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
Very localised in southern Britain and has become increasingly scarce in recent years everywhere except the south-west.
Regional Distribution
Still widespread along the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, being found at: Kynance Cove in 1979 and 1982 by P.J. Hodge, Kennack Sands in 1988 by D.R. Nash, and The Lizard in 1975 by J.A. Owen and 1989 by D.R. Nash; also Loe Bar in 1978 by A.P. Foster, Falmouth Cliff in 1988 by D.R Nash, on the sandy beach of Lantic Bay in 1979 by The National Trust Biological Survey, and Tregantle in 1977 by J.A. Owen. Also an old record from Gerrans Bay (Champion, 1897).
Habitat & Ecology
A dry grassland species, especially where there is base-rich soil, and primarily coastal. Feeds mainly on seeds.
Threats
Agricultural improvement of the semi-natural grasslands of the Lizard Peninsula and
calcareous sand dune systems; abandonment of grazing, leading to coarsening and scrub development.
Conservation
Most of the known sites are now protected by The National Trust or are within SSSI.
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.