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
Widespread north to Norfolk and Wales with old records for Scotland. Over half the 20 or so recent records are from the New Forest.
Regional Distribution
Discovered on Bowithick Bog by Keith Alexander in 1983.
Habitat & Ecology
Occurs as adults between June and August on acid heaths and bogs with open water. The females suck the blood of cattle, horses and man. The larvae are predators of invertebrates in bogs.
Threats
Loss of its vulnerable habitat to forestry, draining, water extraction or recreational use.
Conservation
None.
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.