Scolopostethus pictus

Range & Status

A southern species in Britain.

Regional Distribution

Re-discovered amongst vegetable debris in the arable fields at West Pentire Farm in 2003. Otherwise only known from a record dated 1866 from Holmbush in East Cornwall.

Habitat & Ecology

Lives among accumulations of dry plant material, presumably feeding on small fungi. Typical wild sites are ant nests and reed litter, while it will also use haystacks, thatch, etc.

Threats

Tidiness \endash the clearance of plant debris for no good reason.

Conservation

The West Pentire fields are owned by The National Trust and managed for nature conservation.