Ground beetle  (Anisodactylus nemorivagus)

Classified as Nationally Scarce in Great Britain (3).

This ground beetle is black in colour with reddish legs (2). The outer edges of the wing-cases (elytra) are covered in fine hairs and have a number of depressed 'spots' (2).

In Great Britain, this beetle occurs only in southern England; it has recently been recorded from the New Forest, Hampshire, and Wiltshire and Surrey (3). Historically it has been recorded from Berkshire, Glamorgan and Suffolk, and it once reached into Norfolk (3). In Europe it is known throughout central and southern areas, but is considered rare in its northern range (3).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Inhabits dry, sandy heathlands (4).

Breeding takes place during the spring, larvae are present in the summer and the adults that emerge later on in the year overwinter, emerging to breed the following spring, completing the annual lifecycle (3). Adults are winged and are able to fly (3). It is believed that both the adults and larvae feed on plant matter, particularly seeds (3), and it is thought that adults occur at the roots of plants (4).

The loss and fragmentation of heathland habitats, as well as unsuitable management of heaths resulting in the growth of scrub, are likely threats facing this species (3).

This ground beetle is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan; the Species Action Plan that has been published aims to maintain current populations (3). English Nature has included this beetle in its Species Recovery Programme.

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP.

There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

The UKBAP Species Action Plan is available at:
http://www.ukbap.org.uk
For more on English Nature's Species Recovery Programme see:
http://www.english-nature.org.uk/science/srp/default.asp