
Thursday 15 February
The World's Favourite Unloved Species 2018 - the Galapagos Racer
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Arthropoda |
Class | Insecta |
Order | Coleoptera |
Family | Staphylinidae |
Genus | Thinobius (1) |
Thinobius newberyi is a small rove beetle. Its pale colouration and small eyes reflect that it spends much of its time buried in gravel (1). The family of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) are characterised by their very short wing cases, known as elytra. The hindwings are folded beneath the elytra, and the elongated abdomen is exposed (3).
This beetle appears to be endemic to Britain (found no where else in the world). It was first discovered in 1907 at Great Salked in Cumbria and was later discovered near Aviemore in Inverness (1). Recent records are from the banks of the Rivers Tywi, Rheidol and Ystwyth in Wales. The small size and subterranean habits of this species have probably led to it being widely overlooked. Although it has not yet been discovered in mainland Europe, it is thought that targeted surveys will find the species (2).
Classified as Indeterminate and endemic in Great Britain (2).
Like other beetles associated with river shingle, the habitat of this species is likely to be damaged by a range of factors, including river straightening and dredging, control of the flow rate caused by damming or flood defence schemes, trampling by livestock, and the spread of the invasive plant Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), which spreads rapidly and aggressively competes with native species (2).
A number of beetles sharing this river shingle habitat have been highlighted as priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP). A Group Action Plan has been produced to coordinate efforts to conserve these beetles. The Environment Agency, English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales have joint-funded studies aiming to improve understanding of these species, in order to better guide their conservation (2).
Image credit
© The Natural History Museum, London
The Natural History Museum Picture Library
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Thursday 15 February
The World's Favourite Unloved Species 2018 - the Galapagos Racer
Thursday 01 February
Thursday 01 February