106
The Essex Naturalist
[Nomada argentata Herrich-Schaeffer - RDB3
Nicholson (1928) notes one from the Alresford Grange Estate (attributed to B S
Harwood). Falk (1991) gives this as an unconfirmed record. The bee is a
cleptoparasite of the mining bee Andrena marginata which has a close and
possibly obligate association with scabious flowers. All three scabious species are
today scarce or rare in the county.]
N. armata Herrich-Schaeffer - RDB1
B. S. Harwood (1902a) records the capture of five or six examples of the species
near Colchester together with both sexes of its host the mining bee Andrena
hattorfiana. This is noted again as several males in B. S. Harwood (1902b).
Nicholson (1928) notes the species as local, Colchester district. There are no
recent records and the RDB3 host survives in the county only in one small
vulnerable population near Glemsford Pits.
[N. baccata Smith, F. - Notable A
= alboguttata misident.
Nicholson notes the species (on Andrena argentata), rare, Billericay. The scarce
host Andrena argentata is not recorded for Essex and has its strongholds in the
heaths of the New Forest, N. Hampshire, Surrey, W. Sussex and Dorset. Falk
(1991) states that the record for S. Essex given by Nicholson requires
confirmation.]
N. fabriciana (L.)
Recorded for the Colchester district by Harwood (1884). Nicholson (1928)
gives Billericay, Chingford, Colchester district and Woodford. We have recent
records for 14 localities distributed across the county.
N. flava Panzer