Assessment Rationale:

Seddon (2008) notes that the latest evaluation suggests this species meets the thresholds for Endangered B1ab(iii) (version 3.1). All recent records are only from the small region (3 km x 3 km) near Fonte de Areia on Porto Santo, just north of the airport strip. The habitats are sand dunes subject to wind erosion and recreational disturbance on the dunes. The species is listed as Endangered (EN) B1ab(iii) based on the current degree of disturbance at the site.

Geographic Range:

This species is endemic to the Madeiran islands where it is found on Porto Santo (and adjacent rocks according to Wollaston 1878, p. 178) but it is localised to the area around Fonte de Areia (Seddon 2008).

Population:

The species can be abundant where present.

Habitat and Ecology

The habitats are vegetated stabilised sand dunes north of the airstrip.

Major Threat(s):

The habitats are sand dunes subject to wind erosion and recreational disturbance on the dunes.

Conservation Actions

It is difficult to manage a dune ecosystem, but an area which is designated as "traffic-free" should be put in place to minimise the disturbance to the habitats, as trampling and dune-buggies are probably the greatest threats to the species (Groh, pers. comm., 2010). Thereafter habitat monitoring is required to ensure that the 'traffic free zone' has lead to reduction of the disturbance of this site.