Cornish Biodiversity Network - Supporting Wildlife Recording
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
This species has suffered a rapid decline in recent years, with scattered records in
southern Britain and Wales from East Anglia to Cornwall (Waring, 1992). It is local in
western Europe from northern Spain to the Netherlands (Heath & Emmet, 1983).
Regional Distribution
Recorded in Cornwall only at Menabilly (Wild & Marshall, 1973) and Welcombe and
Marsland nature reserve. It has probably suffered in Cornwall as elsewhere from the
destruction of Elms Ulmus spp. by Dutch elm disease, especially since it is less likely to be found away from its foodplant than other Cosmia species (Heath & Emmet, 1983).
Habitat & Ecology
The larvae feed on Wych Elm Ulmus glabra and perhaps Cornish Elm Ulmus minor .
Nationally, it is closely associated with Common or English Elm Ulmus procera , which probably does not occur in Cornwall. The adults fly in August.
Threats
Dutch elm disease.
Conservation
Planting of Elms in suitable habitat in VC2. A UK BAP priority species.
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.