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.
Range & Status
Formerly widespread and local around the coasts of England and Wales, but appears to have become extinct everywhere except north-west England.
Regional Distribution
Found at Phillack Towans in 1958 (by Miss M. Harris) and Gwithian (by F.A. Turk).
Habitat & Ecology
Occurs in sand dunes, where the larvae develop in burrows in the sand; the adults are active hunters.
Threats
Development of sand dune systems for recreation; coarsening of vegetation through lack of grazing and/or trampling, with consequent loss of open sandy areas; coastal protection works.
Conservation
Protect all remaining undisturbed sand dune systems from inappropriate developments, and maintain or restore traditional grazing systems. A Priority Species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
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.