All trees, shrubs and ground cover support insects, mammals, birds, fungi, lichens, and each other. But not all trees are equal in the number of species they can support. The tables (below) show the potential of deciduous woodland to support invertebrate diversity. We have used green highlighting in the tables for tree species found in Toll Wood.
What matters most is Toll Wood's extraordinary diversity of plants and habitat. Our rich mixture supports generalists (e.g. aphids and shield bugs) and specialists, such as Spindle ermine moth, and endangered White-letter hairstreak butterfly (confirmed by the Kent Field Club). Trees offer rich habitat as they mature, age and decay. It is important that we also restore the enclosed chalk meadow to support diversity in nature.
Our invertebrates are illustrated (as we find and identify them). On 26th April 2025, we hosted a visit by the Kent Field Club led by local expert Richard Moyse made 120 observations. Read their Species List; or the more detailed location list.
Of particular importance are:
- White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album) - endangered. A Species of Principal Importance under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act.
- Big-headed Mining Bee (Andrena bucephala) - nationally rare
- White-bellied Mining Bee (Andrena gravida) - previously considered very rare. More widespread but localised to South-east.
- Stock Dove (Columba oenas) - Amber on list of Birds of Conservation Concern.
- Starling (Strunus vulgaris) - Red on list of Birds of Conservation Concern
- Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) - Red on the list of Birds of Conservation Concern.
Also found by Richard Moyse on 23rd August 2025 [added to the above Species list]
- Leafhopper (Iassus scutellaris) - a species associated with elm and which is known to be rare in Britain.
The knowledge shared by invertebrate and other experts is essential in managing the whole wood and enclosed meadow.
References
1) "The value of different tree and shrub species to wildlife" Reproduced here with permission - First published by the Arboricultural Association (Issue 190, Autumn 2020 of the ARB Magazine) - Authors: Keith Alexander, Jill Butler and Ted Green
The quality and quantity of species assemblages associated with the widespread trees and shrubs of the British countryside. Tree type Mycorrhizal fungi Wood decay fungi Wood decay invertebrates Foliage invertebrates Biomass of foliage invertebrates Epiphytic lichens, mosses, etc. Leaf litter Fruits and seeds Blossom for pollen and nectar Pinaceae Norway spruce ***** ** *** *** *** * * **** *w European larch ***** ** * ** *** * * **** *w Scots pine ***** *** **** **** **** * * **** *w Taxaceae Yew ***G ** * * ** * * **** *w Platanaceae London plane ***G ** * * * * * * *w Ulmaceae Elms ***G **** *** *** *** ***** **** * *w Juglandaceae Walnut ***G ** * * * * *** * *i Fagaceae Beech ***** ***** ***** *** * ***** * ***** *w Sweet chestnut *** *** *** * * * * ***** *i Turkey oak * *** **** * * * *** * w Holm oak *** *** * * * * * ***** *w Native oaks ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *** ***** *w Betulaceae Birches ***** **** **** ***** **** **** *** **** *w Alder *** *** ** * **** ** *** **** *w Hazel ** *** *** *** *** **** **** *** *w Hornbeam *** ** ** ** * ** *** *** *w Tiliaceae Limes **** *** ** ** *** ** **** * ****i Salicaceae Poplars *** *** *** **** *** * *** * *w Goat and grey willows *** *** *** ***** *** **** *** * *****i Crack, white and other rough-barked willows **** *** *** **** *** * *** * *****i Rosaceae Cherries ***G ** * *** ** * **** ***** ****i Plum ***G ** *** *** *** * **** **** ****i Pear ***G ** *** **** *** *** **** *** ****i Apple ***G ** *** **** *** *** **** **** ****i Rowan and whitebeams ***G ** * * * *** **** **** ****i Hawthorns ***G ** *** **** *** * ***** **** *****i Fabaceae False-acacia ***G ** *** * * * *** * ****i Aquifoliaceae Holly ***G * * * ** ** * **** *****i Hippocastanaceae Horse chestnut ***G ** *** * * * ** * ****i Aceraceae Field maple ***G ** ** ** * *** *** * ****i Sycamore ***G *** *** ** ***** ***** ***** * ****i Oleaceae Ash ***G *** ***** *** * ***** ***** * *w Notes
* Trees and shrubs are listed in taxonomic order (Preston et al., 2002) to facilitate comparison of close species.
* Most tree species are ectomycorrhizal, the exceptions are indicated as G (= glomalean endomycorrhizal).
* The blossom column also indicates which tree species are wind (w) or insect (i) pollinated.2) Different studies can focus on slightly different aspects of diversity but they generally support the same message - some tree-species offer resources to a wider range of invertebrates. These provide the greatest opportunity for invertebrates, many of which will visit more than one tree species. Not all insects like the same trees/shrubs. 'Non-native' trees generally support lower diversity because they are 'alien' to our native invertebrates, birds and mammals. This makes non-native trees very poor replacements for losses of native species. Even trees with limited biodiversity value in the range of invertebrates and animals they can support may provide unique settings essential to a small number of invertebrates, birdlife, and mammals as foodstuff and nesting.
The commoner British trees, their history and associated insects. T.R.E. Southwood, Department of Zoology, Imperial College, London (1961). Referencing Godwin (1956) History in Britain since Pleistocene Period Number of records in Godwin (1956) Heteroptera Homoptera Macro-Lepidoptera Micro-Lepidoptera Coleoptera Total Oak (Quercus robur and Q. petraea) Native 197 37 10 106 81 50 284 Birch (Betula spp.) Native 182 12 4 94 84 35 229 Hazel (Corylus avellana) Native 136 16 2 18 28 9 73 Willow (Salix spp.) Native 134 22 20 100 73 51 266 Alder (Alnus glutinosa) Native 87 14 8 28 27 13 90 Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) Native 67 17 1 64 53 14 149 Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) Native 59 10 2 16 9 4 41 *Pine (Pinus sylvestris) Native 54 15 3 10 28 35 91 Holly (Ilex aquifolium) Native 44 0 0 2 2 3 7 Yew (Taxus bacata) Native 42 0 0 1 0 0 1 Sloe (Prunus spinosa) Native 30 4 2 48 43 12 109 Poplars (Populus spp.) Native 30 8 11 33 26 19 97 Elm (Ulmus spp.) Native 30 11 4 33 26 10 82 Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Native 27 4 3 24 16 17 64 Field Maple (Acer campestra) Native 18 2 2 8 12 2 26 Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) Native 17 1 0 7 16 4 28 Juniper (Juniperus communis) Native 17 6 0 4 8 2 20 *Spruce (Picea abies) Native in interglacial reintroduced c. 1500 15 9 1 6 13 8 37 Lime (Tilia spp.) Native and Introduced 14 7 2 15 5 2 31 Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) Native 13 0 1 2 17 8 28 *Fir (Abies spp.) Native in interglacial reintroduced c. 1600 10 5 0 2 1 8 16 Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) Introduce A.D. 100 10 0 0 0 5 0 5 Apple (Malus) Native and Introduced 7 18 3 21 42 9 93 Walnut (Juglans regia) Introduce c.1400 3 0 0 0 1 2 3 Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) Introduced 1580 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 *Larch (Larix) Introduced 1629 1 3 0 6 6 2 17 Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) Introduced c.1250 1 1 0 5 8 0 15 Horse Chestnut (Aesulus hippocastanum) Introduced c.1600 0(?)1 0 2 1 1 0 4 Acacia (Robinia pseudacacia) Introduced 1601 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Plane (Platanus orientalis) Introduced c.1520 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Notes (categories used in 1956/1961):
- Heteroptera = "true bugs"
- Homoptera = 'sucking insects'
- Macro-lepidoptera = Larger butterflies and moths
- Micro-lepidoptera = Smaller moths (<20mm wingspan)
- Coleoptera = Beetles and weevils
| The Number of Species of Insects Associated with British Trees: A re-analysis. C.E.J. Kennedy and T.R.E. Southwood [Appendix by A. Grafen]. Journal of Animal Ecology] (1984) | |||||||
| Guilds | Super-Guilds | ||||||
| Leaf miners | Gall formers | Sap feeders | Chewers | Sap feeders | Chewers | Total | |
| Acer campestre (Field Maple) |
6 | 10 | 13 | 22 | 13 | 38 | 51 |
| Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore) |
5 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 11 | 32 | 43 |
| Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) |
0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Alnus glutinosa (Black Alder) |
18 | 8 | 35 | 80 | 35 | 106 | 141 |
| Betula (2 spp.) (Birches) |
43 | 8 | 47 | 236 | 47 | 287 | 334 |
| Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam) |
12 | 4 | 12 | 23 | 12 | 39 | 51 |
| Castanea sativa (Sweet Chestnut) |
3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 11 |
| Corylus avellana (Common Hazel) |
14 | 11 | 21 | 60 | 21 | 85 | 106 |
| Crataegus monogyna (Common Hawthorn) |
23 | 5 | 43 | 134 | 43 | 162 | 205 |
| Fagus sylvatica (Common Beech) |
5 | 10 | 11 | 72 | 11 | 87 | 98 |
| Fraxinus excelsior (Ash) |
3 | 5 | 23 | 37 | 23 | 45 | 68 |
| Ilex aquafolium (Common Holly) |
1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| Juglans regia (Walnut) |
0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Juniperus communis (Common Juniper) |
4 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 24 | 32 |
| Larix decidua (European Larch) |
1 | 2 | 9 | 26 | 9 | 29 | 38 |
| Malus sylvestris (Crab Apple) |
21 | 0 | 32 | 63 | 32 | 84 | 116 |
| Picea abies (Norway Spruce) |
2 | 3 | 24 | 41 | 21 | 46 | 70 |
| Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine) |
7 | 3 | 30 | 132 | 30 | 142 | 172 |
| Populus (4 spp.) (Poplars) |
19 | 24 | 31 | 115 | 42 | 147 | 189 |
| Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn) |
12 | 6 | 34 | 99 | 34 | 117 | 151 |
| Quercus Ilex (Holm Oak) |
4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Quercus (spp.) (Oaks) |
35 | 62 | 88 | 238 | 88 | 335 | 423 |
| Robinia pseudoacacia (False Acacia) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Salix (5 spp.) (Willows) |
23 | 39 | 81 | 307 | 81 | 369 | 450 |
| Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan, Mountain Ash) |
10 | 5 | 6 | 37 | 6 | 52 | 58 |
| Taxus bacata (Yew) |
0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Tilia (2 spp.) (Limes) |
1 | 9 | 18 | 29 | 18 | 39 | 57 |
| Ulmus (2 spp.) (Elms) |
13 | 16 | 32 | 63 | 37 | 87 | 124 |
"Super-guilds" are groups of insects split by whether they chew bits of the tree or suck sap. "Guilds" split that count to identify what impacts some of those insects can have on their host tree species.