Shieldbug Eurygaster testudinaria LEATHERBUG Nymph CAPSID BUG Potato Capsid Closterotomus norwegicus Tree Damsel Bug Himacerus apterus Dock Bug Careus marginatus
BEES & WASPS Ashy Mining Bee * Andrena cineraria Buff-tailed Bumblebee * Bombus terrestris Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica Common Carder Bumblebee Bombus pascuorum Common Furrow Bee Lasioglossum calceatum Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris Darwin Wasp Ichneumonidae German Wasp Vespula germanica Grey-patched Mining Bee Andrena nitida Gwynne’s Mining Bee Andrena bicolor Hairy-footed Flower Bee? Anthophora plumipes? Honeybee Apis mellifera Ivy Bee Colletes haderae Patchwork Leaf-cutter Bee Megachile centuncularis Large Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius Stenichneumon culpator incl. Patrocloides sputator Vestal Cuckoo Bee Bombus vestialis White-striped Darwin Wasp Ichneumon sarcitorius White-tailed Bumblebee Bombus leucorum Woodland Darwin Wasp Echthrus reluctator Robin’s Pin Cushion gall wasp Diplolepis rosae Gall wasp on Oak Andricus quercuscalcis Gall wasp on Oak Neuroterus quercusbaccarum Gall wasp on Oak Andricus kollari Gall wasp on Oak Neuroterus numismalis Gall wasp on Oak Andricus curvator Gall wasp on Dog Rose Diplolepsis rosae Gall wasp on oak Cynips divisa
SAWFLIES Large Rose sawfly Arge pagana
BUGS Common Water Boatman Corixa punctata Common Pond Skater Gerris lacustris Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius Hazel leafhopper Alebra coryli Common Nettle Bug Liocoris tripustulatus Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum Common Green Capsid Lygocoris pabulinus Dock Bug Coreus marginatus Phyllobius pomaceus Phyllobius pomaceus
TRUE FLIES Common Wasp Fly Ceriana canopsoides Common Red-legged Robber Fly Dioctra rufipes Face Fly Musca autumnalis Flesh Fly Sarcophaga carnaria Gall Fly on Burdock Torellia tussilagnis Gall Midge Macrodiplosis pustularis Gall Midge Nacrodiplosis roboris Gall Midge Hartigiola annulipes Gall Midge Dasineura urticae Green Bottle Fly Lucilia caesar Gymnosoma sp Gymnosoma sp Leaf miner on Hogweed Phytomyza spondylii? Moth Fly or Drain fly Clytocerus sp. Non-biting Midges Chironomidae Orange-legged Lesser Housefly Fannia lustrator Pale-shouldered Brachyopa Brachyopa scutellaris Palloptera ustulata Palloptera ustulata Large Marsh Horsefly Tabanus autumnalis Scarce Orange Legionnaire Beris clavipes Voria ruralis Voria ruralis Yellow Bark Louse Valenzuela flavidus Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
ALDER FLIES Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
HOVERFLIES Barred Dayglower Xanthogramma citrofasciatum Batman Hoverfly * Myathropa florea Blotch-winged Whitebelt Leucozona lucorum Common Compost Fly (Thick-legged Hoverfly) Syritta pipiens Common Drone Fly Eristalis tenax Common Globetail Sphaerophoria scripta Common Twist-tailed Hoverfly Sphaerophoria scripta Great Pied Hoverfly (Pied Plumehorn) Volucella pellucens Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria Humming Syrphis Syrphus ribesii Long-winged Dusky Face Melanostoma scalare Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus Migrant Hoverfly Eupeodes corollae Narcissus Bulb Fly? Meredon equestris? Parsley Blacklet Cheilosia pagana Stripe-backed Brusheye Dasysyrphus albostriatus Stripe-faced Drone Fly Eristalis nemorum (interruptus) Tapered Drone Fly Eristalis pertinax Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus Yellow Winged Blacklet Cheilosia impressa
CRANEFLIES European Cranefly Tipula paludosa September Cranefly Tipula vernalis Cranefly 1 Nephrotoma appendiculata Cranefly 2 Nephrotoma flavescens
GRASSHOPPERS Common Green Grasshopper * Omocestis viridulus Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus Meadow Grasshopper Pseudochorthippus parallelus Mottled Grasshopper? Myrmeleotettix maculatus?
CRICKETS Long-winged Cone-head Conocephalus fuscus Oak Bush-cricket Meconema thalassinum Roesel’s Bush-cricket Roeseliana roeselii Short-winged Conehead? * Conocephalus dorsalis? Speckled Bush-cricket * Leptophyes punctatissima
THRIPS Clover or red Clover Thrip Haplothrips leucanthemi
ARTHROPODS Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
SPIDERS Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis Crab Spider * Misumena vatia Harvest Spider Opilionid 1 Phalangio opilio Harvest Spider Opilionid 2 Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi Garden Spider (Orb) Araneus diadematus Cucumber Spider Unknown Arianella sp.
MITES Gall Mite Acalitus stenapsis Gall Mite Aceria nervisequa Gall Mite Aceria pseudoplatani Gall Mite Cecidophyes spp Velvet Mite (red) Trombidium holosericeum
SLUGS & SNAILS Large Black Slug Arion ater Red Slug Arion rufus White Slug Amber Snail * Succinea putris White-lipped Snail * Cepaea hortensis Garden Snail Cornu aspersum Girdled Snail? Hygromia cinctella? Brown-lipped snail Cepaea nemoralis Great Pond Snail * Lymnaea stagnalis Wandering Pond Snail Radix labiata (Lymnaea peregra) Great Ram’s Horn Snail Planorbarius corneus American Ram’s Horn Snail Planorbella duryi
VERTEBRATES
BIRDS Blackbird Turdus merula Blue Tit Parus caeruleus Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Buzzard, Common Buteo buteo Carrion Crow Corvus corone Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Dunnock Prunella modularis Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Gold Finch Carduelis carduelis Greater Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major Great Tit Parus major Greenfinch Carduelis chloris Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Grey Heron Ardea cinerea House Martin Delichon urbica Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Linnet Carduelis cannabina Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Mallard * Anas platyrhynchos Nuthatch Sitta europaea Owl, Barn Tyto alba Owl, Tawny Strix aluco Pigeon, Wood Columba palumbus Pigeon (feral)? Columba livia Red Kite Milvus milvus Redwing Turdus iliacus Robin Erithacus rubecula Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Starling Sternus vulgaris Swallow Hirundo rustica Tree Creeper Certhia familiaris Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
AMPHIBIANS Frog, Common * Rana temporaria Newt, Common Triturus vulgaris Toad, Common Bufo bufo
REPTILES Slow Worm Anguis fragilis
MAMMALS Badger Meles meles Bats As yet unidentified Cat Felis domesticus Common Shrew Sorex araneus European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Field Vole Microtus agrestis Fox Vulpes vulpes Mole Talpa europaea Roe deer Capreolus capreolus Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Weasel Mustela nivalis
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winderjssc
A volunteer helper at the Charlton Down Nature Area in Dorset using a life-long interest in natural history to help improve the biodiversity and amenity value of the site. Enthusiastic about the natural world right on our doorstep, and working to enable all visitors to enjoy, learn, and appreciate the value of wilder places. Jessica writes the Charlton Down Nature Area website and blog at https://charltondownnaturearea.uk and Jessica's Nature Blog at https://natureinfocus.blog.
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Charlton Down Nature Area 
My word, Jessica, that’s a long, long list. What a success! 👏🤠
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We are updating it when we can.
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