Wildlife and conservation review 2003
The final suite of papers all derive from research undertaken by the Centre for Environment &
Rural Affairs at Writtle College. One paper on Essex Glow-worms reiterates much of the material
already published in Vol. 19 of the Essex Naturalist they suggest a wide distribution in the county,
but an uncertain future as a result of the increasing isolation of favourable habitat. A second
concentrated upon the influence of soil pH upon Glow-worm distribution - it is usually assumed to
be found preferentially on chalky soils with a high pH value, given that they feed upon snails,
which are most abundant in chalky areas. The survey however found no such relationship in Essex.
GARDINER, T., PYE, M. & FIELD, R. (2003) The Glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca L. (Coleoptera:
Lampyridae) in Essex. Brit. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 16: 233-240.
GARDINER, T., PYE, M. & FIELD, R. (2003) The influence of soil pH on the abundance of Glow-worm
Lampyris noctiluca Linnaeus (Lampyridae) in Essex. The Coleopterist 12(3): 121-123.
The Writtle College Estate provided the study area for a comparative behavioural study of Small
and Essex Skippers. Due to their similarity in appearance, most research and survey involving
these species has hitherto lumped them together, so this study provided some interesting comparisons
and contrasts, at least at this site. Small Skipper numbers peaked a week earlier than those of Essex
Skipper, and Small Skipper was observed nectaring preferentially on Black Knapweed, with Black
Horehound second. In Essex Skipper these preferences were reversed. Lesser Burdock and Red
Clover were also important nectar sources for Small and Essex Skipper respectively. There was
also a suggestion of some difference in the grass species chosen for oviposition, although only a
very small number of observations of this behaviour were possible.
PYE, M., GARDINER, T. & FIELD, R. (2003) A behavioural study of Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
Poda and Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola Ochs, butterflies (Lep: Hesperiidae). Entomologists Record
115: 1-12.
The College Estate also provided most of the study areas for research into the influence of sward
height and vegetation composition in determining the habitat preferences of three Chorthippus
grasshoppers. All three species were found to be most abundant in sward heights of 10-20cm.
Chorthippus brunneus and C. parallelus in particular were positively associated with fine-leaved
grasses, and negatively associated with Perennial Rye-grass and Rough Meadow-grass; these two
grasshoppers were also found to be significantly more abundant at heathland sites than agricultural
sites. This habitat preference may be as a result of the associations with particular grass species,
and could have important implications for rare farmland bird species which feed upon grasshoppers.
GARDINER, T., PYE, M., FIELD, R. & HILL, J. (2002) The influence of sward height and vegetation
composition in determining the habitat preferences of three Chorthippus species (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
in Chelmsford, Essex, UK. Journal of Orthoptera Research 11(2): 207-213.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 21 (2004)
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