The Essex Naturalist
91
Distribution
Donisthorpe (1927) gives Southend as the only locality in Essex and this is
shown in Barrett (1979). The recent rediscovery of this ant in Essex is detailed
in Payne (1995). Despite quite extensive survey during 1992 only a single
worker was found at Shoebury Old Ranges in Gunners Park, a remarkable
remnant of the former Shoebury Common. It is now known that this site has a
very rich invertebrate fauna, another example of the nationally important fauna
that survives on the Essex side of the Thames Estuary.
Habitat and Ecology
Collingwood (1979) states that this species characteristically nests in small
single queened colonies under stones and in rock crevices. In Britain the ant
colonises warm, south-facing, open rocky areas, typically coastal cliffs, screes,
undercliffs, slumped cliff slopes and old quarries (Orledge in Roberts 1998). In
the Dungeness area it is found on vegetated shingle, often in association with
bushes of broom or gorse (Falk 1991) and there nests have been found amongst
pebbles and gorse roots, and in peat over pebbles. There are several records of
nests within the dead stems of herbaceous and shrubby plants, in rotting wood
and in old snail shells (Orledge in Edwards 1998). The Essex locality is a small
area of isolated remnant dune with areas of lichen heath and gorse scrub and
nests here are most likely to be found in similar situations to those at
Dungeness.
Threats
The nearest other British populations are on the south coast of Kent (map in
Edwards 1998) and the Essex population is clearly extremely small, isolated and
vulnerable. Although part of Gunners Park, the remnant dune site is a tiny and
very fragile nature conservation oasis in the midst of urbanisation. It is at
present managed as a wildlife reserve by the Essex Wildlife Trust and there is no
public access. Any plans to allow public access or otherwise develop the site
should be strongly resisted. This must be one of the most vulnerable habitats and
sites in the county.
Leptothorax nylanderi (Forster)
National status Local County status Essex Local
Frequency Ratio 1.6 Tetrad Percentage 3.7%
Recorded 1km sq. percentage 7.9%
Distribution
There are recent records from 36 widely distributed localities in the county.
Barrett (1979) shows a post 1961 record for TM13 which may originate from
Suffolk.
Habitat and Ecology
A small unobtrusive ant found in deciduous woodlands, usually in leaf litter.
Collingwood (1979) states that it is normally a woodland bark inhabiting