Podeonius atlanticus is a click beetle species endemic to the island of St Helena. It has not been recorded since 1970, despite extensive surveys in the 2000s. This species was recorded mostly on very rotten wood on species that include the invasive non-native shrub, Furze Ulex europaeus; as well as under rocks. This species is not restricted to the cloud forest. Populations in the cloud forest are under threat from climate change, invasive non-native species of trees and shrubs, as well as New Zealand Flax Phormium tenax (impacting host trees), invasive non-native animals (rodents. frogs, invertebrates), and the recent spread of fungal diseases including Phytophthora spp., on cloud forest trees, will seriously threaten this species. Populations present on non-native plant species are under threat from habitat deterioration and loss from drivers of change including climate change and invasive non-native species. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are both 20 km², it is only known from three locations in the cloud forest, and it is undergoing continuing decline in habitat due to the threats described above. Further survey work is required for this species. Meanwhile, it is assessed as Endangered

Podeonius atlanticus is a click beetle species endemic to the island of St Helena, in the South Atlantic. Melliss collected this species in 1865 from under stones in dry areas eastward of Arnos Vale and from Flagstaff Hill. This species was described by Candeze in 1869. It was recorded in large numbers by Wollaston in 1875 from Plantation, the lofty ridge above West Lodge and High Peak (Basilewsky 1972) and then by Whitehead in 1876 at Green Hill and Halley’s Mount. The two Podeonius species present on St Helena are very difficult to identify from each other. One hundred years ago these species lived in similar habits and were sometimes found together in areas including High Peak, Halley Mount, Green Hill and Plantation. In 1967 the two species were found in clearly different geographic regions on the island. Morphologically however these species had not changed much from each other. In 1967, over 200 specimens were found in Flagstaff Hill, North Deadwood Plain and South Flagstaff Foothills, High Peak, Mt Vesey and below Mt Vesey. It was also found in West Lodge, Blue Hill and West of the Central Ridge, above West Lodge. It was last recorded below Mount Vesey in 1970 by Messent.

Melliss collected this species in 1865 from under stones in dry areas eastward of Arnos Vale and from Flagstaff Hill. This species was eventually described by Candeze in 1869. It was also recorded in large numbers by Wollaston in 1875 from Plantation, the lofty ridge above West Lodge and High Peak (Basilewsky 1972) and then by Whitehead in 1876 at Green Hill and Halley’s Mount. The two Podeonius species present on St Helena are very difficult to identify from each other. One hundred years ago these species lived in similar habits and were sometimes found together in areas including High Peak, Halley Mount, Green Hill and Plantation. In 1967, the two species were found in clearly different geographic regions on the island. Morphologically however these species had not changed much from each other. In 1967, over 200 specimens were found in Flagstaff Hill, North Deadwood Plain and South Flagstaff Foothills, High Peak, Mt Vesey and below Mt Vesey. It was also found in West Lodge, Blue Hill and West of the Central Ridge, above West Lodge. It was last recorded below Mount Vesey in 1970 by Messent.

During the surveys of the 1960s, it was most often found in very rotten wood, from multiple species including Furze Ulex europaeus. It was also found under rocks.

This species was last recorded from Mount Vesey, a microhabitat in the cloud forest, in 1970. This species is found in very rotten wood both in cloud forest but also non-native species such as Furze (Ulex europeaus). The cloud forest trees have ongoing threats including climate change, intense competition from invasive non-native plant trees, shrubs and other plant species, including New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax). The recent arrival and spread of fungal tree diseases including Phytophthora spp., on cloud forest trees, could seriously threaten this species. Species of non-native predatory invertebrates living in decaying wood, such as ants, rove beetles, spiders and centipedes and vertebrates (e.g. rodents and African Grass Frog, Strongylopus grayi) are likely to impact this species negatively. Populations present on non-native plant species are under threat from habitat deterioration and loss from drivers of change including climate change and invasive non-native species.

This species is not on the Environmental Protection Ordinance on St Helena, which indicates protected species, and there is no specific action currently for this species. The Peaks are currently within a protected area and part of the government’s Nature Conservation Area (NCAs). If extant, this species will benefit from the habitat improvement outlined in the Peaks National Park Management Plan (2019). There is currently no specific action plan for this species, but its conservation and further research will be supported through the St Helena Invertebrate Strategy 2023–2027 (St Helena National Trust and St Helena Government 2023).