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The Essex Naturalist
and from Heybridge Gravel Pits in North Essex. It is probably more common
and widespread than these records suggest.
M. (Megachile) ligniseca (Kirby)
Recorded hy Harwood at flowers of Geranium pratense in his garden. Nicholson
(1928) gives Billericay, Hale End, Colchester district and notes that the species
prefers thistles and knapweeds for feeding purposes and comes to wild geraniums
in his garden, but uses elm and other leaves for its cells. We have recent records
for seven localities in the East Thames Corridor and one tor Walton Naze
undercliffs.
M. (Megachile) versicolor Smith
Nicholson notes the species for the Colchester district. We have recent records
for Dagenham Chase, Ferry Fields (Tilbury), Mill Wood Pit and Rainham in the
East Thames Corridor and Heybridge Gravel Pits in North Essex.
M. (Eutricharaea) leachella Curtis - Notable B
= argentata misident.
The Silvery Leaf-cutter bee is usually closely associated with wind-blown sands
of coastal dunes. Nicholson (1928) notes the species from St. Osyth and
Southend. There are recent records of the Silvery Leaf-cutter bee for
Fingringhoe Wick in 1986 (M Edwards and G Else) and Shoeburyness (M
Edwards and R G Payne), East Tilbury silt lagoons, Ferry Fields and West
Mersea in 1995. In the sandy soil towards the eastern end of the silt lagoons at
East Tilbury there was a large nesting population and the bee was numerous. At
West Mersea the bee was fairly numerous in a small remnant dune area. Two
males collected at Ferry Fields may have come from the East Tilbury population
since there seems to be no suitable nesting habitat in the immediate vicinity.
M. (Delomegachile) willughbiella (Kirby)
Recorded for the Colchester district by Harwood (1884) without further details
and Nicholson states that it is one of the commonest of the genus and gives
Billericay, Hale End, Colchester district, etc. Today it certainly appears to be
the most common and widespread Megachile with recent records from 20 widely
spread localities in the county.
M. circumcincta (Kirby)
Harwood (1884) records the species from Nayland and Nicholson (1928) gives
Billericay and the Colchester district, noting that it is fond of Bird's-foot trefoil,
but forms its cells of rose-leaf cuttings. The only recent records seem to be those
given by Hanson (1992) for Lord Bushes and Forest Gate in the Epping Forest
region.
M. maritima (Kirby)
Recorded hy Harwood (1884) from Walton-on-the-Naze. Nicholson (1928)
gives St. Osyth, Southend, Walton-on-the-Naze and notes that the species nests