HOVER-FLIES IN ESSEX 93
P. noctiluca L. 7 May-14 June
VC 18, 19. The only fairly common species of this difficult genus, and
found throughout Essex.
Pipizella maculipennis Mg.
VC 19. This is one of our rarest insects. Collin (1952) says 'The only
British specimens of maculipennis seen by me were taken by the Harwoods
(father and son) near Colchester (Essex), some of these are in the British
Museum, some in my collection, others in Mr Philip Harwood's collec-
tion.' Specimens labelled 'Colchester', but with no date, are now in BM
and HD.
P. virens F.
VC 18, 19. Not a common species. Collin (1952) said he had seen
examples from Essex, and there are Harwood specimens from Colchester
both in HD and PE. I took a single male on bramble at Hadleigh Downs
on 16 June 1971, and P. J. Chandler another male in woodland in almost
the same locality on 10 June 1972. E. T. Levy found two males at Eastwood
on 20 and 26 May 1972 and in June 1973.
P. varipes Mg.
VC 18, 19. This inconspicuous species may be commoner than the
paucity of records suggests. Leigh Marshes, on Heracleum sphondylium
flowers 18 June 1970; Stow Maries, on Pulicaria dysenterica flowers 31
July 1971; Fingringhoe Wick Reserve, 8 July 1972 (G. Glombek).
Heringia heringii Zett.
VC 18, 19. Colchester (Harwood, in HD). The only recent capture is of
a single female taken by E. T. Levy in an overgrown deserted garden at
Hullbridge on 21 May 1972 (Payne, 1973).
Cnemodon latitarsis Egger
VC 18. Epping Forest, a male taken as the prey of the spider Meta
segmentata Clerck, 25 August 1946 (Parmenter, 1953). This is doubtless
the record mentioned by Coe (1953).
C. vitripennis Mg.
VC 18, 19. Colchester 1907-1913 (Harwood, in HD, including a speci-
men labelled 'det. G.H.V.'); Westcliff, a female taken in my garden,
26 July 1969.
Cheilosia illustrata Harris
VC 18, 19. A fairly common species, its blotched wings making it the
most distinctive of the genus. In my experience it is almost always found
feeding at flowers of Heracleum sphondylium.
C. antiqua Mg.
VC 19. I can echo Chandler's (1969) astonishment that Coe (1953)
should have described this fly as 'common'. The only Essex record is an