MAIISG

Assessment Rationale:

The Gomera Stick Grasshopper is endemic to La Gomera (Canary Islands, Spain), where it occurs mainly in laurel forest, but also in Euphorbia shrubland. Although the laurel forests are protected, they have recently been affected by wildfires. The species has a small area of occupancy (AOO) of 28-50 km² and an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 63 km². The number of locations, based on the sizes of recent wildfires is small (less than 5). There is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of habitat and a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals and number of subpopulations is inferred from the loss of habitat. The population is severely fragmented, as subpopulations are small and the species is completely flightless. Therefore, the species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR)

Geographic Range:

This species is endemic to La Gomera (Canary Islands, Spain) (López et al. 2007). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 63 km² and its known area of occupancy (AOO) is c. 28 km², with an upper estimate of 50 km²

Population:

The subpopulations of this species are usually small and isolated, and may go extinct with a reduced probability of recolonization. The population is therefore assumed to be severely fragmented. There is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of habitat as a result of the increasing wildfire frequencies in La Gomera, and a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals and number of subpopulations is inferred from the loss of habitat

Habitat and Ecology

This species occurs in laurel forest and Euphorbia shrubland.

Major Threat(s):

Acrostira bellamyi is mainly threatened by increasing wildfire frequencies on La Gomera, but also by habitat degradation due to agriculture (grazing in Euphorbia stands) and forestry (conversion of natural laurel forest to pine plantations). It is also threatened by natural events, such as landslides. The number of locations, based on the sizes of recent wildfires is small (< 5)

Conservation Actions

There are no conservation actions in place for this species, but large parts of its population occur in the Garajonay National Park. Better fire control is needed in order to avoid any future declines of the species, and natural laurel forests need to be restored. Further research on the population size and trend and threats is needed, together with the monitoring of the trend of the species