11
A RARE HOVERFLY AT WARWICK WOOD, BELHUS PARK
Warwick Wood is a fine ancient wood in the Belhus Park complex. A brief visit to the
wood on the 24th June 1998 resulted in the discovery of two males of the nationally
scarce hoverfly Volucella inflata, one at the side of a damp ride and a second flying
around bramble flowers at the edge of another ride.
The fly is very rare in Essex with only four previous records. The most recent is a female
taken by myself on the 13th June 1996 at the edge of Alsa Sand Pit just north of Stansted
Mountfitchet with further males and females present in some numbers during a second
visit on the 23rd June 1996 when Colin Plant and myself found them visiting Mock
Orange blossom (described in Newsletter No.18 p.6). Earlier records are of one male
taken in a malaise trap at Canfield Hart at TL5619 by Colin Plant in July 1983 and two
much older records, for Colchester in 1903 and for Wintry Wood, Epping Forest on the
27th June 1948.
Species of Volucella are large hoverflies which mimic bumblebees or have the warning
colours used by hornets and other wasps. The larvae specialise as scavengers in the nests
of bumblebees and social wasps, though Volucella inflata is thought to be associated with
old broadleaved woodland, with a probable requirement for old and diseased trees with
sap runs, especially those attacked by the goat moth Cossus cossus. Adults have been
observed ovipositing in sap runs on a tree trunk and larvae, thought to be of this species,
have been found at this location (British Hoverflies by Stubbs & Falk, 1983).
Two males of the handsome and widespread bumblebee mimic Volucella bombylans were
also found at Warwick Wood and a female of the Nationally Rare RDB3 bee
Lasioglossum pauperatum was collected at Umbellifer flowers along the northern edge of
the wood. These records together with the earlier article by Arthur Adams on the plants of
Belhus Park emphasise the importance of this country park and the whole south Essex
area for natural history.
Peter Harvey
SPECIAL VERGES
It was good to read Joan's story of the history of the Special Verges in the last Newsletter
and some of them, that I have seen in Uttlesford District are spectacular. I have recently
been asked to take over as representative for the Chelmsford District and things are not as
straightforward as they appear to be in her area. I have been unable to find any spcies
lists, not even the specific plants the reserves were meant to protect. Most of the ones I
have been able to locate, do not have anything very special that I can find. The maps and
map references held by ECC do not correspond. 1 have Stan Hudgell (the first rep.)
helping me, but without full species data it is hard to advise on management. This is a
pity as, being a Chelmsford employee, I may be able to take over the physical
management of the sites. May I ask members to let me have any data for the Chelmsford
verges they may have and even for evidence of where they are!
Chris Romer, 10 Poplar Close, Chelmsford CM2 9NB.
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 26, August 1998-