Four species of Coleoptera new to Essex
References
ALLEN, AJ. & OWEN, J.A. (1997) Philonthus spinipes Sharp (Staphylinidae) in Dorset - new to Britain.
Coleopterists^): 81-83.
HARRISON, T.D. (1992) Tetrops starkii Chevrolat (Cerambycidae) new to Britain. Coleopterist 1 (1): 3.
HYMAN, P.S. & PARSONS, M.S. (1992) A Review of the Scarce and Threatened Coleoptera of Great
Britain. JNCC, Peterborough.
TWINN, P.F.G. & HARDING, RT. (1999) Provisional Atlas of the Langham Beetles (Coleoptera,
Cerambycidae) of Britain. BRC, Huntingdon.
The welcome return of the Polecat Mustela putorius to Essex
JOHN DOBSON
148 Main Road, Danbury, Essex CM3 4DT
In early September 1999, a presumed polecat-ferret was found dead on a road near Wendens Ambo
to the west of Saffron Walden (TL492363). The corpse was collected so that photographs could be
taken and the skull obtained. These were later offered to Dr Johnny Birks of the Vincent Weir Trust
and author of a recent report on the status and distribution of the Polecat in Britain who confirmed
that the Essex specimen was indeed a Polecat - the first Essex record for around 100 years. The key
features revealed by the photographs were the absence of a throat patch (common in polecat/ferret
hybrids) and the dark fur particularly on the underside.
As recently described (Dobson 1999), the exact date of the disappearance of the Polecat from Essex
is uncertain. They were reported to be "fairly frequent up until 1830 in many parts of Essex, especially
bordering the marshes "but considered to be "extremely rare" in 1915 (Laver 1915). The Polecat
was last recorded from Epping Forest around 1880 although occasional reports from the Lea Valley
occurred until 1900, with further records from the Thames marshes in 1905.
It is thought that persecution by gamekeepers during the Victorian times was the major reason for
the decline of the Polecat with the national population reduced to a small area of mid-Wales by the
end of the 19th Century When predator control was relaxed after the First World War, the species
began to extend its range and spread into England. This return was assisted by several releases and
in 1982-83, Polecats were re-introduced at several sites in central and south-west Hertfordshire. A
total of 26-30 animals was released and their descendants have been regularly reported in subsequent
years (M. Clark, pers. comm.). It seems likely that the Essex record was a result of this re-introduction.
In September 2000, a report was received of a dead Polecat observed on the hard shoulder of the
M11 near Stansted. Unfortunately the body could not be recovered so the true identity must remain
in doubt (M. Robinson, pers. comm.).
References
DOBSON, J. (1999) The Mammals of Essex. Lopinga Books, Wimbish, Essex.
LAVER, H. (1915) The distribution of the Polecat (Mustela putorius) and the Yellow-necked Mouse (Mus
flavicollis) in Essex. Zoologist 4th Series 19: 151.
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)