The Essex Naturalist
79
SUBFAMILY MELLININAE
Mellinus arvensis (L.)
Nests in a deep burrow in sandy ground, the adult preying on Diptera, especially
Cyclorrhapha.
Very abundant at Walton-on-the-Naze, flying about coltsfoot and resting on the
leaves; I have not as yet met with it elsewhere (Harwood 1884). Mill Wood Pit,
Broom Hill (West Tilbury), Sandpit Hill at Hadleigh Downs and Brightlingsea
are our only more recent localities.
SUBFAMILY NYSSONINAE
Nysson dimidiatus Jurine - Notable B
A cleptoparasite of other sphecid species, associated with Gorytes tumidus and
Lindenius albilabris.
Taken in a garden near the town [Colchester] late July/early August, 1902
(Harwood 1902). We know of no other records.
N. interruptus (Fabr.) - RDB 2
A cleptoparasite of other sphecid species, associated with Argogorytes fargeii and
species of Gorytes.
Listed for North Essex by Falk (1991) without details. We have no other records
to hand.
N. spinosus (Forster)
A cleptoparasite of other sphecid species, associated with Argogorytes mystaceus
and A. fargeii.
The only Essex records we have are from Foreberry Wood, Havering on 20th
June 1984 and Garnetts Wood, on 6th June 1993.
N. trimaculatus (Rossius) - Notable B
A cleptoparasite of other sphecid species, associated with Gorytes quadrifasciatus.
Taken in a garden near the town [Colchester] late July/early August, 1902
(Harwood 1902). More recently we have records from Fingringhoe Wick in
1986 (M Edwards) and by ourselves since 1989 from Mucking Heath, Mill
Wood at Grays and Ferry Fields.
Alysson (Didineis) lunicornis (Fabr.) - Notable A
The nest is unknown in Britain, hut abroad it is in a fairly deep burrow in clay
soil. The adults prey on Cicadellidae and Delphacidae (froghoppers).
Listed for North Essex before 1970 in Falk (1991). Fobbing Marshes and The
Cliff (Burnham-on-Crouch), both in South Essex, are the only recent localities
of which we have any knowledge for the present.
Gorytes (Gorytes) laticinctus (Lepeletier) — RDB 3
Constructs a short burrow in soil and provisions this with froghoppers.
Listed by Falk (1991) for North Essex prior to 1970 but without details. We
have no other records available.