Butterflies are indicator species. This means they can be used to monitor the health of the local environment, and also govern how you manage a site for wildlife.

Most Butterfly species with a few exceptions are on the decline in the UK. To understand why and how we can protect them, surveys are important.

Many TARCA members help Test Valley Borough Council with their Butterfly Transect surveys on the Local Nature Reserves (Anton Lakes, Rooksbury Mill and Ladies Walk Meadows).

The walks for the surveys typically take around one hour of slow walking, recording each species seen, and how many in each divided area.

All this data feeds into Butterfly Conservation (http://butterfly-conservation.org/). If you wish to take part in the local surveys please contact us for more details.

Andover and the surrounding villages have quite a few small Glow Worm colonies. Some of these have been unusual in being located near bright light sources, which for Glow Worms is not good as they have to compete with car lights with their glow. There are two species of Glow Worms in the UK, one very rare, and both are declining.

During the Summer months we have been trying to map where the glow worms are locally, re-survey areas with historic records, and hopefully get a group of volunteers to monitor their numbers annually.

Glow Worms are beetles and tend to frequent Chalk and limestone areas where there is a plentiful supply of their food, small snails. They can be found in a variety of habitats, but prefer open grassland. They do not like improved land which could be one of the reasons for their decline.

Female Glow Worm finding a glowing position to attract the flying male. They are found glowing between May-September, sometimes even in October if warm enough. Locally they have been know to glow around 10-10.30pm onwards. The females are flightless and glow to attract the flying males to them. The larvae also glow so can cause some confussion, and also other insects can glow like centipedes, so you have to take care when surveying them.

The main time to survey for Glow Worms is in June/July when they are at their peak.

Please be aware also that surveys will take place late at night and touches will be needed.

Due to the unpredictable nature of weather and glow worms there is no guarantee of seeing them. 

All our survey data will feed into the UK Glow Worm survey. Further information on this and Glow Worms can be found here:

http://www.glowworms.org.uk/

Information on invasive species can be found on the INNS page

Various members of TARCA do adhoc surveys adding to the county records for wildlife seen. This page will be an archive for any reports on the area that might interest people.

TARCA Vitacress Fieldtrip Surveys:

2016:

vitacress-wildlife-survey-11-6-16-without-photos

2015:

vitacress-wildlife-survey-22-8-15-without-pics

2014:

Vitacress moth survey 21.6.14

Fungi, Lichens and Bryophytes Survey:

Anton Lakes FLaB-2

Bumblebees, hoverflies and Dragonflies 2010:

Bumblebees Hoverflies & Odonata 2010 Rooksbury Mill LNR

Harmony Woods Butterfly Transect Results 2016:

butterfly-results-2016_gd-report-without-photos

Surveys of invertebrates take place at a number of sites on the River Anton.

Currently there are no further training sessions planned.

If you are interested in helping out at one of the sessions please contact TARCA at antonriver@live.com.

TARCA has just commenced water quality testing a two sites on the Anton. More information to follow.

Water voles are an indigenous species that is under threat from the invasive mink.

It is important to assess the presence of watervoles along our river on a regular basis.

TARCA carry out these surveys under direction of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Willdlife Trust and TVBC. 

If you are interested in helping out with these surveys please contact us and we will let you know when we require volunteers.