Snake-flies, alderflies, lacewings and scorpion flies in Essex
from the wind. There is also some evidence that Wesmaelius species may pass winter in the adult
stage in similar microhabitat.
Rearing adults from the early stages
Searches through available literature suggest that whilst the ecologies of aquatic species are
comparatively well known, there are colossal gaps in our knowledge of the early stages of terrestrial
lacewings. In particular, there are no useable keys to larvae of British species. The known early
stages of all terrestrial Neuropterida are carnivorous; some species are generalist, but others may be
more specialist. In most cases, raising adults from larvae is a relatively easy process and one through
which even a complete beginner is highly likely to discover a wealth of previously unknown ecological
information. Take care to describe each larval stage fully and either take photographs or, ideally,
preserve a few specimens; once the adults have emerged and been identified, name and larval
description can be married up.
Larvae of the snake-flies hunt beneath the bark of fallen logs and may be easily found by peeling
back the bark. It is essential to record the species of tree from whence the log originated. Their main
prey seems to be the larvae of beetles and flies, but there is only the minimum of information on this.
Pupation normally takes place in the soil beneath the log. One species, Atlantoraphidia maculicollis
(associated with pine trees and not yet recorded in Essex), over-winters in the pupal stage, but the
other three over-winter as larvae. As a minimum we need to learn which snake-flies use which tree
species and under what conditions. The group may, overall, have significance as an indicator of
saproxylic habitat quality.
True lacewings arc largely aphidiphagous and some may be confined to aphids that arc in turn
confined to the host tree (for example Hemerobius pini is believed to require pine aphids, and may
not thrive if offered aphids from your rose bushes!). Some species, notably some of the wax-flies,
may feed on Psocoptera or small Hemiptera, including scale-insects. Larvae of many species are
very easily obtained by beating trees and other vegetation and larvae will adapt well to captivity as
long as they are provided with an airy container and a regular supply of live food. Larvae collected
in the early part of the year will generally produce adults later on in the same year and so any
problems associated with over-wintering can be easily avoided in this way. Start by providing them
with aphids (clip off and provide sections of host-plant with aphids in situ), but also offer them
aphids from other plants and carefully record if these are eaten or ignored.
Members of the genera Micromus, Psectra and possibly others are thought likely to be associated
with root aphids. Finding them may be somewhat more challenging, but rearing them through is
almost certain to be far more rewarding and will, likely, guarantee you a publication in the
entomological literature.
The status and distribution of Essex lacewings and allies
The overall recording coverage of the county is shown in Fig. 1, which indicates the numbers (within
three bands) of species recorded in each tetrad (coincidence map). Records are available from 265
tetrads, but the bulkof these have less than ten species recorded. The best-recorded tetrad in the
county is TQ 48G (TQ 48T22), which has 27 species. The number of species expected in an "average"
Essex garden over a year (with light trapping) is around twenty. A total of three out of the four
species of British Raphidioptera, two of the three Megaloptera, 48 of the 69 Neuroptera and all four
Mecoptera are recorded for Essex. The status of these species in the county is now discussed.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)
179