Some interesting aculeate Hymenoptera records for 1999-2000
(TQ6977), where the species was first recorded in 1993, a very large nesting aggregation was seen
by Mike Edwards and the author on 20 August 2000, and photographs were taken by the author
during a return visit to the site on 4 September 2000 (see Plate X). The bee was also found in large
numbers on 25 August 1998 and between 6 September and 11 October 1998 foraging at Sea Aster in
the silt lagoon at Wennington (TQ5279) where the habitat has now been destroyed by its re-use for
dredgings (see previous comment concerning Passaloecus clypealis). A single female was collected
on a small area of Saltmarsh at Aveley Bay (TQ5379) on 12 September 2000.
The Nationally Scarce (Notable B) Colletes marginatus has a much more restricted distribution in
Essex, being confined to coastal dune-like or sandy habitats. On male was collected by the author at
East Tilbury silt lagoons, where it was first discovered in some numbers in 1995. Four males and
four females were also collected at Northwick, Canvey (TQ7683) on 23 June, 26 July and 19 July
2000. A further male was collected in a pitfall trap between 17 August and 1 September 2000, an
exceptionally late date for this species.
The Nationally Scarce (Notable A) Hylaeus cornutus (a yellow-faced bee without a yellow face!) is
currently reasonably widespread in open flower-rich grasslands in the East Thames Corridor, although
it does also occur in several scattered sites in the north of the county. The author collected one
female at Thorncy Bay, Canvey (TQ7982) on 5 July 1999, two females at Northwick, Canvey
(TQ7683) on 19 July 2000 and two females at Pitsea (TQ7387) on 20 July 2000. Hylaeus pectoralis
has been recorded in fens and coastal marshes, associated with stands of Common Reed Phragmites
australis where it nests in the galls of the chloropid fly Lipara lucens (Else 1995). In Essex it has
now been recorded from four sites, most recently at Northwick, Canvey (TQ7683), where the author
first found the species in August 1999 and has since established its presence in large numbers during
July and August 2000. Adrian Knowles has recorded one female of the Nationally Scarce (Notable
A) Hylaeus pictipes, collected by Neil Harvey at Colne Point (TM0912) on 1 July 2000. The species
is very rare in the county, with only three other modem records. Like Hylaeus cornutus, the Nationally
Scarce (Notable B) Hylaeus signatus is currently reasonably widespread in open flower-rich
grasslands in the East Thames Corridor. Dan Hackett has found the species at Marsh Lane Fields
(TQ3786) in Waltham Forest on 17 June 1999 and Adrian Knowles collected one female in North
Essex at Old Heath Cliff Paddock (TM0123) on 17 July 2000.
Mining bees (Subfamily Andreninae)
The exciting rediscovery in Essex of the Grey Mining-bee Andrena cineraria (see Plate 1) at several
locations in Epping Forest is detailed elsewhere in this journal (Harvey & Samuels 2001). The
Nationally Scarce (Notable B) Andrena bimaculata is rare in the county. It continues to be found in
the Colchester area by Adrian Knowles who has collected a male and female at Middlewick Ranges
(TM0023) on 24 March 2000, a male at Hilly Fields (TL9825) on 25 March 1999 and a female on
13 July 1999, as well as one male in north-west Essex at Madgate Slade (TL5339) on 1 April 1999.
Females of the Nationally Rare (RDB3) Andrena florea have an obligate association with the flowers
of White Bryony Bryonia dioica, whose pollen they collect to provision their nest cells.
The bee has a distribution in Britain from the Isle of Wight, across the heathlands of Sussex and
Surrey and along the east Thames Corridor as far east as Barling. On 22 June 2000 Colin Plant
collected one female in TQ7986 at Benfleet Downs, where the author had previously recorded the
species at White Bryony on 29 May 1994 in TQ7985 and TQ8085. Andrena fucata seems to be rare
in the county, probably a result of the high level of habitat loss to modern agricultural practices.
Adrian Knowles collected one male at Donyland Heath (TM0121) on 4 May 1999.
The Nationally Scarce (Notable A) Andrena fulvago has undergone a substantial decline this century,
88
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)