The Essex Naturalist
43
A provisional list of the bees, wasps and ants
(Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of Essex
Peter R Harvey 1 and Colin W Plant 2
19 Kent Road, Grays, Essex RM17 6DE
214 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP
Summary
A list of all the species of Hymenoptera: Aculeata (except families Dryinidae,
Embolemidae and Bethylidae within the Chrysidoidea), known to have occurred
at any time in either of the two Watsonian Vice-counties of North and South
Essex is presented and a summary of records is given for each species.
Distribution maps are presented for eleven species. A total of 363 species of
aculeate Hymenoptera identified with certainty is reported for the county,
representing approximately 68% of the known British fauna. A further nine
species are also listed but require confirmation and, accordingly, are placed in
square brackets in this list. This total breaks down as follows:
Chrysididae (ruby-tailed wasps) 18 species
Formicoidea (ants) 28 species
Pompiloidea (spider-hunting wasps) 28 species
Scolioidea (velvet ants, etc) 8 species
Vespoidea (wasps) 24 species (plus 1 unconfirmed species)
Sphecoidea (sphecid wasps) 79 species
Apoidea (bees) 178 species (plus 8 unconfirmed species)
The bulk of the species are recorded in the East Thames Corridor region of
the county where a milder microclimate, the presence of appropriate breeding
habitat and adequate specific forage plants for adults combine to produce near
perfect conditions for many species (Map 1). It is the view of both authors that
this area is of national significance to the aculeate Hymenoptera and we draw
this to the attention of readers. The entire East Thames Corridor area is
currently under threat from various development proposals and it is considered
by us to be imperative that the best sites are identified and appropriately
managed as a matter of the utmost urgency.
Away from this small area of the county, bees, wasps and ants are, in general
terms, grossly under-recorded and it is likely that further species will be found
with diligent searching. To this end, the authors invite the submission of
records and of specimens for identification from Essex. Voucher specimens
should be retained for all species and we are likely to wish to examine these in
most cases.