74
The Essex Naturalist
Else and M Edwards), Glemsford Pits and Elsenham Sand Pit, suggesting that
this species will prove to he well-distributed across most of the county.
Rhopalum (Rhopalum) clavipes (L.)
This species usually preys on Psocoptera hut occasionally will also take small
flies, aphids or psyllids. It usually nests in stems or straws, but has rarely been
reported in dead wood, old mortar or sand.
Hanson (1992) lists Woodford Golf Course between 1976 and 1990. Otherwise,
a male on Fobbing Marshes on 21st June 1995 is our only available record.
R. (Corynopus) coarctatum (Scopoli)
Usually nests in stems, but occasionally in wood. Prey is principally
nematoceran Diptera, but it is also recorded capturing Psocoptera, aphids and
staphylinid beetles.
We have post-1989 records from three localities - Mill Wood Pit, Dolphin
Quarry and Dagenham Chase - plus an earlier one from 1984 at Berwick Pond
(P Kirby), all in the south of the county.
Oxybelus uniglumis (L.)
A sand nesting species, and an active predator of cyclorrhaphous Diptera.
Not uncommon at Dovercourt on yarrow flowers (Harwood 1884). Recorded at
Fingringhoe Wick in 1963 (Stebbing 1965). More recently, we have numerous
records from across the county and this species is evidently widespread (though
rarely numerous).
SUBFAMILY PEMPHREDONINAE
Psen (Mimumesa) dahlbomi (Wesmael)
Nests in existing holes in dead wood, provisioning its larvae with froghopper
nymphs of the families Delphacidae and Cicadellidae.
We have records from only three localities, at Lords Bushes in Epping Forest
between 1976 and 1990 (Hanson 1992), at Rowhedge in 1986 (M Edwards) and
at Mill Wood Pit, near Grays, in 1995.
P. (Mimumesa) unicolor (Van der Linden) - Notable A
Associated with sandy localities, but data on its breeding biology is not available
at present. This species has been confused in the past with Psen littoralis
(Bondroit) (see Else 6k Felton 1994).
We have records from Ingrebourne Marsh in 1984, Berwick Pond also in 1984,
Barking in 1990 (L Clemons in Else & Felton 1994), the silt lagoons at East
Tilbury (1993 and 1995) and Dagenham Chase in 1995.
P. (Mimesa) bruxellensis (Bondroit) - Notable A
Nests in tunnels, usually dug amongst grass roots in sand. The prey comprises
froghoppers of the families Jassidae and Cicindellidae.
We have but a single record, of a female at Mill Wood Pit, Grays on 14th July
1994.