development schemes which will also benefit the Glow-worm., as the Glow-worm has
no legal protection.
The Glow-worm is an animal that herpetologists need to look out for under their survey
refugia. To highlight this an article is going to be written for Helpline, published by
Froglife, to help herp workers contribute to the conservation of the Glow-worm in the
UK. Other groups of people that have been suggested as ideal contributors to the cause
are late night dog walkers and cyclists (Tyler, 2002). It is hoped that the many
Herpetofauna groups around the country may also help.
I do seem to have a knack now of finding Glow-worm wherever I look for reptiles. In
Greece this year I stumbled upon several Glow-worm larva on stone walls and within
leaf litter in broad daylight. The larva were obviously on their 'walkabout' phase (Tyler,
2002). A glowing female was found along a roadside verge during the night. In the
morning many dead male Glow-worm were fished out of the swimming pool, illustrating
the damaging effect of artificial pool lights, along side stag and rhinoceros beetles!
(Cranfield, pers. obs.)
It is interesting to try and suggest reasons why Glow-worm larva has been utilising reptile
refugia. One obvious reason maybe due to the occurrence of snails and slugs on the
underside of the felt. Another is the warm sheltered condition that is found under these
refugia. The Slowworm, in particular, is the main reptile found under 'reptile refugia'?
The two species are slug/snail predators and possibly like to hide away in safety while
munching their mollusc prey. I am preparing to visit all the sites (as many as possible) in
July and August to undertake glowing female counts to help with the Glow-worm survey.
References
Clements D (2002) An Artificial Lure for Glow-worms. British Wildlife 14 (1): Letters p74.
Gardiner, T, Pye, M & Field R (2002) Results of the 2001 Essex glow-worm survey. Essex Field
Club Newsletter 38: 13-15.
Gardiner T, Pye M, & Field R (2002) Glow-worms Lampyris noctiluca L. (Coleoptera:
Lampyridae) in Essex: results of the 2001 Essex Glow-worm survey. Essex
Gardiner T & Tyler J (2002) Are Glow-worms disappearing? British Wildlife 13 (5) June 2002.
Tyler J (2002) The Glow-worm. Lakeside Press, Sevenoaks
Coastal squeeze is driving them up the wall
Ken Adams 63 Wroths Path, Baldwins Hill, Loughton. IG10 1SH. 020 8508 7863.
As the sea level rises along our Essex coast, due presumably to the weight of sediments
accumulating in the North Sea basin, and the expansion of the volume of our sea water as
average temperatures rise, our salt marshes are being squeezed between the rising low tide
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 42, September 2003 19