A HISTORY OF ESSEX 



St. Osyth. The scarce Sphodrus leucophthalmus is occasionally found in 

 cellars and outhouses at Colchester, and the extremely local Avtophorus 

 imperialis frequents marshy places near the mouth of the Colne, and has 

 also been obtained at Ilford and Dagenham. Bracbinus sclopeta has now 

 been relegated to the list of doubtful British species, as it has not been 

 captured for many years ; but it is stated on the authority of Mr. Hope 

 to have been taken at Southend, and there seems to be no reason why 

 it should not turn up again. Hydropbilus piceus, one of the very largest 

 of our British beetles, is found in the Epping district. Spercheus emar- 

 ginatus was taken in some numbers by Mr. Billups near West Ham in 

 1878, only two or three British examples being previously known. Un- 

 fortunately the locality has since been destroyed. Aleochara ruficornis 

 and Microglossa gentilis have been taken in and near nests of Lasius fuli- 

 ginosus at Colchester, and the extremely rare Myrmedonia bawortbi has 

 once been obtained in the same locality and also at Southend. In the 

 extensive family Homalota a reference to the list will show that many of 

 the better species are found in various parts of the county. Sticboglossa 

 semirufa is at present unique as British, a single specimen having been 

 beaten from oak at Colchester in 1898. Tachinus elongates and Mega- 

 cronus inclinans are also found at Colchester. Velleius dilatatus^ one of 

 the rarest of our native Stapbylinidez, was captured at Wanstead by Mr. 

 Willoughby, and exhibited at a meeting of the Entomological Society 

 on February 5, 1849. 



A single specimen of Emus fa'rfus, captured at Southend, was shown 

 at the Entomological Society's meeting on October 3, 1859. The 

 extremely rare and handsome Ocypus cyaneus has several times been 

 captured at Colchester, and O. pedator has been obtained at Southend. 

 Phllonthus addendus and P. ebeninus^ var. corruscus, are occasionally found 

 near Colchester. Mr. Waterhouse captured P. fuscus at Southend in 

 September, 1858, and P. punctus has been taken in ditch rubbish at 

 St. Osyth and Southend. 



The scarce Hister marglnatus has occurred in ants' nests at Colches- 

 ter. Anisotoma cinnamomea was recorded by Curtis from Saffron Walden, 

 and A. grandis has been taken at Colchester. Trichopteryx brevicornis has 

 only been found in Essex, Mr. Billups having taken several specimens in 

 the West Ham marshes on November 29, 1883. T. guerinii has also 

 been found in the same locality, and T. ambigua at Loughton. Single 

 specimens of Gnorimus nobilis were obtained at Colchester in 1899 and 

 1900, and Mr. West has also taken this fine insect in south Essex. 

 Agriotes sordidus was first discovered as British by Mr. T. V. Wollaston, 

 who took it at Southend. 



Prionus coriarius is frequently met with on the wing or at rest on 

 trees near Colchester. Hylotrupes bajulus is stated in Fowler's British 

 Coleoptera to have occurred at Epping. Clytus arcuatus was obtained at 

 Loughton by Dr. Power, and has also been reported from Epping and 

 Hainault. Callidium sanguineum, which is now considered doubtfully 

 British, was recorded by Mr. S. Stevens as having been captured in an 



118 



