Cornish Biodiversity Network  -  Supporting Wildlife Recording

   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z restore

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.

Brindalus porcicollis - A scarab beetle



Range & Status

Only known in Britain from Whitsand Bay, East Cornwall, where it was discovered at the end of the nineteenth century, but not reported again until 1999, and had been declared extinct in Britain in the meantime.

Regional Distribution

Re-discovered near Tregantle Fort, Whitsand Bay by Roger Booth in 1999; noted there most recently by Paul Gainey in 2006 and 2008.

Habitat & Ecology

Restricted to sandy habitats, most often coastal sand dune systems. Sand particle size and presence of suitable vegetation cover have been suggested as playing major roles in its distribution with dune systems. The larvae pass the summer in loose sand feeding on detritus, and adults are active in the late summer, hibernating from September onwards (Booth & Mann, 2000).

Threats

The single known locality is not under any direct threat, but may suffer from visitor pressure to the beach area and winter storms. It is possible that visiting entomologists may be an issue.

Conservation

None.

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.