Studded
with nature  |
Studland Nature Reserve in Dorset is one of the UK's
top heathland sites. It is home to a
host of interesting insect and reptile life. Summer is the best time of year to
visit when the sandy habitat is teaming with flora and fauna. 听 | | Studland
beach - reptiles and creepy crawlies in abundance. |
The
nature reserve incorporates Gollingston Heath, which lies just behind Studland
Beach and provides a great habitat among its dry, sandy soil for all six of our
native species of reptiles.
There are also some of the insect world's
most vicious predators to be found in the sand - so watch where you step! Bugs
and beasties  Many
of us would admit to a fear of creepy crawlies, especially ones which sting like
bees and wasps.
But if you thought a sting was bad, just take a look at
the predatory habits of the many different types of creatures which live here
at Studland.
The heathland is the perfect habitat for the Bee Wolf, which
burrows down into the sand and clay to build a huge network of tunnels and chambers
under the surface. The pinprick holes on the surface are just the start
- these tunnels can reach as far as a metre deep and are amazingly sturdy considering
the constant movement of people going to and from the beach. The burrows
act as nurseries for the bee wolf, or 'bee killer' larvae - so called because
the wolf finds a bee, paralyses it with its sting and then carries it down into
its burrow where it lays an egg on it, so the larva has its first meal ready for
when it emerges. There's also the rare Purbeck Mason Wasp, which feeds on
the moth larvae often found on bell heather flowers - in fact the Poole basin
heathland is the best site in North West Europe for this rare member of the wasp
family. The Sand-loving Wasp, or ammophila, has an added advantage - it
can smell its caterpillar prey long before it pounces to stock up its nest. The
spider-hunting wasp is also found in this area - can you guess what victim this
insect lays its eggs on? And don't forget the Heath Tiger Beetle, so-called
because of its stripy markings and ferocious bite! In
the undergrowth  Summer
is the best time of year to visit the heathland, when the sandy habitat is at
its optimum temperature and all the heather is in flower.
There are four
different species found here, all of which provide a wonderful home for spiders,
lizards and snakes among the undergrowth. Half of all British species of
dragonfly have been recorded here, plus the Smooth Snake has only ever been found
in the heathland of Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset. The heather also provides
a great framework for sheet web spiders to spin their funnel-shaped webs on, where
they lie in wait at the bottom for any unsuspecting caterpillars or flies to become
trapped in the sticky threads. Another organism which uses this technique
is Sundew, a long, round-leaved carnivorous plant with a shiny, sticky surface
especially designed to trap passing insects such as damselflies. Once the
insect becomes stuck to the leaf surface the plant slowly starts to absorb and
digest it, to help supplement the small amount of nutrients it takes from the
acidic, peaty soil. Reptile haven  Heathland
is also the best habitat found anywhere for all six types of our native reptiles
- Adders, Grass Snakes, Smooth Snakes, Sand Lizards, Common Lizards and Slow Worms.
Adders,
marked with a black stripe running down the browny-black skin on their backs,
are Britain's only poisonous snakes and are also known as vipers, but their bites
are not fatal to humans. Like their closest neighbour, the Grass Snake,
they can swallow their prey, usually small mammals and amphibians, whole, but
they should still watch out for the smooth snake - this snake will eat its own
relatives, feeding on other reptiles as well as its usual staples of shrews and
baby birds. Another reptile which will eat its own is the sand lizard, which,
if its existing food source (insects, worms and slugs) runs out, will eat its
young. They're also pretty nifty at escaping predators - like the Common
Lizard and Slow Worm, which are both also found here, they have the ability to
'self-amputate' their tails if trapped. Photo credits  Small
landscape photos courtesy and copyright of Natural England/Peter Wakely.
听 | 
