Snake-flies, alderflies, lacewings and scorpion flies in Essex
Etymology
A combination of the Latin quatuor = four, with the Latin fascia = a band, Relating to the four, transverse
wing bands, not always easy to see, formed by the grey-bordered cross-veins on each forewi ng.
Sympherobius (Sympherobius) elegans (Stephens, 1836)
National status: Local (Local) Predicted county status: Scarce/—
Distribution
There are records from South Weald Park in 1978
and Dagnam Park in 1979 (Del Smith) and then
at Eastend Wood, by Stansted Airport in 1989;
there are no other records to date. Any records
made prior to 1931 which may be discovered
should be regarded as unreliable unless a
specimen can be examined (see Plant 1994: 133).
Habitat and ecology
British records indicate that mere is an association
with semi-mature or mature deciduous trees, both
in woodland and where these form standard trees
in a coppice. There arc occasional records from
gardens, but most (perhaps all) relate to light trap
records and so there is no particular habitat association. Interestingly, the species is apparently
scarce or absent from much of western Britain, and the population is distributed principally in the
entire eastern half of England; that there are so few Essex records is something of a surprise.
Threats
None perceived.
Etymology
A direct use of the Latin elegans = choice, fine, neat or tasteful, from which the English word "elegant"
is derived.
Sympherobius (Sympherobius) pygmaeus (Rambur, 1842)
National status: Common (Local) Predicted county status: Scarce/-
Dis tribution
Four of the dots on the map relate to records from
moth traps using mercury vapour bulbs, and one
relates to the Writtle R1S trap, which used a
tungsten filament light source. However, the
species is not recorded from all the sites where I
have 1 ight-trapped, suggesting that it may have a
local distribution.
Habitat and ecology
The larvae are confined to deciduous oak trees,
principally in high-canopy woodland, but
elsewhere in Britain occasionally on isolated trees.
Threats
None perceived._________________________
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)