110
The Essex Naturalist
Epeolus cruciger (Panzer)
= rufipes Thomson
A cleptoparasite of Colletes succinctus, a heathland species and C. marginatus, a
rare species of coastal dunes. Other Colletes species may possibly be used
(Richards 1937). Recorded by Harwood (1884) from the Colchester district and
also noted by Nicholson (1928) for Billericay. We have only two recent records,
from Barking in 1990 (L Clemans) where Colletes succinctus was also taken in a
very atypical habitat, and East Tilbury silt lagoons in 1995, where C, marginatus
occurred in some numbers. This Epeolus is likely to be genuinely very rare in
Essex since few suitable sites remain for either host.
E. variegatus (L.)
= productus Thomson
A cleptoparasite of the mining bees Colletes daviesana, C. fodiens, C. halophilus,
C. similis and a small race possibly attacks C. marginatus (Richards 1937).
Recorded by Harwood (1884) from the Colchester district and also noted by
Nicholson (1928) for Billericay. We have recent records from five localities in
the East Thames Corridor and Chigborough Lakes and Dovercourt in North
Essex. The bee is probably more widespread than this suggests.
SUBFAMILY EUCERINAE
There are two species recorded in Britain, but E. nigriscens was only separated
from E. longicornis recently (Baker 1964).
Eucera longicornis (L.) - Notable A
Harwood (1884) records the species from the Colchester district as very
abundant, especially at flowers of Ajuga reptans. Nicholson (1928) adds
Billericay, Southend and Walton-on-Naze, describing a colony of great extent in
a sloping bank near Southend referred to by F Smith (1891) in his Catalogue of
British Apidae. The bee has undergone a serious decline in Britain and there are
no recent records from Essex.
SUBFAMILY ANTHOPHORINAE flower bees
All five British species have been recorded in Essex, and we have recent records
for four of these.'
Anthophora (Anthophora) plumipes (Pallas)
= pilipes (Fabricius)
Recorded by Harwood (1884) from the Colchester district, very abundant about
sunny banks in the early spring. Nicholson (1928) adds Billericay and Hale End.
We have recent records from nine localities in the East Thames Corridor but
the bee surely occurs commonly elsewhere in the county; indeed its
cleptoparasite Melecta albifrons has been taken in 1995 at Chigborough Lakes
and East Mersea in North Essex.