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Cornish Red Data (2009)

The descriptive text, below the map, is from the Cornish Red Data Book (2009). The map on this web page depicts the organisms distribution and shows the records made pre-2000 and those made since.

Tropistethus holosericeus



Range & Status

A widespread European species but confined to the south in Britain. Small and cryptic and undoubtedly under-recorded as a result.

Regional Distribution

Discovered on the coastal slopes at Mawnan in 1985 by Andy Foster.

Habitat & Ecology

Found in dry, well-drained, open and sunny situations, amongst short and often sparse vegetation. Occurs beneath stones, amongst moss and at plant bases where the adults overwinter. Probably a seed-feeder, although the hostplants have not been identified.

Threats

Lack of grazing causing successional changes to coarser turf and scrub development.

Conservation

Restoration or maintenance of cliff grazing. Retention of some scrub where scrub control work is undertaken.

Source:

I.J. Bennallick, S. Board, C.N. French, P.A. Gainey, C. Neil, R. Parslow, A. Spalding and P.E. Tompsett. eds. 2009. Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 2nd Edition.Croceago Press.

The Cornish Red Data Book Project was led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Federation for Biological Recorders (CISFBR). The full text and species accounts (minus the maps) are available on the CISFBR website.