The bees nest in cracks that form when wet south-facing clay cliffs dry out in the summer.

They’re a eusocial speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More, which means they nest in groups and divide up responsibilities, entrusting others to look after their young. 

The bees feed on a range of flowers in coastal grasslands near to their nesting sites. 

Although it hasn’t been recorded since 1995, it is hard to identify and may still exist along this stretch of coast.

The bee nests in burrows they excavate in clay exposed by landslips at the base of cliffs. Common birds-foot-trefoil (common in grasslands along this stretch of coast) is their most important forage plant. 

The buff-banded mining bee is more widespread as it’s found in various locations along the south coast, preferring calcareous (limestone and chalk) cliffs.  

It excavates single burrows in sheltered, fairly loose bare soil, but can be found in quite high numbers.  Knapweed is thought to be its critical food plant, but it also feeds on bramble, common fleabane, hemp agrimony, thistle speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More and wild marjoram. 

The last known Devon record for the spined blood bee was in Branscombe in 1978. However, it may still be present along this stretch of coast so greater survey effort is needed.

It forages on a range speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More such as buttercups, spurge, hogweed and wild carrot. It’s known as a blood bee due to its black and red colouring and because it lays its eggs in the nest of the orange-footed furrow bee (Halictus rubicundus), relying on this bee to rear its young. The orange-footed furrow bee has some recent records in Devon, including this stretch of coast, and is a Devon SpeciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More of Conservation Concern. 

The only place in the UK where it’s found is seepages at Haven Cliff just east of Axmouth harbour. 

Other Focus SpeciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More of flies in this group are the UK priority speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More six-spotted lamb (Idiocera sexguttata), Platycephala umbracula, a grass fly associated with reedbeds and Herina oscillans, a picture-winged fly. The bees feed on a range of flowers in coastal grasslands near to their nesting sites. 

All speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More depend on features which remain wet throughout the year, free from dense shading by woody growth. 

The wood white butterfly is one of the UK’s lightest and smallest butterfly speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More. It has a unique, almost ghostly appearance due to its pale, white wings.  

It lives in habitatsThe natural environment in which an animal, plant or other organism lives. More with tall grassland or light shrub (which provide shade and shelter) and with vetches (the caterpillar foodplant), including bitter vetch, tufted vetch, birds-foot trefoil and greater birds-foot trefoil.   

It breeds twice a year with adults flying in May or June and August. In Devon, the remaining populations are found on this stretch of coast (due to the scrubby grasslands), Meeth quarry in North Devon and Cookworthy Forest.    

 In the UK, Morris’s wainscot is only found on this stretch of coast, between Axmouth and Eype in Dorset. It lives at the base of slipping cliffs, where the caterpillar’s foodplant tall fescue grows. Larvae are found in the stems of smaller, weak plants which are stressed by growing on the slipping cliff.   

White spot caterpillars feed on the seeds of Nottingham catchfly, which is also a Focus SpeciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More. They initially live in the seed capsule, then hide under the base of the plant by day and feed on the seeds at night.  

The moths fly in May and June. White spots are found on vegetated shingle and chalk or limestone cliffs from Branscombe to Kent where Nottingham catchfly grows. In Devon, they are found between Branscombe and Seaton. 

The Devonshire wainscott is only found on the coasts of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, South Wales and Pembrokeshire. They’re rare in Devon but can be seen along both the north and south coasts.  

Adults fly from mid-July to early September. Eggs are laid on various grasses which caterpillars feed on through the winter.  

This micromoth is only known to be on the East Devon undercliffs, the Isle of Wight and in Kent, where it was found more recently. It is an endangered speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More.   

Caterpillars feed on the narrow-leaved everlasting-pea and can be found in July and August. Moths fly late May to June.  

Everlasting-pea blister also feeds on narrow-leaved everlasting pea but is slightly more widespread in Devon, known to be on the coast from Shaldon to Branscombe.    

These micromoths are found along the coasts of Dorset and East Devon. Their limited distribution may be due to temperature.  Caterpillars feed on the leaves of bramble on the cliffs. 

The caterpillars of this micromoth feed on wild marjoram in spring, biting through the stem and causing the upper leaves to wilt. It frequents hillsides and waste ground. Moths fly in July and August. Mainly distributed in the southern counties of England. 

In the UK, the cliff tiger beetle is only found on this stretch of coast (Branscombe to Lyme Regis), the Jursssic coast in Dorset and the Isle of Wight. As with many of the speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More in this assemblageA group of different species that are found together in one place. More, they are thermophilic (warmth-loving), so are only found on south facing cliffs with plenty of bare ground.   

Known as the cheetah of the insect world, this long-legged beetle uses its incredible speed to catch its prey. Even as larvae these beetles are fearsome insect predators. The larvae ambush their prey and pull them into their damp sand burrows.  

The scaly cricket is a rare invertebrateAn animal that doesn't have a backbone, such as insects, spiders, worms, crabs and slugs. More found on shingle beaches in the UK. Until the late 1990s, it was thought to only be present in the coastal shingle habitatThe natural environment in which an animal, plant or other organism lives. More of Chesil Beach in Dorset – but is now known from 3 sites in England and Wales. The speciesA group of similar organisms that can breed and exchange genes. More was recorded in Devon around 1998, and lives in shingle along the seaweed strandline, where it forages at night as an omnivorous scavenger. Its lifecycle spans two years: eggs are laid in driftwood and hatch after roughly a year, typically in June. The nymphs then progress through their instars (phase between two periods of moulting) over the next year, reaching adulthood by the following summer.