Snake-flies, alderflies, lacewings and scorpion flies in Essex
Habitat and ecology
Poorly understood. The adult has been beaten
from a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs
elsewhere in Britain, but the larvae have not been
found. Unlike most other members of the
Coniopterygidae, adults of S. aleyrodiformis are
rarely taken in light traps; it is not clear if this
implies relative rarity of the species or whether
for some reason light holds no attraction for it.
Threats
None known.
Etymology
From the latin fbrma = like/similar in combination
with the genus Aleyrodes (whitefly) of the
Hemiptera.
Semidalis pseudouncinata Meinander, 1963
National status: Not listed (Unknown)
adventive)
Predicted county status: Local/Unknown (Recent
Distribution
Under-recorded. In Essex, this species is known
only from the former RIS light trap at Writtle,
from where it was recorded as new to Britain in
1990 (Plant 1992) and then continued to be
present in the samples for every year until
trapping there ceased in 1993. It is likely to be
present (or to spread to), most places where
ornamental Cupressaceae are grown to semi-
maturity, and so is likely to be widespread but
relatively local in the county. Outside Essex, it is
so far recorded only from the Royal Horticultural
Society Garden at Wisley, Surrey (again in the
RIS light trap) and from Buckingham Palace
Garden, London (Middlesex), from where a single male was collected in an mv light trap on 28 July
1995 (Plant 2001).
Habitat and ecology
It is associated with ornamental Cupressaceae and was probably artificially aided in its arrival in
Britain. However, in the years prior to 1990 it seemed to exhibit a gradual northwards progression
across Europe (P. Leraut, pers, comm.); a species introduced with horticultural items might be expected
to jump to new areas rather than show a gradual range expansion?
Threats
None perceived. The species is likely to feed on small Hemiptera associated with the host trees and
so should not considered to be a potential pest.
Etymology
Meinander described this species as being close to Semidalis uncinataTjeder, 1957, a South African
species. The prefix pseudo, derived from the Greek pseudes, means "similar to" when used in this
context.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)
191