49
GENERAL MEETING, COLLIERS HATCH,
6TH SEPTEMBER, 1986
When searching for Orthoptera, weather is
usually the dominating factor as to the
success or otherwise of the venture.
Dull and at times cool conditions mainly
prevailed, making the detection of these
insects difficult, especially as strid-
ulation was almost non-existent. So,
although we ended the day with a creditable
seven species, they represented a lot of
searching, whereas in warm, sunny conditions
they would have been found or heard in half
the time, and, no doubt, in greater numbers.
However, several valuable records were added
to the Orthoptera recording scheme, the best
probably being our first find of the day
the Common Groundhopper (Tetrix undulata) .
It occurred commonly in bare areas of ground
and was found over a fairly wide area.
Although sparse in distribution over the
county, it is most probably overlooked.
Four Bush Crickets were found, none of them
in any great numbers. Roesel's (Metriop-
tera roeselii) was found, as usual, in dry,
established grass, although the habitat was
of a more scrubby nature than where we are
used to seeing it in North East Essex on
sea walls. Oak Bush (Meconema thelassinum)
was beaten from the Common Oak on most
occasions, some two at a time, descending
on the beating tray! Speckled Bush (Lepto-
phyes punctatissima) was surprisingly sparse,
only two species being found on the same
bush, which, as so often is the case, was
Bramble. Invariably, this insect is found
low down on the vegetation, but these two
individuals had ascended to near the top of