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

one of the commonest trees on the Downs

parasitic wasp [Ormyrus nitidulus]

Female, on oak leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 24 Aug 2020

Common Copperback [Ferdinandea cuprea]

male F. cuprea on an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 8 Aug 2026

Oak Longhorn [Carcina quercana?]

Area of leaf grazing created by larva of C. quercana(?) on the underside of an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf (left) and remnants of white silk tube spun by larva along leaf midrib (right) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 27 Sep 2025

Common Quaker [Orthosia cerasi]

caterpillar of O. cerasi on an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 05 May 2026

Hairy Curtain Crust [Stereum hirsutum]

S. hirsutum on a dead oak tree - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 31 Jan 2026

leaf mine [Orchestes hortorum]

leaf mine of the larva of the weevil O. hortorum on English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf; larva can just be seen in circular blotch at left end of mine - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 05 May 2026

leaf mine [Orchestes hortorum]

backlit leaf mine of the larva of the weevil O. hortorum on English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf to show larva in mine - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 05 May 2026

Hairy Curtain Crust [Stereum hirsutum]

S. hirsutum on a dead oak tree - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 31 Jan 2026

Oak Catkin Bug [Harpocera thoracica]

H. thoracica nymph on an Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 05 May 2026

Cinquefoil Strider [Macrophya annulata]

Cinquefoil Strider sawfly adult on an English Oak leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 16 May 2025

Tawny Mining Bee [Andrena fulva]

male A. fulva on an English Oak leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 14 Apr 2026

Black-tailed Aphideater [Eupeodes luniger]

Female - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 11 Jul 2025

Box Bug [Gonocerus acuteangulatus]

Late stage instar nymph on Pedunculate Oak twig - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 11 Aug 2025

Ivy Planthopper [Issus coleoptratus]

nymph of I. coleoptratus on an oak stump – Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 25 Feb 2026

Box Bug [Gonocerus acuteangulatus]

Late stage instar nymph on Artichoke Gall on Pedunculate Oak - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 11 Aug 2025

Slippery Moss Snail [Cochlicopa cf. lubrica]

Slippery Moss Snail (a.k.a. Glossy Pillar Snail) on oak bark in leaf litter - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 26 Feb 2026

Red-thighed Macrophya [Macrophya rufipes]

Male - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 16 May 2025

slender springtail [Isotomurus unifasciatus ?]

2 adults of I. unifasciatus? with nymphs of various ages on decaying oak bark - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 26 Feb 2026

slender springtail [Lepidocyrtus cyaneus ?]

2 adults or nymphs of the violet-coloured L. cyaneus ? ; these are both just under 1mm length - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 26 Feb 2026

slender springtail [Isotomurus unifasciatus ?]

2 adults of I. unifasciatus? with nymphs of various ages on decaying oak bark - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 26 Feb 2026