Range & Status

Western oceanic, confined in Britain to Cornwall and Devon.

Regional Distribution

First discovered in Britain in 1917 on The Lizard (Keys, 1921) and found repeatedly until 1922; rediscovered there in 1986 by J.A. Owen.

Habitat & Ecology

Larvae root-feeding, while the adults occur at the base of plants, particularly Buck' s-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus where it grows on rocky sea cliffs. Has also been found in litter under heather.

Threats

Public pressure on sites, causing severe trampling and erosion of vegetation.

Conservation

The Lizard site lies within a SSSI.