What have I seen on Oak? - A diary of wildlife on Banstead Downs

one of the commonest trees on the Downs

Common Striped Woodlouse [Philoscia muscorum]

P. muscorum on an oak stump – Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 03 Mar 2026

lichens and a jelly fungus

yellow-green sunburst lichen (genus Xanthoria ?) surrounding a brown jelly fungus (genus Exidia ?) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 05 Dec 2025

Bitter Oysterling [Panellus stipticus ?]

close-up of possible P. stipticus on oak stump - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 16 Feb 2026

Southern Oak Bush-cricket [Meconema meridionale]

adult M. meridionale resting on an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 01 Sep 2026

Seven-spot Ladybird [Coccinella septempunctata]

Seven-spot Ladybird ‘sheltering’ next to Hairy Curtain Crust (Stereum hirsutum ?) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 05 Dec 2025

Oak Blackhead [Diatrypella quercina]

Oak Blackhead fungus on dead oak branch - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 06 Dec 2025

Common Dance Fly [Empis tessellata]

Adult on English Oak leaf- Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 08 May 2025

Oak Blackhead [Diatrypella quercina]

Oak Blackhead fungus on dead oak branch - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 06 Dec 2025

Hairy Curtain Crust [Stereum hirsutum ?]

Hairy Curtain Crust on dead oak branch - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 06 Dec 2025

Tufted Oak Roller [Psoricoptera gibbosella]

P. gibbosella caterpillar on an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 02 May 2026

Hairy Curtain Crust [Stereum hirsutum ?]

Hairy Curtain Crust on dead oak branch - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 06 Dec 2025

Cucumber Green Spider [Araniella cucurbitina]

adult A. cucurbitina with the ectoparasitic larva of the ichneumon wasp Polysphincta boops attached to its abdomen, on an Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Belmont, Sutton, Greater London, England – Date of image : 04 May 2026

Hairy Curtain Crust [Stereum hirsutum ?]

Hairy Curtain Crust on dead oak branch - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 06 Dec 2025

Gooden's Nomad Bee [Nomada goodeniana]

female N. goodeniana? on an Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Belmont, Sutton, Greater London, England – Date of image : 04 May 2026

dark-winged fungus gnat [Sciara sp?]

fungus gnat on an oak stump – Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 05 Mar 2026

Artichoke Gall Wasp [Andricus foecundatrix]

Gall caused by the gall wasp A. foecundatrix laying an egg in an axillary bud of an English Oak (Quercus robur) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 06 Aug 2025

Black Witches' Butter [Exidia glandulosa]

the jelly fungus Black Witches' Butter on dead oak branch - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 06 Dec 2025

Lesser Treble-bar [Aplocera efformata]

Adult on an oak leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 15 Aug 2015

Moth larva leaf mine [Tischeria sp.]

Leaf mine of the larva of Small Oak Blotch-miner (T. dodonaea) or Oak Blotch-miner (T. ekebladella) on an English Oak leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England - Date of image : 29 Sep 2025

Brindled Pug [Eupithecia abbreviata?]

larva of E. abbreviata? on an Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Belmont, Sutton, Greater London, England – Date of image : 04 May 2026