Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - September 1984
Ian Morgan
About 8 members and friends assembled for perhaps the first Llanelli Naturalists' outdoor meeting in the dark, the original purpose of which vas moth trapping, but because of difficulties regarding the setting up of such a trap, it was decided to concentrate on the nocturnal crickets and bush-crickets for which August-September is the optimum period as far as recording is concerned. The evening after months of accepted total dryness - was showery and the rain raised doubts as to whether the crickets would, be singing, thus facilitating their capture and identification.
The first site visited was the small car park opposite the Old Bakery and 'Country Antiques' in Cydweli (SN406068) here members had great fun trying to locate the source of the bird-like trilling song of the House Cricket (Acheta domesticus) that came from crevices in old walls thereabouts. This species was probably accidentally introduced into Britain a few centuries ago from, it is believed, North Africa, and it frequents old buildings (e.g. warm bakeries) and also rubbish dumps. It resembles a cockroach generally. Several were caught and taken subsequently by Miss Karen Nurton for introduction to some outbuildings near Parc Gitto, Llwynhendy! Apart from the Cydweli site, only one other locality is known to exist for this species in Carmarthenshire, the creamery at Llangadog; though E.J. Smith reports the singing of crickets, very probably this same species, near the recent rubbish dump by Llanllwch, Carmarthen.
More subdued, but still quite penetrating 'chirping' from nearby bramble thickets was that of numerous Dark Bush Crickets (Pholidoptera griseoaptera), quite common on the coast in Carmarthenshire but always difficult to locate, and as hope of seeing one was fading, Miss Nurton came once more to the rescue and produced a male.
All examined its reduced stings (used to produce the chirping song) and the dark-brown colouration with bright yellow undersides. A police car came past and after 'odd looks' at all our torches and hedge-searching antics, decided that we were not a group of trainee burglars and moved on. There were no arrests.
The group then moved on to the 'Farriers Arms', Cwmbach (SN487020) car park, after hearing many more Dark Bush Crickets on route in the Gwendraeth Valley as far as Trimsaran. At the car park itself, the drip points on the leaves of the introduced Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) - known locally as ' Wild Rhubarb' - were functioning well in the sporadic light drizzle. This introduced species, believe it or not ‘is a decorative garden plant’. - has proved far too rampant for gardens and it is a serious weed; capable of growing through tarred pathways. In its native Taiwan, North China and Japan it even grows on newly-formed suphur enriched soils of volcanic slopes. In Britain, many hoverflies however do find the flowers irresistible. The scent glands on the seeds of Hogweed (Heracleurm sphondyliam) were examined, they are attractive to ants who disperse the bulky seeds.
A brisk walk up Cwm Mawr failed to reveal the Oak Bush Cricket (Meconema thalassinum), which is reputed to be attracted by lighted windows in autumn, so if any members have a light green creature with longish hind legs and antennae, at their windows, please let us know. A few Herald Moths were seen in an old adit and a Tawny Owl added its sharp cries to the humid nocturnal scene.
During the meeting it was mentioned that the Speckled Bush Cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima), always hard to find, is probably quits widespread but rarely seen. The very same evening, some two hours after the participants had dispersed from the meeting, my brother walked into the house with a Speckled Bush Cricket sitting calmly on his shoulder.
A full report on Grasshoppers and Crickets in Carmarthenshire, will appear in the next Newsletter.
P.S. A couple of members (no names - not me!) who retired to the Farriers Arms for 'a few' drinks, later reported seeing giant purple and orange crickets on the way home!
