The Essex Naturalist
67
with records tor various sites in Epping Forest, for Tiptree Heath, Glemsford
Pits, Howlands Marsh, Rowhedge, Manor Park, Grays and Cranham Marsh.
Vespula (Vespula) rufa (Panzer) Red Wasp
Nests underground, but rarely very deep clown.
Listed for the Colchester area hy Harwood (1884) without further detail.
Chapman (1962) gives records of one queen at Scrub Hill, near Warley in 1959,
another on sallow catkins in Long Running, Epping Forest in 1960, several
workers on water figwort near the Wake Arms, Epping Forest in 1960 and
several workers at Navestock in the same year. It is also listed for Epping Forest
between 1976 and 1990 at Lords Bushes, High Beach, North Farm and the
Wake Arms in Hanson (1992). However, our only recent record is of one at
Rowhedge on 13th July 1986 (M Edwards). We are uncertain whether this
species has declined in Essex or is simply overlooked.
V. (Paravespula) germanica (Fabr.) German Wasp
Usually far less associated with houses than V. vulgaris preferring to nest and
hibernate out of doors.
Listed for the Colchester area by Harwood (1884) without further detail.
Currently a widespread species in Essex with records from several localities. Like
most common insects, however, it is very under-recorded.
V. (Paravespula) vulgaris (L.) Common wasp
This is typically the wasp which nests in attics and similar places though nests
do often occur away from human habitation.
Listed for the Colchester area by Harwood (1884) without further detail. As
with the preceding species, this is a widespread and common wasp in Essex but
one which is hopelessly under-recorded.
SPHECOIDEA
SPHECIDAE - SPHECID WASPS
The sphecids are a large group with more than 7,000 species world-wide,
though the British fauna is somewhat smaller, amounting to only about 120
species. Of these, Essex can lay claim to 79. All members of the group are
solitary in habit (though there is one South American genus that exhibits a
limited degree of social behaviour). Nests comprise a burrow in the ground, in
wood or in a hollow stems. The female searches out appropriate prey which is
then paralysed with the sting and brought back to provision her as yet
unhatched larvae. The one exception to this predatory behaviour (in Britain) is
the genus Nysson the members of which are cleptoparasitic on other aculeates.
Ecological notes for each species are taken from Richards (1980) and Lomholdt
(1975-1976).