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The Essex Naturalist
Diptera: Tephritidae
The Tephritidae contains a number of gall inducing species some of which are
nationally rare. The nationally notable Oxyna flavipennis was added to the Essex
list on the strength of one individual taken on a yarrow flower on the Roman
Wall, Colchester (Bowdrey 1996). This species induces galls on roots of yarrow,
but a search of plants displaced by building works failed to locate any galls at the
site.
Myopites inulaedyssentericae is a species which appears to be extending its range
in the County. A female was seen visiting flowers of common fleabane in the
author's garden at Great Oakley (TM2028) in July and by late summer it was
apparent that virtually every flower head was galled. Large numbers of galled
fleabane capitula were also located on roadside verges at Little Bentley (TM1125)
and a smaller number in the churchyard of All Saints, Great Oakley (TM1827).
References
Bowdrey, J P, 1994. A preliminary note on Aulacidea follioti Barbotin, 1972 (Hymenoptera,
Cynipidae), a species new to Britain. Cecidology 9 (2): 54.
1996. Oxyna .flavipennis (Loew, 1844) (Diptera: Tephritidae) new to Essex. Entomologist's
Record & Journal of Variation 108: 39.
Some notable hoverflies found in Essex since 1990
R G Payne
Southend Central Museum, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS2 6EW
The following is a list of some of the more noteworthy records reported to me in
my capacity as the Essex Recorder for hoverflies in the past five years.
Cheilosia barbata Loew
A nationally scarce fly with few Essex records all from the Grays area. Larvae are
unknown.
Cheilosia griseiventris Loew
A species quite recently separated from C. intonsa (Loew). Nationally scarce.
Only one Essex Record, from Little Burstead Common, TQ6591, 14.viii.93 (P R
Harvey).
Cheilosa velutina Loew
There are old Essex records from Colchester (Harwood, determined by Verrall in
Hope Dept.) and more recent ones from Rayleigh (1972, 1976, E T Levy
confirmed by BM (Nat Hist)) and Grays chalk quarry (1985, P R Harvey). This
is a nationally scarce hoverfly whose larvae have been recorded from the roots of
Scrophularia nodosa. Recent records are from Ferry Fields, Tilbury, TQ6475,
1995 (P Hodge); Dolphin Quarry, Purfleet, TQ5678, 1.viii.95 (C W Plant);
Millwood Chalk Pit, Grays, TQ5978, 3.viii.94 (C W Plant).