Hello All

At the BPGS joint field meeting with both London and Elmbridge Nat.
His. Soc. at Oxshott and Esher Commons [VC17](20.ix.2008)led by Dr
Brian Spooner we were pleased to record the prescence of Neuroterus
saliens on the leaves (upperside) of a single scrubby Quercus cerris
beside a sandy track on Esher Common. Dr Spooner made the discovery.

Is this likely to be the fourth British record and quite possibly a
first for Surrey? I'm afraid I am a little behind though see it has
been recorded for Essex and Berkshire.

Many other galls were recorded throughout the day and attendees
enjoyed sharing a variety of natural history interests as the event
was attended by several entomologists/arachnologists, botanists and
mycologists as well as cecidologists.

An eight year old lad and his brothers (and mum)also joined in for
an hour or so. The fellow had apparently made up his mind three
years ago, at the age of 5, that insects were brilliant and he
wanted to learn more!!

Stuart Cole & Mick Massie (LNHS) showed the lads the delights of
sweeping and beating for insects whilst I enlightened them on the
finer points of pooting and searching for galls on oak (mum made a
hasty shopping list for the upcoming AES exhibition).

Regards

Scotty