Rainbow leaf beetle  (Chrysolina cerealis)

Despite exhaustive searches, there are few known populations of this beetle, although it is difficult to find (3). In the UK, this endangered beetle is currently known only from Caernarvonshire in Wales; since 1980 it has been recorded from Snowdon and Cwm Idwal. Elsewhere the species is found in northern, central and southern Europe (3).

This beetle is found in mountainous grassland areas over 630m above sea level (3). Populations are localised to areas where flushing produces base-rich grassland characterised by an abundance of wild thyme in the sward (5).