records for it from gardens in Buckhurst Hill and Loughton. Doubtless a thorough search
would reveal its presence in more of the forest but probably in smaller numbers than may
be found in woodland in central and north east Essex.
It is absent from large areas of the Dengie peninsular and Foulness due to the scarcity of
woodland and the lack of single trees over much of this landscape. In the north east of
Essex, it is common everywhere and is often located on low growing shrubs, particularly
Hazel.
When beating for M. thalassinum in the trees and shrubs listed above, its presence is
usually revealed quickly and thereafter frequently, whereas if persistent attempts fail to
reveal the insect, it can be assumed that it is either absent or at a much lower density.
Meconema thalassinum
Tettigonia viridissima: Great green bush cricket
This is a large green bush cricket, generally uncommon within the County, and usually
found in close proximity to our coast and estuaries. Its stronghold in Essex is the
Thames Estuary, particularly along the Benfleet and Hadleigh Downs and along to the
Belton Hills at Leigh-on-Sea. Here it is commonly found in rough herbage where it favours
sitting at the top of vegetation, stridulating for long periods in dry, warm weather where,
in spite of its large size and resonant song, it is infuriatingly difficult to see. It is found
occasionally in the Colchester area, particularly on the Hythe Marshes, and a good colony
has been present at Rowhedge Pits for many years. One notable discovery of this insect
was on a post adjacent to the main road out of Colchester, close to East Gates. There
was dense vegetation at the rear of the premises, and it had probably come from the
marshes at the Hythe, a few hundred metres away. A glance at the 1km map shows the
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