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
Formerly widespread in southern England, but has become increasingly scarce.
Regional Distribution
Reported by various entomologists in the Tregantle and Downderry areas at Whitsand Bay around the turn of the century, but (some at least of) their voucher material has proved to be A. serpentinus , and so it remains unclear whether this species was actually present. Bannister reported it from The Lizard in 1937.
Habitat & Ecology
A coastal grassland species, usually on sandy soils, in moss and amongst the grass litter.
Threats
Abandonment of cliff pastures, with consequent coarsening and scrub development.
00 Conservation
Maintain coastal rough grazings.
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.