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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.

Physatocheila smreczynskii - Apple-tree Lace Bug



Range & Status

A central and northern European species widely recorded in southern England in the past but with modern reports confined to the Cornwall and Devon.

Regional Distribution

Discovered in the old orchard within Boconnoc Deer Park in 1989 (Alexander & Grove, 1991) and subsequently found in old orchards at St. Dominick and Cotehele in the Tamar Valley, as well as at Godolphin Hall.

Habitat & Ecology

Found chiefly on lichen-covered apple trees in Britain, including Crab Apple Malus

sylvestris in open woodland and cultivated trees in old orchards.

Threats

The main threat is the destruction of old orchards and, more generally, the replacement of old apple trees with newer and smaller varieties. The importance of lichen to the bug is not clear.

Conservation

The Boconnoc site lies within a SSSI, while the Tamar Valley site is owned by The National Trust and there is an orchard restoration programme under way locally. The long term future depends on maintaining a viable population of traditional apple trees. This species is listed as a Priority Species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan since 2007.

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.