The Records

The introductory discussion identifies most of the entomologists involved in collection of aculeates in the county to the best of our knowledge. To a large extent, their reputations, associations with notable Hymenopterists and contributions in literature, enable a good proportion of Staffordshire finds to be reasonably confidently placed on updated county lists without resort to examination of specimens. Examination is, unfortunately, not currently an option with regard to some of the pioneer collections- especially vulnerable when the originator has died. In Victorian times, insects might be sold or made up into presentation cases, bereft of data (a practice not entirely unfamiliar today). With regard to Edwin Brown , Jourdain, writing in the Victoria History (ibid.), remarks that his collections ' have been dispersed and the specimens are not available for examination.' He went on to mention the need to confirm a few of these records, without indicating those he considered suspect. Nearly a century later we are in a similar predicament. In the course of following up information on the obituary of Brown and the dispersal of his very ample collections (Entomologist's Monthly Magazine . Vol 13. 1876-1877., p116 & 257), we learned that the relevant portions had probably been purchased for the Royal Dublin Society. Contact with Dr Martin Speight (who is conversant with the contents of the collections in that city) has failed to enable further progress to be made. There appears to be no record of this collection or of its specimens.

Bearing in mind the earlier discussions with regard to Carr, we are at least fortunate with his collection, which is held at Nottingham, Masefield's insects being in Hanley Museum.

With regard to most contemporary recorders, most specimens are available for examination in cases of doubt, but even now it is entirely possible to lose track of a recorder and specimens. This has happened in the case of some records for Saltwells LNR.

With regard to preliminary work for this paper, the authors have been pragmatic. They have enlisted the assistance of BWARS expertise in checking the identification of available specimens in a number of the most taxonomically problematic genera in order to at least establish the authenticity of records gathered in the last twenty years. The older collections known to be available await examination and work to track down missing material and recorders is ongoing. One of the objectives of this work is to enlist the assistance of others in this process.

Records listed here will currently be placed at three confidence levels:

Accepted records

records with adequate data of species considered to be relatively easily identified by competent workers and accredited voucher material where 'difficult' genera or rare/ notable status is involved.

In need of confirmation

insects from 'difficult' genera including those having rare/notable status with apparently reliable data where vouchers are either not available or have not yet been examined. These records will be placed within square brackets [ ].

Doubtful records

these may be old records made when literature did not enable 'difficult' species to be adequately separated and where no vouchers can currently be found. They may be records without adequate data to enable confident inclusion in a list although voucher material is present. They may also be records where older specimens from difficult genera are known to be available in collections but have not been recently examined.
 

These records will be placed in a separate list.