Some interesting aculeate Hymenoptera records for 1999-2000
PETER HARVEY
32 Lodge Lane, Grays, Essex RM16 2YP
Aculeate Hymenoptera records of particular interest for the period 1999 and 2000 are described
below. Some 1998 records, which were not included in the report in Essex Naturalist 15, are also
detailed. I am very grateful to Jerry Bowdrey, Phil Butler, Mike Edwards, Dan Hackett, Neil Harvey,
Adrian Knowles, Roger Payne, Colin Plant, Graham Smith and Charles Watson for providing
specimens and/or records to further our knowledge and improve coverage of the county. The account
has been divided into taxonomic groups for clarity.
CHRYSIDOIDEA
Ruby-tailed wasps (Family Chrysididae)
Adrian Knowles collected one specimen of the Nationally Scarce (Notable A) Chrysura radians at
Fingringhoe Wick on 13 June 2000, a new county record. This is discussed in more detail in a note
elsewhere in this journal (Knowles 2001). On the other hand, Cleptes nitidulus, first recorded in
Essex at Barking PFA lagoons in 1998 (Harvey 1999a) is now almost certainly extinct, the whole
habitat area having been destroyed for housing development. One specimen of the Nationally Scarce
(Nb) Cleptes semiauratus, a parasitoid of the common currant-sawfly Nematus ribesii, was taken by
the author at Temple Mills in Waltham Forest (TQ3686) on 25 June and a second between 25 June
and 13 July 1999. A single specimen of the Nationally Rare (RDB3) Hedychridium coriaceum was
also collected at the same site between 25 June and 13 July 1999. This cleptoparasite on the sphecid
wasp Lindenius albilabris is rare in Essex, with only four other records.
Hedychrum niemelai is the Nationally Rare (RDB3) cleptoparasite of certain sphecid wasps in the
genus Cerceris, in Essex almost certainly the RDB3 and national BAP species C. quinquefasciata.
The Thames Terrace grasslands of the East Thames Corridor and Colchester area hold nationally
important populations of both species (see figures 1 & 2), but are under enormous threat of
development from 'Thames Gateway' initiatives and government policies to develop 'brown field'
sites. Research into the autecology of C. quinquefasciata during 2000 found both this species and its
cleptoparasite present in numbers at all known sites visited. New locations were recorded in North
Essex at Old Heath Cliff Paddock near Colchester (TM0123), where both species were discovered
by Adrian Knowles, and Brightlingsea (TM0718) where the Cerceris was discovered by David
Scott. In South Essex there were new locations recorded for both species at Wennington Marshes,
along the old butts (TQ5479), where they were found by Mike Edwards on 12 August 2000 and at an
important site at Northwick, Canvey (TQ7683) where the author found the cleptoparasite to be
particularly numerous on a number of occasions in July and August.
Hedychridium roseum, a cleptoparasite of the sphecid wasp Astata boops, itself very rare in the
county, was recorded new to Essex by Adrian Knowles at Tiptree Heath in 1998 and this was reported
in last year's review. Adrian has now found the ruby-tailed wasp at Pods Wood (TL9017), collected
on 4 July 1999. The species has a very restricted distribution in southern England and M. E.Archer,
in Edwards (1998) suggests that its status should be reviewed. The Nationally Vulnerable (RDB2)
Chrysis (Chrysogona) gracillima was collected by Adrian at Wimpole Recreation Ground (TM0124)
on 10 July 1999, the first record for North Essex, and then again at Old Heath Cliff Paddock (TM0123)
on 17 July 2000. This rare species has two records in South Essex, at Broom Hill and Gravelpit
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)
83