The Essex Naturalist 103
O. (Melanosmia) xanthomelana (Kirby) - RDB1
Listed for Essex in Falk (1991) without further detail. The bee has always been
scarce and very local within its range and now appears to survive in Britain only
on the Isle of Wight.
O. (Chalcosmia) coerulescens (L.)
Recorded for the Colchester district hy Harwood (1884). Nicholson (1928)
states that it is generally distributed and gives Billericay, Hale End, etc. He notes
that it usually nests in posts and walls, but burrows in a hard path in his garden.
We have recent records for six localities in Thurrock, Forest Gate (Hanson
1992) and Great Bardfield in North Essex. It is usually numerous in PH's small
garden foraging at the flowers of Ivy-leaved Toadflax.
O. (Chalcosmia) leaiana (Kirby)
= ventralis, fulviventris misident.
Noted by Nicholson (1928) from Billericay, Colchester district, etc. We have
recent records only for four localities in Thurrock at Broom Hill (West Tilbury),
Fobbing Marshes, Linford Sand Pit and Mill Wood Pit.
O. (Helicosmia) bicolor (Schrank) -Notable B
Nicholson (1928) notes this species from Aldham, Lexden, Purfleet; nests in
snail shells and banks, very local. There is a close association with flowers of
Hippocrepis and Locus, especially the former. Chalk grassland scarps are favoured
though it also occurs on chalk heath in East Anglia and limestone grassland
(Falk 1991). The only recent record is from Hall Hill (West Tilbury) by Mike
Edwards. (pers. comm.)
Genus: Hoplitis. Two of the three British species are recorded for Essex.
Hoplitis (Alcidamea) claviventris Thomson
This bee seems to be very rare in the county. G Else and M Edwards recorded
the species from Fingringhoe Wick in 1986. The only other recent record is for a
population present at Mill Wood Pit in Thurrock.
H. (Hoplosmia) spinulosa (Kirby)
Nicholson (1928) notes the species for the Colchester district commenting that
it nests in snail shells and frequents the flowers of scabious, yellow composites,
thistles and knapweeds. We have recent records for four localities in the East
Thames Corridor at Dolphin Pit, Ferry Fields (Tilbury), Mill Wood Pit and
Rainham.
Genus: Megachile leaf-cutter bees. Seven of the eight British species are
recorded for Essex and we have recent records for all of these.
Megachile (Megachile) centuncularis (L.)
Harwood (1884) records the species as very common in his garden. Nicholson
(1928) notes it from Billericay, Hale End, Colchester district, etc. There are
recent records from five localities in the East Thames Corridor in South Essex