Cornish Biodiversity Network  -  Supporting Wildlife Recording

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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.

Bombylius canescens - A bee fly



Range & Status

Local with a western bias in England and Wales, between Cheshire and Cornwall,

Hampshire and Oxfordshire.

Regional Distribution

In VC1 widespread across Penwith pre-1960, but since 1980 only at Angarrack, Hayle (in a garden) 1989-94, Binner Downs 1995 and Kennack Sands 1986. In VC2 at Park Head, 1996; Pentire Head and Port Quin 1990.

Habitat & Ecology

A small unobtrusive species locally present in warm sites, in proximity to the nest sites of host bees such as Panurgus banksianus (Kirby). Adults occur in May-June and can be seen nectaring at flowers such as Crane' s-bills Geranium spp. and mated females searching ground for host burrows.

Threats

Excessive trampling over short dry turf where the host species usually nest, or loss of this terrain e.g. for tipping, building or recreation.

Conservation

Sites in VC2 are on National Trust land managed for invertebrate conservation.

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.



Cornish Biodiversity Network. 2017.