70
The Essex Naturalist
C. (Crossocerus) ovalis (Lepeletier & Brulle)
Nests in sandy soil, preying on small Diptera, especially Empididae hut also
occasionally seen taking mirid bugs.
We have records from the East Ham N.R. in 1984 and post-1989 at
Wormingford Mere and Mill Wood Pit. These are apparently the only known
Essex localities.
C. (Crossocerus) pusillus (Lepeletier & Brulle)
A common, ground-nesting species, preying on small flies.
We have records for eight localities. Recorded (as Crossocerus varus) for Lords
Bushes, Epping Forest, by Hanson (1992). Also by us in 1984 at Knighton Wood
in Epping Forest and at Belhus Park, Aveley, then from 1990 onwards from the
City of London Cemetery at Manor Park, at Dagenham Chase, at Mill Wood
Pit, at Rushey Mead N.R. near Bishops Stortford and at Sandy Wood near
Terling. This is doubtless an overlooked species.
C. (Crossocerus) tarsatus (Shuckard)
Nests on the ground in light soil, but also in old mortar, the adults preying on
flies, especially Empididae.
Recorded without detail for Wanstead Flats between 1976 and 1990 in Hanson
(1992). We have no other records.
C. (Crossocerus) wesmaeli (Van der Linden)
A common, ground-nesting species, preying on flies, especially Therevidae.
Listed for the Colchester area by Harwood (1884) without further detail. The
Dolphin Quarry at Purfleet and the silt lagoons at East Tilbury are our only
known Essex sites for this species so far.
C. (Blepharipus) annulipes (Lepeletier & Brulle)
Nests are made in timber, often dead timber. The prey is almost exclusively
typhlocybid Hemiptera but there are occasional records of mirids and psyllids
being taken.
In South Essex we have recorded this species at the East Ham N.R, in 1983,
from Ferry Fields at Tilbury and at Broom Hill (West Tilbury), both in 1995.
Hanson (1992) also records it from Lords Bushes in Epping Forest between 1976
and 1990. In North Essex, we can only report Rushey Mead N.R. where females
were common in 1995. It is likely to be present elsewhere.
C. (Blepharipus) megacephalus (Rossius)
Nests in old beetle tunnels in rotten wood, provisioning its larvae with Diptera.
Listed for the Colchester area by Harwood (1884) without further detail.
Yardley Hill, Epping Forest, between 1976 and 1990 are noted by Hanson
(1992). Otherwise, Broom Hill (West Tilbury), Fobbing Hill, Broom Wood near
Bishops Stortford, Broaks Wood and Mill Wood Pit are our recorded localities
tor this dead wood species.