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So, this is where the Essex Field Club's members come in! I need to see specimens from
all over the county. There are of course several other green lacewing species with which
the target species can be confused, but this does not matter as records are needed for all
species to update the distribution maps. I should like to see any lacewings from Essex
(and anywhere else for that matter) - be they dead or alive, green or brown. Look for them
in light fittings, on window ledges, in the blue electrocution traps at Sainsbury's (always
gets an interesting reaction when you ask the manager for his dead insects!), in spiders
webs and elsewhere or even go out and catch a few for me. Those members who run
moth traps can be particularly helpful by sending me samples for each trap session (paper
triangles labelled with date are adequate - putting the entire night's catch in one triangle).
A certain member did tell me a few years ago that he only had the one green lacewing in
his garden - when he sent me samples from his trap I think I found five species, from
memory!
Live specimens can be sent in a matchbox, film canister or similar - preferably with a
small piece of tissue to soak up condensed "sweat". Post them to me first class together
with a note of the place and date of capture. Remember to include your own name and
address if you want a reply and if sending live specimens please label the container with
the words "LIVE INSECT" so I know to open carefully. (Don't write the words on the
envelope or the post office will probably go on strike!). Air holes are not necessary - the
insects travel extremely well. Dead specimens should be gently wrapped in tissue to avoid
mechanical damage during transit or else sent in paper triangles.
As a result of this exercise 1 hope to gain a better picture of what is happening to the
carnea species complex in Essex; hopefully I can put my early results in the next
newsletter.
1 look forward to lots of lacewings in the post over the next few months.
Colin W. Plant
14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Herts, CM23 3QP
UNUSUAL NEUROPTERID SEEN IN ESSEX
1 was pleasantly surprised to see a specimen of the large Neuropterid, Osmylus
fulvicephalus (Scopoli), along the Twitty Fee stream valley in Little Baddow Heath
nature reserve on 1st June 1993. To my amazement a second one was spotted along the
stream valley in Blake's Wood nature reserve, Little Baddow (just over a mile WNW of
the 1st June occurrence), the next day. The latter specimen came to rest on a twig above
the stream and I managed to pick it up and examine it!
I understand from Colin Plant that this impressive lacewing-like insect is rare in Essex
and that there are no other recent records.
Geoff Pyman