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

one of the commonest trees on the Downs

chalcid wasp [Torymus affinis]

tiny chalcid wasp (3.5mm without ovipositor) T. affinis on an Oak Apple gall on an English Oak - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 22 Apr 2026

Speckled Wood [Pararge aegeria]

Adult of sub-species tircis on an oak leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 16 May 2020

chalcid wasp [Torymus affinis]

tiny chalcid wasp (3.5mm without ovipositor) T. affinis on an Oak Apple gall on an English Oak - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 22 Apr 2026

Southern Hawker [Aeshna cyanea]

Male of blue form resting on an oak twig – Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 11 Aug 2024

caterpillar [unidentified]

an unidentified caterpillar on male catkins of an English Oak tree - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 24 Apr 2026

Oak Catkin Bug [Harpocera thoracica]

female H. thoracica on male catkins of an English Oak - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 24 Apr 2026

English (or Pedunculate) Oak [Quercus robur]

female flowers on an English Oak (Q. robur) that will later develop into acorns - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 24 Apr 2026

Speckled Bush-cricket [Leptophyes punctatissima]

Speckled Bush-cricket nymph - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 16 May 2025

Mottled Umber [Erannis defoliaria]

E. defoliaria caterpillar on an English Oak leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 24 Apr 2026

larval case [Coleophora sp.]

two larval cases of probably the same species, either C. flavipennella or C. lutipennella on an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 25 Apr 2026

Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil [Polydrusus formosus]

P. formosus on an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 25 Apr 2026

Spindle Ermine [Yponomeuta cagnagella?]

caterpillars of Y. cagnagella? living gregariously in a silken web on an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 05 May 2026

chalcid wasp [Torymus affinis]

female T. affinis laying eggs in an Oak Apple gall on an English Oak - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 25 Apr 2026

Striped Oak Bug [Rhabdomiris striatellus]

late instar nymph of R. striatellus on an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 25 Apr 2026

Oak Catkin Bug [Harpocera thoracica]

female H. thoracica on an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 25 Apr 2026

Cucumber Green Spider [Araniella cucurbitina]

Male - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 23 May 2025

Common Leaf Weevil [Phyllobius pyri]

P. pyri on an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 25 Apr 2026

Common Spangle Gall Wasp [Neuroterus quercusbaccarum f. sexual]

Currant galls of the sexual generation of N. quercusbaccarum on a male catkin (left) and underside of a leaf of English Oak - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 27 Apr 2026

money spider [Trematocephalus cristatus]

adult T. cristatus on an English Oak (Quercus robur) leaf - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 27 Apr 2026

Cloaked Case-bearer [Coleophora kuehnella]

larval case of C. kuehnella on an Oak leaf with very distinct area of larval grazing - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 12 May 2026