Libellula fulva (Muller. 1764) Scarce Chaser
This species justifies its English name, being confined to a very few slow-moving
rivers and associated still-water habitats in southern England and East Anglia.
Doubleday (1871) referred to it as 'rare', occasionally being seen flying over a large pond
in Ongar Park Woods. W. J. Lucas (1900) repeated Doubleday's claim, adding a further
sighting of the species by W. H. Harwood at Colchester. Presumably the same specimen
was referred to in Harwood's (1903) list. There appear to be no subsequent records for
Essex. C. Longfield (1949) referred to one taken in Colchester in 1905. but it seems
probable that this is a misdated reference to Harwood's observation. Longfield also
mentioned a colony still present at that time on the Suffolk Stour (this could
conceivably have been the origin of Harwood's 'wanderer'). The species still occurs in
Suffolk, but. as far as is known, not on the Stour.
Leucorrhinia dubia (Vander Linden. 1825) White-faced Darter
This species is exceedingly local in the British Isles, with a discontinuous distribution
from Surrey in the south to the north of Scotland. These peculiarities of distribution are
a consequence of its highly specialised requirements for moorland pools and
sphagnum bog. According to Longfield (1949b). J. F. Stephens found it at Epping some
time before 1845. Her authority for this is the remark by W F. Evans (1845) that 'Mr.
Stephens states it has been found at Epping". Epping was not. however, given as a
locality for this species in J. F. Stephens (1835-7). A specimen was taken by a Mr. Marsh
in Epping Forest in 1841 (E. Doubleday. 1841 and H. Doubleday. 1841). It subsequently
appeared on H. Doubleday's (1871) list as 'always rare' at the old gravel pits on
Coopersale Common. Longfield also noted that one of Doubleday's (presumably
Henry?) specimens caught on Coopersale Common in 1843 is in the Dale collection at
Oxford. It seems certain that the species did exist in the vicinity of Epping in the mid-
19th century, but equally certain that it no longer exists in Essex. There are no records
from Epping or elsewhere in Essex subsequent to Doubleday's list.
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