90
The Essex Naturalist
Distribution
There are records from nine widely distributed localities in South Essex and four
localities in North Essex. The species seems extremely local in the county and
this unobtrusive ant is rarely found in any numbers.
Barrett (1979) shows post 1961 records for TL50, TL52, TL63; a pre 1961
record for TQ39 and a post 1961 record for TL42 which may originate from
Hertfordshire; a post 1961 record for TL84 which may originate from Suffolk.
Habitat and Ecology
In woodland areas Collingwood (1979) states the species nests on fallen tree
trunks, rotten branches, stumps or under bark in small isolated colonies of 25-60
individuals with one or several queens. The ant can sometimes be seen running
on dead wood and fence palings and in Essex usually occurs near or at the edge
of woodland.
Threats
Intense amenity pressure in woodlands adjacent to urban areas and the 'tidying
up' of woodlands by the removal of dead wood.
Leptothorax albipennis (Curtis)
National status Scarce Na County status Essex Rare
=tuberutn (Fabricius) Threat status Essex Endangered
=tuberointerruptus (Bondroit) Frequency Ratio 1.0
Tetrad Percentage 0.1% Recorded 1km sq. percentage 0.2%
Leptothorax albipennis (Curtis)