The Essex Naturalist
91
Nicholson (1928) notes the [aggregate] species from the Colchester district, not
common.
Andrena (Plastandrena) nigrospina Thomson
Our only records are a male A. nigrospina taken at Grays (PH's garden) on 30th
May 1985 and a possible female of this species taken at Linford Wood on 13th
April 1995.
A. (Plastandrena) spectabilis Smith
There are recent records from seven localities, six of these in Thurrock at Broom
Hill (West Tilbury), Ferry Fields (Tilbury), Linford Sand Pit, Linford Wood,
Mill Wood Pit and Mucking Heath (Orsett Golf Course) and then a further
population at Walton Naze undercliffs in North Essex where it was quite
numerous in 1992.
A. (Plastandrena) tibialis (Kirby) - Notable A
Nicholson (1928) notes the species for Billericay, local. We have recent records
for five localities, all in the East Thames Corridor, at Broom Hill (West Tilbury),
Dagenham Chase, Linford Sand Pit, Linford Wood and Mill Wood Pit.
A. (Zonandrena) flavipes Panzer
= fulvicrus (Kirby)
Harwood (1884) records it from Nayland, rare at present. Nicholson (1928)
notes the species as locally common. Today a local bee but with recent records
from 31 widely spread localities in the county. It forms abundant colonies at
suitable nesting sites such as exposed sand faces in old sand and gravel pits.
A. (Zonandrena) gravida Imhoff - RDB1
Listed in Falk (1991) from Colchester and Dovercourt in North Essex without
further details. The bee was last recorded in Britain in 1961.
A. (Poliandrena) florea Fabricius - RDB3
A rare species which has few post-1970 sites in Britain. The hee has an obligate
association with White Bryony Bryonia dioica from which the females collect
pollen. First recorded in Essex from Broom Hill in 1993 (Harvey 1993b) and
since found to occur at the nearby sires Linford Sand Pit, Mucking Heath
(Orsett Golf Course), Mill Wood Pit and also to the east at Benfleet Downs.
Inland sites with White Bryony have so far failed to elicit the bee which may be
confined in the county to the East Thames Corridor.
A. (Oreomelissa) coitana (Kirby)
Recorded by Harwood (1884) without further details. Nicholson (1928) notes
the species as local, visits Campanula, Malva and white Umbelliferae, and he
lists the Colchester district. There are no recent records.
A. (Leucandrena) barbilabris (Kirby)
= sericea (Christ)
Harwood (1884) notes the species A. albicrns Kirby as one of the bees that