Sunday 19 May
Ground beetle (Anisodactylus nemorivagus)
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Find out here.Ground beetle fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Ground beetle description
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Coleoptera |
| Family | Carabidae |
| Genus | Anisodactylus (1) |
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).
- Synonyms
- Anisodactylus binotatus var. articornis.
- Size
- Length: 8-10 mm (2)
- Elytra
- In beetles and earwigs, the hard fore wings. They are held aloft when the insect flies, and are often coloured or patterned.
- Larvae
- Stage in an animal's lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.
- National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (September 2002) http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn/
- Lindroth, C. H. (1974) Handbooks for the identification of British insects. Volume IV. Part 2: Coleoptera, Carabidae. The Royal Entomological Society of London, London.
- UKBAP. (September 2002) http://www.ukbap.org.uk
- Hymen, P. S. and Parsons, M.S. (1992) A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain: Part 1. JNCC, Peterborough.
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Related species
Ground beetle biology
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).
TopGround beetle range
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).
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Species with a similar range
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You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Ground beetle habitat
Inhabits dry, sandy heathlands (4).
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Species found in a similar habitat
Ground beetle status
Classified as Nationally Scarce in Great Britain (3).
TopGround beetle threats
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).
TopGround beetle conservation
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.
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The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP. |
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There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Find out more
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
Authentication
Information authenticated by Dr Martin Luff of the School of Biology, University of Newcastle, with the support of the British Ecological Society:
http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/
Glossary
References
More »Related species
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Image credit
Anisodactylus nemorivagus
© John Walters
John Walters
47 Oaklands Park
Buckfastleigh
Devon
TQ11 0BP
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1364 643 916
Fax: +44 (0) 1364 642 784
studio@johnwalters.co.uk
http://www.johnwalters.co.uk
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