Jncc coastal Directories Project Region 11 The Western Approaches

5.3.1  Introduction
There are over 28,000 species in the better known
invertebrate groups in Great Britain (Kirby 1992).  This
section deals with most insect orders, though not all
families, together with a wide range of non-insect
invertebrates, known from sites within the coastal 10 km
Ordnance Survey grid squares of the region.  Lagoonal
species are covered in 
section 5.4
.
The region is internationally significant for its land and
freshwater invertebrates, on a number of counts.  Eleven
species of terrestrial and freshwater invertebrate listed on
international directives or conventions or on Schedule 5 of
the Wildlife & Countryside Act have been recorded within
the region (
Table 5.3.1
), although five of these have not been
recorded recently.  The region is also nationally important
for the conservation of many invertebrate species, including
some known in the UK in recent times only from this region.
Among these are the thyme lacebug Lasiacantha capucina, the
micro-moth Nothris congressariella, the scarce blackneck
moth Lygephila craccae and the spider Gnaphosa occidentalis.
Of the 358 Red Data Book (RDB) and 455 nationally
scarce species listed by Kirby (1994a, b) as known to be
associated with coastal habitats astonishing numbers, 74
and 207 respectively, are recorded in this region.  These
totals include recent (since 1969) records for twelve RDB
beetles and thirteen RDB solitary bees and wasps.  Other
species of equivalent rank, but not covered by Kirby, also
occur.  
Map 5.3.1
shows the numbers of all nationally rare
(RDB) invertebrate species (including Kirby’s ‘coastal’
species and all others) recorded in coastal 10 km squares in
the region.  Endemic species include the beetle Psylliodes
luridipennis, whose only world site is Lundy Island, and the
weevil Cathormiocerus britannicus which is unknown outside
Cornwall.  Certain subspecies are also confined to this region:
one threatened example, the sandhill rustic moth Luperina
nickerlii leechi, is unique to one sand bar in west Cornwall,
while other subspecies are more widespread in the region
although unknown outside it.  Pararge aegeria insula, for
5.3  Land and freshwater invertebrates
89
5.3  Land and freshwater invertebrates
A.P. Foster & M.S. Parsons
5°W
Region 10
Region 12
Number of species
per 10 km square
>20 species
11–20 species
6–10 species
1–5 species
Map 5.3.1  
Numbers of nationally rare (i.e. RDB) species of
invertebrates recorded in coastal 10 km squares (all
dates).  Distribution may reflect differences in recording
effort.  Source: Invertebrate Site Register, JNCC.
5°W
Region 10
Region 12
Number of species
per 10 km square
>20 species
11–20 species
6–10 species
1–5 species
Map 5.3.2  
Numbers of nationally scarce species of invertebrates
recorded in coastal 10 km squares (all dates).
Distribution may reflect differences in recording effort.
Source: Invertebrate Site Register, JNCC.
Table 5.3.1  
Protected invertebrate species in the region
Species
Protected status
Locations
Sandbowl snail Catinella arenaria
1
Devon
Desmoulin’s whorl snail Vertigo moulinsiana
2
Devon (last recorded in 1933)
Fairy shrimp Chirocephalus diaphanus
1*
Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Avon (last record pre-1970)
Atlantic stream crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes
1**, 2, 4, 6
Gloucestershire, Gwent
Stag beetle Lucanus cervus
4, 6
Cornwall, Gwent (last record pre-1970)
Large blue butterfly Maculinea arion
1, 3, 5
Cornwall, Devon (reintroduced; native populations extinct)
High brown fritillary butterfly Argynnis adippe
1***
Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire
Marsh fritillary butterfly Eurodryas aurinia
2, 5
Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Avon, Glamorgan
Heath fritillary butterfly Mellicata athalia
1
Somerset
Ladybird spider Eresus niger
1
Cornwall - unconfirmed sighting 1932
Medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis
1*, 4, 6, 7
Glamorgan
Key to protected status codes: 1 = Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (excluding Schedule 5 section 9(5), sale only); *Variation of Schedules
Order 1988; **Variation of Schedule Order 1988, but only in respect of section 9(1) taking and sale only; ***Variation of Schedules 5 & 8 Order
1992; 2 =  Annex II, EC Habitats & Species Directive; 3 = Annex IV, EC Habitats & Species Directive; 4 = Annex V, EC Habitats & Species
Directive; 5 = Annex II, Bern Convention; 6 = Annex III, Bern Convention; 7 = CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

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example, a subspecies of the speckled wood butterfly, occurs
only on the Isles of Scilly.  
Map 5.3.2
maps the recorded
distribution of all nationally scarce invertebrates in the
region.  Note that survey effort has not been equal
throughout the region, so actual occurrence may differ from
recorded distributions.  Also represented are scarce and
threatened species that are not strictly coastal in terms of
their national distribution but which have populations on
coastal sites.  Many scarce and threatened invertebrates that
are confined to south-western maritime habitats within
Great Britain have substantial proportions of their known
distribution along this section of coast.  These include the
hoary footman moth Eilema caniola, the Devonshire wainscot
moth Mythimna putrescens, the click beetle Cardiophorus
erichsoni and the weevil Cathormiocerus attaphilus.
5.3.2  Important locations and species
Table 5.3.2
lists coastal terrestrial or freshwater RDB species
as defined by Kirby (1994a, b) that have been recently
recorded from the region.  
Region 11  Chapter 5  Important species
90
Table 5.3.2  
Coastal Red Data Book (RDB) species in region
Species
Description and notes on recorded occurrence in the region
RDB1
Aegialia rufa
3.5-4.5 mm long globular red beetle living among plant litter in sand dunes.  Very rare.  Known from a small
number of dunes on the Welsh and Lancashire/Merseyside coasts.  Merthyr Mawr Warren, 1981.
Cathormiocerus
*Small (3 mm) globular weevil, eats many plant species but appears to favour buck’s-horn plantain Plantago
attaphilus
coronopus.  Maritime cliff grassland; internationally rare with the main centres of distribution in south-west
Britain.  The Lizard, 1932.
Cathormiocerus
Endemic weevil, favours ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata.  Gunwalloe Fishing Cove, 1985; Kynance, 1979;
britannicus
Penrose Estate, 1958; Porthleven, 1984; The Lizard, 1981; Tintagel area, old record.
Catinella arenaria
Very rare snail, currently known from only two sites in Great Britain.  Largest colony is at Braunton Burrows.
Smaller population by an upland calcareous flush in Cumbria.  A third population, in Glamorganshire, is
believed to be extinct.  Only reliably distinguished  from Succinea oblonga by dissection.  Braunton Burrows,
1990.
Epitriptus arthriticus
*Large robber fly recorded from Breckland heath and a sand dune.  Life history unknown, though the larvae
are probably soil-dwelling predators.  Only three British records, two in Norfolk and one in Somerset.  Berrow
Dunes, 1955.
Formica rufibarbis
Large reddish predatory ant found in open sunny situations such as grassy banks.  Nest is built underground,
often a foot below the surface and with no visible earthworks.  1979 atlas shows records only from Surrey and
the Isles of Scilly.  The Surrey colonies are possibly now extinct. St. Martin’s, 1980.
Geotomus punctulatus
Ground-dwelling shieldbug of coastal sand dunes, confined in Britain to a single Cornish locality.  Sennen
Cove, 1987.
Gnaphosa occidentalis
*Hunting spider known from two sites in Cornwall early this century.  Habitat unknown.  Cadgwith Cove, old
record; Kynance Cove, 1935.
Halictus maculatus
*Mining bee that nests in light soils, probably in aggregations.  Recorded from seven localities in southern
England.  Porth Kidney Sands, 1968.
Sandhill rustic moth
Extremely local subspecies confined to a small shingle beach in Cornwall, the larvae feeding in the stem bases
Luperina nickerlii leechi and root crown of sand couch Elymus farctus.  Loe Pool SSSI, 1989; Penrose Estate (Loe part of the site), 1979.
pRDB1
Nothris congressariella
Small moth.  Larva feeds on the leaves or shoots of balm-leaved figwort Scrophularia scorodonia.  Bryher, 1993;
Gannel Estuary, 1988; Lundy, 1994; St. Martin’s, 1989; St. Mary’s, 1989; Tresco, 1989.
Panagaeus cruxmajor
*7.5-9 mm long red and black ground beetle, lives only in moist places, occurring at the margins of standing or
slow-flowing water amongst rich vegetation.  Known recently from only a single coastal site in S. Wales.
Merthyr Mawr Warren, 1915.
Paralister obscurus
*6-8 mm shiny black carrion beetle living in dung and preying on other invertebrates.  Very rare, with scattered
records north to Lancashire.  Opportunist species not attached to particular site or habitat.  Braunton Burrows,
1949.
RDB2
Anchonidium unguiculare Weevil occurring in sessile oak woodland and on sea cliffs.  In leaf litter, moss and at the roots of various
plants.  Known only from Cornwall and south Devon.  Gweek Woods, 1984; Merthen Wood, 1984; Tremayne
Woods, 1984.
Andrena rosae
Mining bee known from a variety of habitats, including coastal landslips, soft-rock cliffs and rough cliff tops.
Nesting habits are poorly known, but burrows probably dug in sparsely vegetated, sunny areas on light soils.
Extremely scarce throughout its range; has apparently declined considerably.  Post-1970 records are known
from only a handful of sites in E. Cornwall, N. Devon, W. Kent and Pembrokeshire.  Boscastle, 1956; Goonhilly
Downs, 1928; Sandy Mouth, Duckpool and Coombe Valley, 1991; Treen Cliff SSSI, 1954.
Andrena simillima
Mining bee typically recorded from coastal sites.  Probably needs patches of bare ground in warm, sunny
situations for nesting.  Carbis Bay, pre-1970; Cross Coombe, nr. Perranporth, pre-1970; Gunwalloe Fishing
Cove, 1972; Gunwalloe Marsh, 1972; Kelligerran Head, 1991; Loe Pool SSSI, 1991; Pentire Peninsula SSSI, 1860;
Porthleven, 1991; Rock Dunes SSSI, 1939; Tintagel Cliffs SSSI, 1984; Trebarwith area, 1962.
Ceutorhynchus pilosellus
Weevil associated with lesser dandelion Taraxacum laevigatum.  Larvae probably feed in the flowerheads.
Holywell Bay, 1984; Merthyr Mawr Warren, 1992.

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