135
Records arc from most months of the year with
peaks in the early summer and late autumn.
Threats
Adults
The improvement or inappropriate management of grassland verges or their destruction by
road widening schemes.
FAMILY SCLEROSOMATIDAE
Homalenotus quadridentatus (Cuvier)
National status Local County status Essex Local
Frequency Ratio 1.2 Tetrad Percentage 2.3 Tetrad Frequency 7.3 Monad Frequency 6.0
Distribution
Widely but very locally distributed
throughout the county. It may be under-
recorded, especially in mid-Essex but
suitable habitat is scarce.
Habitat and Ecology
A ground living species associated in
Essex with old dry open rough grasslands,
especially on scarps and banks. Several
records are from roadside verge localities.
Most records have been the result of
grubbing in litter around the base of plants
and by the use of pitfall traps. Adults have
been recorded February-November but with
a peak in early summer.
Threats
The loss of old grasslands to agricultural
improvements and change of use to arabic;
the loss of old grassland verges and banks to
road widening and tree planting; the loss of
open habitat through succession due to
planting schemes or lack of management.
FAMILY PHALANGIIDAE
SUBFAMILY OLIGOLOPHINAE
Oligolophus tridens (C.L.Koch)
National states Common County status Essex Common
Frequency Ratio 2.0 Tetrad Percentage 9.5 Tetrad Frequency 29.9 Monad Frequency 25.5
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 16 (1999)