Veteran Trees and Saproxylic Invertebrates at Hylands Park
The Formal Gardens as a site for Saproxylic Invertebrates
The formal gardens, covering just sixteen or so acres, are outstanding and one of the most important
sites for saproxylic invertebrates in Essex, with 13 nationally notable and 3 Red Data Book species
amongst those recorded here in the years 2001 - 2003. I suspect that the gardens, with their abundant
and continuous nectar sources, large standard Oak trees (and others, such as Lime and Horse
Chestnut), much dead wood - particularly the trunks of trees felled in the 1987 storm which arc
slowly decaying in the dense shade of the abundant Cherry Laurel, interspersed with open expanses
of lawn and flower bed, have helped to create an ideal environment for saproxylic species. The
area as a whole - which mimics the old forest conditions and probably enhances them as well -
suits this particular group of invertebrates.
Saproxylic Invertebrates recorded in the formal gardens 2001 - 2003
DIPTERA COLEOPTERA
Aulacigaster leucopeza Agrilus laticornis Nb
Brachyopa insensilis N Anobium punctatum
Brachyopa scutellaris Bitoma crenata
Brachypalpoides lentus Dacne bipustulata
Callicera spinolae RDB 1 Dorcus parallelopipedus
Callicera aurata RDB 3 Ischnomera cyanea Nb
Choerades marginatus N Leiopus nebulosus
Criorhina berberina Melanotus villosus
Criorhina floccosa Orchesia undulata
Criorhina ranunculi N Orthoperus nigrescens Nb
Macrocera crassicornis N Prionocyphon serricornis Nb
Megamerina dolium N Ptilinus pectinicornis
Psilota anthracina RDB 2 Ptinus sexpunctatus Nb
Systenus scholtzii N Rhagium mordax
Tipula flavolineata Tillus elongatus Nb
Xylota xanthocnema N Xestobium rufovillosum
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Essex Parks: Section 2 - Hylands Park