90
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
C. cautum Harris 18 May-18 July
VC 18, 19. This very striking insect, while never abundant, is the com-
monest species of Chrysotoxum in Essex. Taken on flowers of the Umbel-
lifers Anthriscus sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium and Smyrnium olu-
satrum.
C. verralli Collin
VC 18, 19. This species is very similar to the common cautum, and may
have been overlooked. Harwood found it at Colchester from 1899 to 1913
(BM, HD and PE), recording it under the name octomaculatum, and in
recent years it has been taken all over south Essex, though less frequently
than cautum. There are at present no records of flowers visited.
Rhingia campestris Mg. 8 May-8 October
VC 18, 19. Very common throughout the county. Taken at flowers of
Cardaria draba, Chamaenerion angustifolium, Calystegia sepium, Convol-
vulus arvensis, Bartsia odontites, Clinopodium vulgare, Mentha aquatica,
Centaurea nigra and Cirsium arvense.
It should be mentioned here that a specimen at PE labelled 'Rhingia
rostrata L. Colchester. W. H. Harwood' is in fact R. campestris.
Myolepta luteola Gmelin
VC 18. Epping Forest (Coe, 1953—C. O. Hammond tells me that this
record relates to a specimen he took at Loughton on 6 July 1946); Shoe-
buryness, 6 August 1960; Benfleet, 17 June 1961 (CNC); Benfleet, 18 June
1966 (C. O. Hammond).
Ferdinandea cuprea Scop.
VC 18, 19. This distinctive species is almost certainly commoner than
the few records suggest. Colchester, 1893-1900 (Harwood, in HD);
Buckhurst Hill, a regular visitor to diseased elm trees, 1947 (Shillito,
1948); Epping Forest, 31 May 1959; Wanstead Park, 25 June 1960
(E. H. Moss); Newport, in woodland glade 30 May 1964; Benfleet Downs,
at flowers of Convolvulus arvensis, 6 September 1970; Langdon Hills, 17
June 1972 (G. Glombek); South Hanningfield, 9 August 1973 (E. T.
Levy).
F. ruficornis F.
VC 18, 19. Colchester (Harwood, ex coll. J. J. F. X. King, in BM);
Epping Forest (Coe, 1953—C. O. Hammond tells me that this record
relates to a specimen he took on 21 April 1946).
Brachyopa scutellaris Desvoidy
VC 19. Harwood (1903) included Brachyopa bicolor in his list for the
county, but this record must unfortunately be ignored, since at that time
all British Brachyopa were assumed to be bicolor. There are no Essex
specimens of this genus at BM, but at HD there is a single male scutellaris
labelled 'Colchester 1907. Harwood'. A specimen named bicolor at PE,
labelled 'Colchester. W. H. Harwood', is too badly damaged to permit