45
Distribution maps have been produced using DMAP, a mapping program by Dr Alan Morton.
References
EDWARDS, R.(Ed). 1997 Provisional alias of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Britain and Ireland
(Part 1). Biological Records Centre.
EDWARDS, R.(Ed). 1998 Provisional atlas of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Britain and Ireland
(Part 2). Biological Records Centre.
FALK, S., 1991 A review of the scarce and threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great Britain.
Research and survey in nature conservation, number 35. Nature Conservancy Council.
HARVEY, P. R.. 1997 Interesting Hymenoptera records for 1996 & 1997. Essex Naturalist 14
(New series): 31-43.
HARVEY, P. R.. 1998 Interesting Hymenoptera records for 1997-1998. Essex Naturalist 15
(New series): 38-45.
HARVEY, P. R., 1999 A remarkable example of biodiversity: aculeate Hymenoptera in the East
Thames Corridor. Essex Field Club Newsletter 29: 7-9. ISSN 1466-562X.
MILLER, D., 1999 A first Essex record of Xylocopa carpenter bee. Essex Field Club Newsletter
30: 9. ISSN 1466-562X.
MORGAN, D., 1984 Cuckoo-wasps, Hymenoptera, Chrysididae. Handbooks for the identification
of British Insects Vol. 6. Part 5, Royal Entomological Society of London.
RICHARDS, O. W., 1980 Scolioidea. Vespoidea and Sphecoidea. Handbooks for the
Identification of British Insects. Royal Entomological Society.
SHIRT, D B. 1987 British Red Data Books: 2. Insects. Nature Conservancy Council
Review of the Lepidoptera of Essex for the year 1998
BRIAN GOODEY
298 Ipswich Road, Colchester, Essex CCI4 4ET
Introduction
There was much of interest reported by our recorders during 1998 despite it being an often
difficult year weather-wise. Three moths were added to the comity list, which now totals 1843
species. Of these 1835 have been accepted by the Lepidoptera Panel as being substantiated
records, and 1448 arc regarded as insects able to survive our climate in Essex throughout the
year.
Species levels remained much the same but numbers of insects were generally well down on last
year. This included many leaf-miners, our smallest moths, and larger 'sparrows' such as heart
and dart and dark arches. Our large hawk-moths, by contrast, did very well.
The Essex Moth Group continues to do well. Articles which appeared in its newsletter included
the rediscovery of Depressaria daucella in Essex (David Warner), an update of the gypsy moth
situation in Epping Forest (Jes Dagley), and a discussion on the ichneumon wasp Amblyjoppa
proteus (Jerry Bowdrey) which attacks larvae of the large elephant hawk-moth.
Whilst on the subject of Hymonoptera it is worth mentioning that hornets and wasps were
something of a menace for many recorders this year. Some traps were left in the morning with
just a few scaltered moth remains in the bottom after a night of carnage. People out in the open
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 16 (1999)