ARKive e-news, June 2008

The seven-spot ladybird is one of the most well-known and popular species of all British beetles. Both adults and larvae are voracious predators of aphids and are one of the gardener's greatest natural allies. Unfortunately, harlequin ladybirds, originally from Asia, have found their way to Britain and are rapidly spreading across the country. Not only does this invader have a huge appetite for aphids, leaving little for the seven-spot ladybird, they also prey on other ladybirds when food resources are low, threatening to wipe out our native species.

The larvae of the stag beetle live within rotting logs for up to four years before emerging as adults. As the beetle grubs take so long to develop, they become extremely vulnerable to tree clearance and the 'tidying up' of wood in parks and especially gardens. The over-zealous tidying of dead timber and stumps is thought to be the chief reason why this spectacular beetle seems to be in decline.

The white-tailed bumblebee differs from other bumblebees by, as its name suggests, its white tail, which can have a pinkish flush. Like other bumblebees, this species plays an incredibly important role in our everyday life; every third mouthful of food we eat is dependent upon the pollination services of bees. Worryingly, many British bumblebee species have undergone declines, largely as a result of changes in agricultural practices leading to a loss of suitable habitats and important food plants.

Britain's largest dragonfly, the emperor dragonfly , is a spectacular sight with its broad wings and powerful flight. Dragonflies feed on mosquitoes and midges so they can be beneficial to humans in reducing the numbers of these pests, which could also reduce the spread of disease. These beautiful insects are good indicators of water quality and healthy ecosystems as they are very vulnerable to water pollution. Dragonflies are also threatened by a loss of habitat due to the infilling of ponds and drainage of water bodies.

The dor beetle is just one of nature's vast army of insect recyclers, playing an important role in returning the abundant nutrients found in animal dung to the soil. The biggest threat to these beetles is the use of a chemical worming treatment for grazing animals, which persists in their dung and kills the developing dung beetle larvae. Declines in dor beetles have had knock-on affects on the greater horseshoe bat, an Endangered species that commonly feeds on this beetle. As with so many threatened species, the solution to one problem frequently benefits other associated animals.

The Wildscreen Festival is back and delegate registration is now open - book now to receive the early bird discount and save GBP 135 off the full delegate rate. (The delegate rate does not include the Panda Awards' . Tickets for the Panda Awards' ceremony are sold separately and cost GBP 55.)

GBP 445 - Early bird delegate fee (before Friday July 11th)
GBP 580 - Full rate
GBP 235 - Concession rate*

*Limited passes available.

Friday July 11th is the deadline for receiving an early bird discount.
Sunday October 19th - Friday October 24th is the Wildscreen Festival.

You can receive regular updates through the Festival website, www.wildscreenfestival.org .

If you have any queries about the Festival please contact either Nicola Reeves or Sara Hill on +44 (0)117 328 5950 / 5972 or info@wildscreen.org.uk .

Humphrey Tauro is a filmmaker who first contributed material to ARKive following entering the Wildscreen Festival in 2006. Humphrey's footage in ARKive is of the yellow-eyed penguin and the northern royal albatross filmed on the Otago Penisula in the South Island of New Zealand. The footage was filmed during the final year of his Natural History Filmmaking & Communications course at the University of Otago, and was entered into the BBC Newcomer Award at the Wildscreen Festival in 2006.

"My love for wildlife filmmaking dawned largely from the awe of imagery I found in Mother Nature. I film wildlife and nature related documentaries, with an intention of working on stories that help in the better understanding of the natural world and to unravel secrets of the grandeur of Mother Nature. In ARKive I saw similarities - reaching out to people through a visual medium, and hence my association with the project."

Image Immortal Films, India
Tel: +91 (984) 5002950
Email: thelotuseater@yahoo.com

We are always open to suggestions of endangered species that should be included in ARKive. If you have media, or know of its existence, for an endangered species that we have not yet covered, or can add to the collections already in ARKive, then please do let us know. You can contact the ARKive media team on: arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

To find out which species the ARKive media research team are currently working on or to view our most wanted species, please visit the ARKive species lists .

ARKiveprints.com is a collaboration between ARKive, Printree and Nature Picture Library.

www.arkiveprints.com
www.printree.com
www.naturepl.com