HOVER-FLIES IN ESSEX
89
Pulicaria dysenterica, Senecio erucifolius, S. jacobaea, Sonchus arvensis,
S. oleraceus; and at the garden flowers of Anemone japonica, Hypericum
patulum, Geranium platycephalum, Euonymus japonicus, Potentilla fruticosa
agg., red and blue Hydrangea, Carrot, Polygonum amplexicaule, P. bald-
schuanicum, Petunia, Hebe, Ageratum, Calendula officinalis, Cynara
scolymos, single Dahlia, Golden Rod, Liatris spicata, Chrysanthemum
maximum and mauve Crocus. This list could certainly be extended by
further observations, and it is a matter for doubt whether its length
denotes a special catholicity on the part of balteatus, or is merely a reflec-
tion of both the comparative abundance of this species and its easy
identification in the field.
Sphaerophoria menthastri agg.
The recent work of Speight (1973) has shown that S. menthastri, as
hitherto understood in this country, comprises four distinct species,
separable mainly on genitalic characters. Until the extant Essex specimens
can be re-examined therefore the records so far available must be referred
to the aggregate species.
VC 18, 19. Even the aggregate 'menthastri' is very uncommon in Essex.
Although recorded by Harwood (1903), there are no specimens from the
county at BM, and the only specimens in HD are two var. picta from
Colchester (B. S. Harwood) and Walton-on-Naze 11 July 1909 (Yerbury).
Recent records are: Chigwell, 20 August 1955 (F. Bancroft); Epping
Forest, 31 May 1959; Eastwood, a female, 8 November 1972 (E. T. Levy).
S. ruppellii Wiedemann
VC 18, 19. A coastal species, formerly known as flavicauda. Colchester
(B. S. Harwood, det. R. L. Coe, in HD); Hadleigh Marshes, 16 July 1970;
Mucking, 6 May-14 May 1972 (G. Glombek); Stanford-le-Hope, 14
September 1922 (G. Glombek).
S. scripta L. 28 April-1 October
VC 18, 19. An abundant and widespread fly, taken on flowers of
Myosoton aquaticum, Medicago lupulina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Foeniculum
vulgare, Convolvulus arvensis, Mentha aquatica, Achillea millefolium,
Inula crithmoides, I. helenium, Picris echioides, Pulicaria dysenterica,
Senecio erucifolius, S. jacobaea, S. squalidus, Taraxacum officinale; and of
Carrot, Golden Rod and Chrysanthemum maximum in gardens.
Chrysotoxum festivum L.
VC 18, 19. Taken by Harwood in the Colchester area from 1896 to 1921
(HD); but the only recent records are from the Chelmer Valley Reserve,
16 June 1970; Danbury, Backwarden Reserve, 15 July 1972, and Hockley
Woods, 23 July 1972 (E. T. Levy).
C. bicinctum L.
VC 18, 19. There are a number of recent records for the southern part
of the county, from Epping Forest across to Rochford. Not recorded for
VC 19 since 1890 (Colchester, Harwood, in HD).