A Jewel in the Sand - April 2010

In April 2010 I visited Berrow Dunes to look for various beetles that live along the tideline under rocks and pieces of driftwood. One of the specialities of the area that had not been seen for several years was Dune Tiger Beetle - Cicindella maritima. I was, therefore, very happy when I saw one of these amazingly colourful beetles scuttling across the bare sand. Unfortunately, the dunes area is rapidly becoming overgrown with the invasive shrub Sea Buckthorn so how long this beetle will hang on without the large areas of open dunes that it prefers is a matter for concern.