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
Sparsely distributed across southern and south-eastern Britain.
Regional Distribution
Discovered near Lizard village by R.T. Bannister in 1974 and close to Loe Pool by K.N.A. Alexander in 1989.
Habitat & Ecology
Larvae develop in the soil, feeding at roots of broadleaved herbs, generally in unimproved or semi-improved pastures. Proximity to wetland may be important.
Threats
Agricultural improvement of old pastures. Abandonment of grazing, leading to coarsening and scrub development.
Conservation
The Loe Pool site is owned by The National Trust although managed under an agricultural tenancy.
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.