7
but, unfortunately, breeding through to the adult stage is the only reliable means of
identification at present. A number of the adults have the defensive ability to produce an
extremely foul-smelling fluid when handled; this can make use of the pooter a rather
unpleasant activity at times!
Green lacewings should be identified using Barnard (1990c).
Most brown lacewings belong to the family Hemerobiidae. These include the large and
very distinctive Drepanepteryx phalaenoides (not yet recorded for Essex), the small and
usually flightless Psectra diptera and a host of LBJs ("little brown jobs"). All of the
more frequent British species are recorded for Essex but there are a number of surprising
absentees. In particular, three species, namely Hemerobius simulans,
H. atrifrons and Wesmaelius quadrifasciatus are all associated with larch trees (farix
sp.), and are almost certainly undetected residents in Essex. Another prominent absentee
is Hemerobius marginatus which is typically associated with birch trees (Betula
pubescens and B. pendula). Many species are restricted to pine trees (Pinus) and their
eggs can easily be spotted on aphid infested shoots of the trees. One British species,
Hemerobius fenestratus is known from a single specimen taken in Kent (Plant and
Barnard, 1988) and may represent a recent attempt at colonisation. It closely resembles H.
pini and should be carefully searched for amongst pine plantations in Essex. One species
Wesmaelius mortoni is now extinct in Britain and another Hemerobius contumax may
have gone the same way, not having been recorded since 1952.
Barnard (1990a) provides an excellent key to the genera and Barnard (1990b) to species
of Wesmaelius. For other adults the key in Fraser (1957) is usually workable, though
excludes H. fenestratus. In view of the fact that other European species (eg., Micromus
lanosus and Hemerobius handschini) may lurk undetected in south-east England the
recommended text is that of Aspock, Aspock and Holzel (1980). Since this latter work
costs £230, readers may prefer to send specimens to me!
Spongeflies (family Sisyridae) complete the brown lacewings. The three British species
are all parasitic, as larvae, on freshwater sponges, though in the entire British
entomological literature I have only managed to find the names of two host sponges
(Spongilla lacustris and Ephydatia fluviatilis - and these in relation to only to Sisyra
fuscata our commonest spongefly and the only one recorded for Essex. For
identification, use Elliot (1977).
The giant lacewing Osmylus fulvicephalus is the only British representative of the
Osmylidae but it is not recorded from Essex (yet?).
Waxflies contain the smallest of the Neuroptera. They resemble the white-fly pests of
indoor potted plants and are seldom more than 5mm across their open wings. Eleven
species are reliably reported from Britain and all but one (Aleuropteryx juniperi) are
recorded in Essex. When Fraser wrote his key in 1957, he recognised only seven species,
one of which has now been discounted. The advances in the study of this family made in
the last five years have allowed for the discovery of new species and of much new