Ditton Court Local Nature Reserve
in September
 

Look out for the Garden spider (Araneus diadematus). At this time of year she is very large (10-13mm, the male is just 4-8mm) and full of eggs. This species is an orb web weaver and sits in the centre waiting for an insect to get trapped as it collides with the web. The spider then rushes towards the trapped insect and wraps it in bands of sticky silk. When the insect is immobilised, the spider will kill the insect with a bite and an injection of venom. It will then take the wrapped-up insect to the hub of the web where it devoured. Look in bushes and other vegetation on the quarry and see if you can identify what the spiders are eating.

 
Eventually, the female builds a silken sac and lays her eggs in it. Her life is now dedicated to protecting these eggs and she will sit with them, unable to hunt, until she dies in late autumn. The spiderlings (below left) will hatch out in May of the following year. The females colour varies, but they can always be identified by the white cross-shaped group of spots on their abdomens.
  

Rose hips (Rosa canina, above right), or "hedge-pedgies", "nippernails", "pixie pears" and "pig's noses”, are in fruit. Hips are a rich source of vitamin C, although they are fiddly to prepare. Each one must be top and tailed, then cut in half to remove the seeds and irritating hairs. They can then stewed, dried or pounded into a paste for freezing.

September brings Ivy (Hedera helix, above) into spectacular flower. Heavily flowering ivy can be heard, as well as seen, as the last of the year's wasps, bumble bees, flies and hornets fly from flower to flower. Late-flying butterflies such as red admirals and painted ladies are also attracted to the sweet feast. The winter shelter provided by ivy is also important shelter for birds.

The blackberries, above left, on the quarry have had a hard time with raspberry beetle (Byturus tomentosus, above right) this year. The small brown beetles lay their eggs on the flowers which hatch into pale brown larva. They then feed on the developing fruit. The fruit may be smaller than normal and will appear shrivelled and dry.

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Text by Dr Michelle Fountain.
Photos from internet sources via Dr Fountain.