The Essex Naturalist 81
males to wander away from their breeding sites, whereas larger numbers,
particularly including females could be taken to be indicative of breeding
colonies.
Disregarding sightings of single individuals, Clark's records from Layer Breton
and Marks Tey (Clark, 1965) are the only ones not refound in 1996. This could
indicate a decline, annual variation or simply a lack of recorders. Again,
disregarding singletons, the 1996 survey revealed apparently new populations in
several areas: Arlesford, Elmstead Market, Gestingthorpe, Great Bentley, Great
Horkesley, Great Oakley, Little Horkesley, Mistley, Rowhedge, West Bergholt
and Wix. Most of these involve small numbers of individuals, but higher
numbers at Mistley, Rowhedge and West Bergholt might indicated new
colonies.
Of the sites known to Clark, some such as Boxted, showed roughly
comparable numbers in both surveys but the large increases noted at Colchester
and Wivenhoe, whilst in part no doubt due to increased numbers of observers,
may indicate considerable strengthening of colonies in these areas.
Within central Colchester, the Lexden area emerged as being the single most
important area for L. cervus. An older, suburban area it is characterised by large
gardens with mature trees. Stag beetles were observed in the Castle Park in
central Colchester, but interestingly, there were no reports from woodland areas,
even, for example in the heavily used High Woods Country Park or Friday
Map 1: Distribution of stag beetle Lucanus cervus records received during the 1996
survey in north-east Essex, plotted per 5x5 Km grid squares