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Several of the 49 species listed in Table 2 for which there are post-1969 Essex records are
probably undeserving of their present high status. One example is Cicones undatus, a species
fast expanding its British range and probably a relatively recent immigrant to the British Isles;
another is Tachinus flavolimbatus, a species that exploits man-made habitats in the main, and
also expanding its range. Putting species of this type to one side, it is clear that most of the
remaining 40 or so species arc associated with well-established (usually ancient) woodlands
(around 18 of the species) or coastal/estuarine situations (around 15 species). What may be
regarded as the most outstanding of rare British beetle species among those reported from Essex
since 1969 also fall into these two general habitat categories. For example. Batrisodes adnexus, a
species associated with ants in old forest trees, is known in Britain only from Epping and
Windsor Forests. A high proportion of recent British records for several of the scarcest Saltmarsh
or estuarine species such as Philonthus punctus, Ochthephilum jacquelini and several species of
water beetle, arc from Essex.
To rediscover in Essex many of the once present species listed in Table 2 or discover anew
further species of high conservation status that might be expected to occur in the county, well
established woodlands and a range of coastal habitats are likely to be the most fruitful to
investigate. Several rediscoveries have been made recently in Epping Forest and at Thorndon
Park. These areas, the ancient forest of Hatfield and various smaller wood pasture or parkland
sites in other parts of the county are deserving of much more attention. Almost all types of
coastal habitat would repay further careful investigation. A good number of the species listed in
Table 2 but not seen in Essex this century were once found in the Southend area or on the
northeast coast of the county. Although many of the original habitats of these species are much
changed through seaside resort development, urbanisation in general and the construction of sea
defences, it may not be too much to hope that some of the species hang on in the county. Cliff,
sand and shingle habitats in the coastal area stretching from the Naze to Mersea Island, and any
patches of similar habitat that may remain in the Southend-Shoeburyness area would be worthy
of particularly close attention.
Table 3. Essex vice-county records - for Coleoptera species of high conservation status -
not included in the reports of Hyman & Parsons (1992, 1994).
NE = North Essex; SE = South Essex.
Carabidae
Harpalus puncticollis (SE, pre-1970)
Harpalus sabulicola (SE, pre-1970)
Lionychus quadrillum (SE, pre-1970)
Panagaeus cruxmajor (NE, pre-1970)
Pogonus luridipennis (NE, pre-1970)
Polistichus connexus (NE & SE, both post-1969)
Haliplidae
All records in Table 1.
Dytiscidae
All records in Table 1.
Gyrinidae
All records in Table 1.
Hydrophilidae
All records in Table 1.
Histeridae
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 16 (1999)