Orthoptera and allied insects of Essex 2002
(Table 2). The length of the adult season for each species is the number of days between the first and
last stridulation dates. It was reported that Roesel's Bush-cricket Metrioptera roeselii was heard
singing on 30th June 2001 from Bushey Park, Surrey. This species was singing on 3rd July at the Lee
Valley Regional Park in the same year (Widgery 2001). At Writtle, this species was first heard
singing on 9th July in 2002, which is early considering the cloudy conditions (Table 1). The last
singing individual was heard on 8Ih October, giving this species a long adult season, which may
explain how it has been able to spread throughout the county in recent times.
Table 2: The dates of the first and last stridulations heard on the
Writtle College estate (TL6707) by the author in 2002
Species First Last Length of adult
__________________________________stridulation______stridulation season (days)
Acrididae
Chorthippus albomarginatus 01/07 04/10 96
Chorthippus parallelus_________________25/06___________05/10____________103
Tettigoniidae
Metrioptera roeselii 09/07 08/10 92
Pholidoptera griseoaptera 26/07 10/10 77
Species Records 2002
The 2002 season yielded 472 records of 15 species of Orthoptera in Essex. However, records were
collected from only 14 people. Approximately 63% of records (293 sightings) were from either the
author (TG) or Michelle Pye (MP). It is hoped that in future years a wider distribution of recorders
will send in their observations. The author decided that since few records had been received since
the publication of Wake (1997), a conscious effort needed to be made to visit many parts of the
county to update old records and to gain some idea of how the Orthoptera of Essex are faring. All
10km sightings refer to records collected since 1980. The records that follow are by TG or MP
unless otherwise stated. Nomenclature follows Haes & Harding (1997).
Notable records in 2002
Great Green Bush-cricket Tettigonia viridissima (L.)
An effort was made by TG and MP to visit several old sites in 2002 to check whether this scarce
species is still flourishing on the Essex coast. An abundance of singing T. viridissima males were
located in scrubby habitats at the following sites; Curry Farm. Bradwell (TL9905), Hadleigh Castle
Country Park (TQ7985; TQ8085), Holland Haven Country Park (TM2217), Southminster Pits
(TQ9699) and Wrabness Nature Reserve (TM1631).
Long-winged Conehead Conocephalus discolor (Thunberg)
Since first being recorded in the extreme west of the county in 1995, this species has colonised
thirteen 10km squares. The spread of this species continued in 2002 with five new 10km records:
Bumbles Green, Nazeing (TL40; J. Clark), Canvey Northwick (TQ78; P. Harvey), Hoe Mill (TL80;
N. Harvey), Weald Country Park (TQ59) and Writtle College (TL60). At Bumbles Green this species
was reported in J. Clark's kitchen! C. discolor is definitely worth watching out for in any location in
the county.
64
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)