North Thames Estuary & Marshes Terrestrial Invertebrate survey 2022.
Abstract
In 2022, Natural England commissioned surveys to assess terrestrial invertebrate assemblages near the Thames in Essex, UK, focusing on post-industrial and coastal habitats from Stanford Le Hope to Tilbury docks. The study targeted Specific Assemblage Types (SATs) such as "short sward," "bare ground," "tall sward and scrub," as well as salt marsh and reed-fen habitats. Surveys recorded 1012 invertebrate species, with 135 of conservation importance, including several rare and nationally endangered species. Notable findings included Section 41 priority species like the shrill carder bee (Bombus sylvarum), sea aster bee (Colletes halophilus), and five-banded weevil wasp (Cerceris quinquefasciata). Atypical specimens of Cerapheles terminatus raised questions about potential new beetle species in Britain. The obtained results emphasized the significance of post-industrial and coastal habitats of south Essex for biodiversity conservation.