Summary details for Talavera thorelli (Kulczynski, 1891)

Distribution

The species was first discovered in Britain at Castle Hill, near Folkestone, East Kent in 1989 (Snazell 1995). It has subsequently been recorded from Sussex and Surrey (Merrett 2000) but these records have not been submitted to the recording scheme. Outside Britain there are a few, very scattered records of T. thorelli from central and eastern Europe, southern Scandinavia and north-western Asia.

Habitat and ecology

The species was found in steep, south-facing chalk grassland, typical of that found all along the Folkestone escarpment. It is predominantly Brachypodium pinnatum grassland, with much of the area falling into the Centauria nigra-Leontodon hispidus sub-community. Adults of both sexes have been taken in June.

Status

Very rare. Known from three locations. A single female was taken at Castle Hill, Folkestone in 1989 and another adult male and female in 1991.

Threats

Loss and degradation of old chalk grassland represents a potential threat.

Management and conservation

Protect old chalk grassland from further loss to agriculture or urban development. Research is needed on the ecological requirements of this species in the northern part of its range to inform management decisions. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).