Odontoscelis fuliginosa

Range & Status

Widespread across Europe and known from a scatter of localities along the coasts of southern Britain from Pembrokeshire to Norfolk. Populations tend to be fairly small and the bugs sparsely distributed. It is a difficult species to find and this may lead to an unrealistic impression of its rarity.

Regional Distribution

Discovered by R.T. Bannister at Perranporth in June 1964.

Habitat & Ecology

Typically occurs in coastal sand dunes, where the vegetation is fairly open and includes Stork' s-bill Erodium spp. Its food plant is not known, but it has been found consistently and exclusively beneath Erodium spp. in Pembrokeshire (P. Kirby pers. comm.). It burrows into the sand in poor weather and when disturbed. Over-wintering nymphs have been found in moss in sheltered areas of dunes.

Threats

The main threat to this species is the abandonment of coastal grazing leading to coarsening of vegetation. Also the excessive trampling by visitors, leading to the erosion of its habitat.

Conservation

Grazing is likely to be important in maintaining suitable open conditions, and rabbit grazing has been identified as an important factor - rabbits generally do not eat Erodium spp. and so their grazing favours its growth.