Snake-flies, alderflies, lacewings and scorpion flies in Essex
Etymology
From the Latin pygmaei = the pygmies, originally via the Greek pugmaios = dwarfish. Relating to the
small size of the insect.
Sympherobius (Niremberge) pellucidus (Walker, 1853)
National status: Local (Local)
Predicted county status: Scarce/—
Distribution
There is only a single Essex record; one was taken
by me at mercury vapour light in Warwick Wood,
Aveley, on 13 May 1984. Elsewhere in Britain
this species is widely distributed, but decidedly
local, in the southern half of Britain.
Habitat and ecology
Killington's (1937) suggestion that this species
maybe associated with coniferous trees is almost
certainly erroneous. At Richmond Park, in
London, large numbers were obtained by
insecticidal fogging of oak trees (Barnard et al.
1986). Deciduous woodland features in most
British associations, but data is minimal.
Threats
Unknown.
Etymology
The name is derived from the Latin verb pelluceo = to shine through, and is a reference to the translucent
nature of the wings.
Sympherobius (Niremberge) klapaleki Zeleny, 1963
National status: not listed (Unknown
Predicted county status: Rare/—
Distribution
This was added to the British fauna very recently
(Whittington 1998) from Silwood Park, Berkshire.
A second British example was taken at Larks
Wood, Epping Forest, on 15 June 1999 by Dan
Hackett and the identification verified by myself
(Hackett 2000). Since then, a third British example
was found by me in RIS light trap sample for 18
August 2000, operated by Andrew Halstead, from
the Royal Horticultural Society Garden at Wisley,
Surrey. These are the only British records.
In the AIDGAP key (Plant 1997a), this species
will run to S. pellucidus, where readers will find a
footnote warning not to overlook it. It has the basal two segments of the antennae yellow but note,
however, that Sympherobius elegans can also have first 2 basal segments of antennae yellowish
(especially in alcohol-preserved material) so always check the number of branches to the radial sector.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)
203