96
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
C. vernalis Fln. 9 May-6 September
VC 18, 19. A widespread and fairly common species, taken on flowers
of Ranunculus repens, R. auricomus, Cardaria draba, Achillea millefolium,
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Senecio jacobaea and Sonchus arvensis.
C. proxima Zett.
VC 18, 19. Colchester (Harwood, in HD); Waltham Abbey, 7 August
1960; Hadleigh Downs, on flowers of Torilis japonica 2 August 1969, and
on low herbage 13 June 1971 and 10 June 1972; Thaxted, on flowers of
Daucus carota 6 September 1972.
C. velutina Loew
VC 19. Colchester (Harwood, det. G. H. Verrall, in HD).
Volucella bombylans L. 30 May-1 August
VC 18, 19. Fairly common, taken at flowers of Rubus fruticosus agg. and
Centaurea nigra.
V. zonaria Poda
VC 18. This magnificent insect, the largest of all British hover-flies, was
first noticed in Essex in 1950. Since then it has been seen several times in
the southern part of the county, but it seems far from certain that it has
established itself in Essex as a breeding species. I give below all the known
occurrences:—
Leytonstone, at flowers of Michaelmas Daisy 16 September 1950
(Pratt, 1951); Southend, August 1953 (R. A. Drake, in BM); Leigh-on-Sea,
Belfairs Wood, 2 August 1953 (P. H. Ward, in BM); Stanford-le-Hope,
1954 (Huggins, 1957); Westcliff, 18 July 1956 (Huggins, 1957); Woodford,
2 August 1959 (E. H. Moss); Wanstead, 24 July 1960 (E. H. Moss);
Woodford, 14 August 1960 (D. Kendrick); Wanstead, 28 September 1960
(E. E. Syms); Grays, chalk quarry, 10 July 1966 (G. A. Pyman); Hadleigh,
24 September 1967 (D. Down); Leigh-on-Sea, 31 July 1968 (C. O. Ham-
mond); Benfleet Marshes, on Mentha aquatica flowers 23 August 1970;
Dagenham, male and female on Buddleia 19 August 1971 (Allen, 1971);
Leytonstone, 9 August 1972 (E. T. Levy); Grays, chalk quarry, on
Achillea millefolium flowers 10 September 1972 (G. Glombek); Mucking,
on Ivy flowers 1 September 1973.
V. inanis L.
VC 18, 19. An uncommon fly, apparently now confined to Epping
Forest. Colchester, 1890-1896 (Harwood, in HD); Epping Forest, 10
August 1946 (C. O. Hammond); Chingford, 23 August 1948 (C. O.
Hammond); Coopersale Common, 15 July 1950 (C. O. Hammond);
Epping Forest, 15 August 1954 (J. A. & D. I. Clark, in BM); Wanstead
Park, 29 July 1962 (E. H. Moss); Loughton, 4 September 1965 (Payne,
1968).
V. inflata F.
VC 19. I have not been able to find this most beautiful hover-fly in