Species Account for Notiophilus quadripunctatus

Essex Red Data List comment
Essex Post-1969 record/s; VC18 pre-1970 record/s; VC19 1970-on record/s.

Species text
Notiophilus quadripunctatus is a local species found mainly in the southern half of England and Wales (Luff, 1998). The beetle is found on sparsely vegetated and bare ground in sandy or gravel situations, particularly on sandy heaths but also for example on undercliffs. It is threatened by the loss of bare and sparsely vegetated land through natural succession and the loss of suitable habitat through changes in land use (Hyman & Parsons, 1992). Large areas of habitat are probably required to maintain habitat continuity through occasional disturbance so that the population does not become isolated. P.R. Harvey found the beetle at a brownfield site near Tilbury in 2006. The only previous confirmed modern county record is for Fingringhoe Wick (1964, PMH, P. Hammond, pers. comm.). Management needs to prevent the loss of bare and sparsely vegetated land through natural succession. Some grazing and other disturbance may be desirable to maintain the early successional stages and prevent the invasion of scrub. In areas of soft rock cliff occasional slippages are necessary to maintain habitat continuity. Large areas of unstable cliff are required so that the population does not become isolated and subsequently threatened by individual landslips (Hyman & Parsons, 1992). References

Habitats

Recorded management for locations with Notiophilus quadripunctatus

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Notiophilus quadripunctatus

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