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.

Capsodes sulcatus - A plant bug



Range & Status

A Mediterranean species which extends along the Atlantic coasts into south-western England. Local, although colonies may be relatively frequent along the south coast.

Regional Distribution

One old record from Tregantle until re-discovered in Cornwall in 1989 to the north of Poldhu Cove and on Treluggan Cliff (Alexander & Grove, 1991), and now known to be more widespread, with records from the coasts of the Lizard and along the south coast generally.

Habitat & Ecology

Chiefly associated with Fabaceae in coastal grasslands, including Common Vetch Vicia sativa , Common Bird' s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus , Clover Trifolium spp., Black Medick Medicago lupulina and Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis . It occurs in open sunny situations, but the vegetation can vary from quite sparse clumps of plants in bare ground to moderately tall vegetation. South-facing and sheltered situations are preferred.

Threats

Coastal developments; heavy public pressure leading to erosion of vegetation; changing grazing levels.

Conservation

Manage to retain as wide a range of vegetation structure as possible, including both low and tall vegetation. The two recent localities both lie on National Trust land, and many are within SSSI.

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.