155a .a- HARVARD UNIVERSITY Ernst Mayr Library of the Museum of Comparative Zoology MC2 LIBRARY FEB 2 7 Z006 harvard UNIVERSITY May 2002 ISSN 0952-7583 Vol. 15, Part 1 BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY Published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society and incorporating its Proceedings and Transactions Editor: M. Wilson, Ph.D., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. Department of Biodiversity & Systematic Biology, National Museums & Galleries of Wales, Cardiff CFIO 3NP. (Tel: 02920 573263, Fax: 02920 239829) email: Mike.Wilson@nmgw.ac.uk Associate Editor: Richard A. Jones, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.E.S. 135 Eriern Road, East Dulwich, London SE22 OAZ. Editorial Committee: D. J. L. Agassiz, M.A., Ph D., F.R.E.S. R. D. G. Barrington, B.Sc. P. J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. B. Goater, B.Sc., M.EBiol. A. J. Halstead, M.Sc., F.R.E.S. R. D. Hawkins, M.A. P. J. Hodge T. G. Howarth, B.E.M., F.R.E.S. I. F. G. McEean, Ph.D., F.R.E.S M. J. Simmons, M.Sc. P. A. Sokoloff, M.Sc., C.Biol., M.EBiol., F.R.E.S. T. R. E. Southwood, K.B., D.Sc., F.R.E.S. R. W. J. Uffen, M.Sc., F.R.E.S. B. K. West, B.Ed. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History is published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Reading, Berkshire RGIO OTH, UK. Tel: 01189-321402. The Journal is distributed free to BENHS members. © 2002 British Entomological and Natural History Society. Typeset by Dobbie Typesetting Eimited, Tavistock, Devon. Printed in England by Henry Ling Ltd, Dorchester, Dorset. BRITISH ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Registered charity number: 213149 Meetings of the Society are held regularly in London, at the rooms of the Royal Entomological Society, 41 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 and the well-known ANNUAL EXHIBITION is planned for Saturday 9 November 2002 at Imperial College, London SW7. Frequent Field Meetings are held at weekends in the summer. Visitors are welcome at all meetings. The current Programme Card can be had on application to the Secretary, J. Muggleton, at the address given below. The Society maintains a library, and collections at its headquarters in Dinton Pastures, which are open to members on various advertised days each month, telephone 01189-321402 for the latest meeting news. The Society’s web site is: http://www.BENHS.org.uk Applications for membership to the Membership Secretary: A. Godfrey, 90 Bence Lane, Darton, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S75 5DA. Subscriptions and changes of address to the Membership Secretary: R. D. Hawkins, 30d Meadowcroft Close, Horley, Surrey RH6 9EL. Non-arrival of the Journal, faulty copies or other problems arising from distribution of the Journal or notices to the Distribution Secretary: D. Young, Graylings, School Road, Tunstall, Woodbridge, Suffolk IPG 2JQ. Tel: 01728 688992. Orders for books and back numbers of the Journal and Proceedings to the Sales Secretary: G. Boyd, 91 Fullingdale Road, Northampton NN3 2PZ. Tel: 01604 410056. General Enquiries to the Secretary: J. Muggleton, 30 Penton Road, Staines, Middlesex TW18 2LD. Tel: 01784-464537. email: jmuggleton@compuserve.com Cover photograph: Nymphs of the parent bug, Elasniucho grisea (L.) (Hemiptera: Acanthosomidae), living communally on a birch leaf. Photo: Richard A. Jones. NOTE: The Editor invites submission of photographs for black and white reproduction on the front covers of the journal. The subject matter is open, with an emphasis on aesthetic value rather than scientific novelty. Submissions can be in the form of colour or black and white prints or colour transparencies. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 / A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COLLECTING INSECTS AND OTHER INVERTEBRATES INVERTEBRATE LINK 1 5 (Joint Committee for the Conservation of British Invertebrates) Introduction H A V a - -'INI \/ Field entomologists in the UK have long supported the code for collecting tlnif was published over thirty years ago by the (now renamed) Joint Committee for the Conservation of British Insects. The code, which was partially revised in 1987, has now been thoroughly updated. It thus takes account of developments in conservation and is applicable to all terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates; not just insects. The code, of necessity, defines certain activities that should be avoided or restricted but it equally emphasises the need to collect invertebrates in order to gain valuable information, much of which can aid conservation. The code is reproduced in full below and will also be separately published. Additionally a ‘pocket’ summary of the code will be published free of charge by the Forestry Commission 0 1 i y The Code This Committee believes that the study of invertebrates and the formation of reference collections, complete with their inherent recorded data, are important sources of information which make a vital contribution to the conservation of the invertebrate fauna and to conservation in general. To this end, accurate identification of species is essential and often requires the examination of dead specimens. Available evidence indicates that invertebrate populations are not generally harmed by the collection of specimens. Collecting may, however, have some potential to harm populations that are very localised or that have been seriously affected by the loss and fragmentation of habitats, caused by ever-increasing changes in land use. Such changes include the decline of traditional farmland management, urban expansion and road development. In view of these considerations, the Committee believes that collecting should always be limited to the minimum necessary for the purpose intended, as well as by full compliance with legal requirements relating to particular sites and species. This principle is enshrined within the following code of conduct, together with guidance on the safeguarding of collections and associated data. The Committee acknowledges the restraint that is already exercised by most people who study invertebrates in the field. Furthermore it believes that, by subscribing to this code, they can show themselves to be a concerned and responsible body of committed naturalists who wish to maximise the value of their data for conservation. I.O Collecting — General 1.1 No more specimens than are strictly required for a specific purpose should be captured or killed. Remember that even an apparently common species may be locally vulnerable. 1.2 Individuals of readily identified species, particularly butterlhes, should not be killed, nor removed from the wild, unless required as voucher specimens or for scientific or educational study. If they are not needed for BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., IS: 2002 such purposes, they should be examined while alive and then released near the place of capture. 1.3 If the accumulation of scientific data is not a specific aim, consideration should be given to photography as an alternative to collecting, especially for macrolepidoptera. 1.4 Species that do not occur in abundance should not be taken year after year from the same locality. 1.5 Specimens for exchange or disposal to other entomologists should be taken sparingly, and preferably not at all. 1.6 Invertebrates should not be collected from the wild for sale or other commercial purposes, including the manufacture of jewellery, or for purely ornamental display. 1.7 If specimens are sold from captive-bred stock or from old collections, they should be accompanied by data, including details of provenance. 1.8 When obtaining early stages by collecting leaf-mines, galls, seed heads etc., never take all that can be found. Leave as many as possible to allow the population to survive. 1 .9 Do as little damage to the habitat as possible. 1.10 Adequate records, as indicated in article 5.1, should always be kept. 1.11 Collections should be properly housed, so as to prevent deterioration or damage by pests. 1.12 The future value of every collection should be safeguarded. The owner’s will should provide for the appointment of a scientific executor, who can offer the collection to a learned society or a museum. 2.0 Collecting — Rare, Local and Endangered Species 2.1 It is illegal to collect certain listed invertebrate species or forms except under licence from the relevant authority'. Other taxa listed as being of ‘Conservation Concern’ should not be collected except with the utmost restraint-. A pair of specimens of any such taxon should be considered sufficient for a personal collection. Species in greatest danger should not be collected at all for this purpose. ' In Great Britain, these taxa are protected under Section 9(1) of the Wildlife & Countryside Act ( 1981 ) and are listed within Schedule 5 of the Act. The licensing authority at the time of writing is DEFRA; applications can be made via the national conservation agencies (e.g. English Nature). The authority for Northern Ireland is the Environment & Heritage Service of DoE(NI). ^ Such taxa are listed in CITES schedules. Biodiversity Action Plans, Red Data Books and reviews of nationally or locally notable species, as updated on the websites of UK government conservation agencies: e.g. www.english-nature.org.uk and www.citesuk.gov.uk BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 3 The taking of larger or annually repealed samples may, however, be justifiable for homi fide seientific study, if it can be reasonably expected to have no damaging effects on the population. 2.2 The collection of rare or local species from sites where they are already known to occur does not generally provide useful data and should be avoided, except for the purpose of survey or other scientific study. 2.3 Newly discovered localities for rare species should be reported to the appropriate conservation organisations, records centres and organisers of recording schemes (.vcc 5.2). 3.0 Collecting — Trapping 3.1 The catch in a trap should be released after being examined, except for any specimens that must be killed for voucher purposes or for an ecological or other scientific study. The release should be made in the same locality, but away from the immediate trap site. The catch should preferably be kept in cool shady conditions and then released at dusk. If this is not possible, it should be released in long grass, or other cover; not on lawns or other exposed surfaces. Anaesthetics are harmful and should not be used. 3.2 Live trapping, for instance in traps filled with egg-tray material, is always to be preferred to the killing of the catch. 3.3 Unwanted invertebrates should not be fed to fish, birds or other animals. 3.4 If a trap used for scientific purposes is found to be catching rare or local species unnecessarily, it should be re-sited. 3.5 Traps and lights should be sited with care so as not to annoy or confuse other people or to waste police time. 4.0 Collecting — Permissions and Conditions 4. 1 Always seek permission from the landowner or occupier before collecting on private land. Obtain appropriate permit(s) for access and/or collecting on any site controlled by a conservation body, such as a county wildlife trust, local authority, the national conservation agency. Forest Enterprise or National Trust. (Collecting on a Site of Special Scientific Interest requires permission both from the owner and from the local office of the appropriate national conservation agency.-^) 4.2 Always comply with any conditions laid down by the granting of access and the permission to collect. 4.3 Always report your findings to the person who gave you permission, at least by commenting orally on the ecological requirements of a few species of interest. Findings from a nature reserve or other important site should be sent to the appropriate authority in the form of a list of the species recorded, annotated with habitat data. In Great Britain these agencies are: English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and Countryside Council for Wales. 4 BR. J, ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 5.0 Recording — General 5.1 Full and relevant data should be kept together with all specimens retained; i.e. as attached data labels in the case of dry mounted collections. These data may be repeated and amplified in databases, notebooks and other media. 5.2 Species lists, together with any other data, should always be lodged with the relevant county and national recording schemes'*. If possible, the data should be entered on a database compatible with the National Biodiversity Network. 6.0 Collecting — Protecting the Environment 6. 1 Protect habitats and remember the interests of other naturalists. Avoid harm to nesting vertebrates and to vegetation, particularly rare or fragile plants. 6.2 When 'beating’ trees or shrubs for invertebrates, do not thrash leaves or twigs so as to cause damage; a sharp jarring of branches is normally sufficient and more effective. Searching for larvae, rather than indiscriminate beating, should be considered as more environmentally friendly and giving more insight into the lifestyles of the species concerned. 6.3 When coleopterists (or others) work dead wood or bark, they should leave a substantial proportion untouched in the locality. Where practicable, detached bark and worked material should be replaced. 6.4 Overturned stones and logs should be gently replaced in their original positions unless very deeply embedded. 6.5 Damage to aquatic habitats from over- vigorous use of water nets or kick sampling should be avoided. Water-weed and moss which have been worked for invertebrates should be replaced, together with the unwanted animals. Plant material that has been left by site managers in litter heaps should be replaced and not scattered about. 6.6 ‘Sugar’ should never be applied to tree trunks or other surfaces where it could harm lichens or other epiphytes or where it would be unsightly. ‘Wine ropes’ should be used in preference to sugar patches. 6.7 Uprooting plants or digging up turf without permission from the landowner is generally illegal in the UK and should not be done. Certain plant species, which are listed as fully protected by law, should not be picked or collected in any way without an appropriate licence. For invertebrates in short turf, damage to the habitat can be avoided and the efficiency of sampling improved by the use of a ‘suction sampler’. 6.8 Litter from vertebrate nests or roosts should be collected only in compliance with the laws applying to the species concerned. 6.9 Follow the Country Code and comply with all bylaws that apply to the site concerned. 4 Relevant schemes and databases may be listed on invertebrate conservation websites. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 5 7.0 Rearing and Breeding 7.1 It obtaining breeding stock of scarce species, try to do so from captive colonies that have already been successfully established, rather than from wild-caught sources. 7.2 No more larvae or other livestock should be collected from the wild than can be adequately fed and maintained in captivity. 7.3 Bred or reared invertebrates that are surplus to requirements should not, without consultation as dehned in Article 7.4, be released into the wild, except back into their parental population. Large numbers should not be released even into a parental population if it is small and localised. Surplus invertebrates that, according to Article 7.4, are not suitable for release should if possible be offered to others with a relevant interest. The above guidance, which is based on genetic and ecological considerations, refers to native taxa. It is illegal in the UK to release any non-native invertebrate into the wild, except under special licence from the relevant government agency^. 7.4 The establishment of a new population or the attempted reinforcement of an existing one should not be undertaken except within a well-prepared, ecologically sound programme; this must be sanctioned by the appro- priate conservation agencies, notified to the relevant recording schemes and local organisations and agreed with the owner or occupier of the site(s) concerned. Also consult “Insect Re-establishment — a code of Conservation Practice” issued by the Committee. The guidelines in 7.3 and 7.4 include precautionary measures to avoid the adverse effects of releasing potentially deleterious genes into recipient populations. 8.0 Health and Safety, Insurance etc. 8.1 All collectors and surveyors should look after their own safety and that of anyone else who may be affected by what they are doing. Formal risk assessments may be required by site owners or commissioners of surveys. 8.2 If any activity might cause suspicion or confusion (e.g. the use of light traps in certain localities), the relevant authorities, such as the police or coastguard, should be notified beforehand. All those involved in fieldwork, especially organised events, should be aware or made aware of their liabilities for personal injury or damage to property. Appropriate insurance cover should be obtained if necessary. First published 1969; second edition. May 1987. This edition was drafted with the help of contributions and advice from K.N. Alexander. N.A.D. Bourn, O.D. Cheesman, P.J. Hodge, R.A. Jones, R.S. Key, D. Lonsdale, M.G. Morris. J. Muggleton, M. Parsons, J.W. Phillips, A..I. Pickles, A.E. Stubbs and M. Willing. 5 At the time of writing, the relevant UK agencies are DEFRA (for England and Wales) and its counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland. 6 BR. .1. ENT. NAT. WEST., 15: 2002 A summary of this code is published free of charge by the Forestry Commission Research Agency, Alice Holt Lodge, Wrecclesham, Farnham, Surrey GUIO 4LH (Tel. 01420 22255) INVERTEBRATE LINK (Joint Committee for the Conservation of British Invertebrates) c/o Royal Entomological Society, 41 Queen’s Gate, LONDON SW7 5FIR (Tel. 0207 584 8361) Organisations represented on Invertebrate Link Action for Invertebrates Amateur Entomologists’ Society Balfour-Browne Club Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders’ Association Bees, Wasp, and Ants Recording Society Biological Records Centre British Arachnological Society British Dragonfly Society British Entomological and Natural History Society British Myriapod and Isopoda Group Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust Butterfly Conservation CABI Bioscience Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland Countryside Council for Wales DEFRA Dipterists’ Forum English Nature Environment Agency Forestry Commission (Forest Research) Joint Nature Conservation Committee National Trust for England, Wales and Northern Ireland Natural History Museum Royal Entomological Society Royal Museum of Scotland RSPB Scottish Natural Heritage The Wildlife Trusts BR. .1. ENT. NAT. HIST.. 15: 2002 7 A Code of Conduct for Collecting Insects and Other Invertebrates The British Entomological and Natural History Society, Butterhy Conservation and Buglite The Invertebrate Conservation Trust congratulate Invertebrate Link (formerly the JCCBI) on producing the new edition of A Code of Conduct for Collecting Insects and Other Invertebrates, which is published in this issue of the British Journal of Entomology and Natural History. We warmly welcome and endorse the new Code and expect that all members of our respective societies will abide by its provisions and will encourage others to do likewise. Collecting insects and other invertebrates is a legitimate activity for biological recording, scientihe research, personal study and other purposes, with the exception of the relatively small number of protected species (in Britain these are listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, see www.jncc.gov.uk). By complying with the new Code, entomologists will be able to pursue their interests in invertebrates, knowing that they will not harm populations of those species that they collect. It would be wise to remember that in a few other European countries the privilege of collecting insects (and other invertebrates) has been partly or largely withdrawn, through highly restrictive legislation. More enlightened attitudes currently prevail in Britain, where collecting invertebrates is acknowledged as an essential part of accurately recording species for conservation and other purposes. However, should entomologists be perceived as abusing this position, then there is the real possibility of extensive restrictions on collecting being introduced in Britain. All naturalists have a duty to act responsibly and to adhere to the new code, thereby ensuring that their activities will increase our knowledge of invertebrates and continue to benefit conservation. Invertebrate Link (formerly the JCCBI) is an umbrella organisation whose membership consists of NGOs and statutory organisations concerned with the conservation of Britain’s invertebrates. All have contributed to and endorse the new Code. Current members are: Action for Invertebrates; Amateur Entomologists' Society; Balfour-Browne Club; Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders’ Association; Bees, Wasps, and Ants Recording Society; Biological Records Centre; British Arachnological Society; British Dragonfly Society; British Entomological and Natural History Society; British Myriapod and Isopod Group; Butterfly Conserva- tion; CABI Bioscience; Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland; Country- side Council for Wales; Dipterists’ Eorum; English Nature; Environment Agency; Forestry Commission (Forest Research); Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust; Joint Nature Conservation Committee; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; National Trust; Natural History Museum; Royal Entomological Society; Royal Museum of Scotland; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; Scottish Natural Heritage; The Wildlife Trusts. 8 J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 ANNOUNCEMENTS Land & Water Bugs of the British Isies by T.R.E. Southwood & D. Leston — available again! After many years out of print “Southwood & Leston” has been reissued in electronic format by Pisces Conservation. Land & Water Bugs of the British Isles is available on CD-ROM. The plates, figures and text are reproduced from the original, and are now fully cross-referenced and searchable. The book is in Adobe Acrobat pdf format (with free Reader software supplied), which allows text and plates to be printed. Cost; CD (Windows) [but Acrobat PDF files can also be read on Apple Macintosh] £18 (includes VAT) plus £2 postage. Available from: Pisces Conservation, IRC House, The Square, Pennington, Lymington, Hants, S041 8GN. Tel. 01590 676622 Fax 01590 675599. Email: pisces(^irchoLise. demon. co.uk [It is possible to telephone and order with a credit card] National Moth Night 2002 This year the National Moth Night is being held on the night of 15th June 2002. It is organised by Atropos and Insectline. The aims of the event are as follows; to encourage widespread moth recording and to gather useful data; to stimulate wider interest in moths and raise their profile amongst the public; to raise funds for moth conservation projects. Further details can be found on www.atroposuk.co.uk or www.insectline.co.uk Neil Horton Lepidoptera Collection moves to Cardiff The Lepidoptera collection built up by Dr G. A. Neil Horton, living near Usk, Monmoushire has been transferred in 2001 to the National Museums & Galleries of Wales, Cardiff. Many of the specimens were collected in Monmouthshire, south Wales and were the subject of the book Monmouthshire Lepidoptera (1994). The collection includes the first specimens collected of The Silurian {Eriopygodes imhecilla. Fab) a species still only known from the Abergavenny area. All specimens will be databased as they incorporated into the main British collection. For access to and information on the collection contact Mike Wilson, Department of Biodiversity & Systematic Biology, National Museums & Galleries of Wales, Cardiff, CFIO 3NP Editorial Correction Hawkins, R. D.; Southern Bush Cricket: BJENH Volume 14, Issue 4, page 213. Apologies to David Element for mis-spelling his name in the Acknowledgements. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 9 SOME WETLAND DIPTERA OF A DISUSED BRICK-PIT C. M. DRAKE Orchid House, Biirridge, Axmiiisier, Devon EX 13 7DF Abstract. Diptera records were collated for several years of collecting at a disused brick-pit containing many temporary pools and a lake. The fauna included many uncommon species and a few coastal species whose presence is attributed to salinity Irom the clay. The numbers of Ephydridae and Dolichopodidae from areas with different hydrological characteristics are highest in areas of shallow pools and seasonal inundation and lowest at the shore of the lake. Species that are normally abundant in surrounding wetlands are scarce in the pit, suggesting that the low nutrient status of the water makes this site unusual in the nutrient-rich arable countryside of the Fens. Introduction It is becoming well established that shallow water, gently sloping margins and seasonally dry ponds are of great value to pond invertebrates; many water beetles, in particular, show a strong preference for temporary pools (Eyre et al. 1986, 1992; Bratton, 1990; Collinson et al. 1995). Little appears to have been published about the flies associated with this habitat, yet these insects may be particularly abundant around ponds and in wetlands (e.g. Blades & Marshall, 1994). Most of what has been published concerns aquatic families of flies, especially chironomids and cerato- pogonids, but other wetland families contribute much to the species richness of the dipterous fauna of water margins (Batzer, et ciL, 1999; Drake, in press). This paper gives the results of casual investigations of the flies associated with water margins at a disused brick-pit. Although the work was not undertaken or structured with the intention of formal publication, it contributes towards our understanding of the richness of this fauna. Greater details are given for shore-flies (Ephydridae) whose habitats are poorly documented in the European literature but which are likely to show some clear associations with different features of wetlands. Site description and methods Dogsthorpe Star Pit is a disused brick-pit on the outskirts of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (TF2002-2102). Two outstanding features of the site are the presence of seasonally flooded areas and small pools that dry out in summer, and a slight brackish influence, despite being about 20 miles from the nearest coastline. It was notified by English Nature as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1993 for its outstanding assemblage of invertebrates, principally water beetles. The site is now owned by the Wildlife Trust. Digging Oxford Clay for the brick industry from about 1899 until the 1950s left a long pit with an almost flat floor sloping gently downwards from west to east. Two new roads reduced its size to the present 36 ha. The pit would naturally fill with water had it not been pumped by its previous owners in expectation of its after-use as a landfill site. When the SSSI was notified the pit became worthless so regular pumping stopped in 1993, resulting in the deeper east end becoming a lake of about 10 ha from which drowned hawthorns still arise here 10 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 and there. The lake obliterated a large number of the shallow pools which first drew the attention of entomologists to the site, including the cruciform pool that gave Star Pit its name. The rise in water level appeared to have slowed down in the late 1990s, helped in part by irregular pumping by the wildlife trust, so that, by 1999, the level fluctuated about 40 em between high winter and low summer levels. Three of the four sides of the lake abut the pit’s walls so that the shores here are steep-sided, leading directly to deep water fringed with dense reeds, rushes or wave-washed mud. The fourth, western shore has a very shallow gradient and merges with the drier part of the pit’s floor. With the onset of autumn rain, an extensive area of perhaps 2 ha next to this shallow shore becomes a swamp with varied vegetation types interspersed with large expanses of open, shallow pools mostly up to about 20 cm deep and of widely varying extent. Later in the winter, the rising lake also inundates the swamp. By midsummer, the water dwindles to a few wet patches and occasional pools, and the shallow shoreline at the west end of the lake becomes a broad, sparsely vegetated, muddy margin. 1999 was one of the wettest years in the duration of this study but nevertheless nearly all the pools had dried out by late July; after heavy rain, most had refilled by late August and remained wet until the end of the year. A similar pattern of inundation and retreat has continued for several years, although the recent two wet winters of 2000 and 2001 have resulted in a higher water level throughout the system. Unauthorised motorbike scrambling appeared to be an important factor in maintaining water in some of the pools in the driest part of the year, as this activity deepened and ’puddled’ the ruts, whereas the bare clay of undisturbed pools dried and cracked. A patchwork of wetland plant communities has formed. Most pools and inundated areas which remain wet for much of the time are dominated by usually sparse J uncus articulatus and Agrostis stolonifera (occasionally dense but always very short) over almost bare clay, fringed with occasional or sometimes dense J. inflexus. In spring. Ranunculus aquatilis, R. sceleratiis and Chara occupy the pools, followed in summer by an invasion of ruderal plants on the bare, often cracked clay. Stands of Typha ongustifolia, T. latifolia, Phragniites australis, Scirpus lacustris, S. tabernae- nwntani and small patches of Balclellia ranunculoides and Scirpus marithnus make up the remaining wetland vegetation types. A few drainage ditches retain water throughout the year but, as most of them are choked and shaded by Phragniites, they support a species-poor aquatic flora. The dry areas of the floor support a mix of vegetation types of which Calaniagrostis epigejos over moss is the most prevalent. This also partly floods in winter. The steep sides of the pit are mostly either almost bare clay with sparse ruderal vegetation, hawthorn scrub or rank grassland on the new road embank- ments. Measurements of conductivity made by John Bratton in 1989 suggested that there was a clear brackish influence, with readings between 2920//Scm^' after heavy rain in May and 5460//,Scm^' after a dry spell in June that year; for comparison, local tap water has a conductivity well below 1000/AScm^' and June value here represented approximately 6-8% sea water (value obtained by extrapolation of flgure in Thomas et al, 1934). The chloride concentration measured by the National Rivers Authority in December 1992 was 90mgU', which represents almost insignificant salinity (less than 0.5% seawater), although still higher expected. It is likely, however, that sea salt is the cause of the brackishness, and not other ions such as leachate from the adjacent landfill site. The source remains unconfirmed but is most likely to be from weathering of the clay or possibly brackish water from the ancient aquifer in the limestone below the clay (Horton, 1989). BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 Star Pit is moderately isolated from other similar water bodies. Nearby wetlands where some ot the speeies diseussed here eould have originated are sand and gravel pits within 1.5-2. 5 km, other brickpits, both used and disused, at least 6 km away, and drainage ditches within the surrounding arable countryside. Surveys in 1992-3 by several entomologists including myself, John Bratton, Roger Key, Peter Kirby and Alan Stubbs resulted in the hrst records of Diptera for the site. I later collected adult Diptera using a sweep net and, in May and June 1996, larvae using a pond net, kitchen sieve and direct observation. The intention was to collect as many species in the target groups as possible, so sampling was not standardised. Visits in 1999 were made at approximately monthly intervals from May to October each lasting about 3-4 hours. In 1993, 1996 and 1997 a broad spectrum of families was collected; in 1999 the only families to be collected thoroughly were Dolichopodidae, Sciomyzidae and Ephydridae, although other groups were also taken. In 1999, the pit was divided into areas with contrasting characteristics but the seasonally changing water landscape made it difficult to stick to these -a swamp in May became discrete pools by June and damp mud by July, so sampling the flies associated with water margins had to be opportunistic. Samples were allocated to one of five areas: 1 Seasonal pools with short vegetation. Much of this area flooded as a swamp continuous with the rising lake from autumn to early spring, passing through a stage of discrete shallow pools in spring before almost completely drying out in midsummer. This cycle maintained a mosaic of heterogeneous but mainly short vegetation. Sampling included the edge of a long ditch with permanent water, although the difficulty of sweep-netting the reed-choked edge meant that it contributed few species to the collection. 2 Seasonal pools with tall emergent plants. These pools were fed by rainfall and perhaps inflow from surrounding land, including a weak seepage from a road embankment which never dried out completely; ochre and filamentous algae here suggested that it may have been connected to the adjacent landfill site or road drains. Most water lay under Phragmifes, Typlui spp, Scirpus spp or Jimcus inflexii.s, often with a mossy understorey; most open pools here were kept bare by motorbikes scrambling. The elevation was higher than the swamp area so the lake did not flood these pools in 1998 or 1999. 3 Lake shore. Only one small but dipterologically productive stretch on an otherwise uninviting shore was sampled where a carpet of Elcocharis acicularis, sparse Jiincus articiilatiis and occasional Alisnui plantago-cupialica was inundated in winter and uncovered through much of the summer; mud was exposed when the lake was at its lowest in July and August. 4 Drawdown zone of the west shore of the lake. This was flooded for much of the year, but became swampy, patchy reedbed with small areas of FJeocharis acicu/aris and Jimcus articiilatiis, and a broad muddy wave-washed margin up to about 20m wide at the lake’s lowest level. 5 Permanently water-filled ditch at the far west end. Only a small stretch could be swept because most of the ditch was choked by dense reeds. Family account.s The list of Diptera for Star Pit now stands at 255 species. These include 24 Empididae and Hybotidae, 35 Dolichopodidae, 36 Syrphidae, 13 Sciomyzidae, 14 12 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 Tephritidae and 44 Ephydridae. There are 17 nationally scarce species and one nationally rare species (RDB3), Myopites iniikiedyssentericae Blot (national statuses from the biological recording package Recorder, as at December 1999). The wetland species among these are mentioned below; the remaining species are nearly all associated with the ruderal aspect of the site and were recorded in the early 1990s. Dixidae. No attempt was made to collect these systematically. The coastal species Dixella attica (Pandazis) (RDB3) was found in 1993 and 1999, suggesting that it is resident. Ceratopogonidae. The family was not systematically collected but one species, Bezzia {Pygobezzia) atrata Macfie, deserves mention; specimens were obtained on l.vi.l996, and 29. v. and 25.iv.1999. The male genitalia agree completely with the drawings by Mache (1944) and Clastrier (1962) of B. atrata, which Remm (1974) synonymised with strohli Kieffer but the taxonomy of the genus is sufficiently muddled to be unsure of the correct application. This species, whatever its name, is clearly an addition to the British fauna. Stratiomyidae. Few species were found but they included Stratiomys singularior (Harris) which, although not invariably found at the coast, does have a strong association with brackish sites. In 1996, larvae were frequent at one moss-dominated Typha bed, which appears to be fed by the weak seepage, but they could not be found again in 1999. Oxycera morrisii Curtis was reared from larvae collected from moss- dominated pools, and those of Oxycera trilineata (L.) and Oplodontha viridida (Fab.) were also occasionally found. Adults of Vanoyia temdcornis (Macquart) and Nemotelus nigrinus Fallen occurred rarely. Empididae. Hilara curtisi Collin and H. cornicula Loew were collected sufficiently frequently during their short flight period to be sure that they breed on the site. HUara subpollinosa Collin is a local species known to occur in ditch systems on grazing marshes, and its regular occurrence at Star Pit suggests that it breeds in this wetland too. Dolichocephcda irrorata (Fallen) and D. oblongoguttata (Dale) were frequently found on bare wet mud, often but not always in the shade of tall monocotyledons. Dolichopodidae. Most of the species recorded over the years were found again in 1999; the only species not re-recorded were Dolichopus griseipennis Stannius, Chrysotus collini Parent, Schoenopliilus versutus (Haliday) and Sciapus wiedemaimi (Fallen) (Table 1). The apparent absence of the last species is likely to be due to its grassland habitat not being searched. A total of 35 species is rather low for a well worked wetland site although it is similar to values obtained by a season’s collecting with water traps in several semi-natural wetlands in Belgium (Pollet, 1992). Of the seven most abundant species, three are generally regarded as local in Britain. Campsicnemus picticornis and Micromorphus albipes were the most frequently caught species, occurring throughout the wet parts of the site, with captures each month from May to September in 1999, and Syntormon puniilimi was collected frequently each month from May to August 1999. Four common species made up the remaining species frequently caught here; Dolichopus nubilus, Rhaphium caliginosum, Syntormon pcdlipes and Synipycnus desoutteri. It is noteworthy that common wetland species such as Dolichopus ungulatus (F.) and Campsicnemus loripes (Haliday) were absent BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15; 2002 13 a ii ~o (D O -G TD ^ o •*— < ^ c/5 C/5 tli) cd G ^ ■i-.H § c o a CO D. OC O dj w l-H 'g (U ^ > -S c "O P (U 3-5 3 C/5 G O ^ cn -I- ^ ^ ri « ^ :S y5 G ^ " o O 0-0 O G ^ - 3 ^ O G G u. -73 •— (U CU _Q ,__- i_ P G ^ I “ ^ f U G G "S G^ O tU o^ ^ « 2 OJ tlfl ' c/5 M C3\ (N 5 ON G l <, C3s r-' G (3^ (N ^ Os X a^ ON ON Ol ON ON OI r-- — On — G >. G G G " — o X rs 5 U- s: «u ■2 > .SP ‘C c3 2 O" o Cy O/J *c I I I I I I I 03 ^ 1 ^ 2 G E -c a [2 J -- • G I I 2 *~w •2 § c3 *s, Co C^ "2 .Co C § § 2 c:i, 52 52 >> .2 cd o O "O Co P^, $2 "2 >5 si ^ O -73 G 'x: 00 G CO G i„ •S-cG hJ bb bJj G ^ ■ 3 N 3 S X p G G, ^ CO Co Co ^ :s 2 •I- 2 X X Co CO Cl. o ° CJ G GO CO Co .g. :s o o o c o 2- 2^ S-’ o o o y, n3 S 5 O Co 2 1.1 ^ • Sp c3 X V. X ~ IT* Sj Si X Cj U U U U o Q c Q o o Q Q :C'CI2> c X S 2 -S X G G 5 X 3 o ^ Nj o ^ O X a, Qc Rhaphiiim laticorne (Fallen) Scel/iis notatiis (Fab.) BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 > ON ON ON n ^ r^i I I NO (N I I r^i I (N rv) — I ON ON ri >* 0-1 I (-Nl r- C'l I — ' o — I — I — — I I r- I I I I I I I — I I I I I I I I I I Ui CL JL 0-» N (i> _N _ oh ^ - .o '.5 ^ ^ :i: s: ^ ~ ^ ^ ^ ^ Co ^ Ci. Cl, g o 5 5 £ I S S' o o o i= •o o o 0) ^ O ^ 5 Co ■5? r.. Ci. Co Co Co Co f~.| K N, 13 O a o J3 u "o 13 13 o tH) . ' — ' S 53 >1 cSi u 2 — x: ,l2 ^ c Uh O) c , ^ 13 o — (L) C3 m I ■a ^ j. cu ^ .g to ^ Cj ::: to >» ^ C/3 15 I O -. C:;;, ^ 2 ^ i; Co ■~~ Q Q tkO ■ ^ bo ^ JD JU Jb JSj **^ .Nj BR. J. ENT, NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 15 ol r<~j r^l oi r^i ol in r~- r'-j _ o.) m — H oo OO t'' — — — i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I — (^1 I I I I— r^in^l I I I I m I I I 5 ■C: ^ s, S ’£ •- . 2 Cj 2 ? cT“, ^ I- X s — o lo O O ^ CCj on CO 10 On On •o "O >% Cu u *Clvysotus colliiii Parent. Dolichopiis griseipeiinis Stannius, SchoenophUus vt-rav/iw (Haliday) and Sciapus wiedemanni (Fallen) were recorded in earlier years. 16 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 and other normally ubiquitous species such as Poecilobothnis nobilitatus and DoUchopus plumipes were infrequent. There was one coastal species, DoUchopus signifer, which is almost entirely restricted to coastal sites (Fonseca, 1978; Falk & Crossley, in prep.). Males were collected in June 1993 and late May 1999, suggesting that there is a resident population. Other species often recorded in coastal habitats, though not confined to these, are Sc/ioenopliilus versutus and DoUchopus mihilus (Emeis, 1964). Local species that were occasionally collected were DoUchopus campestris, Rhaphium laticonie, Scellus notatus, Thrypticus nigricciuda and Chrysotus suavis, the last not being necessarily associated with wetlands. Syrphidae. I did not collect the group assiduously but Alan Stubbs recorded many in 1993. Some less common wetland species included Platycheirus fulviveutris (Macquart), Neoascia interrupta (Meig.) and Aucisimyia contractu Claussen & Torp, the last two having been first found in 1993 as well as more recently, and thus suggesting resident populations. ParhelophUus versicolor (Fab.) was recorded in 1993. Sciomyzidae. The group as a whole is poorly represented, with only 13 species being recorded. The most frequently found wetland species in 1999 were Colobaea punctata (Lundbeck) and Pherbellia nana (Fallen) which, although regarded as nationally scarce, were widespread and locally numerous each month from 29. v.- 25.ix.1999. The frequent occurrence of P. nana at Star Pit concurs with Falk’s (1991) suggestion that it may prefer pools and ditches that dry out in summer and have sparse emergent Phragniites. Other than the terrestrial Pherbellia cinerella (Fallen), the remaining sciomyzids were infrequently recorded. Colobaea bifasciella (Fallen) is the only nationally scarce one among these, collected on 2.V.1999. A shortage of aquatic snails may be a reason for the limited fauna since, of the ten species recorded, only Lynmaea peregra (Muller) and L. truncatula (Muller) were frequent in the seasonal pools. Pherbellia nana attacks hygrophilous snails, so may not be confined to these aquatic species (Knutson, 1970). Sepsidae. Four species of Themira, including T. superba (Haliday), were recorded. Their larvae develop in dung-enriched muddy water margins (Pont, 1979), and there was certainly plenty of bird dung on the lake shore, resulting mainly from roosting black-headed gulls attracted to the adjacent landfill site. Themira species were infrequent away from this nutrient-rich shore. Anthomyzidae. This family was not systematically collected. Two conspicuous uncommon members are Typhaniyza bifasciata (Wood) ( 1 1 .vii. 1997) and Anagnota bicolor (Meig.) (2. v. 1999). Typha angustifolia is regarded as the host plant of T. bifasciata and although the plant occurs here it is hardly abundant. There is no Carex paniculata which Falk & Ismay (in prep.) suggested is a possible host plant of A. bicolor, whereas cigar galls formed by the chloropid Lipara lucens Meig. on Phragniites are a common sight here, and these are a more probable larval site of A. bicolor. Anthoinyza collini Andersson and A. gracilis Fallen were the common species, as expected at a site with plenty of reed. Ephydridae. Considerable effort was taken recording this family, especially in 1999. Some species were the commonest flies on the water margins, along with Sphaeroceridae which were not investigated. All 44 species recorded over the years BR. J, ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 17 were tound in 1999 (Table 1). This represents about a quarter of the British shore-fly tauna (Chandler, 1998), and about one-third of the freshwater species (of those found, only species of Hyadina may not be closely tied to freshwater habitats, although the literature is ambiguous, e.g. Dahl, 1959 and Clausen, 1983). Although nearly all species were recorded at least once in the area of the most extensive and varied shallow pools, nine were infrequent or absent here. The scarcity of information on the distribution of most ephydrids makes it difficult to assess their rarity status but those at Star Pit that I regard as uncommon nationally are Axysta cesta, Hydrellia fascitihicy H. porpliyrops, Notiphila venusta, Parydra pusdia, Scatcdla silacea and Scatopidia noctiila. The genera Hydrcdlia and Notiphila were well represented. Most species of Notiphila were restricted to the midsummer months, and only the ubiquitous N. ciuerea and N. graecula occurred into late September. The normally common N. riparia was scarce. As might be expected of species whose larvae are fully aquatic, the adults were nearly always found very close to the more permanent water such as within the reedbeds along the lake shore and ditches. Few Notiphila were found by the seasonal pools, and they never reached the abundance found in the dense beds of emergent vegetation in ditches and river margins of the surrounding countryside. Notiphila nuhila is probably fairly widespread, although not common, in southern Britain (Drake, 2001) and was confused with graecula during the study so it is not possible to give precise information on its habitat or flight period at Star Pit. Dates of vouchers kept are 5.vi.l993, 1 l.vii.l997 and 25. vi. 1999; graecula was also present on the same dates in 1993 and 1997. Britain’s commonest species of Hydrellia, maura and griseola, were found throughout the sampling period from 2.v. to 26.x, although nigricans and cardamines were also frequently recorded for much of the year and at a variety of pools; cardamines was sometimes the most abundant Hydrellia. H. argyrogenis also had a long flight period but was found only in low numbers. Although relatively few specimens of some other species were found, the dates suggest that H. cochleariae and H. ohscura fly in early summer and H. fascitihia, H. niacuHventris and H. porphyrops fly later. The infrequent collection of some Hydrellia is probably a consequence of their flying low when disturbed, which enables them to evade sweep netting. For instance, when H. argyrogenis was disturbed it flew only just above the water to the nearest piece of floating vegetation and clearly avoided the mud margin. The low occurrence of the common H. alhilahris is probably related to the scarcity of floating duckweed (Lenina) in which the larvae feed, although the fly has been found in abundance at a pool devoid of Lenina on another nearby site (Castor Flanglands NNR). At the lake shore (area 3), H. cardaniines and H. nigricans were numerous (Juncits articulatiis, which was frequent at this site, is a host plant of nigricans (Mathis & Zatwarnicki, 1995)), and it was the only site where a few specimens of H. maciiliventris were found. Only a few, mainly common species of Parydra were recognised and, as is typical of the genus, they were most numerous on bare mud. P. acpiila was found on several occasions only at the muddy receding shore of the lake and at a nearby mud patch. Its confined distribution may have been related to the high organic content of this mud where bird droppings were abundant. P. piisilla was found only once, which was surprising in view of its frequency at another nearby disused brickpit (Drake, 1999). Another genus whose distribution and abundance may be constrained by the organic content of the mud is Scatella, of which no species was numerous. The only locally abundant species was S. paludiini on the receding muddy lake shore with bird droppings. S. lutosa is usually found on coastal sites. 18 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST.. 15: 2002 Two species were most frequently found in early summer. Psilopa nigritella was locally frequent for a short period in June. Axysta cesta, while most frequent in spring and early summer, continued to be found until 25 September, and is clearly not a "spring’ species as suggested by Dahl (1959). It was almost restricted to the lake shore and nearby flooded areas, and was most frequent, although never numerous, in the Eleocharis acicitlaris lawn on the lake shore. Larger species of ephydrids, including all three British Setacera, Ephydra riparia and Paracoenia fiiniosci, were found only late in the year. As usual with Ephydra and Setacera, they were found on the surface of pools with a broad (c. 1 m) expanse of open water uninterrupted by vegetation, and this probably limited their occurrence to recently flooded, sparsely vegetated ground. Species that were rarely recorded included three species of Hyadina, two Pelina, both Coenia, Ditrichophora phimosa and the normally frequent Discocerina ohscurella. The opportunity is taken to illustrate the genitalia of male HydrcdUa nigricans (Fig. 1), which was one of several species not figured by Collin (1966), and which was inadvertently omitted from Chandler (1998) and not included as British in Mathis & Zatwarnicki (1995). It is a common and widespread species in southern Britain. Figure I. Genitalia of male Hydrellia nigricans. Left: internal appendages and aedeagus (uppermost). Right above: aedeagus in lateral view. Right below: epandrium. Scale line represents 0.2 mm. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST.. 15; 2002 19 Diastatidac. Diastatci adiista Meig. was a widespread and numerous speeies on the site from 2.v. to 26.x. 1999. It is frequently encountered in wetlands (Chandler, 1986). Habitat associations for samples collected in 1999 The number ol species of dolichopodids, ephydrids and sciomyzids using each of the hve characterised types of wetland show that most were recorded in the better- worked area of seasonal pools and inundation, but no area could be considered devoid of interest for at least one of the families (Table 2). Several samples from around the lake shore at unproductive points have been omitted since the effort spent here was low. The species richness of dolichopodids and ephydrids was considerably higher in the more sparsely vegetated seasonal pools (first column of Table 2) compared with that in the seasonal pools with taller vegetation and the productive stretch of lake shore (all three areas having been sampled with similar intensity). Species were ordered by eye into groups that may reflect preferences for different habitat types. The following suggestions are made for the more frequently occurring species, but must be taken cautiously and should not be assumed to be universally true. Inclusion in a group was based on a species distribution and its abundance, so that even though a species may have been found over the whole site, it was allocated to one habitat group if it was particularly abundant there. Some species fall into more than one category. showing no affinities: Synipycmis desoutteri, Syntormon pcdlipes, Scatelki tenuicosta, Hydrellia argyrogenis, H. griseoki, H. maura, H. nigricans, Notiphila cinerea, N. graeciila, Parydra coarctata, P. fossanim. favoured by seasonal pools with open, sparse vegetation: Canipsicnennis curvipes, C.picticornis, C. scanihiis, Dolichopus nuhilus, Hydrophorus praecox, Micro- morphus alhipes, Rhaphium caliginosum, Syntormon pumilwn, Pherhellia nana, Colohaea punctata, Epliydra riparia, Psilopa nigriteUa, Sea tel la st agnails. favoured by densely vegetated seasonal pools: Canipsicnennis curvipes, C. pieticornis, Microniorplnis alhipes, Rhaphium caliginosum, Syntormon pumilum, Pherhellia nana, Colohaea punctata. dependent upon proximity to nearly permanent water: Syntormon denticulatum, Rhaphium laticorne, Axysta cesta, Hydrellia cardamines, Notiphila dorsata, N. riparia. Table 2. Number of species of Dolichopodidae, Ephydridae and Sciomyzidae recorded in different wetland types (described in the methods) in 1999. seasonal pools with short vegetation seasonal pools with tall vegetation permanent (but productive) lake shore drawdown zone of lake ditch with permanent water Dolichopodidae 24 14 1 1 6 1 Ephydridae 33 21 20 20 10 Sciomyzidae Number of 6 6 3 3 0 samples taken 8 7 7 4 1 20 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 dependent upon nutrient-enriched mud: Sccitella pallidum, S. temiicosta, Parydra cupiila. Discussion Star Pit SSSI was notified primarily for its assemblage of water beetles. This review of the Diptera shows that they too are an important component of the wetland fauna. The species composition differed conspicuously from rich fenland sites, for example the complete absence of Hercostonuis and infrequent occurrence of Dolicliopiis which is usually speciose in British fenlands, and which together made up a far larger proportion of the total species recorded in a Flemish wetland on clay (Pollet & Decleer, 1989). The far-from-lush vegetation and stunted growth of Phrcigmites, Scirpus lacustris and Typ/ia pointed to a low nutrient status of the water in the pools. Apart from one tiny seepage and perhaps slow feed from ground-water into the permanent ditch, there is no obvious input of water other than rainfall. The lake, in contrast, is likely to be in the process of becoming nutrient-enriched as a result of the large population of roosting gulls that feed on the adjacent landfill site. The low nutrient status of the pools is reflected in the absence or scarcity of a number of flies that are commonly found in lowland wetlands, pond margins and ditches, for example Dolichopiis uiigiilotiis, D. pliimipes, Notiphila riparia, Scatella stagncdis and 5". temiicosta. Flies such as Scatella pallidum and Parydra aqiiila that are usually associated with organically enriched habitats were present only on or near the lake shore where bird droppings were frequent. Those associated with accumulations of leaf litter, such as Coenia paliistris and Discocerina obsciirella, were also disadvantaged by the low amounts of organic matter (Foote, 1990; Foote & Eastin, 1974). Star Pit is thus an unusual water body in an arable countryside setting where high inputs of fertiliser and naturally eutrophic aquatic conditions are the norm. The dipterous fauna of Star Pit appeared to differ from that of Orton Pit SSSI, another nearby brick-pit but with clear differences in the physical structure, hydrology and vegetation. Here the rare fenland species Oclithera manicata (Fab.) and Thrypticus cuneatus (Becker) were recorded, and Parydra piisilla, found only once at Star Pit, was rather more numerous (Drake, 1999). The brackish element seen in the water beetle fauna of Star Pit was not so marked among the flies. Species in this group were Dixella attica, Dolichopiis signifer, Stratiomys singiilarior and possibly Sclwenophilus versutus, Dolichopiis mihiliis, Ephydra riparia and Scatella liitosa, although the last five are known from entirely freshwater inland sites. It is noteworthy that the slow filling-up of the pit has not eliminated this interesting component of the fauna. The more detailed study in 1999 has shown that shallow seasonally inundated pools can be a valuable habitat for some groups of wetland Diptera. By comparison with the lake shore and reed-choked ditches, the richest sites were the seasonal pools and swamp, especially those where annual inundation and retreat kept the vegetation sparse and prevented tall monocotyledons from establishing large stands. The composition of the dolichopodids shows a strong similarity with the group of mainly ground-dwelling species favouring unshaded humid conditions recorded by Pollet & Grootaert (1987). It is almost certain that the extensive water margin and wet shores presented by numerous pools is the breeding site for many of these dolichopodids and other flies found most often in the short vegetation that characterises the seasonal pools. Four nationally scarce or local species that were particularly frequent at Star Pit, Pherhellia lutna, Colohaea punctata, Campsicnemus picticorm's and Micromorphus alhipes, are thought to be outstanding beneficiaries of the seasonal nature of the pools. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 21 An aspect ot these pools that contributes to their importance for wetland Diptera is the exposure ot bare sediment, which is nearly always clay at Star Pit; Scheiring & Foote (1973) found that the mud-shore habitat supported more species of ephydrids than any other of nine freshwater habitats that they studied. This is in part due to the unshaded, nutrient-washed substrate supporting the micro-organisms — diatoms, bacteria and blue-green algae — that form the food of many shore Hies, which in turn are probably among the prey of dolichopodid larvae (Thier & Foote, 1980; Zack, 1983). The instability and temporary nature of this habitat, coupled with its rapid regenerative ability, are essential features that make this habitat more attractive to some Diptera compared with the permanent, even if fluctuating shoreline of the lake (Dahl, 1959; Thier & Foote, 1980). The lake shore at Star Pit, apart from, tiny sheltered stretch vegetated with short Eleocharis, was steep-sided and was either dominated by reed standing in the water or was nearly bare and wave-washed, thus making it uninhabitable for most dipteran larvae adapted to water margins. Even the broad muddy western shore exposed by summer drawdown supported relatively few species. Steinly (1986) also concluded that wave-washed shores were poor habitat for ephydrids compared to sheltered shorelines with shallow water. Seasonal pools are probably not the habitat of some species since complete drying- out probably leads to their local extinction. Many ephydrids, for instance, were noticeably scarce in the pronounced drying-out in July 1999 and could be found only close to water, even if only tiny pools such as wheel ruts, and the total number of species recorded was noticeably lower than in the preceding and following months (Table 1). Species of Parydra became conspicuously infrequent away from the vicinity of the lake after July, and the additional bare mud where they are so often found did not compensate for possible death of the semi-aquatic larvae. Fewer species of dolichopodids were found than were expected in a wetland, and this may reflect excessive drying-up of their larval sites, especially as it seems that some larger species (although not small ones) are probably univoltine (Meuffels et al., 1989) and thus lack the opportunity to invade pools during their wet phase. These results were based on unstructured sampling and are no more than indications of the high value of seasonal wetlands to these flies. The association of ephydrids with variations on the wetland theme failed to show as much as had been hoped. It is clear that detailed sampling, perhaps using emergence traps to pinpoint the larval breeding sites, is needed to confirm the suspicion that seasonal wetlands and fluctuating water levels are of particular importance to Diptera. Acknowledgement I thank the Wildlife Trusts (Cambridgeshire) for permission to collect at Dogsthorpe Star Pit. References Batzer, D. P., Rader, R. B. & Wissinger, S. A. 1999. Iiivcrlchralcs in freshwater wetlands of North Aitierica. Wiley & Sons, New York. Blades, D. C. A. & Marshall, S. A. 1994. Terrestrial arthropods of Canadian peatlands; synopsis of pan trap collections at four southern Ontario peatlands. In: Finnamore, A. T. & Marshall, S. A. (Eds.) Terrestrial arthropods of peatlands, with particular reference to Canada. Memoirs of the Entomologieal Soeiety of Canada 169: 221-284. Bratton, J. H. 1990. Seasonal pools — an overlooked invertebrate habitat. British Wildlife 2: 22 29. Chandler, P. J. 1986. The British species of Diastata Meigen and Cainpiehoeta Macquart (Diptera: Drosophiloidea). British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 19: 9 16. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 22 Chandler, P. J. (Ed.) 1998. Checklists of insects of the British Isles (New Series) Part 1: Diptera (incorporating a list oflrish Diptera). Handhooks for the Icleiitificalion of British Insects 12, ( 1 ) i-xix, 1-234. Clastrier, J. 1962. Notes sur les Ceratopogonides XVI. Especes du genre Bezzia Kieffer ou apparentees de la region palearctique. Archive Institut Pasteur d'Algerie 40; 53-125. Clausen, P. J. 1983. The genus Hyadina and a new genus of Nearctic Ephydridae (Diptera). Transactions of the American Entomological Society (Philadelphia) 109: 201-228. Collin, J. E. 1966. A contribution towards the knowledge of the male genitalia of species of Hydrellia (Diptera, Ephydridae). Bolletino Masco Civico Venezia 16: 7-18, 26 plates. Collinson, N. H., Biggs, J., Corfield, A., Hodson, M. J., Walker, D., Whitfield, M. & Williams, P. J. 1995. Temporai7 and permanent ponds; an assessment of the effects of drying out on the conservation value of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. Biological Conservation 74: 125-133. Dahl, R. G. 1959. Studies on Scandinavian Ephydridae (Diptera, Brachycera). Opiiscida Entomologica, Supplement 15: 1-255. Drake, C. M. 1999. Two rare flies in Cambridgeshire, Ochthera man icat a (Fc\br'\c[us) and Thrypticus euneatus (Becker) (Diptera, Ephydridae and Dolichopodidae). Dipterists Digest 6; 40^2. Drake, C. M. 2001. The British species of Notiphila Eallen (Diptera, Ephydridae), with the description of a new species. Dipterists Digest (New Series) 8: 91-125. Drake, C. M. (in press). The importance of temporary waters to Diptera. Ereshwater Eorum. Emeis, W. 1964. Untersuchungen fiber die okologische Verbreitung der Dolichopodiden (Ins. Dipt.) in Schleswig-Holstein. Schr. Natunv. Ver. Schleswig-Holstein 35: 61-75. Eyre, M. D., Ball. S. G. & Eoster, G. N. 1986. An initial classification of the habitats of aquatic Coleoptera in north-east England. Journal of Applied Ecology 23: 841-852. Eyre, M. D., Carr, R., McBlane, R. P. & Foster, G. N. 1992. The effects of varying site-water duration on the distribution of water beetle assemblages, adults and larvae (Coleoptera: Haliplidae, Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae). Archiv fiir Hydrobiologie 124: 281-291. Falk, S. 1991. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain (Part 1). Research & Survey in nature conservation No. 39. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. Falk, S. & Crossley, R. (in prep.) A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Empidoidea. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. Falk, S. & Ismay, J. W. (in prep.) A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Acalyptrata. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. Fonseca, E. C. M. d'Assis. 1978. Diptera Orthorrhapha Brachycera Dolichopodidae. Handhooks for the Identification of British Insects 9 (5). Foote, B. A. 1990. Biology and immature stages of Coenia curvicauda (Diptera: Ephydridae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 98: 93-102. Foote, B. A. & Eastin, W. C. 1974. Biology and immature stages of Discocerina ohscurella (Diptera: Ephydridae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 76: 401-408. Horton, A. 1989. Geology of the Peterborough district. HMSO, London. Knutson, L. V. 1970. Biology of snail-killing flies in Sweden (Dipt., Sciomyzidae). Entomologica Scandinavica 1: 307-314. Macfie, J. W. S. 1944. A new species of Homohezzia (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) from Egypt. Proceedings of the Royal Enomological Soiety, London (B) 13: 125-126. Mathis, W. M. & Zatwarnicki, T. 1995. World catalogue of shore flies (Diptera: Ephydridae). Memoirs of Entomology, International 4: 1-423. Meuffels, H., Pollet, M. & Grootaert, P. 1989. The dolichopodid fauna (Dolichopodidae. Diptera) of a garden habitat: faunistics, habitat preference, phenology and distribution. Bulletin de P Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique 58: 83-94. Pollet, M. 1992. Impact of environmental vanables on the occurrence of dolichopodid flies in marshland habitats in Belgium (Diptera: Dolichopodidae). Journal of Natural History 26; 621-636. Pollet, M. & Decleer, K. 1989. Contributions to the knowledge of dolichopodid flies in Belgium. 111. The dolichopodid fauna of the nature reserve 'Het Molsbroek' at Lokeren (Prov. Eastern Flanders) (Diptera: Dolichopodidae). Phegea 17; 83-90. Pollet, M. & Grootaert, P. 1987. Ecological data on Dolichopodidae (Diptera) from a woodland ecosystem: I. Colour preference, detailed distribution and comparison of different sampling techniques. Bulletin de I’lnstitut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique 57: 173-186. BR. .1. ENT, NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 23 Pont, A. C. 1979. Sepsidae Diplera Cyclorrhapha, Acalyptrala. Ilaiulhooks for the Idem ijicai ion of British Insects 10 (5c). Remm, N. .1. 1974. A review of species of the genus Bezzia Kieffer (I)iptera, Ceralopogonidae) in the launa of USSR. Communication 1. Eiitomolof'ieai Review, Washington 53: 136 145. Scheiring, J. F. & Foote, B. A. 1973. Habitat distribution of the shore Hies of northeastern Ohio (Diptera: Ephydridae). Oiiio Journai of Science 73: 152-164. Steinly, B. A. 1986. Violent wave action and the exclusion of Ephydridae (Diptera) from marine temperate intertidal and treshwater beach habitats. Proceedings of the Entoinoiogieai Society of Washington 88: 427-437. Thier, R. W. & Foote, B. A. 1980. Biology of mud-shore Ephydridae (Diptera). Proceedings of tile Entoinoiogieai Society of Wasinngton 82: 517-535. Zack, R. S. 1983. Biology and immature stages of Paracoenia hisetosa (Coquillet) (Diptera: Ephydridae). Annals of the Entoinoiogieai Society of America 76: 487-497. SHORT COMIVIUNICATIONS Cecidostiha fungosa (Geoffroy) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). A new association with the agamic generation of Andricus quercuscalids (Burgsdorf) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in Britain. — The “knopper” galls of Andricus cjitercitscalicis (Burgsdorf) are common on the continent and in Britain but were not recorded in this country until first found by Claridge (1962). Several studies have followed the changes in parasitoid guilds associated with this species in Britain and across mainland Europe. Hails et al. (1990) found very low frequencies of parasitism in British galls and the detailed studies of Schonrogge et ctl. (1995) still found differences between the British and mainland European guilds. One of the species frequently associated with A. qttercitsca/icis on the continent but not in Britain was Cecidostiha fimgostt (Geoffrey) { = liilaris (Walker)). (In 1961 R. R. Askew described C. adamt from French galls of A. qitercitscalicis but he is now of the opinion that adamt is a junior synonym of fwtgosa. (R. R. Askew, pe/w. comm.).) On 10.xi.98 the author collected “knopper” galls from Kent, Shorne, TQ6770 and these were overwintered in an outside building. One female C. fitngosa emerged on 15.iv.l999 and another female on 17.iv.l999. Another collection of galls from Kent, High Halstow, TQ7776 on 19.x. 1998 produced five males and three females in iv.l999. C. fttngosa is a frequent parasitoid associated with the oak apple galls of Biorhiza pallida (Olivier) but the above are the first British records of an association with A. qitercttscalicis. Schonrogge et al. (1995) showed that C. fitngosa does not attack the larvae of A. qitercttscalicis but rather is a parasitoid of the inquiline cynipids Synergtts gallaepomiformis (Boyer de Fonscolombe) and S. ttmhracitlits (Olivier) found in knopper galls. Neither the presence of the inquilincs nor that of C. fttngosa is generally fatal to A. quercuscalids. Both of the inquiline species are frequent in other oak galls in Britain but are rather scarce from A. quercuscalids. It is noteworthy that from the Shorne collection of galls one male S. gallaepomiformis emerged 2.vi.l999. I would like to thank R. R. Askew for confirming the identity of C. fttngosa and for help with the nomenclature. -Malcoi.m jHNNiNCiS, 206 Lower Higham Road, Gravesend, Kent DA 12 2NN. References Claridge, M. F. 1962. Andricus quercnscalicis (liurgi^dori) in Britain (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). Entoinologist 95: 60-61. 24 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 Hails, R. S., Askew, R. R. & Notion, D. G. 1990. The parasiloids and inqiiilines of the agamic generation of Aiulricus qiierciiscalicis (Hym.; Cynipidae) in Britain. The Entomologist 109(3): 165-172. Schonrogge, K., Stone, G. N. & Crawley, M. J. 1995. Spatial and temporal variation in guild structure: parasiloids and inqiiilines of Anc/ricus qiierciiscalicis (BurgsdorO (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in its native and alien ranges. Oikos 72: 51-60. Eiistalomyia histrio (Zett.) new to Scotland with notes on Eiistalomyia festiva (Zett.) (Dipt.: Anthomyiidae) in Scotland. — Members of the genus Eitsiaiomyia are large and strikingly marked black and white anthomyiid flies that have been rarely recorded in Scotland. According to Hennig (1976) members of the genus are brood parasites in the nest of Hymenoptera. Two d'd' Eiistalomyia histrio were taken from the trunk of a large beech tree on 14.vii.l996 in Maggie Bowies Glen (NT 3860, VC83) near Crichton south of Edinburgh. Maggie Bowies Glen is a narrow gorge occupied by woodland consisting mostly of beech, oak and alder, including much fallen and dead wood. According to the Scottish Insects Record Index (SIRI) at the National Museums of Scotland (NMS) this is the first Scottish record of E. histrio. There are only two published records of Eiistalomyia festiva in Scotland. The first Scottish record was by Nelson (1984) in August 1980 from Methven Wood, an old deciduous wood in Perthshire. More recently Bland (1999) bred two d'< E. festiva from puparia found in the galleries of the wasp Ectemnius ruficornis (Zett.) (Sphecidae) in a rotten birch stump at Threepwood Moss, Roxburghshire. Further records of E. festiva from Scotland are from specimens taken by other collectors (named below) and identified by me or from my own collecting. A. , E. festiva was bred by G. E. Rotheray from a puparium taken on 13.iv.l997 in decaying sapwood from a birch log at Craigellachie (NH8812), a Highland birchwood on Speyside, Inverness-shire. Further records of E. festiva include a second record from Methven Wood (NO0526), where I. MacGowan took a f on 16. vi. 1997. There are also a number of records from southern Scotland at localities in the Lothians and the Clyde valley woodlands (Lanarkshire). These are of a $ taken on a fallen elm tree in Crichton Glen (NT 3860) on 13.vii.l993 by G. E. Rotheray; two taken on a freshly fallen oak log in the Hermitage of Braid (NT2570) on 5.vii.l994 and a S taken on a birch log in Cleghorn Glen (NS8845) on 19.vii.l997. These new records of E. festiva extend the known range in Scotland from the Borders and lowland Perthshire to other parts of southern Scotland and to Strathspey in the Highlands. I am grateful to G. E. Rotheray and I. MacGowan for their specimens of E. festiva and to Andy Whittington for access to SIRI at the NMS. David Horsfield, 131 Comiston Road, Edinburgh, EH 10 6AQ. References Bland, K. P. 1999. A record oi' Ectciwiiiis ruficornis (Zett.) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) and its anthomyiid cleptoparasite (Diptera) breeding in southern Scotland. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History. 12(4): 232-234. Hennig, W. 1976. Anthomyiidae. Die Fliegen der Palaearktischen Region, 7(63a): 957, Schweizerbart, Stuttgart. Nelson, J. M. 1984. Records of some uncommon dolichopodids and other Diptera from southern Scotland. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine. 120: 58. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 25 SOME SIGNIFICANT NEW RECORDS OF ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) FROM THE SALISBURY AREA, SOUTH WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND, WITH A KEY TO THE BRITISH SPECIES OF LASJUS N.C. Blacker c/o I, Lowry Way, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 4LW, U.K. C.A. COLLINGWOOD c/o City Museum, Leeds, Yorkshire, LSI 3AA, U.K. Abstract. This paper discusses records of 26 ant species found in the Salisbury area between 1992 and 1999. Nine species are believed to represent additions to the Wiltshire county list. A further two species had only been recorded on one previous occasion. Records from adjacent areas of South Hampshire are included. Observations of the behaviour of some of the scarcer species are described. All 1 1 British species of Lasiits were recorded and an identification key is provided for this genus. Introduction The published ant fauna of Wiltshire is relatively poor. Collingwood & Barrett (1964) listed 18 species as occurring in South Wiltshire and 13 in North Wiltshire, giving a combined total of 19. In comparison, the neighbouring Watsonian vice- counties of South Hampshire and Dorset have the richest faunas in mainland Britain, with 31 and 32 species, respectively, being listed in the same publication. This difference is in part due to the more restricted range of habitats in Wiltshire. In particular, Wiltshire has no coastline and lacks extensive areas of heathland, both of which make a major contribution to the diversity of aculeate faunas in Britain. However, the limited fauna probably also reflects the lack of attention from collectors, most being drawn to the richer localities to the south. This effect may be self-perpetuating. This paper describes records obtained by the first author between 1992 and July 1999. Most come from within a 10 mile (16 km) radius of Salisbury. They include a number of scarce species, which shows that the ant fauna of Wiltshire is more interesting than previous work suggests. Records from adjacent areas of South Hampshire are also included. A number of recent taxonomic revisions affect the British ant fauna, the most important being the major revision of Lasiits by Seifert (1992). A key for the identification of Lasiits of all three castes is therefore included, prepared by the second author. METHOD.S AND DESCRIPTION OF MAIN SITES All specimens were collected by hand. Trapping could yield additional results, particularly on open downland, which is difficult to search in the absence of features such as stones and pieces of fallen wood. 26 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 Six-figure grid references are provided for the main sites. Seven- or eight-figure references are used occasionally to clarify the exact location of a site. All records come from the 100 km grid square “SU” unless otherwise stated. The month and year are given for the main records. The day is also given for the most important records and for many observations of sexuals, where the additional detail is informative. The first sites visited were around Porton, about five miles north-east of Salisbury. Targett’s Corner (185 370) was the most productive site in the village, but there were also significant records elsewhere, particularly northwards along the Tid worth Road. The most important sites in this survey are on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Ranges at Porton. These cover about 7000 acres (11 square miles) and are surrounded by farmland. They include the largest continuous tract of undisturbed chalk grassland in Britain (Anonymous, 1990). The records described here all come from two conservation areas, “Happy Valley” (around 235 385) in Wiltshire, and the Isle of Wight Woods (around 250 372) in Hampshire. Both include areas of open chalk grassland, scattered trees, and woodland, primarily of beech or conifers. The “antscape” on Roche Court Down (250 360) and a small ancient oak wood on Thorny Down (203 342) were only very briefly inspected. The Portway Roman road, which runs just outside the north-west boundary of the ranges, was also visited. The Devenish Reserve (129 351), a small Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve in the Woodford Valley, north of Salisbury, also yielded significant records. It consists of small areas of beech woodland and chalk downland on the side of the valley. Between this site and Salisbury is Phillips’ Lane (132 329) where high banks line the road up towards the hill-fort at Old Sarum. The other main chalk site visited was Clarendon Palace, east of Salisbury (181 301 ). The banks beside the chalk track, approaching the palace from the direction of Salisbury, had an interesting fauna. The fauna of the woodland around the palace itself, which is partly on clay, was less diverse. Grovely Wood, north-west of Wilton, again mainly on recent clay which overlies the chalk, had a poorer fauna. Sites on the older rock types west of Salisbury were hardly explored, but several sites on younger strata with acid soils, to the east and south of Salisbury, were visited. Hound Wood (226 301) and Bentley Wood (252 291) near Farley, and Common Plantation, Alderbury (199 279) contain mixed and conifer woodland. South of Redlynch, at the northern edge of the New Forest, are Langley Wood (224 205) an ancient oak wood, and mixed and conifer woodland at Tinney's Firs (203 198), Loosehanger Copse (210 187) and north-west of Nomansland (242 178). No significant areas of heathland were present at any of these sites, and this habitat may now be entirely restricted to Hampshire. Results Subfamily Ponerinae ( 1 ) Hypopouera pimctatissima ( Roger) At about 19:30 hours on 7.vii.l995, an alate female was captured on a piece of clear plastic sheet lying on the ground in a garden in a modern housing estate at Fugglestone Red, Salisbury (about 118 320). On further searching, a second was found dead in a spider’s web on an adjacent fence, but none were found in the surrounding area and the species was not seen again. The weather was warm (about 20-258C) and humid, with hazy sunshine. This species is of uncertain status in Britain, and although often included in the list of native species, it is doubtful if it can survive in the absence of man, most records BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15; 2002 27 coming trom hothouses and organic waste heaps warmed by fermentation. The origin ot these two specimens is uncertain, although alate females of this species are reported to be able to disperse over considerable distances (Donisthorpe, 1927; Collingwood, 1979). Subfamily Dolichoderinae (2) Tapiiioma meUmocephaliim (Fab.) This is a distinctive "tramp” species, spread throughout the tropics by man. In July 1998, at least 20 live workers and a number of dead adults were found inside the top ot a mangosteen fruit from south-east Asia, purchased in a Salisbury supermarket. Brood (mainly larvae) were also present, but no queen. Two weeks later, some brood, without adults, presumed to be of this species, were found in similar circumstances. Subfamily Myrmicinae (3) Myrmica lohiconiis Nylander This species was found at several sites in Wiltshire and adjacent areas of South Hampshire. These are the first published records for Wiltshire. This species tends to be rather sparsely distributed. It is one of the more easily overlooked Myrmica species as typically only one or a few foraging workers are found. In this area survey, it was most often found at woodland edges. It was first found in June 1993 on the MoD ranges at Porton. Workers were seen Just inside woodland west of Tower Hill (238 382). It was subsequently found on a number of occasions at the same site and westwards along the edge of this wood, the most recent record being in July 1996. On 31.V.1994 a worker was found in a puddle on the track through Happy Valley, and on 5.vi.l994 a dealate female was found dead on the same track nearby (230 386). In July 1993 a worker was found across the Hampshire border in Isle of Wight Woods (252 372), foraging on top of a small Lasius fiavits mound. In August 1993, one or two workers were found along the Portway Roman road (229 393) and again a year later, including one worker climbing on a bramble leaf amongst the grass. In May 1997 a worker was found on the track to Clarendon Palace ( 179 300) fighting a headless worker of M. sahiileti or M. scahriuodis. In May 1998 two workers were seen (177 299). Although there is a small area of suitable habitat at the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's Devenish reserve near Little Durnford, it has not yet been found there. (4) M. riihra (L.) This species was much less common than the similar M. ruginodis\ below, but was found at a few well-vegetated sites. In August 1993 and May 1994 workers were found on a bridge in marshland near Gomeldon ( 182 359). A male and two workers were taken by the roadside at Newton Toney on 21.viii.l994 (215 402). Workers were found at Dinton in May 1995 (019 319) and at the Devenish Reserve, Little Durnford, in September 1995. In June 1996 and May 1998, workers were found near Clarendon Palace (174 299), feeding on the extra-floral nectaries of common vetch (Vida saliva). (5) M. niginodis Nylander This species is very widespread and was present at most of the sites visited, occurring in woodland, lush grassland and scrub. It is usually absent from open downland, where it is replaced by A/, .sahidcti or M. scahriuodis. 28 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 It was found on the Porton Ranges (both Happy Valley and Isle of Wight Woods), Porton village, Targett's Comer, along the Portway, at Phillips’ Lane, Devenish Reserve, Clarendon Palace, Hound Wood, Bentley Wood, Common Plantation, Grovely Wood, and Langley Wood. Females of the form microgyna were found at two sites. On 29.viii.1994 a dealate female and worker of this form were taken near South Tidworth in Hampshire (236 470). On 13.viii.l995 a dealate female microgyna was seen wandering on a tree stump at Common Plantation, and later a nest was found nearby containing alate females (199 279). Specimens found in May and June 1993, feeding on the extra-floral nectaries of common vetch beside the Porton-Amesbury road (180 375), were initially thought to be M. rubra, but proved to be short-spined examples of M. ruginodis. (6) M. sahideti Meinert This species is the dominant Myrmica species on most warm chalk downland sites and is usually abundant. It can also occur in gardens and other areas with short turf. Sites in the Salisbury area include the Porton Ranges, Porton village, Newton Toney, the Portway, Devenish Reserve, Phillips’ Lane, the track to Clarendon Palace and Grovely Wood. This species is known to tend aphids on the roots and herbage of the short turf it lives in, but on two occasions it was seen on the Porton Ranges with herds in unexpected situations. In June 1993 it was seen with aphids concealed on and under the bark of a juniper bush in Isle of Wight Woods. It may have also been tending a few on the foliage, but most of these were guarded by Formica fiisca. In June 1998, it was found with aphids on a small sprig two or three feet up a spruce trunk, on the edge of woodland west of Tower Hill. This species is the main host of the large blue butterfly, Maculinea arion, throughout Europe (Thomas, 1992, p. 156; Thomas, 1994; Wardlaw et al, 1998). It is also the host for two workerless parasite ant species, Myrmica hirsuta and M. (Sifolinia) karavajevi, which were not found during this survey, but could be present. M. hirsuta males and females are very similar to M. sahideti sexuals. M. karavajevi, which can also occur in M. scahrinodis colonies, is more distinctive, being rather smaller than its hosts. (7) M. scahrinodis Nylander This is another common species, but more localised than M. sahideti on the MoD ranges at Porton and other chalk downland sites, where it was mainly restricted to the more exposed or sparsely vegetated areas, or in clearings in woodland. For example, on the Porton Ranges it occurs just outside woodland on Tower Hill (237 382), in a clearing in Happy Valley (236 386), and in the Isle of Wight Woods (252 372). It also occurs at Newton Toney (215 402), along the Portway (229 393), near the entrances to the Devenish Reserve and by the road outside, at Lake cum Wilsford (131 387), and Grovely Wood (055 344). (8, 9) Stenamma dehde (Foerster) and S. westwoodii (Westwood) These species have only recently been separated, but most British and European Stenamma records are believed to refer to dehde. The male caste is most easily distinguished, males of dehde and westwoodii having three and five mandibular teeth respectively (Dubois, 1998). Examination of males taken in Porton village has shown that both species are present. The numerous worker records from that and other sites have not been separated. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15; 2002 29 The workers are small, slow-moving and inconspicuous, but may be found in leaf litter or on the soil surface, particularly in humid conditions. Thus they were more often found on the surface in early summer when the soil was still damp. It has been reported that they are most active in the early morning (Collingwood, 1979) which may be the case, but they can certainly be found at other times. They are most easily seen on bare soil arouncf the base of banks, often beside roads, although traffic can hinder a search. Healthy, injured or dead workers are sometimes found on the edge of the tarmac. Stenamma is quite often present at Lasiiis fuUginosus sites. Stemunma will forage under black plastic sheeting placed in suitable areas, but we have never encountered it under fallen logs (in contrast to Myrmecina graminicola) so although it is difficult to hnd, observations suggest that it is not a truly cryptic genus and may somewhat resemble M. ruginodis in behaviour, as a general scavenger and predator on small insects. Prey items seen include flies, aphids, small mites and beetles and other unidentified insect fragments. They will take freshly killed springtails, when presented, but are more wary of ant brood. They will also accept biscuit particles and sweet materials. The female castes will sometimes curl into a ball on disturbance, like M. gramiiiico/a, below, which is much better known for this behaviour. There is one very old Wiltshire record, from Dinton, west of Salisbury, in 1854 (Donisthorpe, 1927). This could belong to either species. Stenamma was first found by this author near Targett’s Corner in Porton village ( 185 370) on 15.viii.l992, when a worker was seen right beside the road. It curled into a ball when captured. Next day, another was seen fighting a Myrmica ruginodis worker. It escaped unhurt on disturbance. Workers (some dead) were found on about ten occasions up to June 1994. On 18. ix. 1993, two workers were seen fighting, but they separated when disturbed. The site was then visited less frequently and the genus was not seen there again until 1999, when it was found twice in May, with a final record in early July. A dealate female was found late in the evening on 16.ix.l992 and a male on 3.x. 1993, at the edge of the road. Two more dealate females were found during very warm weather on 29.iv.1994. The first was captured in the late afternoon, again on the edge of the road, the second a little later in about the same place, curling up when handled. Alates were more frequently found in a garden nearby ( 1 88 37 1 ), appearing between early September and early October. A dead male of S. wesfwoodii found indoors in mid-November may have been dead some time. One live male was also found indoors. Alates were regularly found trapped in spiders’ webs and occasionally in water. A male taken on 4.ix.I994 is S. westwoodii, but another found on 28. ix is dehile. Stenamma is present but elusive in woodland in Happy Valley on the Porton Ranges. Single workers were found on only four occasions. It was first found on 8. V. 1994 on bare soil a few inches from a stump inhabited by L. nylanderi (c239 387). It curled up when caught. Another worker was found on a track about 400 yards away (235 386) on the 31st of the same month. In May 1997 a number of small (about one foot square) pieces of black plastic sheet were laid in potentially suitable postions to attract this genus. On 19.x. 1997, a worker was found curled up under one of the sheets laid within a few feet of the second record. Another was found under the same sheet on 28. vi. 1998 (along with a 6-inch-iong slow-worm!). None were ever seen under nearby sheets or others elsewhere, including several around the site of the first record. The best site for observing these ants is on the track to Clarendon Palace (cl78 300). Workers were often relatively easily seen due to the very infrequent vehicle traffic. The first record was on 28.V.1995, when a number were found on bare soil by the track. One was carrying a small fly. Later, a loose trail typically consisting 30 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 of 8 or 9 workers was found, leading to a dead bee partially buried on the track. On 2.vi.l996, numerous foragers were visible — probably about 20 over about 100 yards. One tried to sting a small (1cm) green catepillar, but it escaped. The author then killed it, and later at least six workers were present on it. Another worker was chased briefly by a rove beetle, Pella Ininieralis, the ant running and then rolling away, before uncuiiing and running off. The entrance to a nest was noticed in bare soil on a north-west facing bank, on the south side of the track. There was no pile of excavated soil outside the small hole. Up to a dozen foragers were visible by the track. These removed dead springtails and also fragments of biscuits that were placed nearby. On 16.vi. 1996 there was plenty of activity. Twice, workers were seen apparently fighting. Again, what appeared to be a loose trail led to food hidden under debris at the edge of the track. The workers again carried off dead springtails, but were wary of Lasiiis flavus larvae, especially when undamaged. A 4 mm long, black weevil was attacked by one worker but escaped due to its hard armour. On visits in early August and early September, the species was not found, presumably due to dry weather, but one forager was seen near the nest on 13.x. 1996. On 5.V.1997 a dealate female was found. The last visit to the site was on 25. v. 1998, when at least 20 workers were seen, including one or two trails. The clearest involved a group of at least eight workers, and was still present approximately two hours later. Stenamma was also found at Phillips’ Lane (132 329) west of Old Sarum hill-fort on 30. V. 1995. At least a dozen workers were seen along the roadside banks. Foragers were seen several times in May and June of 1996, including about 10 on 23. vi. 1996. The most recent record was on 4.V.1997, when a dead worker was retrieved from a M. niginodis forager. It looked to have been dead for some time, and was probably not killed by the Mynnica. The Devenish Reserve (1285 350) is about l!^ miles (2km) north of Phillips' Lane. On 23. vi. 1996 several single workers were found in a very small area (not more than two square yards) of leaf litter near to the southern entrance to the reserve, near the path and about six feet from the first L. nylaiuleri colony (see later). A single forager was seen in exactly the same place in early May 1997 and two virtually together in mid-May 1998, but none were found on a final visit in June 1999. It was not seen elsewhere on the reserve. On 5. V. 1996, in the late afternoon, a single worker was found at Langley Wood (around 224 2045) slowly crossing an area where the leaf litter had been cleared about 15 minutes earlier. It disappeared into the fine vegetable debris on top of the soil, which had to be removed and checked very carefully before the ant could be captured. This site is a mature oak wood, and is the only Stemimma site in this study not on chalk, being underlain by London Clay. (10) Myrmecimi graminicola (Latreille) The records described here are thought to be the first published for Wiltshire. Myrmecimi was found at a number of sites, in sheltered positions on grassland, in gardens, or open woodland, on chalk. This ant is slow-moving, inconspicuous and cryptic, and the workers are rarely seen in the open, normally being found under stones, moss, fallen wood or other debris. They are sometimes found in the nests of other ants. The female castes curl up when threatened, and climbing alates will often drop to the ground, which is an effective escape mechanism. The males are wasp-like, with dark wings. They are more robust and active than most male ants, but will sometimes “play dead’’ if disturbed, although they do not curl up like the more sluggish female castes. A captive male was seen to drink water and fruit juice unaided on 8.viii.l993. »R .1. ENT. NAT. HIST.. 15: 2002 31 The first record was from the MoD Ranges at Porton on 24.V.1992, when a single worker was taken on the Wiltshire-Hampshire border (241 388) under a log 1 2 ft Irom a Lasiiis flaviis mound. On 16.viii.l992 another worker was found under a small stone on a rather barren slope in the Isle of Wight Woods (254 3725) in Hampshire. Subsequently, isolated foragers or small groups of workers were found on these ranges on numerous occasions. More rarely, colonies were also discovered. This species was most easily found in open, scrubby woodland in Happy Valley (around 239 387). The ground in this a rea is very densely covered with Hints of various sizes and both foragers and colonies were found under these. This species can tolerate some shade, but if this woodland is allowed to fully regenerate, the population in this area would be expected to decline considerably (although the shading could benefit L. uylamleri). Foragers were surprisingly rarely seen under the black plastic sheets laid in Happy Valley for Sfeiuimma in May 1997. They were only seen under two sheets, both within yards of the location of the first Steiiaiwna record, where single workers were found several times in 1999, between the end of March and late June. The final record on the Porton Ranges was also from this area, when about six workers were found under a stone on 2.vii.l999. Elsewhere on the Porton Ranges, workers and nests of this species were more frequently found under pieces of fallen wood. In the Isle of Wight Woods (Hampshire) colonies were found at 248 369 and 255 3745. Workers were most frequently encountered around 256 370. It was not found on the open downland areas, such as in Happy Valley (233 386), Tower Hill (around 235 383 and eastwards) the Breck (around 250 380) or south of Isle of Wight Woods (around 250 367). Some of these areas are less sheltered or more sparsely vegetated than the known sites, but this lack of records may also reflect a lack of logs or stones to search under. The colonies found were not excavated, but were estimated to contain very approximately 100 workers, and only single queens were seen. The brood cycle appears to be similar to other British Myrmicinae. A colony found under a log on 2. V. 1993 had many well grown larvae and probably also some eggs. Of a total of seven nests found in the period 23.vii to 1 l.viii (between 1993-1995) all had worker pupae (except for one in a well shaded site which had mature larvae) with alate pupae in at least one. Some also had small to medium-sized larvae. On 15.viii.l993 about 20 adult males were present in a nest under a stone. On 23.vii.1995 a group of 6-10 workers, but no brood, were seen under a stone with a white woodlouse {Platyarthnis hojfnumnseggi) although Donisthorpe (1927) reported that no myrmecophiles were known to occur with this ant. On 19.vii.l998 a dealate female was found in tunnels under a stone, but again no brood were seen. From observations of captive colonies it appears that pale “callow” workers may not occur in this species, the pupae being fully pigmented before the adult emerges. This is unusual. This species is known to enter the nests of other ants (Donisthorpe, 1927; Collingwood, 1979) and it has been suggested that they prey on the brood (Brian, 1977). Although this predation may occur, most of the numerous records of foragers from this site were not inside ant colonies, althougli (unsurprisingly) there were often foragers or tunnels of other species in the vicinity. Single workers were seen near nests of Mvrniica species, L. fiaviis and L. alienus, but the only record in this survey from actually inside an alien colony was in a M. sahulcti nest, in September 1993. The Mvrmeciiia worker was just inside or right beside the Mynuica colony, situated in a log, and entered a chamber in the log soon after the disturbance. 32 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 Alates were found outside a nest only twice at this site. A male on 14.viii.l993 in the Isle of Wight Woods (256 374) was seen climbing on grass on a bank and then flew off. An alate female was seen on the wall of a building (209 372) five days later. Myrmecina also occurs in Porton village. In contrast to the records from the MoD Ranges, nearly all records were of sexuals. The only records of workers were of two specimens found dead in a garden near the Tidworth Road (188 371) on 9.V.1994 and 21. V. 1994 and a live one seen on the tarmac of the drive on 3.vii.l999. On 31.viii.l992 a dealate female was found in the same garden. Between 1992 and 1994 alates and dealate females were found at this site and nearby at Targett’s Corner (185 370) and Southbourne Way and Malvern Way (187 369) many times from the end of July (30.vii. 1994) until the middle of October (11.x. 1994) but most frequently from approximately mid-August to mid-September. Dealate females were also seen in the spring and early summer (for example 27. iv. 1994, 29. iv. 1994, 7. V. 1994, 10. vi. 1994 and 13. vi. 1994) presumably searching for food or a new nest site, like queens of other myrmicine species. Single alates were seen on walls and concrete surfaces, including both horizontal and vertical faces. Small groups of alates were seen on several occasions. Late m the afternoon of 6.viii.l993, a group of five alate females, each 1-2 inches apart, were on top of a low wall in Southbourne Way. All were crouching still and difficult to spot, and the dark wings of both sexes may act as camouflage. About 20 yards away, in Malvern Way, there was a similar-sized group, which included a mating pair. Several isolated alate females were also seen. The mating pair was captured and later mated again in a container for 15 30 minutes. About half an hour later, the female started to shed her wings, although she did not complete this until about an hour later. Next day, at about 18:00, an alate female was seen in the same place in Southbourne Way, and three more half an hour later. On 8.viii.l993 one alate female was present there, and a male in Malvern Way. On 13.viii.l993, two single alate females were on a different area of wall in Southbourne Way, where they were catching the evening sunshine. Early in the afternoon on 19.ix.l993, despite breezy weather, becoming dull, a larger group was found in a garden on the Tidworth Road. About six males and a similar number of alate females were congregated on the edges of some steps, most on the top surface, some on the vertical faces. They were in loose groups, the females virtually immobile most of the time, the males slightly more active and more dispersed. One mating pair was seen. By mid-afternoon, fewer were present, especially the males, and by early evening the weather had deteriorated and none were seen again. These alates had presumably just been released from the nest for the nuptial flight, but were never seen guarded by workers. This contrasts with most British species, but is consistent with the observations of Crawley, noted in Donisthorpe (1927). As they were slow-moving and rarely observed to fly off, and were sometimes seen in the same place over a period of several days, the females probably wait for males to fly to them, perhaps attracted by a pheromone, with mating occurring on the ground. They must either hide nearby or be accepted back into the nest overnight or in poor weather. However, alates were sometimes found trapped in spiders' webs or water, which shows that many, if not all, fly at some stage, and an alate female was seen at least 10ft in the air on 26.viii. 1994. Either the alates may fly away from the nest and congregate at mating sites, or disperse by flight after mating. Myrmecina was also found on one or more occasions at four other sites. On 21 .viii. 1994, two males and a dealate female were found on a wall in Newton Toney (c215 402). Later on the same day an injured worker was taken, found stuck in soil at the edge of the track along the Portway (c229 392). BR. .1. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 3? It was also recorded from the Devenish Reserve (cl 285 350). On 30.V.1995, up to 15 workers and a probable dealate female were seen on open soil on the path immediately outside the northern entrance to the reserve ( 129 352). Several went into a small hole, presumably the nest entrance. On 25. vi. 1995, one worker was seen in the same place. As noted earlier, it is unusual to sec workers of this species in the open on the soil surface. On 17. ix. 1995, an alate female was glimpsed immediately outside a Myrmica scahrinodis nest on the bank beside the road, when NCB disturbed the nest. On 30. vi. 1996, a worker was found under a large log amongst lush grass on the slope of the valley side, with or near some L. fiavus. This species was also found a few times along the track towards Clarendon Palace, most from a short distance nearer to the Palace than most of the Stenamma records (about 178 300). On 2.vi.l996 two dealate females were found a few yards apart in the open on an exposed chalk face at the base of a steep bank by the track. In mid- afternoon on 8.ix.l996, two males were seen, one resting on the track, the other, flying, landed on the author’s arm. On 13.x. 1996, alates of both sexes were present. One dead dealate female, one dead and one injured male were taken. About 10 males were seen along the track, on the chalk. Most were in semi-shade or on the sunny side of the track. Several flew, especially when handled. One alate female flew in and landed, and the alates may be attracted to congregate on pale surfaces like Myrmica ruginodis. Males of one or two Myrmica species were also flying. Two dealate females were found separately by the track on 5. v. 1997. On 25.V.1998, two dealate females were within a foot of each other, where alates were seen in October 1996, and a worker was seen near where the species was first recorded, with another worker, dead, a few feet away. (11) Leptothorax acervorum (Fab.) This species is present at many open woodland sites. It is widespread on the MoD Ranges near Porton, including Tower Hill, Happy Valley, and the Isle of Wight Woods, and is present nearby, along the Portway. It also occurs near Gomeldon village (184 360), on Devenish Reserve (on the roadside bank), at Lake cum Wilsford (131 387), Clarendon Palace, Common Plantation, Bentley Wood, and near Fovant (002 297). Observations of this species attacking Formicoxenus nitididus males and a L. nylcmderi worker are noted under those species. (12) L. ny/anderi (Foerster) This scarce species was found at two sites. The only previous record for Wiltshire comes from Whiteparish in 1960 (Collingwood, 1961). Surprisingly, there are very few reliable records of this species from the New Forest, the only recent one being from just north of Brockenhurst in .luly 1999 (Simon Hoy, personal communication). On 29.viii. 1993 a worker was noticed on or just under the remains of a birch log on the ground in a clearing in scrubby woodland in Happy Valley on the MoD Ranges at Porton (c239 388). A colony was then found in an old but hard tree stump a foot or so away. One or two dealate females, alate females and at least two males were seen. A subsequent search of other tree stumps in similar, fairly sunny, situations in nearby clearings was unsuccessful. On 30.iv.l994, several workers and a dealate female were found foraging on an old stump in a more shaded position in open beech woodland some distance away (c240 386). During the remainder of 1994 a careful search was conducted and it soon became clear that this species usually favours shaded positions. The workers tend to avoid prolonged exposure to intense sunlight and high temperatures, which is 34 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 15: 2002 atypical of British ants, and in contrast to the other British Leplothora.x species. Over 100 colonies were eventually located in the scrubby woodland where the first nest was found, several within ten yards of it. Most were in old but hard tree stumps, the others in smaller fragments of wood. On stumps in sunnier positions, L. nylcnideri was invariably on the shaded side or, in the case of hollow stumps, on the inside surfaces, often shaded by low herbage. In some cases, L. acervoriim was nesting on the same stump, usually occupying the sunny side. The only interaction seen was an acervoriim worker attacking a nylaiideri, even though nylamieri is said to be the more aggressive species, despite its smaller size (Collingwood, 1979). From mid-June onwards, numerous colonies were found in a mature beech wood immediately to the west (around 238 388). Most nests were in cracks and beetle holes in fallen branches lying amongst dense leaf litter. Small branches, only an inch or so in diameter and often lacking bark, seemed to be preferred over larger logs or smaller twigs. Some also occurred in stumps or in dead wood at the base of beech trunks. There was little or no living vegetation near these nests. This is of particular interest because the deep shade of beech woodland is a poor habitat for ants in Britain, and the only other species present in the shadier areas were small numbers of M. riigiuodis and occasional F. fiisca foragers. The approximate range of this species is defined by the four grid references 235 385, 237 389, 242 391 and 240 385. It is clear that these two habitats and peripheral areas support several hundred colonies, or more — a substantial population for this scarce species. Interestingly, it appears to be extremely rare in an area of very similar beech woodland in the Isle of Wight Woods (Hampshire) with only one record — on 6.V.1996 a single worker was seen amongst leaf litter near two large beech trees (c256 370). A possible reason for its rarity is that the Hampshire site is not sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly breeze. It is tempting to speculate that a slight increase in average temperatures (“global warming”) could allow the species to increase at this site. As disturbance of the nests was avoided, alates have only been observed twice, at the end of August. The first occasion was when the species was originally found, the second on 28.viii. 1994, when a male was seen being carried to a new nest site. It was carried in the manner typical of Leptothora.x. Dealate females were observed more frequently, mainly in spring and early summer (late April to July). These are presumably nest-founding females, foraging for food. However, as most were seen in the vicinity of workers, and on 12.vi.l994, one was seen apparently carrying food into an established colony, it is possible that some may be acting temporarily as “workers” associated with a mature colony. On another occasion, two females were seen fighting on a tree-root. Two colonies have also been found at the Devenish Reserve (1285 350), just over 7 miles (11.5 km) to the west-south-west of the main Porton site at Happy Valley. Both were in sheltered beech woodland at the edge of the valley floor. On 30.iv.l995, the first colony was found near the southern entrance, in an abandoned pole, in the hedge at the reserve boundary by the road. On 25.vi.1995, a second was found in a very old tree stump 100 yards or so to the north-east. Both colonies were still present on l.vi.l999. (13) Formicoxemis iiiliditliis (Nylander) This species was also recorded from just two sites, the first records from Wiltshire. It was not found at the other Formica riifa sites noted, but may well be present. It was first found at Hound Wood, near Farley (c226 301) on 2.vii.l993. A single male was found at the edge of a large F. riifa heap. On 30.vii.l993 at least four were BR. J, ENT. NAT. HIST.. 15: 2002 35 seen on the same or a nearby heap, mostly on top of a stump in the nest. They were very active, and two were seen to “greet” each other. On 21.ix.l995 it was found at Common Plantation, near Alderbury (c 199 279). About a dozen males and a worker were found on a large F. nifa nest, often climbing or resting on the tips of pine needles. At least 20 males were present on a different heap a hundred yards or so away, and once or twice these were seen chasing and grasping each other. The species was subsequently found at that site on a number of occasions up to July 1999. Most records were from May, September and October, but they were recorded in every month between late April anci early December with the exception of June. Workers were seen in late April, May, July, August, September, October and, in 1995, in early December. Usually only one or a few were visible. On one occasion, two workers were seen “tandem running”. A worker was once seen to carry another across a formica heap in the same manner as Lcptothorax species. The workers from a colony Iragment captured from an abandoned mound (see below) behaved similarly. A worker was once seen to be picked up two or three times by a Formica rufa worker, but it was released unhurt — usually they are overlooked or ignored, or occasionally threatened. Males were found in May (once only, in 1997), August, September, October and, in 1995, early November. The males, once present, are usually more numerous and conspicuous on the mound surface than are the female castes. On 15.x. 1995, dozens of males were present on one heap, with several females (alate and dealate) under clusters of males. On 15.ix.l996, literally hundreds of males were visible on the surface of the same well-populated mound, along with two alate females. The females were just beyond the edge of the mound, one on a bramble leaf, and some males were seen six inches from the heap. Males were also active on other heaps, but in far smaller numbers. 18.V.1997 was the only occasion when males were seen in the spring (albeit on a different heap) with 20+ active. These had presumably overwintered. On 7.ix.l997 they were again quite abundant on many different heaps, and two males were attacked by L. acervoriim workers, which in one case even attempted to sting, but both Formicoxeniis seemed to escape unhurt when disturbed. The males actively patrol the mound surface, sometimes apparently favouring certain areas, such as the top or pieces of wood in the nest. They have been seen to pursue and attempt to mate with not only alate females, but dealate females, workers and sometimes even each other, at least briefly! Sometimes two or three, perhaps more, will climb on to a single “victim” which is probably grasped by the neck or thorax. The males will also “greet” each other with their antennae, like workers. Alate females were seen in August, September and October. They were sometimes found near the edge of the heaps or on the ground or low vegetation nearby, but were never seen to fly. They are reported to adopt a “calling posture” and attract the more numerous males with pheromones (Buschinger, 1976) but such behaviour was not seen by NCB. The dealate females were seen in late April, May, August, September and October, wandering on the heaps, sometimes near the edge, but not on nearby vegetation. They were presumably searching for nest sites or food. Most British myrmicine species, including the closely related Lcptothorax, behave similarly. It has been reported that F. nitidulus is able to emigrate in the columns of host workers when the latter change nest sites (Andre, 1