Aside from butterflies and
dragonflies, several groups of invertebrates have been studied on Dawlish
Warren over the years, some records go back to the 1850s. This page only gives
an example of the species recorded, more detailed lists are held by the
wardens, but these have not been made available to the website. We hope to be
able to publish these lists in the future, but if you have any records you can
add to this database please send them on.
All information will of course be forwarded to the reserve wardens. If you require any information on National
Recording Schemes, please use the
Biological Records Centre.
Related Links: The British Entomological and Natural
History Society Buglife
Hymenoptera (Bees, wasps and
ants) Related Link: Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording
Society
Many rare species have been
recorded over the years, many burrowing into the soft sandy substrate to breed,
including pre-1970 records of the UK BAP species Lasioglossum pauperatum.
The large sand wasp Ammophila sabulosa, is mentioned in the SSSI
citation and can be regularly seen hunting the dune ridge. Several species of
Bumblebee have been recorded, these include Bombus lucorum, Bombus
lapidarius and Bombus pascuorum. Hornet Vespa
crabro has been recorded on several occasions and may now nest on site.
Orthoptera (Grasshoppers,
crickets and allies)
19 species having been recorded
on Dawlish Warren, this makes it one of the most outstanding sites in the UK,
especially considering its size. The wide range of habitats and the mild
weather all combine to create the ideal conditions for a wide variety of
species.
Oak Bush-cricket Meconoma
thalassinum
This species is present in the
Entrance Bushes and presumably in other
wooded areas on site. Individuals have even been found in the Visitor Centre.
Great Green Bush-cricket Tettigonia viridissima
This Devon BAP species is widespread on site,
especially in areas of bramble scrub. The loud stridulation easily reveals its
presence, but despite its large size they can be difficult to locate.
Dark Bush-cricket Pholidoptera
griseoaptera
This common species is
widespread in south Devon, but despite searching, has only been seen once in
the recording area. A single individual in second or third instar was recorded
near the First Pond in 2000.
Grey Bush-cricket Platycleis
albopunctata
This is a predominately coastal species which
can be found on sand dunes and cliffs along most of the southern coast of
England. A single large instar was recorded here in 1993, but there have been
no further records. This individual was seen whilst planting trees in the
Buffer Zone so may have been introduced on them.
Long-winged Conehead Conocephalus discolor
This species is a recent arrival in the recording area, with individuals first being noted in Greenland Lake in the mid 1990s. Since then a good population has built up and it can be found in most areas of long grassland.
Short-winged Conehead Conocephalus dorsalis
A single female was recorded in the Buffer Zone in September 2005, previous records of instars had not rule out the above species.
Speckled Bush-cricket Leptophytes punctatissima
A single adult individual,
recorded in the Dogwood clump on Warren Point, is the only record, but this
species should occur elsewhere on site.
Cepero’s Ground-hopper Tetrix ceperoi
Has been recorded around the Entrance Bushes and
Greenland Lake, although never in high numbers. This is one of the few sites in
south Devon for this nationally rare species.
Common Ground-hopper Tetrix undulata
This species is found in similar
areas to its rarer relative, often in good numbers. It is the only native
orthopteran that can be found at all times of year.
Common Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus
A widespread species that is
commonly found on site. If disturbed adults can fly good distances to escape.
Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus
Another widespread and common
species, this is the most numerous on the Warren.
Lesser Marsh Grasshopper Chorthippus albomarginatus
This species is rare in the
southwest and this is one of the few sites it occurs in Devon. Several
individuals have been recorded in the saltmarsh at the back of the Golf Course.
Elsewhere on the Exe, it has been recorded at Exminster Marshes and the Old
Sludge Beds.
Rufous Grasshopper
Gomphocerippus rufus
The first Devon record of this nationally rare species was found here by Parfitt in 1881. Unfortunately it has long been extinct on site.
Mottled Grasshopper Myrmeleotettix maculatus
This species prefers areas of
short sun-baked turf and can be found in these situations on the reserve,
especially inward of the Dune Ridge.
Dusky Cockroach Ectobius lapponicus
Dawlish Warren is one of very few sites were
this species can be found in Devon. It has been recorded on Warren Point, but
presumably occurs elsewhere on site.
Tawny Cockroach Ectobius pallidus
Like Dusky, this species is rarely recorded in
Devon. Here it is recorded more frequently than the above species, it has
regularly been found at moth traps all around the reserve.
Lesser Cockroach Ectobius panzeri
The most frequently encountered of the three
native cockroaches on the reserve. It can be particularly numerous in the short
grass on Warren Point.
Common Earwig Forficula
auricularia
As elsewhere this species can be encountered
almost anywhere on site.
Lesne’s Earwig Forficula lesnei
One found by John Walters near the car park on
10/10/2003 is the only record.
Diptera (Flies)
Many rare species have been recorded over the years,
including a 1982 report of the UK BAP cranefly Geranomyia bezzi.
Apart from recent sightings of the hoverfly Volucella zonaria and a 1986 record of several Carcelia
lucorum, (from a Cream-spot Tiger Arctica villica host), there
is no further information available on this group at present.
Coleoptera (Beetles)
With the exception of the colourful Coccinellidae
(Ladybirds), and the list of Carabidae (ground beetles) provided by John Walters,
little information is available for this the largest animal group. Moth trapping
in 2005 produced records of two nationally scarce species; Sawyer Beetle
Prionus coriarius
and the water beetle Dytiscus circumflexus,
the latter a first for Devon. Included in the list of ground beetles list is the UK BAP species Cillenus lateralis (previously
Bembidon laterale) which is found around the Bight. There are
also old records for another BAP species Amara incida, and a
third species, which is found in saline mud and has been recorded from the Exe
estuary, may be present Bembidon quadripustulatum.
The following ladybirds have been recorded on
site:
7 spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
Eyed Ladybird Anatis ocellata Recorded once, a worn
individual at a moth trap, perhaps a migrant from Haldon?
2 spot Ladybird Coccinella 2-punctata
10 spot Ladybird Adalia 10-punctata
14 spot Ladybird Propylea 14-punctata
Orange Ladybird Halyzia 16-guttata Regularly recorded at moth traps.
11 spot Ladybird Coccinella 11-punctata Recorded in June 2003 and other occasions by James Diamond. A species associated with dune systems
Pine (4 spot) Ladybird Exochumus 4-pustulatus Recorded in 1977 according to records held by BRC at Monkswood and seen again in March 2007.
16 spot Ladybird Micraspis 16-punctata Recorded in 1977 according to records held by BRC at Monkswood and seen again in 2005.
The following ground beetles have been recorded
on site since 2002:
Code |
Taxon |
Code |
Taxon |
|
34 |
Nebria salina |
200 |
Agonum muelleri |
|
42 |
Notiophilus substriatus |
212 |
Amara aenea |
|
59 |
Dyschirius thoracicus |
242 |
Amara tibialis |
|
62 |
Broscus cephalotes |
259 |
Harpalus (Harpalus) affinis |
|
72 |
Trechus (Trechus) obtusus |
260 |
Harpalus (Harpalus) anxius |
|
115 |
Bembidion (Cillenus) laterale |
261 |
Harpalus (Harpalus) attenuatus |
|
121 |
Bembidion (Diplocampa) assimile |
270 |
Harpalus (Harpalus) rubripes |
|
136 |
Bembidion (Philochthus) guttula |
275 |
Harpalus (Harpalus) tardus |
|
148 |
Pogonus chalceus |
283 |
Dicheirotrichus gustavi |
|
169 |
Pterostichus nigrita |
290 |
Bradycellus harpalinus |
|
171 |
Pterostichus strenuus |
330 |
Demetrias atricapillus |
|
0176a |
Calathus cinctus |
335 |
Dromius linearis |
|
178 |
Calathus fuscipes |
337 |
Dromius melanocephalus |
|
179 |
Calathus melanocephalus |
338 |
Dromius meridionalis |
|
181 |
Calathus mollis |
346 |
Metabletus foveatus |
Arachnidae (Spiders) Related Link: British Arachnological Society
The large and colourful Wasp Spider Argiope
bruennichi has been recorded in Greenland Lake on several occasions since
2000.
A huge variety of other species of invertebrates
can be found within the recording area, in all habitats from woodland to
mudflats. As time progresses it is hoped that continued research will be
hopefully augmented by other records and a more complete database will be
available. If you are able to provide further information on any group or
species from Common Water-boatman Notonecta glauca to the Paignton Cockle Acanthocardia
aculetata please get in touch.
Other notable species known to be present
include:
Ophelia bicornis
– a polychaete worm found in the estuarine sand at the mouth of the Exe, one of
a handful of UK sites for this species.
The introduced Tree Lupin Lupinus
arboreus supports and an American aphid species Macrosiphum albifrons.
In some years this large species can kill off large numbers of lupins, but it
has not been recorded effecting any other species on site.
An introduced snail Toltecia pusilla,
only a few mm long, originally from New Zealand, has been recorded in Greenland
Lake. Other molluscs include the Common Garden Snail Helix aspersa
and the marine species Hydrobia ulvae. The shell of this tiny snail can be found around the shore of the
Bight in thousands. It is a major food
source for many birds in the estuary and has been recorded at densities of
13,000/sq.m.
The UK BAP listed brackish water crustacean Allomelita
pellucida was recorded in 1937.
A species of leafhopper that was first
discovered in 1980 on Warren Point, this was the first British record.
A nationally rare woodlouse has been recorded
from debris on the tide line, although not recently.