interior of the stump of a felled oak pollard and in September 1977 I noted a number of
specimens of the four-spotted digger (Crossocerus quadrimaculatus) excavating burrows
in the sands and gravels caught up in the root system of an upturned birch stump. Other
species probably making use of the tree stumps and decaying wood include the mining
bee {Anthophora furcata) and the leaf cutter bee (Megachile willughbiella). A number
of species are known to be ground nesters, among them the common tawny mining bee
(Andrena fulva). I noted only a solitary female of this species in Lords Bushes though
often they occur in discrete colonies (there is a very strong colony of this species on grass-
land opposite the Roebuck Inn). Another common mining bee (Osmia rufa) I noted
collecting particles of damp clay from the side of a ditch, presumably to make nest cells
with. The familiar bumble-bees (Bombus spp.) were well represented including the
apparently uncommon (in Essex) red-shanked carder bee (Bombus ruderarius) though
this is almost certainly due to under-recording. 1 was surprised to record 5 of the 6
British species of cuckoo bee (Psithyrus spp.) on the burnt and disturbed area, these are
brood parasites of bumble-bees; all the required host species were recorded but it is not
always the case that the parasite is recorded as well. The homeless bees (in Lords Bushes
I have recorded only the common Nomada goodeniana) are also brood parasites, though
of genera such as Andrena and Halictus. Also on the topic of parasites, I was surprised,
given in particular the number of Bombus spp. present to record just a solitary specimen
of thick-headed fly Conops quadrifasciatus from the burnt and disturbed area. Two
uncommon bees noted were Lasioglossum pauxillum and Sphecodes puncticeps.
The following species were recorded mainly in 1979. Nomenclature follows Kloet,
G. S. & Hincks, W. D. (40).
FORMICOIDEA
Myrmica rubra
Lasius niger
SPHECOIDEA
Argogorytes mystaceus
Crossocerus annulipes
varus
quadrimaculatus
Ectemnius cavifrons
Psen dahlbomi
APOIDEA
Andrena bicolor
fulva
Anthophora furcata
Apis mellifera
Bombus hortorum
lapidarius
lucorum
pascuorum
pratorum
ruderarius
terrestris
Halictus tumulorum
Hylaeus communis
Lasioglossum pauxillum
villosulum
Megachile circumcincta
willughbiella
Nomada goodeniana
Osmia rufa
Psithyrus barbutellus
campestris
rupestris
sylvestris
vestalis
Sphecodes puncticeps
VESPOIDEA
Dolichovespula sylvestris
Vespula germanica
rufa
vulgaris
POMPILOIDEA
Dipogon variegatus
German Wasp (Vespula germanica)
55