Copris lunaris (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in Essex?
JERRY BOWDREY
Colchester Museums, 14 Ryegate Road, Colchester, Essex CO1 IYG
Abstract
A previously-overlooked published record of Copris lunaris in Essex is presented, with discussion
on the suitability of the site for this species and the likely authenticity of the record.
The last British example of Copris lunaris was taken in Sussex in 1960 (Hodge 1995) and the
species is now classified as threatened (Shirt 1987). In the south-east of Britain it was formerly
recorded from Kent and Suffolk (Hyman & Parsons 1992). The species is not mentioned in a review
of Essex scarce and threatened Coleoptera (Hammond 1999) and, as far as is known, has never been
recorded in the county of Essex.
However, whilst searching through the file on Walton-on-the-Naze (V.C. 19) at Colchester Museums
Biological Records Centre, a pamphlet was located which details the results of a survey of the
natural history of the Naze carried out by Bishops Stortford College Natural History Society between
1955 and 1963 (Darlington 1963).
A paragraph on Coleoptera includes the statement 'the very local Copris lunaris taken here in 1958'.
The initials of the recorders CFP and DCA(CF Poole and DC Allen) are appended to this paragraph.
Knowing of the scarcity of C. lunaris and that it had never previously been recorded from Essex, the
author's first reaction was that the record was the result of a misidentification of a superficially
similar, large scarabeid. The fact that Geotrupes stercorarius and a single example of Typhoeas
typhoeus, found in 1955, were also recorded, make this explanation less likely. Unfortunately, enquiries
at the College failed to elicit a response, or to establish the existence of a collection of material from
the Naze survey that might contain a specimen of C. lunaris.
The Naze is a headland over 100 acres in extent, roughly three miles long and one mile wide.
Formerly part of Hall Farm, in 1924 it became a golf course. Requisitioned at the beginning of
WWII it was released to a private owner in 1953. Plans to develop the area aroused strong local
opposition resulting in a public enquiry in 1961. As a result it was decided to designate the area as
public open space and it is now in the ownership of Tendring District Council.
According to Hyman & Parsons (loc. cit.) Copris lunaris requires wcll-draincd pasture on chalk or
sandy soil, with a supply of cow or horse dung. The Naze may well have met both these requirements
as up to the late 1950s it had been grazed by cattle (D. Weston, pers. comm.). Additionally the Naze
is an internationally important geological site on account of its Pleistocene shelly sands (known as
Red Crag) which, together with later glacial sands and gravels, overly the London Clay. Crag deposits
also occur in the Ipswich area and at Bungay, two historic Suffolk sites for the beetle (Shirt, loc. cit.).
In the absence of a voucher specimen, some doubt must always remain over the authenticity of this
Essex record. However it is interesting to note that it was made during the period when the last
known examples of C. lunaris were recorded elsewhere in Britain - Dorset 1954 (Frewin 1992).
Surrey 1955 (Cloudsley-Thompson & Sankey 1957) and Sussex 1960 (Hodge, loc. cit.).
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)