The Essex Naturalist 85
or woodlands in grasslands where damper conditions exist. Collingwood (1979)
states that it is abundant throughout the woodlands and high moorlands of
North Europe.
Myrmica ruginodis Nylander
Threats
Not threatened.
Myrmica sabuleti Meinert
National status Local County status Essex Local
Frequency Ratio 1.7 Tetrad percentage 5.1%
Recorded 1km sq. percentage 11.0%
Distribution
Widespread but local with recent records from over 50 widely distributed
localities in the county.
Barrett (1979) shows post 1961 records for TL61, TL71, TL72 and TL81
together with records for TL30 & TL42 which are probably for Hertfordshire,
and TL64 and TM13 which may originate from Cambridgeshire or Suffolk.
Habitat and Ecology
Usually associated with sparsely vegetated grassland and other habitats where
bare ground is exposed such as old quarries, sand pits and landslips.
Threats
Not threatened. Decline might follow neglect of open habitats allowing scrub
and secondary woodland to develop. The removal of grazing and catastrophic
decline in rabbit populations might also cause a substantial decline.