7
THE FIRST ESSEX RECORD OF THE TAWNY COCKROACH (Ectobius pallidus)
Cockroaches are a mainly tropical group of insects allied to the grasshoppers and crickets.
The most familiar species are those such as the Oriental and German Cockroaches, which
are associated with human habitation. Much less well known are the 3 species of small
native cockroaches. On the whole, these are secretive creatures and much smaller than
their larger, notorious cousins. Even the largest, the Dusky Cockroach (Ectobius
lapponicus), is a mere 11 mm in length. According to distribution maps, (Marshall, J A
and Haes, E C M, 1988), there is an old (pre 1961) record of the Dusky Coakroach from S
Essex and pre 1961 records from both vice counties for the Lesser Cockroach (Ectobius
panzeri). In The Victoria County History (1903), the Lesser Cockroach is stated as not
uncommon in several places on our coastal sands. The species has now been recorded
again during 1991at Colne Point in North Essex by RR. Harvey.
The Tawny Cockroach has to my knowledge never been recorded from Essex, in fact there
has been no records of our native cockroaches from Essex for many decades. Out of the 3
native species the Tawny Cockroach is the least choosy in its choice of habitat. It can be
found in woodland rides and clearings, on chalk downland, heathland and on coastal
sands. It is found in a wide band across southern England, but only 2 colonies, one in the
Gower, Glamorganshire and another recently discovered in Suffolk are north of the
Thames.
THE DISCOVERY
On the 25th October, Adrian Knowles (EWT) telephoned me to say that he had found
what he thought to be a colony of native Cockroaches whilst working near to a badger sett
adjacent to Southend Sewage works. This is situated off Eastern Avenue, Prittlewell, now
in the heart of urban Southend. The several nymphs collected appeared to be Tawny
Cockroaches and this was confirmed by E C M Haes (Orthoptera Recording Scheme).
All the nymphs of what must be a colony of this insect were found beneath partly buried
paving stones at the top of a bank partially shaded by trees. Nearby were more open steep
slopes, some sandy in nature.
On a map of 1875 the area is an open field with hedges, but in the 1870's a sand pit was
excavated. The uneveness of the ground with steep sandy slopes probably dates back to
this period. Around 1911 the buildings now used as a Council Depot were built adjacent
to Sewage filter beds. Later, new filter beds were built on the bottom of the sand pit.
This is still the situation today. Possibly, the Tawny Cockroach colony has existed since
those days when the area was part of a sand pit or perhaps it was introduced from outside
the area with dumped soil or rubbish.
THE FUTURE
The future is bleak. The whole area adjacent to the sewage works is to be bulldozed and
flattened for building within the next few years. During 1996 I hope to assess the
colony's extent and investigate the possibility of founding a new colony. Furthermore,
one wonders what other interesting insects remain to be discovered. For instance, in 1871
specimens of the Mediterranean Oil Beetle (Meloe mediterraneus) were collected in
Prittlewell. It has never been recorded in Britain since, so who knows what may turn up?
REFERENCES
Marshall, J. A. and Haes, E.C.M. Grasshoppers and allied Insects of Great Britain and Ireland, 1988.
Roger Payne