Bats in Essex in 2002
An early specimen was collected and later released from Southend Hospital during March. This is
the first record from this area for several years since a small colony was found in Prittlewell. The
only roost count was of thirteen bats emerging from a roost at Hornchurch in May. Other records
were of bats recorded foraging at Hanningfield Reservoir, Chigwell and Writtle.
Noctule Nyctalus noctula (Schreber 1774)
The only records for the year were of bats feeding at Weald Park, Highwoods Country Park, Abberton
and Hanningfield Reservoirs, Chigwell and Langford.
Leisler's Bat Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl 1818)
A poor year with roost counts of 40 from Little Hallingbury in June and 26 from Aveley in May.
I would like to thank Neil Harvey and Martin Heywood for contributing records during the year.
Recent observations on the Black Oil Beetle Meloe proscarabaeus (L.)
(Coleoptera: Meloidae) in North Essex
JERRY BOWDREY
Colchester Museums, 14 Ryegate Road, Colchester, Essex CO1 1YG
Oil beetles (Meloe spp.) arc occasionally found as singletons or in small numbers in Essex, but in
spring 2002 two coastal sites in north Essex produced exceptional numbers, prompting a search in
other likely looking habitats and repeat visits in 2003.
On 16 March 2002, while crossing a sandy area adjacent to a saline lagoon at the Naze, Walton
(TM22) (see Plate 3), a large female oil beetle was observed on a sparsely vegetated area. A short
distance away a male was seen, prompting a brief search of the area. Walking in a zig-zag fashion
across the dune, a total of 21 individuals were counted in approximately 30 minutes. There were 9
females and 12 males, the latter differentiated by flattened segments in the antennae. Some were
standing motionless, others walking slowly and the remainder appeared to be feeding on grass
shoots and the cotyledons of an unidentified plant.
As Meloe spp. develop in the nests of bees, a search was made for Hymenoptera and their burrows,
but by this time (around 4pm) conditions had become cool and cloudy and none were observed.
To facilitate identification, a male was taken as a voucher specimen and proved to be Meloe
proscarabaeus (L.) (see Plate 3 inset), differentiated from Meloe violaceus by the lack of a groove
or dip at the base of the thorax. However, at least one male of the violet coloured form M.
proscarabaeus f. violaceus was seen.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)
45