North and south coastal invertebrates

What we need to do and where

1. About

The coastal grasslands of north and south Devon support a wealth of wildlife, including some rare invertebrates that are generally only found on the coast.  Some species did once have a wider distribution but due to habitat loss are now confined to these areas. 

This group covers species that aren’t restricted to a specific stretch of coastline and that may occur on Devon’s north coast, south coast (west of the Exe) or both. One species, the Devonshire wainscott moth, is also found on Devon’s east coast. 

Other species, that are restricted to a specific stretch of coast, are discussed in the Lundy, Sidmouth to Dorset, Torbay limestone and Start Point to Berry Head groups. 

Key pressures and opportunities

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Project management

Lack of grazing is causing a loss of sunny, open and bare ground and allowing shrubby vegetation such as gorse and bracken to become dominant. Some tree planting schemes are also causing habitat loss. However, organisations such as the National Trust and projects such as Life on the Edge are reintroducing grazing. See Inspiration below.  

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Non-native invasive species

In some parts of Britain, invasive members of the South African plant family Aizoaceae have colonised coastal cliffs. The main problem species is Hottentot-fig (Carpobrotus edulis), which is well-established at Croyde Bay in north Devon. It’s also been recorded on the south Devon coast and could become a problem. 

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Life on the Edge

Life on the Edge is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project focuses on the rare invertebrates and plants found along the south Devon coast and provides huge opportunities for nature recovery over the next few years. See Inspiration below.    

2. What we need to do and where

Priority

Increase the abundance and distribution of Focus Species along this stretch of coast.  

Focus species

A variable meadow fly sits on a shiny green leaf. The fly has six yellow legs, a black and yellow striped abdomen and body, as well as clear light brown wings that lie flat parallel to the body. The large black eyes sit above a bright yellow mouthpart and between them are two short, stout, black antennae.

Variable meadow fly

Chrysotoxum elegans
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The variable meadow hoverfly uses its yellow and black stripes to mimic wasps. It lives in open, sunny, flower-rich coastal grasslands. It’s largely found along the south Devon coast but also occurs in a few places along the north coast.   It’s an attractive species and can act as a flagship for the management of coastal grasslands. 

The variable meadow fly is nationally scarce and thought to be declining across the country due to loss of habitat. As for other species in this group, a key issue is loss of coastal grasslands due to lack of grazing.   

Sea spurge tortix

Acroclita subsequana
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This micro-moth is only found on shingle and sand on the south coast between Sussex and Devon. Caterpillars feed on sea spurge and Portland spurge, spinning the leaves to the stem with silk. Two generations of adults fly from April to October. In Devon they’re recorded at Strete Gate Beach in Slapton. 

Beautiful Gothic

Leuchochlaena oditis 
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The beautiful Gothic moth is restricted to the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall and the south-west coast of the Isle of Wight. In Devon it’s been recorded at various sites heading west from Torbay.  

Caterpillars feed on grasses including  common couch and, during the winter, annual meadow-grass. They build a cocoon in the ground in March and pupate in June. Moths fly from late August to mid-October.   

Rolled grass moth

Pediasia contminella
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The caterpillars of this micro-moth feed on grasses, in particular sheeps’ fescue. The species is restricted to a few locations on the south Devon coast and the sand dunes at Dawlish Warren.   (Amber – I added this back in but was that a mistake?) 

Scarce blackneck

Lygephila craccae
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Caterpillars feed on wood vetch and tufted vetch from spring to early July. They pupate in a cocoon on the ground and overwinter as an egg. Moths fly from mid-July to September. They’ve been recorded in north Devon, from Hartland Point to Woody Bay.  

Black-banded

Polymixis xanthomist
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The black-banded moth is restricted to rocky and stony areas on the coasts of Devon, Cornwall, south-west Wales and the Isle of Man. Caterpillars feed on coastal plants such as thrift. Moths fly from August to October. They’re recorded along the north coast between Ilfracombe and Hartland and scattered along the south coast.  

Barrett’s marbled coronet

Conisania andalusica
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This moth is confined to the coasts of Devon, Cornwall and west Wales. Caterpillars feed on the roots of sea campion and rock sea-spurrey. Moths fly in June and July. They’ve been recorded along the south coast and on the north coast between Ilfracombe and Hartland. 

Devonshire wainscot

Leucania putrescens
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Caterpillars feed on various grasses through the winter and pupate in May. Moths fly from  mid-July to early September.  They’re known to be along the whole Devon coastline (including east Devon) with a few recorded inland. 

The scarce moss-moth

Bryotropha dryadella
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Caterpillars feed in silk tubes they they’ve woven among moss. They’ve been recorded in Torquay, Berry Head, and Hartland.

Lizard weevils

Cathormiocerus attaphilus, Cathormiocerus maritimus and Cathormiocerus myrmecophilus.
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These brown, flightless weevils are rare and only found on the Atlantic fringes of western Europe. They’re named after the Lizard peninsula in west Cornwall.  

Lizard weevils are parthenogenetic, which means their populations consist entirely of females that lay eggs which do not need to be fertilised.  

There are three species in this group, Cathormiocerus attaphilus, Cathormiocerus maritimus and Cathormiocerus myrmecophilus. They’re all largely found in Devon and Cornwall, with some records along the south coast of England and Wales. 

They need short maritime grassland with patches of bare ground maintained through exposure to salt spray, erosion, grazing and thin, dry soil. They’re thought to feed on a range of plants but seem to prefer plantains. The key pressure is tall grassland and scrub caused by a lack of grazing.  

In Devon, all three are found between Wembury and Prawle Point. C. maritium and C. myrmecophilus are also found between Brixham and Forward Point and C. myrmecophilus is found on the north coast between Marsland and Clovelly.   

C. attaphilus is a Devon Special Species because it is especially rare and found only in Devon and Cornwall.

Actions for all north and south coastal invertebrates

Manage and restore a network of coastal flower-rich grasslands with bare patches and some scattered scrub. 

Use light grazing and scrub control to manage and expand a connected mosaic of flower-rich grasslands that have scattered scrub and trees, some bare ground and specific food plants for Focus Species. 

Keep the shingle at Strete Gate beach free of scrub to allow sea spurge and Portland spurge to grow for the sea spurge tortix moth 

Where to focus action

Coastal Wildbelts:  Cornwall to Morte Point, Dawlish to Torquay, Torbay limestone, Brixham to Start Point, Start Point to Bolt Tail, Bolt Tail to Plymouth Sound. See Mapping.     

3. Inspiration

To add following discussion during Consultation 

Case studies

– could use Life on Edge as a few hotpsots are Wembury etc

Where to visit

–SW Coast Path  

4. Find out more

To add following discussion during Consultation – add links back to the main species groups with general links for moths etc 

Devon Moths has information on the moths that occur in Devon, including distribution maps. 

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