descriptions of the immature stages of several species. Local lists from now famous sites in Surrey
and Hampshire predominate, hut several reports do concern Essex sites. The Rev. F. A. Walker, of
Cricklewood contributed a short piece to the Entomologist of 1897 (Walker. 1897) on the
'Dragonflies of North London', in which he gave Wanstead Park as the best local site, listing twelve
species as occurring there. There are several Essex sites which could match this total today, but.
unfortunately, Wanstead Park is not one of them.
Lucas's annual reports for 1898 and 1899 made extensive reference to sightings by the eminent
Colchester entomologist. W. H. Harwood. The rare migrant dragonfly Sympetrum flaveolum was
reported from Colchester in 1898, along with others from Surrey and Oxford. Lucas's report for
1899 quoted Harwood explicitly as the source for another specimen of S. flaveolum taken at
St. Osyth. Since this coastal locality seemed an unlikely breeding site, Lucas saw this as
confirmation of his view that the species was an immigrant to Britain. Harwood was also reported
as having seen A. mixta 'disporting' over the river Colne in Essex a 'few days before Oct. 21st'. The
lateness of the date supports Harwood's identification and makes this the first acceptable record of
this species in Essex since Stephens (1835-7). Finally, Sympetrum sanguineum was reported by
Harwood as breeding on part of the Essex coast. It still does so today.
W.H. Harwood was born in Colchester in 1840, and lived there, at various addresses, until 1915,
shortly before his death in 1917. For most of his adult life Harwood was a professional
entomologist, and dealer in natural history specimens. He is best known for his work on the
Lepidoptera (see Firmin et al., 1975, pp.11-12), but he and his two sons, Philip and Bernard S.
developed a close and detailed interest in other insect orders and their north-east Essex habitats.
W. H. Harwood maintained a correspondence with many of the leading entomologists of the day,
including Edward Newman and W. J. Lucas. He contributed regular notes and articles to the
entomological literature, and was actively involved in the work of the Essex Field Club from its
early days. Harwood senior developed his interest in the more neglected orders of insects later on
Fig B.l Dragonfly Recording in Essex. Coverage Prior to 1903
100