Reports highlight concerns for Britain’s leaf beetles and stoneflies
Latest research reveals many of our leaf beetles and stoneflies are on a ‘red list’ of species that are under threat of local extinction.
Stonefly © David Pryce, Buglife
The 2 new reports from the Species Status Project have been published by Natural England in collaboration with Buglife. They assess the conservation status of 2 groups of insects - leaf beetles (named after their habit of eating leaves) and stoneflies (aquatic species found in rivers and streams) – and classifies them as either ‘vulnerable’, ‘endangered’ or ‘critically endangered’ .
The review of leaf beetles found that out of the 283 species in the UK:
- 3 have become extinct in Britain in the last 100 years
- 7 are classified as critically endangered and possibly already extinct in Britain, as they have not been seen since 1950
- 35 are placed on the new red list and considered either ‘critically endangered’, ‘endangered’ or ‘vulnerable’, and under threat of becoming extinct in Britain in the near future
Stoneflies fare slightly better. Out of 34 species found in Great Britain, one is now extinct, one is vulnerable to extinction, and another now joins the red list as a critically endangered species.
The 2 reports are the latest in a series to be published under the Species Status Project, which will help conservation organisations to target future action. The Species Status project is a new initiative that provides up-to-date assessments of the threat status of various species of insects using the internationally accepted guidelines developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Both groups of insects are highly sensitive to their environment. Leaf beetles are often specific to certain plants in certain habitats. Stonefly larvae are particularly sensitive to organic pollution. They are regarded as excellent indicators of the health of the natural environment and targeted action supported by both Natural England and the voluntary conservation sector is underway to try to prevent further declines in these species. The reports provide vital new evidence that will help focus resources on managing habitats in the best way to improve the conservation status of these overlooked but important insects.
Case studies
Tansy beetle
The rare and visually stunning iridescent green tansy beetle (Chrysolina graminis) was once widespread in the Britain living in wetland areas, but it is currently critically endangered, not just in the UK but across its worldwide range. It is now a conservation priority species in England (section 41) species, which means that public bodies have a duty to protect it, together with its habitat. It was believed to have one last remaining stronghold in the UK on a 30km stretch of the banks of the river Ouse in York, mainly eating tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), a perennial herb which has given the beetle its name. At their York site they complete their entire life cycle on and around the plant, beside riverbanks or in wetlands. The site (Clifton Ings and Rawcliffe Meadows) was confirmed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in May last year, and work is underway to improve its habitat and control the increase of invasive species such as Himalayan balsam which has resulted in a decline in tansy plants over the past few decades. This has of course affected tansy beetle numbers.
Recently another population of tansy beetle was discovered in in the East Anglian fens in July 2014 after a 40 year absence. The discovery at Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve (NNR) was significant as it demonstrates the resilience of the species when given the right conditions. Natural England has been working closely with partners on the Great Fen vision to create new habitat around the NNR, and with the Tansy Beetle Action Group (TBAG) to study how best to improve conditions for the beetle. Work underway also includes a recent re-introduction at Wicken Fen.
Hazel pot beetle
Pot beetles are a fascinating group of petal and leaf-eating beetles that get their name from the protective shell-like ‘pot’ that the larvae live in, created using their own droppings. A hazel pot beetle colony was found in Sherwood Forest in 2008. It was the first time the insect had been recorded in Sherwood Forest for 70 years. Management techniques underway include the nurturing of young birch as a food source.
Ten-spotted pot beetle
The ten-spotted pot beetle occurs on wetland on protected sites. Whilst the beetle’s numbers continue to be monitored, its future will be linked to the action plan for lowland raised bogs, its favoured habitat, and enhancing willow as a food source in its wetland home.
Jon Webb, Senior Entomologist at Natural England said: “These reviews further build on our knowledge of the status of these species, helping us to focus our attention on managing our protected sites appropriately to support those most in need”.
Steve Falk at Buglife said: “The recently published State of Nature Report showed that at least two out of three species of British wildlife are declining, and we know that many species of invertebrate have already become extinct in Britain. These reports will put a strong spotlight on those species that will become extinct over the next few decades unless we take positive action and try to reduce the many threats facing them.”
The reviews can be found on Natural England’s publications catalogue:
NECR174 - A review of the stoneflies (Plecoptera) of Great Britain
Background information
Stoneflies, or Plecoptera from the Greek, “pleated wing” are an ancient group of insects, dating from 250 million years ago, with 2,500 known species worldwide. Unsung inhabitants of the freshwater world, their larvae can grow to over 30mm in length, making them among the largest invertebrates found in fresh water. Due to their high oxygen requirements, the larvae are particularly sensitive to organic pollution.
Leaf beetles are important as ecological indicators due to the dependency of many species on complex factors such as vegetation structure. They are found in a much wider range of habitats then some other groups of insects such as butterflies, dragonflies and bumblebees. Monitoring their status and abundance can provide a very useful indication of the ecological ‘health’ of the natural environment.
Notes for Editors
About Natural England
Natural England is the government’s advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006, our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.
For further information see Natural England’s website or contact Ellen Softley, Natural England press office: 0300 060 0213/ 07990 804795 ellen.softley@naturalengland.org.uk
The Species Recovery Programme
For more information about England’s red list species and action being undertaken to ensure their survival, find out about Natural England’s research and the Species Recovery Programme.
About Buglife
The Invertebrate Conservation Trust is the only charity in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates, and is actively working to save Britain’s rarest bugs, bees, butterflies, ants, worms, beetles and many more fascinating invertebrates.
Further information is available on Buglife’s website Follow us on Twitter @buzz_dont_tweet. Contact: Paul Hetherington, Director of Fundraising and Communications: 01733 201210, 07732 158128 paul.hetherington@buglife.org.uk
About the Species Status project
The Species Status project, takes on the mantle of the Species Status Assessment project - initiated by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) in 1999 - which ended in 2008 after producing 15 reports. It seeks to continue the assessment of species in the UK to provide an up-to-date threat status of taxa or families, against standard criteria based on the internationally accepted guidelines developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Natural England is hoping that within five years, over 20,000 insect species will be reviewed as part of the assessment project’s work.
The Species Status project is overseen by an inter-agency working group, including staff from Natural England, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Natural Resources Wales. Other publications in development include red lists for:
- centipedes and millipedes
- woodlice
- caddis flies
Revised editions of existing reports are now available, including: