Beetle Survey in Glen Affric, 2004
Arthur Ewing with his aspirator for collecting small beetles by sucking them into a glass jar, in this case from a fly agaric fungus (Amanita muscaria). |
As part of our ongoing programme to create a comprehensive inventory of the biological diversity in Glen Affric, weve contracted Arthur Ewing, an entomologist specialising in beetles, to carry out a 2 year survey in the glen, in 2004 and 2005. As with the moth survey in 2003, we are very grateful to both Scottish Natural Heritage and Forest Enterprise for providing funding for the survey.
Coleoptera, the taxonomic order for beetles, has been one of the least-studied groups of organisms in Glen Affric, with the number of species recorded there (155) being just 17% of the number (904) known from Abernethy (another of the main Caledonian Forest remnants). The survey in 2004 primarily utilised pitfall traps, which tend to collect the commoner and more widespread species. In 2005, the survey will focus on specific habitats, such as leaf and forest litter, lochs and rivers, and moorland, and will also include searches for some of the rarer species which would be expected to occur in a pinewood like Affric. Taken together, the two years of surveys should provide a much-fuller picture of the beetle diversity which exists in the glen.
Weve now received an interim report on this years survey from Arthur, who was assisted in the field by his wife Leonie, and here are his key findings:
This year we collected approximately 240 species (with a few yet to be identified), including 28 which are listed in the publication A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Of these, two are listed as Red Data Book 3 (RDB3) species*: Bolitophagus reticulatus and Ropalodontus perforatus, both of which are found in tinder fungi (Fomes fomentarius) which grow on dead birch trees. The remaining 26 species are less rare but are nevertheless interesting. Seven species, including the two RDB3 ones listed above and the longhorn beetles Rhagium inquisitor and Acanthocinus aedilis (the timberman) in Britain are exclusive to the Highlands of Scotland. The longhorns are found in mature Scots pine forest where their larvae feed on dead pines.
Also interesting was the fact that we collected 14 species of click beetles (Elateridae) which, apart from a couple of extremely rare species, constitutes the total for Scotland. Again, some of the rarer elaterids such as Ampedus nigrinus and Diacanthous undulatus, are denizens of northern forests. That the majority of these uncommon species are to be found associated with mature woodland, either deciduous or coniferous, in part reflects where most of the collecting effort was concentrated. However an important consideration is the existence of significant amounts of fallen timber. This has a direct effect on the number of species not only by providing a suitable microhabitat for them and food for their larvae, but also by providing a substrate for the growth of the fungi on which many of the species depend.
One non-forest area that provided some interesting records was the roadside quarry to the west of the bridge over the Gleann nam Fiadh stream. Here we found three rare ground beetles, Miscodera arctica, Harpalus quadripunctatus and Agonum ericeti, all of which have a northern British distribution. The first of these is thought to predate the larvae of Pill beetles (Byrrhidae) which we have yet to find. An uncommon, metallic blue-green leaf beetle (Altica ericeti, Chrysomelidae) was also found here on its host plant, heather (Calluna vulgaris).
Beetles likely to be encountered by visitors include some of the larger ground beetles (Carabidae) such as the black Carabus glabratus and violet ground beetles (C. problematicus and C. violaceus) which are common in the forest. The tiger beetle (Cicindella campestris) comes out in sunshine and is found running or flying along open paths. Other larger beetles are the sexton or burying beetles (Nicrophorus species) with horizontally striped orange and black wing cases and, where sheep or deer dung is present, dor beetles (Geotrupes species). If lucky one might see one of the Longhorn Beetles, either one of the species mentioned above or, more likely, the more common Rhagium bifasciatum which has two yellow chevron marks on its wing cases.
Arthur Ewing
*RDB3: These are species defined as having small populations not at present endangered but considered to be at risk. Since 1970 they have been recorded in 15 or less 10 km squares in the UK.
Pages about beetles on this site
- Beetle Survey in Glen Affric 2004
- Beetle Survey in Glen Affric 2005
- Beetles occurring in Glen Affric
- Beetle Survey on Dundreggan in 2007-08
- Beetles occurring on the Dundreggan estate
- The Large Poplar Longhorn Beetle Saperda carcharias in the Scottish Highlands
- Byctiscus populi, a leaf rolling weevil dependent on Aspen
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