A harmless-looking beetle which measures just 1.5mm could be the key to preventing a plot of precious green space being swamped by housing.

The newly-discovered Whitehawk soldier beetle has been hailed by wildlife experts as a major discovery - and one which could help protect the site off Wilson Avenue, on the Whitehawk estate in Brighton, from future building work.

Ironically, it was a wildlife expert called in by potential developers who first spotted the beetle, scuppering plans for houses on the land.

Max Barclay, of the Natural History Museum in London, first identified the new species, Latin name Malthodes iobatus.

Months of investigation followed before experts could be certain the tiny beast had never been seen in the British Isles before.

The minute insect was then officially named the Whitehawk soldier beetle, after the part of Brighton where it was discovered.

Mr Barclay said: "It is not every day you find beetles new to the British Isles. The last new soldier beetle was found more than 50 years ago.

"When you start looking in detail at the site you find an incredibly rich and diverse chalk downland flora and fauna."

The tiny orange-red soldier beetles cannot fly and are often found feeding on flowers in summer.

Historian Fred Netley said the find was on a site that had been threatened by housing and should help efforts to preserve green spaces around Whitehawk.

Mr Netley, who has lived in the area for 60 years, said: "A great deal of our play as youngsters involved the rich wildlife that has always been present on this great piece of downland so the discovery of the Whitehawk soldier beetle is an exciting event to me.

"I believe it deserves to take its place along with all the other marvellous things contained within the rich natural and social history of Whitehawk Hill and the surrounding area."

Dave Bangs, secretary of the Friends of Whitehawk Hill environmental group, said: "It's a beautiful find getting a new species like that.

"I don't think the developers believed us when we said we had found the beetle."

The bug is the most remarkable of 24 plant and animal species new to the area found in the last two years.

Wednesday August 6, 2003