190 Millenial Status in Essex of Nationally Scarce and Threatened Species of Coleoptera
comments are offered. The over 300 nationally scarce and threatened beetle species that were once
present in Essex but have not been found in the county during the past half century are associated
with a wide spectrum of habitat types. They include woodland, heathland, grassland, wetland and
other species, and ones dependent on a range of microhabitat types; dead wood, fungi, particular
plant species, dung, carrion, etc.. However, in relation to the whole, the number of these species that
have a coastal and/or grassland connection is striking. In particular, a number of them are species
once found on the northeast Essex coast and/or the Southend area. As already suggested (Hammond,
1999), further searching of suitable cliff, sand and shingle habitats on the county's northeast coast
and in any patches of similar habitat that persist in the southeast, may yet reveal the continuing
presence in Essex of some of the species not recorded from the county in recent years.
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to the many entomologists who, over the years, have contributed records of Essex
beetles. The present paper has benefited particularly from recent records kindly made available to
me by Jerry Bowdrey, Nigel Cuming, Tony Drane, Peter Hodge and Colin Plant. Recent survey
work in Epping Forest has been commissioned and funded by the Corporation of London.
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