Embolemus ruddii (Westwood,1833)
Description and notes
The Embolemidae is a small family with 10-15 species worldwide. E. ruddii is the only species in Britain. Notes on identification may be found in Perkins (1976).
Distribution
The species has a widespread distribution in Britain, but is not known from Ireland.
Status (in Britain only)
It is not listed in the Red Data Book despite the paucity of records, as its true distribution is incompletely known.
Flight period
Females (wingless) have been recorded from May to September. The winged males, however, have not been seen in the earlier months. The females are believed to overwinter as adults.
Nesting biology
Almost nothing is known about this species. Females have been collected in or near nests of ants and moles, and one was found on Sphagnum moss. The host is unknown. However, a North American species apparently develops in a homopteran bug (Bridwell 1958).
Year profile last updated
1997