The Essex Naturalist
93
Nomada guttulata, was taken at Gosfield in 1903 (Beaumont 1903). There is a
close and possibly obligate association with Germander Speedwell Veronica
chamaedrys (Falk 1991), however at Galleywood Common in 1995 a number of
males and females were foraging at Stellaria flowers and no Veronica was seen in
the area. There are recent records from only three sites, Broom Hill (West
Tilbury) and Mucking Heath (Orsett Golf Course) in Thurrock and Galleywood
Common near Chelmsford.
A. (Margandrena) marginata Fabricius - Notable A
There is a close and possibly obligate association with scabious flowers (Scabious
columbaria, Succisa pratensis and Knautia arvensis). It is noted by Nicholson
(1928) from Aldham and Alresford on Scabious and Centaurea. There are no
recent records and all three species of scabious are today rare in the county.
A. (Holandrena) labialis (Kirby)
Recorded by Harwood (1884) for the Colchester district and noted by
Nicholson (1928) from Billericay, Hale End, St Osyth, Southend and
Colchester district. There are recent records only from the East Thames
Corridor at Dagenham Chase, Ferry Fields, Fobbing Marshes and Mill Wood Pit.
A. (Micrandrena) minutula (Kirby)
Recorded from the Colchester district by Harwood (1884) and noted by
Nicholson (1928) as common. Today this is still a very widely distributed and
numerous species with records from many widely spread localities.
A. (Micrandrena) proxima (Kirby) - RDB3
Falk (1991) states that this is an extremely scarce species which has declined
substantially, especially in inland parts of southern England. It was apparently
first recorded in Essex from Yardley Hill in Epping Forest (Hanson 1992) and
has subsequently been found in some numbers at part of the threatened Mill
Wood Pit site in Thurrock.
A. (Micrandrena) Saundersella Perkins
= nana Saunders, misident.
Nicholson (1928) notes the species as common and generally distributed. This is
probably still true today although we have only ten recent records scattered
across the county.
A. (Micrandrena) subopaca Nylander
We have records from 12 localities widely distributed across the county.
A. (Simandrena) dorsata (Kirby)
Recorded by Harwood (1884) without further detail. Nicholson (1928) notes
the species from Billericay and Colchester district; local, on commons, first
brood on Veronica, fruit trees, etc., second brood on Bryony, brambles and
composites. There are recent records from 14 localities widely distributed across
the county.