178 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 6: 1993 



Lygaeidae), which is associated with stinging nettles, and the picture-winged fly 

 Tephritis vesper tina (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), which develops as larvae in the 

 flower heads of the wildflower cat's ears {Hypochaeris radicata L.). 



Mr R. D. Hawkins showed a specimen of the click beetle Athous campyloides 

 Newman (Coleoptera: Elateridae) taken at dusk on 27.vi.92 from a whitewashed wall 

 in a small suburban garden bordering on farmland at Horley, Surrey (TQ 291 419). 

 This appears to be the first record for the vice-county of Surrey. Mr H. Mendel states 

 that this species has a south-easterly distribution in Britain and is nocturnal; it is usually 

 found by sweeping at night. 



Mr R. A Jones showed some colour transparencies taken on a visit to Florida, 

 USA in January 1993. They showed ants and several larvae of a Microdon sp. 

 (Diptera: Syrphidae). The three British Microdon spp. all have larvae that develop 

 in ants' nests. 



The names of Mark Iley, David Brian Wooldridge, Alexander Josef Kolaj, 

 Thomas D. Harrison, Martin Charles Townsend, Robert William Bogue, Christopher 

 John Mulvey and Ian Frank Smith were read for the second time and they were duly 

 elected as members. 



Dr R. Key said that there were still five places available for the Cumbria field 

 meeting weekend. 



Mr R. Uffen said that on a recent visit to the Savill Garden, Surrey (near Windsor 

 Great Park) he had seen leaf mining activity on outdoor azaleas by larvae of the 

 moth Caloptilia azaleella (Brants) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). He had known this 

 insect as a pest of greenhouse azaleas and wondered if it regularly occurred out of 

 doors. Mr Halstead said that it was taken in the Rothamsted light trap at Wisley 

 Garden and so was presumably living successfully in the open. Mr Uffen had also 

 noted the burrowing activities at Savill Garden of the dung beetle Typhaeus typhoeus 

 (L.) (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae). He knew of only about three localities for this beetle 

 in Hertfordshire. Mr Halstead said it occurred at Wisley Garden and Mr Softly said 

 it was present at Hampstead Heath. Dr R. Key said it occurred in sandy soil in southern 

 England and on heather moorland in northern areas. 



Mr A. Foster spoke on the NCC's East Anglian Fens Survey on which he worked 

 during 1988-90. A large number of fens in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire 

 were surveyed, together with other wetland habitats in the area, such as pingo pools 

 and valley mire bogs. Pitfall traps were used to record the ground fauna, with water 

 traps at ground level and raised on posts for recording flying insects. A wide range 

 of invertebrates, particularly beetles, flies, plant bugs, hymenoptera and spiders, 

 were subsequently identified by NCC staff and other helpers. The survey recorded 

 133 Red Data Book species, some of which are confined to the East Anglian fens. 

 There were a number of species recorded as new to Britain, including a fly and a 

 chalcid wasp new to science. Environmental variables, such as plant communities, 

 height of vegetation, the degree of burning/flooding/salinity and cutting, were noted 

 to try and detect any affinities between certain insects and the habitat/management 

 types. 



Fens need regular management in the form of cutting to prevent them developing 

 into willow/alder carr. Fen hay meadows are now a scarce habitat and are cut annually 

 in the summer. They contain many flowering plants and are rich in insects. Where 

 cut hay is not removed from the site but left in heaps, the decomposing vegetation 

 supports litter insects and creates nesting sites for grass snakes. Sedge (Cladium 

 mariscus (L.) Pohl) is used for thatching the ridges of roofs and is cut in late 

 June-August on a 3 to 4-year cycle. This species of sedge has few insects dependent 

 on it but sedge beds nevertheless have considerable entomological interest due to other 



