66
The Essex Naturalist
recently as 1985. Since then it has rapidly established itself as far north as
Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire. It constructs aerial nests, suspended from
tree branches. Though their sting is undoubtedly painful these wasps are actually
far more docile than the common wasp and are most unlikely to sting unless
severely provoked.
The first Essex record was made in 1990 (Payne 1992) but no details are given
in this reference. We have reports from all areas of the county, including
Strethall in the north-west (C Watson), Braintree, Pilgrims Hatch (D A Smith)
and Ferry Fields, Tilbury. There are a number of known locations in the Stort
Valley on the Hertfordshire side of the border, notably at Bishops Stortford and
Sawbridgeworth, and it is most likely that this large wasp is breeding undetected
at several Essex localities in this area.
D. (Pseudovespula) norwegica (Fabr.) Norwegian Wasp
Normally nests in trees or bushes, less frequently haystacks, though there are
precious few of these in Essex today.
Listed for Lexden and St Osyth in 1893 by Harwood (1903). Listed for
Colchester by Saunders (1896). Nests were reported from Woodford in 1884 and
1888 by Elliot (1889). There is a male in the Cole-Fitch collection at the
Passmore Edwards Museum labelled "Colchester, 1893, W.H.H.". Chapman
(1962) in summarising all the above records, continues by saying that "This
wasp does not appear to have been recorded from Essex for over seventy years".
Recorded for "Essex" by Falk (1991) without details; this may relate to Roger
Payne's record of the wasp at Southend on 28th July 1988. We have ourselves
only recorded it at Ferry Fields, Tilbury in 1995 but Charles Watson took a male
in Hatfield Forest on 30th August 1995.
D. saxonica (Fabr.) Saxon Wasp
First recorded in Britain from Surrey in 1987 this species is easily confused with
D. norwegica. It is evidently rapidly expanding its range here.
A specimen probably of this species was collected at Thorndon Park on 19th
June 1994 (Harvey 1994b). The voucher specimen was sent for an expert
opinion but, regrettably, seems to have disappeared in transit, so the record can
not be confirmed. There is, however, no reason to doubt its authenticity.
D. (Pseudovespula) sylvestris (Scopoli) Tree Wasp
Typically nests underground, but sometimes does so in old beehives, garden
sheds, hollow tress or other places.
Listed for the Colchester area by Harwood (1884) without further detail. Also
reported at Woodford (Cole 1885). Chapman (1962) additionally lists a male
at Norsey Wood at Billericay and three males at Hales Wood near Saffron
Walden in 1960. An interesting (almost Essex) record is of an individual
taken on the Kentish Knock light ship anchored 20 miles off Harwich on 29th
May 1953 (French 1954). Evidently now a widespread species in the county