Snake-flies, alderflies, lacewings and scorpion flies in Essex
Sisyra fuscata
Sisyridae in Britain and it is clear that a lot of
research is still to be carried out.
Threats
Aquatic pollution, principally from
agrochemicals, is presumed likely to constitute a
threat. Run-off from roads may pose problems if
fed directly into occupied watercourses.
Etymology
From the Latin fuscus = grey/dark coloured, a
reference to the insect's general colouration.
Family HEMEROBIIDAE — the brown lacewings
This is a large and economically important family of lacewings, which is represented in Britain by
seven genera, of which five are found in Essex. The two not represented in the county each contain
a single British species: Megalomus hirtus is an Endangered species known only from Arthur's
Seat, Edinburgh and Drepanepteryx phalaenoides is a distinctive, large species with falcate wings
and which might just be present, but overlooked, in Essex. Of the 31 British hemerobiid species, 19
have been recorded in Essex but only 17 of these are noted in recent years.
Psectra diptera (Burmeister, 1839)
National status: Local (Local)
Predicted county status: Scarce/—
Distribution
There are only four Essex records—Aveley Clay
Pit, 1984 (Peter Kirby), Bourne Wood, on the
border with Hertfordshire, 1987 (myself), Colne
Point National Nature Reserve, 1991 (Peter
Harvey) and Northwick, Canvey, 2000 (Peter
Harvey), The Aveley Clay Pit site no longer
remains, having been lost to the re-alignment of
the A13 trunk road. It is almost certainly
overlooked, although vast areas of the county are
likely to be unsuitable.
Habitat and ecology
Poorly understood. The Aveley specimen was
taken in a pooter from a sparsely vegetated clay
substrate; the Bourne Wood example was swept from tall grasses at a woodland edge during drizzle;
the Colne Point insect was taken in a pitfall trap; the Canvey example was taken in a pitfall trap in
open, drought-stressed, flower-rich, unmanaged grassland. The following information is not derived
from Essex sources. Typically, the insect has vestigial hind wings and presumably is unable to fly. A
macropterous form is occasionally encountered and this is sometimes taken at light traps; it probably
represents a dispersal phase. The more normal micropterous form is most frequently encountered in
pitfall traps and in water traps (pan traps); the very few (two) records obtained from the extensive
programme of pitfall and pan trapping work carried out in Essex by Peter Harvey and members of
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)