HOVER-FLIES IN ESSEX
97
Essex, but there is one fairly recent record. Harwood (1903) described it as
'very local', and there are Colchester specimens in HD and PE dating
from 1895 to 1901. A. W. Jones has a female he took on Ligustrum vulgare
in Wintry Wood, Epping, on 27 June 1948.
V. pellucens L. 8 June-12 September
VC 18, 19. By far the commonest species of Volucella in Essex. Taken
at flowers of Rosa sp., Rubus fruticosus agg., Heracleum sphondylium,
Oenanthe crocata, Mentha aquatica, Cnicus palustris; and the garden
flowers Philadelphus and Chrysanthemum maximum.
Sericomyia silentis Harris
VC 18, 19. Essentially a moorland fly, this lovely insect is very rare in
Essex, if indeed it still occurs. Colchester, 1893 (Harwood, in HD);
Epping Forest, 10 September 1904 (H. Moore, Proc. S. Lond. ent. & Nat.
Hist. Soc); Epping Forest, 29 July 1946 (C. O. Hammond).
Arctophila fulva Harris
VC 18. Another species of highland Britain, but 200 years ago Moses
Harris (1776) wrote of his Musca fulvus 'It was taken in July, near East
Tilbury in Essex, and is very scarce, being the only one I have yet seen'.
Apparently there have been no subsequent records for Essex.
Eristalis sepulchralis L. 15 May-5 September
VC 18, 19. Common throughout the county, perhaps particularly so
along the sea wall. Taken on flowers of Ranunculus bulbosus, Cardaria
draba, Crataegus monogyna, Daucus carota, Heracleum sphondylium,
Bryonia dioica, Limonium vulgare, Convolvulus arvensis, Crepis taraxaci-
folia, Inula crithmoides, I. helenium, and the garden Chrysanthemum
maximum.
E. aeneus Scop. 15 March-4 October
VC 18, 19. A common coastal and estuarine fly, first recorded for our
county by John Curtis (1832), who found it in 'April and October, upon
windows at Southchurch, Essex'. The only inland record is of a female
taken at Epping by E. H. Moss (del. R. M. P.) on 12 July 1962. Observed
feeding at flowers of Hedera helix, Smyrnium olusatrum, Salix sp., Aster
tripolium, Inula crithmoides, Tussilago farfara; and Michaelmas Daisy.
E. pertinax Scop. 15 April-15 October
VC 18, 19. Abundant throughout the county, and observed at flowers
of Hypericum perforatum, Malus sylvestris, Prunus spinosa, Rosa sp.,
Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Daucus carota, Foeniculum vulgare,
Heracleum sphondylium, Oenanthe crocata, Pimpinella saxifraga, Smyrnium
olusatrum, Salix sp., Lamium album, Mentha aquatica, Aster tripolium,
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Cirsium arvense, Pulicaria dysenterica,
Senecio jacobaea; garden Carrot, Polygonum baldschuanicum, Hebe,
Golden Rod, Chrysanthemum maximum and Michaelmas Daisy.