Elampus panzeri (Fabricius, 1804) (Chrysididae), Crabro peltarius (Schreber, 1784),
Crossocerus palmipes (Linnaeus, 1767), Ectemnius ruficornis (Zetterstedt, 1838) and Nitela
lucens Gayubo & Felton, 2000 (Sphecidae), aculeate Hymenoptera new to Essex
PETER HARVEY
32 Lodge Lane, Grays, Essex RM16 2YP
The following species of aculeate Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants) arc recorded new to Essex.
Nationally Local designations have been obtained from the JNCC Recorder 3 software. Other
national statuses are those in Falk (1991). Essex Red Data species are species considered rare or
threatened in Essex and details of categories and definitions arc provided at
www.essexfieldclub.org.uk
Elampus panzeri. Local, Essex Red Data List, Essex Endangered
This ruby-tailed wasp is widely distributed as far north as Yorkshire, but most records are from the
southern heathlands of Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey. It is a brood parasite of species of
Mimesa (Sphecidae), occuring in the sandy habitats of the hosts. The species profile map (Archer
& Roberts 2002) suggests a status revision (to Nationally Scarce) would be warranted. The
occurrence at a sparsely vegetated nesting area in the West Thurrock PFA (pulverised fuel ash)
North Lagoon (TQ585770) on the 9th June 2003 is the first record for Essex.
Crabro peltarius. Local, Essex Red Data List, Essex Endangered
This is a large black and yellow solitary wasp nesting in dry soil and preying on Diptera including
Therevidae, Stratiomyidae, Empididae and Muscidae. It is widely distributed north to Sutherland,
but without any previous records for Essex (Harvey & Plant 1996). Despite relatively comprehensive
fieldwork in the South Essex region the first records for Essex were made at Springfields Sand Pit
- Orsett Camp Quarry - (TQ661809) in 2003 with single females collected on 25"' June and 7th July
at the western end of the pit from tall flower-rich herbage with sparsely vegetated areas near to a
community building built in the sand pit adjacent to a recent housing estate.
Crossocerus palmipes. Nationally Scarce (Notable/Nb), Essex Red Data List, Essex Endangered
This sphecid wasp is widely distributed in
Britain, but it is very scarce in the south-east
where recording levels have been relatively high
(Falk, 1991). The species occurs in open sandy
habitats especially heathland and disturbed
situations such as sandpits and coastal landslips.
It nests in bare or sparsely vegetated sandy
substrates in warm sunny situations, and the cells
are provisioned with a small number of flies e.g.
Muscidae, Dolichopodidae, Chloridae or
Lauxaniidae. Despite extensive survey of
apparently suitable habitats in Essex, the
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 21 (2004)
61