Some interesting aculeate Hymenoptera records for 1999-2000
Figures 1 & 2. Distribution in Essex and the East Thames Corridor
of Cerceris quinquefasciata (lett) and Hedychrum niemelai (right)
Farm Pits near West and East Tilbury in Thurrock. Adrian also collected a specimen of Omalus
aeneus at Gernon Bushes (TL4802) on 31 May 2000. This is only the second modern record of this
very local species for the county.
VESPOIDEA
Velvet ants (Family Mutillidae)
Mutilla europaea is a Nationally Scarce (Notable B) parasite of bumblebees, widely distributed but
rarely found in any numbers. The author collected single females at Vange Marshes East (TQ7387)
on 9 June 1999, Rainham Marshes (TQ5180) between 9-24 August 2000 and a single male at Aveley
Bay (TQ5379) between 21 July and 8 August 2000. Nigel Cuming also collected a male at Layer
Breton Heath (TL9418) on 26 July 1998. Adrian Knowles recorded the Nationally Scarce (Notable
B) wasp Smicromryme rufipes at Old Heath Cliff Paddock, Colchester (TM0123) on 11 September
1999 and 6 July 2000. Jerry Bowdrey recorded the species at Hilly Fields (TL9825) on 16 August
2000 and at Middlewick Ranges (TM0122) on 11 August 2000, where the author also collected one
female on 23 August 2000.
Family Sapygidae
Females of the Nationally Scarce (Notable B) Sapyga clavicornis, a parasite of bees in the genera
Chelostoma and Osmia, were collected by Charles Watson at Hatfield Forest, North Essex on 26
June 1999 at TL5420 and on 29 June 2000 at TL5320. The author collected one male at a dead trunk
at Vange Heights (TQ7187) on 8 June 2000.
Ants (Family Formicidae)
The author collected two males of the Nationally Scarce (Notable B) ant Ponera coarctata at Temple
Mills in Waltham Forest (TQ3686) between 27 July and 19 August 1999. Although generally
considered common nationally, Myrmica lobicornis is very rare in Essex and is also rare in many
other parts of southern England. In Essex it seems to be confined to old or ancient grasslands. One
queen was collected by Jerry Bowdrey at Great Bentley Pumping Station (TM1122) on 17 September
1998. The author collected the Nationally Scarce (Notable B) ant Myrmica schencki in South Essex
at Wakering Stairs, Foulness (TQ9687) on 12 June 1999; Barking (TQ4682) between 27 July and
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)