Field Digger Wasp Mellinus arvensis (Linnaeus, 1758) 
This is a described as a common and widespread species, found throughout the UK, but becoming somewhat more coastal further north. Despite being common, there are few recent Nottinghamshire records. Most of these have come from the sandy soils of the Sherwood Forest/Clumber Park areas, with an exception being the ones photographed and supplied to us by Peter Smith, found at Netherfield Lagoons in 2017. The male is ilustrated lower right. Our thanks go to Peter for kindly allowing us to use his photographs on the website.
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Nottinghamshire (VC56) distribution of Mellinus arvensis 
 
 
 
 
The records for the Nottinghamshire distribution map are currently provided by the following contributors - Sherwood Forest Invertebrate Directory 2014. Peter Smith. Netherfield Wildlife Group. Stuart Warrington. The National Trust (Clumber Park invertebrate records). Sorby Invertebrate Group. David Shaw. Brian Wetton.

You can contribute your own records to help us gain an accurate status of this species in Nottinghamshire. Send an Excel spreadsheet of your records via the 'contact us' link at the top of the homepage.

Updated November 2022

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