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THE LONDON LADYBIRD SURVEY 1999-2000
The London Natural History Society (whose recording area covers parts of western
Essex) is organising a survey of Ladybirds for this year and the next. We would welcome
the participation of members of the Essex Field Club in appropriate areas. The 'London
area' lies south-west of an arc from Roydon/Little Parndon through Chipping Ongar, past
Brentwood to Stifford and Grays Thurrock.
It is hoped to gather data from experienced entomologists but also to involve
inexperienced people, including children, who would not otherwise venture into
entomological recording. Ladybirds are easily recognised, regarded with affection by the
public and can, in most cases, be accurately identified by previously unskilled recorders.
We have produced a simplified key and also a reporting form which will allow the
patterns of beetles which do not fit the key to be coloured in for 'remote' identification.
The idea has already been taken up by several schools and other groups.
The key and recording form are included at the end of this Newsletter. Anyone wishing to
participate should contact Paul Mabbott (tel: 0114 201 4504, e-mail
PRMabbott@aol.com).
LADYBIRD LOOK-OUT IN THE REST OF ESSEX
Field Club members who live outside the London NHS recording area can also record
valuable information about ladybirds in the rest of Essex. We should like to join the
LNHS in recording ladybirds, extending the area to the rest of Essex.
Please send all records and any dubious specimens or reporting forms outside the LNHS
area to either the Newsletter Editor Mr. PR. Harvey 32 Lodge Lane, Grays, Essex RM16
2YP or the General Secretary Dr Jeremy Dagley, 82 Whitehall gardens, Chingford, E4
6EJ who will collate the data.
Try to include with all records the essential data of recorder, location, date, habitat, grid
reference (at least 4 figure) and any other notes e.g.:
7-spot, P.R.Harvey, 32 Lodge Lane, 20th April 1999, garden, TQ625793, on rose bush.
We hope to report the results of the two year survey in the Essex Naturalist.
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 29, May 1999