local species (3), which included a weevil, Rhynchites caeruleus, and the Lesser Stag
Beetle, Dorcus parallelipipedus, (see plate 7) to an attractive Nationally Notable Essex
Red Data species of Longhorn Beetle Anaglyptus mysticus. The bees included
bumblebees, solitary bees, the Wool Carder Bee Anthidium manicatum, Red Mason
Bee Osmia rufa, two local Hylaeus yellow facedbees and one Nationally Notable Essex
Red Data bee Hylaeus pictipes. This very small yellow-faced bee was much attracted to
a pink flowered Ceanothus. The flies included a local Hoverfly, Helophilus hybridus,
and the less desirable Narcissus Bulb Fly, Merodon equestris. The wasps caught revealed
an Essex Red Data digger wasp, Crossocerus distinguendus, which has Nationally
Notable status, but which has spread widely in south-eastern England in recent years.
The spiders were mostly common species, like the Zebra Spider Salticus scenicus, and
the Daddy Long-legs spider Pholcus phalangioides, which introduced a new word to
me - synanthropic, meaning associated with mankind. The only supposedly nationally
local species was one of the unattractive (to me, particularly!) house spiders Tegenaria
gigantea (see Fig. 1). I think the name says it all. We had a synanthropic woodlouse, and
the local pill Woodlouse Armadillidium nasatum.
Fig. 1. The house spider Tegenaria gigantea P.R. Harvey
Jacquey and Roger Newton. Stuart Fleming and David Bloomfield searched and poked
in corners to produce specimens for identification; finds included a common banded
snail, Cepaea hortensis, and an Oak bush cricket nymph Meconema thalassinum. Jacquey
and Roger also helped with the catering and note taking.
I am indebted to everyone for their finding and identifying skills, especially Peter Harvey.
The list of species from just one June day in an ordinary garden shows how great a
resource a garden is to our wildlife, and has given me lots to look up and learn about. We
are currently contemplating another recording day in a different month to pick up further
records. Many thanks to all who came and made it such an enjoyable day.
24
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 52, January 2007