Cornwall Wildlife Trust has confirmed a recent sighting of an Egyptian locust (Anacridium aegyptium) in south west Cornwall. The insect was recorded by supporter Tonny Steenhagen in their garden. Records suggest this is the first confirmed sighting of the species in Cornwall in 2025.

The Egyptian locust is typically found in Mediterranean Europe and North Africa. Occasional records in the United Kingdom are thought to be the result of strong southerly and easterly winds carrying individual insects across the continent. It is likely that this specimen arrived during the same weather system that recently deposited Saharan dust across vehicles and buildings in Cornwall.

While only one or two individuals are generally reported in the UK each year, experts note that changing climatic conditions could create a more suitable environment for this and other non-native species in future. Monitoring such occurrences is therefore of increasing importance.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust is encouraging members of the public to log unusual or non-native wildlife sightings. These records are vital for:

• Monitoring changes in Cornwall’s biodiversity over time
• Detecting the arrival of new species
• Assessing potential impacts on native wildlife and ecosystems
• Supporting conservation decision-making, education, and research

Wildlife records submitted in Cornwall are stored and managed by ERCCIS (Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly), which is hosted by Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Using state of the art and nationally recognised data management and digital mapping software packages, ERCCIS is the central resource for wildlife and habitat information in Cornwall. 

This information underpins local and national conservation work, helping researchers, land managers, and policy makers make informed decisions to protect Cornwall’s unique environment. Public sightings of unusual species, such as this Egyptian locust, add valuable data to ERCCIS and help build a clearer picture of how Cornwall’s wildlife is changing.

Submit a sighting