Snake-flies, alderflies, lacewings and scorpion flies in Essex
Nineta inpunctata Reuter, 1894
National status: Not listed (Endangered - RDB 1) Predicted county status: Rare/Endangered
Distribution
The only British record is of a female taken at
mercury vapour light in Eastend Wood, at the end
the runway at Stansted Airport, on 26 June 1989
(Plant, 1996; see also Plant, 1999).
Habitat and ecology
Completely unknown. There is a suggestion of
an association with scrub oak in Europe, but all
European records are from light traps.
Threats
Known only from Europe and from less than
twenty individuals in all. It is regarded as
Endangered at the international level. There is
an urgent need to investigate its habitat
requirements.
Etymology
From the Latin punctum = a tiny spot or mark, hence the English "punctate", meaning possessed of
small spots or holes. Thus, the species is inpunctata, or not punctate - in this case lacking in spots
(Reuter originally described the species as an unspotted variety of Chrysopa septempunctata, which
has black spots on its face).
Nothochrysa capitata (Fabricius, 1793)
National status; Local (Local) Predicted county status: Local/-
Distribution
Widespread and probably partly under-recorded.
Habitat and ecology
Apparently associated with pine trees, of a variety
of species, from which adults may be easily
dislodged with the aid of a stout stick. However,
in Richmond Park, Surrey, several examples were
collected from the canopy of an oak tree by
insecticidal fogging (Barnard et al. 1986). Many
British records are from light traps.
Threats
None apparent.
Etymology
From the Latin caput = head, relati ng to the adult
insect's orange-coloured head. Although the head of the much less common N. fulviceps is considerably
brighter, that species was not known to Fabricius in 1793; Stephens described it some 43 years later.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)
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