Tetrix subulata : Slender groundhopper
One of two groundhoppers to occur in Essex, this slim, usually dark-greyish insect with a
long pronotum, has a marked preference for moist habitats such as disused gravel
workings, bare, muddy, woodland rides and the edges of ponds and streams. Like the
rest of our groundhoppers, they have no hearing organ on the abdomen and produce no
sound, which makes their presence difficult to detect. T. subulata is widespread but
localised throughout the County. The first record of this species in Essex, was found
near Kelvedon in the north of the County in June 1950 and, from then on, records were
extremely scarce, mostly occurring in the very south of the County, particularly around
the numerous chalk pits in the Grays area. It was thought, at this time, that the insect
was extremely local and mostly confined to the south of Essex, but as the survey
progressed, and the requirements of the insect became better understood, records
began to accumulate. Of the 54 locations of this insect found in 48 1km squares, well
over two-thirds have been recorded since 1988, which is indicative of the way in which
intensive field work improved our understanding of the insects' habitat preferences.
This groundhopper, although never likely to be described as common in Essex, is
probably seriously under-recorded, and continued field work concentrating particularly on
moist habitats, should produce many more records; giving a more accurate picture of its
distribution than the current map does. Recently, records of Tetix ceperoi, previously
thought to be confined to the more southerly areas of Britain, have been received from
much further afield, and as this species is very similar to T. subulata, care should be
taken in the identification of all T. subulata specimens found.
Tetrix subulata
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