Invertebrate survey at Gunpowder Park, the former Royal Ordnance Site in the Lee Valley
Eumenidae Odynerus melanocephalus Notable/Na, Essex Red Data species, Regionally Important
The species was swept from herbage at the side of the ditch in Area B. Odynerus melanocephalus has
been widely recorded in southern England, but post-1970 records are mostly from the coasts of Dorset,
Kent, the Isle of Wight and the East Thames Corridor. It is especially associated with grassland and
scrub on light, clayish soils, and has been found on soft rock cliffs and inland on heaths and disturbed
areas. Nest burrows, with the protruding chimney characteristic of Odynerus species, are dug in level,
exposed soil. The nest cells are stocked with small larvae of lepidoptera or coleoptera.
Formicidae Lasius brunneus Notable/Na, Essex Red Data species Regionally Important
The species was found in Arca D. The ant Lasius brunneus has an inland distribution in southern
England, in the Thames Valley and the Severn Vale (Alexander 1998). The ant is widespread in
suitable habitat in south western Essex as far north as Hatfield Forest. It is a tree-dwelling ant,
typically nesting in old oak trees in parkland, but is also sometimes found in hedgerows.
Halictinae Lasioglossum pauperatum RDB3, Essex Red Data species, Regionally Important
The species was found in Area B. It is a very local bee, recorded from several southern counties as
far north as Essex and as far west as Devon, but with very few recent records except in south Essex
near the Thames where it seems to be reasonably widespread. It was especially numerous on the
silt lagoons at Rainham, but the habitat has been almost completely destroyed by re-use of the
lagoon. The author also recorded the bee in 1998 at one site near Colchester in N. Essex, also on
Thames Terrace sands and gravels. The bee is presumed to nest in light soils in sunny situations.
Pollen sources are unknown, but flower visits include Senecio and Crepis.
Halictinae Lasioglossum pauxillum Notable/Na, Essex Red Data species, Regionally Important
The species was found in Area D. The bee is recorded from southern England, and Falk (1991a)
describes it as an extremely local species with post-1970 records known for about twenty sites,
mostly in Kent and Sussex but also sparingly in S. Hampshiie and S. Essex. Recent years have seen
the species become much more frequent, and it is much more frequently encountered.
Halictinae Lasioglossum puncticolle Notable/Nb, Essex Red Data species, Regionally Important
The species was found in Areas B and D. The mining bee Lasioglossum puncticolle is much declined
inland (Falk 1991b) but still widespread in Essex near the coast. It seems to prefer dry clay substrates
and bare or sparsely vegetated soil in warm, sunny situations for nesting. Pollen sources probably
include Carrot, Ranunculus. Cirsium and several yellow composites.
Halictinae Sphecodes crassus Notable/Nb, Essex Red Data species. Regionally Important
The species was found in Area B2. Sphecodes crassus is a small black and red cuckoo bee,
cleptoparasitic on Lasioglossum species especially L. nitiduisculum and L. parvulum. Females arc
very difficult to distinguish from the related S. geoffrellus {fasciatus), therefore its status and
distribution is unclear. However it does currently seem to be widespread in the Fast Thames Corridor.
Halictinae Sphecodes niger RDB3, Essex Red Data species, Regionally Important
The species was found in Area D. Sphecodes niger is found in the south of England on chalk grassland,
clay cliffs and disturbed situations on 1 ight soils. It is a parasite of bees in the genus Lasioglossum, L.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 21 (2004)
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