Hedychrum rutilans Dahlbom,1854
Description and notes
Previously known as H. intermedium, a misidentification. Identification keys and general biology are given in Morgan (1984), Falk (1991) and Kunz (1994).
Distribution
There are two records from England: from Lyndhurst, Hampshire (Morice 1901b) and from Wandsworth, Surrey (Morice 1902). The Lyndhurst specimen has been found at Oxford University Museum. Now regarded as extinct in England, but still found on Jersey and Guernsey.
Overseas found throughout Europe except the extreme north (including Finland, Denmark, The Netherlands, France including Corsica, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Albania, Greece), and in Turkey, Armenia, Iran, Siberia and north Africa.
Status (in Britain only)
An appendix species in Shirt (1987) and Falk (1991).
Habitat
Found in the habitats of its hosts which are usually open sandy places such as lowland heaths, coastal dunes and other disturbed sandy places. Adults can be found feeding on nectar in flowers and at extra-floral nectaries.
Flight period
Probably univoltine: from a small sample found from June to August.
Flowers visited
Mayweed, sea-holly, sheep's-bit and yarrow.
Parasites
No information available.
Parasitic biology
Host(s) unknown in England, but on mainland Europe its hosts are Philanthus triangulum (Edwards 1997) and P. coronatus. For details of parasitic behaviour see H. niemelai.