Part 2: Nematocera and Aschiza not dealt with by Falk (1991) - JNCC

Habitat Adults found at Llyn Hafodol, Anglesey, were
from Salix foliage on a floating fen. Most other records are
from water traps (one Norfolk site producing more than
1000 individuals). Habitat details of these sites include Salix
on floodplain fen, various types of fen and Phragmites beds,
as well as a basin mire with Menyanthes.
Ecology Biology unknown. Members of the genus Leia
have been reared from fungi, from decaying wood and from
the nests of birds and mammals. Adults recorded from June
to December.
Status A distinctive species, only recently discovered in
Britain, but now recorded from 22 sites, all post 1980. It
was described from collections made in Holland in 1916
and 1920, and has recently been reported from the German
North Sea islands. Status revised from RDB 2 (Falk 1991).
Threats Wetland drainage for agriculture or forestry.
Mismanagement of water levels with consequent changes in
vegetation.
Management and conservation Maintain a high stable
water level, and mosaic of habitats. Areas of scrub and carr
may be an essential requirement but should not be allowed
to invade open fen or marsh.
Published sources Chandler (1992b).
LEIA PIFFARDI
A fungus gnat
Order DIPTERA
Leia piffardi Edwards, 1925
LOWER RISK (Nationally Scarce)
Family MYCETOPHILIDAE
Identification Keyed by Hutson, Ackland & Kidd (1980).
Distribution Southern England: Somerset, Dorset,
Hampshire, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Suffolk.
Habitat Broad-leaved woodland and old hedges with a
good number of mature trees.
Ecology The larvae develop in bird’s nests (including
blackbird and magpie) and squirrel dreys (both red and
grey). There is a Russian record from a buzzard nest
(Krivokhatskii & Nartshuk 2001). Eight of the fourteen
British records are of rearings. Adults recorded from May to
August, and appear to inhabit the canopy of trees like most
other Leia species.
Status Six widely scattered post 1960 sites, the most recent
being Pennard Hill, Somerset in 1985. It is, however, likely
to be under-recorded because the adults are elusive and
more attention to rearing from nests might confirm this.
Threats Clearance of woodland for intensive forestry or
agriculture; the increasingly tidy management of hedges
including removal of trees and shrubs to facilitate trimming.
Management and conservation Retain plenty of suitable
sites for bird’s nests and squirrel dreys, e.g. mature trees
including those with hollow cavities, scrub and other
undergrowth. Avoid excessive management of hedges,
retaining any old trees or shrubs and associated ditches or
banks with herbaceous vegetation.
Published sources Edwards (1925); Krivokhatskii &
Nartshuk (2001).
MANOTA UNIFURCATA
A fungus gnat LOWER RISK (Near Threatened)
Order DIPTERA
Family MYCETOPHILIDAE
Manota unifurcata Lundström, 1913
Identification Keyed by Hutson, Ackland & Kidd (1980).
Distribution A small number of known sites in southern
England: Ebbor Gorge NNR, Somerset (1989); Odiham
Common (1984) and Denny Wood, New Forest (1995,
2000), Hampshire; Broken Wood, Kent (1998); Epping
Forest, Essex (1999); Windsor Forest, Berkshire (reared
1967); Wychwood NNR, Oxfordshire (Malaise trap, 1988);
Burnham Beeches NNR, Buckinghamshire (1996, 1999);
Chippenham Fen NNR, Cambridgeshire (1940); Monks
Wood NNR, Huntingdonshire (suction traps, 1972);
Nicholaston Wood, Gower, Glamorgan (1994).
Habitat Old broad-leaved woodland with a good supply of
dead wood.
Ecology The Windsor example was reared from rotten
Beech (Fagus) wood bearing a growth of myxomycete, but
this suggested association is probably fortuitous as Zaitzev
(1990) has recorded larvae on the surface of decayed soft,
fibrous and very moist Birch (Betula) wood covered with a
greyish white fungal growth; larvae were observed to
penetrate the loose wood with rapid gliding movements.
Adults recorded from June to September.
Status A very local species with ten post 1960 sites. Status
revised from RDB 1 (Shirt 1987) and RDB 2 (Falk 1991).
Threats Clearance of woodland for intensive forestry or
agriculture. Removal of any dead wood and old or diseased
trees.
Management and conservation Maintain woodlands in a
natural state, retaining any old or diseased trees and dead
wood, especially in damp shaded situations, ensuring the
continuity of these habitats in the future.
Published sources Chandler (1978a); Cole & Chandler
(1979); Edwards (1941); Hutson, Ackland & Kidd (1980);
Miles (1985).
MYCETOPHILA ABBREVIATA
A fungus gnat LOWER RISK (Nationally Scarce)
Order DIPTERA
Family MYCETOPHILIDAE
Mycetophila abbreviata Landrock, 1914
Identification The male genitalia were figured by Landrock
(1914).
Distribution Scattered sites in the Scottish Highlands:
Camghouran Birch wood (1987), Allt nan Bogair (1999,
2000) and Dall Burn (1990), Rannoch, Bridge of Balgie
(1988) and Struan Wood (1997), Perthshire; Dalnapot
(1982), Craigellachie NNR (1992), Lochanhully (1991),
Dulicht Wood and Randolph’s Leap (2004), Elgin;
Belladrum Burn (1984), Inshriach Forest (1986), Feshie
Bridge (1973, 2004), Cawdor Wood (1984), Banchory
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