Saving the small things that run the planetHistorically, the Cliff Comber Beetle (Nebria livida) has been recorded along the eroding soft-cliff coasts of Yorkshire and Norfolk however, it’s thought that this species is now extinct in Yorkshire and restricted to just three sites in Norfolk.
Quick Facts:
The Cliff Comber Beetle is a large ground beetle with distinctive black/reddish and yellow colouring across its body. It was previously recorded on the coasts of North East Yorkshire, South East Yorkshire and North Norfolk. There are also two inland records from the early 1990s on analogous habitat. Additionally, there are much older records of the Cliff Comber Beetle from Lincolnshire and Staffordshire.
However, since 2000, this species has only been recorded at three sites on the Norfolk coast: West Runton, Overstand, and between Sidestrand and Trimmingham. This indicates a substantial decrease in the Cliff Comber Beetle’s range, which puts it at increased risk of local extinction. The beetle relies on the natural process of soft cliff erosion to provide habitat, however, both excessive coastal erosion (possibly linked to climate change) and attempts to stabilise cliffs, are thought to threaten their habitat. Indeed, the Cliff Comber Beetle was given the GB IUCN conservation status of Vulnerable in the most recent review.
This project will survey historical sites of the Cliff Comber Beetle to confirm its current distribution. Where populations of the beetle remain, assessments on threats to the species and whether there are opportunities to enhance or restore their preferred habitat will be carried out.
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The Cliff Comber Beetle (Species Recovery) Project is generously funded by Natural England.
