64 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
The dam, really the remains of the old farm road, has suffered
and is suffering serious erosion. Some repairs have been effected
but unfortunately its present state is worse than in 1955 and a
large scale repair effort will have to be made if we are to continue
to enjoy its wealth of marine fauna and algae.
I suppose that the biggest change on the Island in the last few
years has been caused by myxomatosis. There are no Rabbits
where once they teemed. The Shelduck are hard put to it to find
suitable nesting sites as the old rabbit holes gradually fill up.
The Club owes a debt of gratitude to those members who have
so selflessly taken part in the Ecological Survey. I look forward
to meeting them again on many occasions on Skippers Island.
The Hymenoptera of Essex
1. INTRODUCTION AND THE SOCIAL INSECTS, PART 1
By D. I, Chapman
The Order of insects known as the Hymenoptera include the
ants, bees, wasps, ichneumon flies and sawflies, etc. The following
Table shows the present composition of the Order.
There are between six and seven thousand British species of
Hymenoptera in over one thousand genera; and new species are
described every year.