The Essex Naturalist
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Payne on 10th July 1992); Beckton (Colin Plant in August 1984); The City of
London Cemetery (Colin Plant in July 1984). There are new records all made
during August 1996 in Thurrock from East Tilbury, St. Clements Church tract
and West Thurrock PFA lagoons, and for North Essex at Alphamstone.
The Nationally Endangered (RDB1) Cerceris quadricincta has always been
confined to a small number of sites in south-east England. It was recorded from
Colchester up to about 1920, at Upnor in West Kent between 1977 and 1984,
and at several sites in E. Kent most recently at Pegwell Bay in 1974 and
Ramsgate in 1979 (Falk, 1991). It is therefore very exciting to find that Jerry
Bowdrey had taken one female on 20th July 1995 by part of the old Roman Wall
in Colchester. It would seem that the species has survived since 1920 but the
population is probably very small and vulnerable. The current status of the
species here needs ascertaining and appropriate measures should be taken to
ensure its continued survival. In recent years the Nationally Rare (RDB3) wasp
Cerceris quinquefasciata has been found to occur at several sites in Thurrock,
nearly all threatened with development. In August 1996 the species was found
to be numerous at West Thurrock PFA lagoons, hunting amongst herbage where
a calcicole flora was developing. One male and one female were also taken in
July 1996 at Barking Levels further west in the East Thames Corridor and it has
been taken this year across the river in Kent at Thamesmead. Pitfall traps at
West Thurrock PFA lagoons during August 1996 also produced a single female
Cerceris ruficornis, the first county record for a century (Harwood, 1884). Recent
information about the distribution of this insect suggests that it should be
considered Nationally Scarce and is very rare in eastern England.
Philanthus triangulum, the Bee Wolf, continues to spread in England, reaching
this year at least as far north as Lincolnshire. It seems to be able to take
advantage of almost any suitable habitat, even being recorded and filmed
nesting in a garden in Sussex. There are many new sites in Essex. What was
thought to be collaborative behaviour between Bee wolves observed last year is
now thought to constitute examples of a widespread nest robbing behaviour
(Mike Edwards BWARS AGM, 1997).
Mining bees and Yellow-faced bees (Family Colletidae)
Males and females of the Nationally Scarce (Notable A) Collett's halophilus were
collected in August and September 1996 at two new sites in the East Thames
corridor at Barking Levels and West Thurrock PFA lagoons. The Barking Levels
site is particularly interesting because males and females of the very closely
related Colletes succinctus were also taken at Sea-aster in August 1996. This
species is normally closely associated with heather, which occurs nowhere near
the site and indeed Colletes succinctus is very rare in Essex (where heather only
occurs in a few remnant heathland sites). A male determined by the late John
Felton was collected at Barking in 1990 by L. Clemons (Harvey & Plant, 1996)
and the presence here of a population is now confirmed. Unfortunately the
whole area is under development and it remains to be seen whether the species