214 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 



acknowledged ancient woodland indicator species have been recorded from the site 

 (Jones, in preparation). 



Woodlands Farm, Bexley (TQ4476, West Kent), 9.ix.l998, a single specimen 

 sweeping at the edge of a large field, once arable, but which had lain fallow for about 

 10 years. Nearby was a patch of old oak woodland and the renowned ancient 

 woodland SSSI Oxleas Wood was less than a kilometre away. 



Woodland Walk, Downham, (TQ3871, West Kent) 16.vi.1999, one swept. 

 Woodland Walk is a curious narrow wooded path, zigzagging at right angles 

 between the houses and gardens of the Downham estate, laid out in the 1930s. It is 

 recognizable on maps from the middle of the 19th century and is possibly the remains 

 of an old green lane following ancient hedgerows and field boundaries. Numerous 

 acknowledged ancient woodland "indicator" species were also found on the site 

 (Jones, in preparation). 



Mayow Park, Lower Sydenham (TQ3571, West Kent), 9.vi.l999, one found by 

 sweeping. Although primarily playing fields with close-mown utility grass, this small 

 park is dominated by many ancient pollard oaks which predate the landscaping of 

 the park in 1877. 



South-east London might not immediately be linked, in most people's minds, with 

 ancient woodland, a scarce and vulnerable habitat, but various of the local open 

 spaces are obvious survivors from the era before urbanization; they contain large 

 mature trees and numerous ancient woodland "indicator" species. It is unlikely that 

 Stigmus pendulus has any true association with ancient woodland, and is more likely 

 to be generally associated with woods in general. In Surrey it is known from parks, 

 gardens and commons, often in company with Stigmus solskyi (D. W. Baldock, 

 personal communication). It will be interesting to see, as further records of Stigmus 

 pendulus appear, whether any wider association with old woodland emerges. 



Acknowledgements — My thanks to David Baldock and Peter Harvey for their 

 information on this species. — Richard A. Jones, 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich, 

 London SE22 OAZ. bugmanjones@hotmail.com 



References 



Allen, G. W. 1987. Stigmus pendulus Panzer (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) new to Britain. 



Entomologist's Gazette 38: 214. 

 Baldock, D. W. in preparation. Bees, wasps and ants of Surrey. Surrey Wildlife Trust. 

 Falk, S. 1991. A review of the scarce and threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great Britain. 



Peterborough: Nature Conservancy Council, p. 152. 

 Jones, R. A. in preparation. The insects of Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Woods — indicators of 



ancient woodland. 

 Uffen, R. W. J. 1997. [Exhibit of S. pendulus from Welwyn, at BENHS meeting 8 October 1996.] 



British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 10: 1 17. 

 Uffen, R. W. J. 1998. [Exhibit of S. pendulus from Tyttenhanger at BENHS Annual Exhibition 



2 November 1996.] British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 10: 181. 



