Review of the Lepidoptera of Essex for the year 2001
Mistley, 6 July (PP) - a new site, though it is only a few miles from its known stronghold and the
two locations are more or less connected by oaks, along the railway line.
Recorders
Agassiz, D.J.L.; Aird, J.; Arthur, R.; Barfoot, R.;Balchin, C; Bergdahl, P.; Bowdrey, J.; Cook, A.;
Clifton, J.; Cottrill, R.; Dewick, A.; Dewick, S.; Down, D.G; Dutton, D.; Ekins, G; Firmin, J.;
Fisher. J.B.; Gibson, C; Goodey, B.; Goodyear, E.; Geen, G; Green, G; Green, T.; Grimwood, S.;
Harvey, P.; Heckford, R; Heywood, M.; Green, J.; Jackson, M.; Kettle, A.; Lansdown, A.; Law, tx;
Lock, B.; Maisey, A.; Marsh, R.; Owen, D.; Owen, FL; Pateman, B.; Perry, D.; Ponting, E.; Prichard,
A.; Pyke, P.; Rose, L; Rowland, J.; Scott, D.; Senior, A.; Slater, G; Smith, P.; Smith, P.J.; Tarpey,
T; Tarrant, M.; Thompson, A.; Torino, J.; Wood, S.; Young, J.;
References
BRADLEY, J.D. (2000) Checklist of Lepidoptera recorded from the British Isles Second edition (revised).
Fordingbridgc.
Essex Dragonflies (Odonata): an update
TED BENTON AND JOHN DOBSON*
13 Priory Street, Colchester CO1 2PY
*148 Main Road, Danbury, Chelmsford CM3 4DT
Since the most recent dragonfly report in th is journal (Benton 1997/8), there have been several important
changes in the county's dragonfly fauna. This is even more true of the period since the most recent
comprehensive survey of the county fauna (Benton 1988). In view of this the co-authors decided to co-
ordinate a new survey, beginning in the 2001 season, and involving as many recorders as we were able
to contact and were willing. Unfortunately field-recording in 2001 was severely restricted by the foot-
and mouth epidemic, with many key sites inaccessible for a large part of the spring and summer. Despite
this set-back, some 4000 records were obtained, with coverage of most parts of the county.
Evidence was provided of the presence within the county of populations of twenty three species of
Odonata. Two of these, the Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum (see plate 9) and the
Scarce Chaser Libellula fulva are new colonists of Essex since the previous comprehensive survey,
although there had been occasional reports of L. fulva by the date of the more recent (1997/8) report.
So far in the current survey, the Variable Damselfly Coenagrion pulchellum has not been re-found.
However, this may not be significant as there was only one report of the species in the earlier survey,
and it had not been seen since 1983 at that site.
Libellula fulva had been reported as seen in the extreme south-west of the county in 1997 (T. Gunton,
pers. comm.), the only Essex sightings since W.H. Harwood observed a single specimen on the
Colne almost a century earlier. Cham (2000a) noted that this species appeared to be extending its range
H6
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 19 (2002)