Lancing Village | Wildlife of the Reedbeds and ditches

Lancing Nature	Cokeham Reed Beds - Notes
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	Andy Horton writes: The stream that ran through Sompting Water Meadows (Lower Cokeham reedbed and ditches, Lancing) produced an interesting selection of freshwater animals. Amongst the reeds (Common Reed, Phragmites australis) and in the areas of heavy vegetation and heavy pigmented water (it looked like weak tea, stained with dissolved organic matter) the small fish called the Ten-spined Stickleback, Pungitius pungitius, was discovered in the dip net, together with some very small beetles. The local name is 10-spined although the book name is usually 9-spined and the large specimens had at least ten spines. My knowledge and experience in this field is limited but my tentative first identifications were as follows: Black diving beetle, Agabus sp. Lesser Water Boatman, Corixa sp. A Pond Skater, Gerris sp., quickly skated across the surface film of almost still water. A dip amongst the lily pads produced a Common Froglet with four developed legs (pic) and almost ready to leave the water, although it still had its complete tail. Snails were numerous including the Great Pond Snail and the attractive Ramshorn Snail. The Water Louse, Asellus, was a common species in the water weeds. Black Diving Beetle Agapus sp. and Diving Beetle D. semisulcatus The largest and most distinctive animal was the Diving Beetle, Dytiscus semisulcatus, which is a large beetle capable of attacking and killing small fish. Easily noticed, but only one example was discovered of the Water Spider, Argyroneta aquatica, with its miniature diving bell. A few photographs by Ray Hamblett can be found on the following page: AdurSpring2002.htm Link to habitat action Plan for Reed beds UK Biodiversity
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