22
The Essex Naturalist
Platycheirus scambus (Staeger)
Mainly a northern and western species. Has recently been found near the
Hertfordshire border at Claverend Farm (stream bank), TL4936, 15.v.90, (C W
Plant), Rushey Mead EWT Reserve, TL4919, 10.vii.94 (C W Plant) and further
east at Tilty, TL5926, 7.V.88 (C W Plant).
Psilota anthracina Meigen
A nationally rare forest hoverfly. All Essex records are from old deer parks. The
most recent is Mill Wood, Thorndon Park, TQ6289, 24.V.93 (P R Harvey).
Scaeva selenetica (Meigen)
A possible migrant species. Always scarce. Glebe Wood, Beaumont, TM1725,
17.vi.90 (J P Bowdrey); Lexden, Colchester, TL9825, 2.vii.95 (J Bowden).
Sphaerophoria bankowskae (Goeldin de Tiefenau)
Known in Britain only from its Essex locality and a wood in Northamptonshire.
Canfield Hart, Takely, TL5619, 9.vii.86 (C W Plant).
Xanthandrus comptus (Harris)
A rare species with very few Essex records. Great Dunmow, old railway cutting,
TL6121, 5.viii.93 (PR Harvey).
New and interesting Amphibian and Reptile records
for Essex in 1995
D R Scott
Court Hill, Church Lane, Little Leighs, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 1PG
The occurrence of these animals is strongly linked to the presence of suitable
habitats, many of which have been under such pressure in recent years. The
establishment of the Essex Wildlife Trust reserves has been a major factor in
conserving such habitats and various other areas are being improved, in particular
at Galleywood Common, near Chelmsford. Here, the ponds have been
sympathetically cleaned out and now have strong common frog Rana temporaria
breeding colonies. On the land, conservation work has been done to improve and
reinstate the heathland; this has resulted in an increase in common lizard Lacerta
vivipara numbers. Some of the grassland areas have been left to grow to maturity
which, in conjunction with the cleaned pond, has produced more records of the
grass snake Natrix natrix. A few slow worms Anguillis fragilis have been noted and
various unconfirmed reports of adders Vipera berus have been received.
Another strong reptile site is the Essex Wildlife Trust Backwarden reserve at
Danbury. During an Essex Field Club recording meeting on 24th April 1994, six
adders were seen on the relic heath and heather valley areas with one grass
snake at the latter location. No lizards or slow worms were seen but these are