54 The Essex Naturalist
east as Edwinshall Wood (South Woodham Ferrers) and two in North Essex at
Garnetts Wood and Sandylay Wood.
L. flavus (Fabricius)
Common and numerous in grassland habitats. We have recent records from at
least 70 localities in the county.
L. fuliginosus (Latreille)
This large shiny black Lasius forms nests at the base of trees or in hedgerows. It
seems to be widely distributed but very local in the county. There are recent
records for six localities in Thurrock, South Essex (Brannetts Wood, Broom Hill,
Hall Hill Grays Chalk Quarry, and Mucking Heath) and three localities in North
Essex (disused railway track at Great Dunmow, Northey Island and Pondpark
Farm Fishponds). There are also records from Pole Hill in Epping Forest, collected
there in 1985 by G Harris and P Kirby, Fingringhoe Wick in 1981 (K Hawkins),
Plains Farm in 1984 (L Forsyth) and West Mersea in 1988 (J Bowdrey).
L. mixtus (Nylander)
The species nests deep in the ground often among shrub roots and under deep
boulders, but occasionally also constructs mound nests of fine loose soil
(Collingwood 1979). We have recent records for eleven localities in South
Essex and one at Great Holland Pits in North Essex.
L. niger (L.)
Widespread and abundant in the county with recent records from at least 135
localities. Even so it is certainly under-recorded, occurring in a wide range of
habitats. It is the ant most often found in gardens, even becoming a pest when it
enters houses and kitchens.
L. umbratus (Nylander)
The species seems to be very rare in the county with recent records from only
three localities all in Thurrock, at Broom Hill and Hall Hill (West Tilbury) and
Mucking Heath (Orsett Golf Course).
POMPILOIDEA
POMPILIDAE - SPIDER-HUNTING WASPS
The spider-hunting wasps, robber wasps or simply spider wasps, as these insects
are known are probably amongst the most overlooked of the Essex Aculeata and
it is highly likely that several more species remain to be discovered in Essex.
They are largely ground dwelling insects, preferring to run rather than fly in
most species. They are highly active, usually only when the sun is shining, and
often extremely difficult to catch, a tact which doubtless contributes to their
poorly known county status. There are 41 British species (plus a further three in
the Channel Isles) of which 27 are so far noted in Essex, 13 in subfamily
Pepsinae, 13 in subfamily Pompilinae and one in subfamily Ceropalinae.
Ecological notes are taken from Day (1988).