Four species of Coleoptera new to Essex
NIGEL CUMING AND JERRY BOWDREY*
33 Holly Road, Stanway, Colchester C03 SQL
*Colchester Museums, 14 Ryegate Road, Colchester COl 1YG
Four species of Coleoptera (sec plate 4) believed to be additions to the Essex list have been collected
during the past year in the north-east of the county.
Philonthus spinipes Sharp (Staphylinidae)
Two males of this large rove beetle were shaken from the decomposing carcass of a gull at Colne
Point (TM0913) on 25.ix.2000 (NC/JPB). The species was first reported in Britain from Dorset
(Allen & Owen 1997). Thought to be Oriental in origin, it has increased its range, reaching Europe
in about 1980. Previous British examples have been taken in manure heaps.
Tetrops starkii Chevrolat (Cerambycidae)
A female of this scarce longhorn was taken at Hill House Wood. West Bergholt (TL947282) on
26.xi.2000 (NC). This is the fourth known British site (Twinn & Harding 1999) since its discovery
in Oxfordshire in 1969 (Harrison 1992).
Lycoperdina succincta (L.) (Endomychidae)
The surprising discovery of this RDB2 (Vulnerable) species was made during a Colchester Natural
History Society recording meeting at Chalkney Wood (TL8727) on 7.V.2000 by Dave Warner (det.
NC). The beetle was taken in leaf litter near a fallen birch Betula sp. The specimen is now in the
collections of Colchester Museums. Previously known only from open, sandy ground in Breckland,
the adults and larvae are found in puffball fungi (Hyman & Parsons 1992). An attempt will be made
during 2001 to ascertain whether or not a colony exists at this ancient woodland site.
Lixus scabricollis Boheman (Curculionidae)
A single example of this coastal species was swept from vegetation at the foot of the sea wall at Old
Hall Marshes, Tollesbury (TL966121) on 20.V.2000 by NC. Despite repeated sweeping and hand
searching, no further examples were located. First discovered in West Kent in 1970 (Hyman &
Parsons 1992), the weevil is associated with Sea Beet Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima. Subsequent to
this discovery, Peter Harvey has also found the species at Rainham in south Essex.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Essex Wildlife Trust for permission to record at Colne Point, and to
publish the record of Philonthus spinipes; RSPB for permission to record at Old Hall Marshes;
Essex County Council for permission for CNHS to records at Chalkney Wood; and Peter Harvey for
permission to publish his record of Lixus scabricollis.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)
65