Frigate Island giant tenebrionid beetle  (Polposipus herculeanus)

Since the relatively recent human colonisation of Frégate Island, habitat destruction has been extensive. However, the beetles remained abundant on the island and also survived the invasion by introduced predators (brown rats) (5). A fungal disease affecting the sangdragon trees, on which this beetle relies, may represent a threat to the species (3) (5). Indeed, being restricted to just a single small island leaves the Frigate Island giant tenebrionid beetle particularly vulnerable to the effects of introduced alien species or disease, as well as to natural disasters or extreme environmental events, such as typhoons (5) (6).

In 2001, a successful rat eradication programme on Frégate was undertaken, removing this potential predator and threat (2), and population assessments were carried out in 1999 and 2001 (5). A breeding and research programme was also established at the Zoological Society of London’s Invertebrate Conservation Unit in 1996, with the hope that the information gained would better inform conservation management in the wild (3) (6). The initial captive population has now expanded to a full European Breeding Programme and involves institutions in the UK, Netherlands, Poland and Latvia (3). One potential conservation measure is the translocation of the beetle to other islands near Frégate, either from wild or captive stock (4). In addition, the DNA of this rare species has been entered and preserved in the ‘Frozen Ark’ (3).