Legless lizards in your garden
David Beeson
June 2020
Life is amazing. From the Covid-19 virus (merely a stand of genetic material in a coat), through bacteria that can feed off plastic, to the tonnes of a massive whale or giant redwood, the diversity of life on our blue planet is mind-blowing. New forms of life evolve and others vanish. Some we love, others we love to hate and make every attempt to make them into an evolutionary failure – we destroy the species. Sometimes we just do not care enough and an organism, that has as much right to exits as ourselves, is lost. Museums and zoos are littered with extinct and nearly extinct organisms.
One that struggles on while remaining largely unloved is the slow-worm. Killed by golfers, who see it as a dangerous snake; eaten by the millions of imported, non-native pheasants bred merely to be shot in September for the delight of people who need a wide-blasting shotgun to kill a big, predictable flying bird; eaten by domestic chickens as an afternoon snack and eliminated by the too tidy gardener. This benign, legless lizard (not a snake and not dangerous to humans in any way) lives its life eating slugs and small invertebrates.
In my garden slow-worms dwell mainly in the longer grassy areas, for their niche is in the soil to ground vegetation zone. They are designed to wend their way between the lowest levels of the grassy sward, where they can be out-of-sight and find their invertebrate food – slugs, worms and small organisms such as spiders.
As reptiles they increase their body temperatures mainly by moving into a warmer location (or by modifying their exposure to warmth, eg, uncoiling or flattening their shape) or cool by retreating to a different possibly cooler location that may be underground. They are not cold-blooded as their temperature can be nearly as high as our own – but their body heat is mostly not generated by themselves as in mammals and birds. Reptiles are ectotherms, birds and mammals endotherms. The body temperature of reptiles varies widely during a day, their metabolism being sluggish when it is cool and speedy when it is warm.
They are vertebrates, having a backbone, have scales and generally lay eggs, although our slow-worm holds them inside the female’s body until they hatch as live young. They have eyelids (snakes do not) and can shed their tail – another feature that separates them from the snakes. With a strong outer coating of scales, to increase in size they must shed their outer skin layer periodically. This occurs in sections, whereas in snakes one can find whole (inside out) skins that have been discarded.
Exceptional slow-worms can be 50cm long and live in the wild for around 20 years, although one survived 54 years in captivity.
I encountered a pair mating recently. The male held the female by the neck and their bodies were entwined. Books suggest mating can occur over a ten hour period, yet this couple appeared to mate for over 24 hours. Before mating occurs the dominant male may need to fight off contenders.
In my garden these reptiles are most often found under sheets of iron that have been deliberately left for them adjacent to hedges or less well-tended areas. Occasionally they are encountered curled up amongst herbaceous plants. When disturbed they seldom rush off, however, if the day is warm and I wish to allow a grandchild to feel their lithe and smooth body they can be amazingly agile!
When I explore snakes I need to walk with minimal impact but can remain talking; adders, for example, feel vibrations but have no ears. Slow-worm have hearing.
Anguis fragilis is a reptile native to Eurasia and it’s English name can be spelled: slow worm, slowworm or slow-worm – I have encountered all three in UK books. Fragilis refers, presumably, to the tail-shedding as an escape technique.
Slow-worm are not uncommon. I have found them basking in Harewood and under decaying logs. They are not poisonous and do not bite humans. Their main problems are from being predated by pheasants, chickens and cats. If you encounter them in your garden, cry, “Welcome, lovely and helpful creature,” then just leave them alone.
MOTHS OF NORTHERN HAREWOOD FOREST
This is a moth list generated by Tim Norris and Graeme Davis. I take zero credit. It represents the species found at Forest Edge on Harewood Forest’s northern boundary.
| Taxon | Vernacular |
| Acleris ferrugana/notana | a moth |
| Acronicta tridens/psi | Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger |
| Mesapamea secalis agg. | Common Rustic agg. |
| Oligia strigilis agg. | Marbled Minor agg. |
| Triodia sylvina | Orange Swift |
| Caloptilia alchimiella | a moth |
| Aspilapteryx tringipennella | a moth |
| Parornix anglicella | a moth |
| Phyllonorycter harrisella | a moth |
| Cameraria ohridella | a moth |
| Swammerdamia pyrella | a moth |
| Paraswammerdamia nebulella | a moth |
| Ypsolopha parenthesella | a moth |
| Plutella xylostella | Diamond-back Moth |
| Plutella porrectella | a moth |
| Argyresthia goedartella | a moth |
| Argyresthia bonnetella | a moth |
| Crassa unitella | a moth |
| Diurnea fagella | a moth |
| Carcina quercana | a moth |
| Hypatima rhomboidella | a moth |
| Brachmia blandella | a moth |
| Helcystogramma rufescens | a moth |
| Metzneria metzneriella | a moth |
| Athrips mouffetella | a moth |
| Coleophora trifolii | a moth |
| Blastobasis adustella | a moth |
| Amblyptilia acanthadactyla | Beautiful Plume |
| Adaina microdactyla | Hemp Agrimony Plume |
| Ditula angustiorana | Red-barred Tortrix |
| Epagoge grotiana | a moth |
| Archips podana | Large Fruit-tree Tortrix |
| Archips xylosteana | Variegated Golden Tortrix |
| Ptycholomoides aeriferana | a moth |
| Pandemis corylana | Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix |
| Pandemis cerasana | Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix |
| Pandemis heparana | Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix |
| Cnephasia stephensiana | Grey Tortrix |
| Tortrix viridana | Green Oak Tortrix |
| Aleimma loeflingiana | a moth |
| Acleris forsskaleana | a moth |
| Acleris variegana | Garden Rose Tortrix |
| Acleris aspersana | a moth |
| Agapeta hamana | a moth |
| Agapeta zoegana | a moth |
| Cochylis atricapitana | a moth |
| Eudemis profundana | a moth |
| Apotomis betuletana | a moth |
| Hedya nubiferana | Marbled Orchard Tortrix |
| Hedya pruniana | Plum Tortrix |
| Celypha striana | a moth |
| Celypha lacunana | a moth |
| Ancylis badiana | a moth |
| Epinotia brunnichana | a moth |
| Epinotia solandriana | a moth |
| Epinotia immundana | a moth |
| Zeiraphera isertana | a moth |
| Eucosma cana | a moth |
| Gypsonoma dealbana | a moth |
| Gypsonoma sociana | a moth |
| Epiblema foenella | a moth |
| Cydia pomonella | Codling Moth |
| Cydia splendana | a moth |
| Lathronympha strigana | a moth |
| Zygaena filipendulae | Six-spot Burnet |
| Galleria mellonella | Wax Moth |
| Dioryctria abietella | a moth |
| Phycita roborella | a moth |
| Acrobasis repandana | a moth |
| Euzophera pinguis | a moth |
| Endotricha flammealis | a moth |
| Pyrausta aurata | a moth |
| Pyrausta purpuralis | a moth |
| Anania lancealis | a moth |
| Anania hortulata | Small Magpie |
| Udea prunalis | a moth |
| Udea olivalis | a moth |
| Patania ruralis | Mother of Pearl |
| Nomophila noctuella | Rush Veneer |
| Evergestis forficalis | Garden Pebble |
| Scoparia pyralella | a moth |
| Eudonia lacustrata | a moth |
| Eudonia mercurella | a moth |
| Chrysoteuchia culmella | Garden Grass-veneer |
| Crambus perlella | a moth |
| Agriphila tristella | a moth |
| Agriphila inquinatella | a moth |
| Agriphila straminella | a moth |
| Agriphila geniculea | a moth |
| Catoptria pinella | a moth |
| Catoptria falsella | a moth |
| Falcaria lacertinaria | Scalloped Hook-tip |
| Watsonalla binaria | Oak Hook-tip |
| Drepana falcataria | Pebble Hook-tip |
| Cilix glaucata | Chinese Character |
| Habrosyne pyritoides | Buff Arches |
| Polyploca ridens | Frosted Green |
| Achlya flavicornis | Yellow Horned |
| Euthrix potatoria | Drinker |
| Laothoe populi | Poplar Hawk-moth |
| Sphinx ligustri | Privet Hawk-moth |
| Deilephila elpenor | Elephant Hawk-moth |
| Idaea rusticata | Least Carpet |
| Idaea dimidiata | Single-dotted Wave |
| Idaea biselata | Small Fan-footed Wave |
| Idaea aversata | Riband Wave |
| Cyclophora annularia | Mocha |
| Cyclophora punctaria | Maiden’s Blush |
| Scotopteryx chenopodiata | Shaded Broad-bar |
| Xanthorhoe spadicearia | Red Twin-spot Carpet |
| Xanthorhoe ferrugata | Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet |
| Epirrhoe alternata | Common Carpet |
| Hydriomena furcata | July Highflyer |
| Eulithis prunata | Phoenix |
| Ecliptopera silaceata | Small Phoenix |
| Colostygia pectinataria | Green Carpet |
| Philereme vetulata | Brown Scallop |
| Horisme vitalbata | Small Waved Umber |
| Perizoma alchemillata | Small Rivulet |
| Gymnoscelis rufifasciata | Double-striped Pug |
| Chloroclystis v-ata | V-Pug |
| Eupithecia abbreviata | Brindled Pug |
| Eupithecia centaureata | Lime-speck Pug |
| Acasis viretata | Yellow-barred Brindle |
| Abraxas grossulariata | Magpie Moth |
| Lomaspilis marginata | Clouded Border |
| Ligdia adustata | Scorched Carpet |
| Macaria notata | Peacock Moth |
| Macaria liturata | Tawny-barred Angle |
| Opisthograptis luteolata | Brimstone Moth |
| Ennomos quercinaria | August Thorn |
| Ennomos fuscantaria | Dusky Thorn |
| Ennomos erosaria | September Thorn |
| Selenia dentaria | Early Thorn |
| Selenia tetralunaria | Purple Thorn |
| Crocallis elinguaria | Scalloped Oak |
| Ourapteryx sambucaria | Swallow-tailed Moth |
| Biston strataria | Oak Beauty |
| Biston betularia | Peppered Moth |
| Peribatodes rhomboidaria | Willow Beauty |
| Deileptenia ribeata | Satin Beauty |
| Alcis repandata | Mottled Beauty |
| Ectropis bistortata | Engrailed |
| Cabera exanthemata | Common Wave |
| Lomographa temerata | Clouded Silver |
| Campaea margaritaria | Light Emerald |
| Geometra papilionaria | Large Emerald |
| Hemistola chrysoprasaria | Small Emerald |
| Hemithea aestivaria | Common Emerald |
| Furcula furcula | Sallow Kitten |
| Stauropus fagi | Lobster Moth |
| Notodonta dromedarius | Iron Prominent |
| Notodonta ziczac | Pebble Prominent |
| Pheosia tremula | Swallow Prominent |
| Pheosia gnoma | Lesser Swallow Prominent |
| Ptilodon capucina | Coxcomb Prominent |
| Ptilodon cucullina | Maple Prominent |
| Phalera bucephala | Buff-tip |
| Rivula sericealis | Straw Dot |
| Hypena proboscidalis | Snout |
| Lymantria monacha | Black Arches |
| Euproctis chrysorrhoea | Brown-tail |
| Euproctis similis | Yellow-tail |
| Spilosoma lutea | Buff Ermine |
| Phragmatobia fuliginosa | Ruby Tiger |
| Tyria jacobaeae | Cinnabar |
| Miltochrista miniata | Rosy Footman |
| Lithosia quadra | Four-spotted Footman |
| Eilema depressa | Buff Footman |
| Eilema griseola | Dingy Footman |
| Eilema lurideola | Common Footman |
| Eilema complana | Scarce Footman |
| Herminia tarsipennalis | Fan-foot |
| Laspeyria flexula | Beautiful Hook-tip |
| Abrostola tripartita | Spectacle |
| Diachrysia chrysitis | Burnished Brass |
| Autographa gamma | Silver Y |
| Autographa pulchrina | Beautiful Golden Y |
| Colocasia coryli | Nut-tree Tussock |
| Acronicta rumicis | Knot Grass |
| Craniophora ligustri | Coronet |
| Amphipyra berbera | Svensson’s Copper Underwing |
| Caradrina morpheus | Mottled Rustic |
| Hoplodrina octogenaria | Uncertain |
| Hoplodrina blanda | Rustic |
| Hoplodrina ambigua | Vine’s Rustic |
| Thalpophila matura | Straw Underwing |
| Eremobia ochroleuca | Dusky Sallow |
| Amphipoea oculea | Ear Moth |
| Luperina testacea | Flounced Rustic |
| Apamea epomidion | Clouded Brindle |
| Apamea scolopacina | Slender Brindle |
| Apamea monoglypha | Dark Arches |
| Apamea lithoxylaea | Light Arches |
| Mesoligia furuncula | Cloaked Minor |
| Oligia strigilis | Marbled Minor |
| Conistra vaccinii | Chestnut |
| Lithophane ornitopus | Grey Shoulder-knot |
| Eupsilia transversa | Satellite |
| Cosmia trapezina | Dun-bar |
| Brachylomia viminalis | Minor Shoulder-knot |
| Parastichtis suspecta | Suspected |
| Orthosia incerta | Clouded Drab |
| Orthosia cerasi | Common Quaker |
| Orthosia cruda | Small Quaker |
| Orthosia gothica | Hebrew Character |
| Anorthoa munda | Twin-spotted Quaker |
| Lacanobia oleracea | Bright-line Brown-eye |
| Hadena bicruris | Lychnis |
| Mythimna conigera | Brown-line Bright-eye |
| Mythimna pallens | Common Wainscot |
| Mythimna impura | Smoky Wainscot |
| Mythimna ferrago | Clay |
| Agrotis exclamationis | Heart and Dart |
| Agrotis clavis | Heart and Club |
| Agrotis puta | Shuttle-shaped Dart |
| Ochropleura plecta | Flame Shoulder |
| Noctua pronuba | Large Yellow Underwing |
| Noctua fimbriata | Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing |
| Noctua comes | Lesser Yellow Underwing |
| Noctua interjecta | Least Yellow Underwing |
| Noctua janthe | Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing |
| Xestia xanthographa | Square-spot Rustic |
| Xestia sexstrigata | Six-striped Rustic |
| Xestia c-nigrum | Setaceous Hebrew Character |
| Xestia triangulum | Double Square-spot |
| Meganola strigula | Small Black Arches |
| Nola cucullatella | Short-cloaked Moth |
| Bena bicolorana | Scarce Silver-lines |
Wildlife and Ecology, the Wildlife Encyclopaedia 