Water Beetles in Worcestershire

By Garth Foster

Don Goddard’s sudden death has thrown a shadow over recording effort in Worcestershire. All is not lost in that Don was in regular contact with me and had supplied many records with voucher specimens for use in the National Water Beetle Recording Scheme. It is very sad that he was unable to achieve his aim of producing an atlas for Worcestershire but I hope by this note to enthuse others to take over. The current data-base insofar as I know it is small for Worcestershire, 703 records for 150 species (see later - Ed). Don contributed 296 of these records.

There is always a debate as to what constitutes a water beetle. With the well known diving beetles (Dytiscidae) and whirligigs (Gyrinidae) there isn’t a problem, but one section of the Hydrophilidae comprises species mainly found in dung, and we record them as honorary water beetles to make sure that someone is looking after their interests. Conversely, a few plant-feeding species of weevil (Curculionidae) and the reed beetles (Chrysomelidae: Donaciinae) are also part of the wetland scene. Worcestershire also have some interesting fossil records, doubtless because of the one-time proximity of Professors Shotton and Coope from the University of Birmingham. Indeed Upton Warren, which was the basis of Don Goddard’s last note in Worcestershire Record (No 8 April 2000 pages 28-30), is famed for its interglacial fossil history.

The species include some rare and endangered species: one Red Data Book 2 species Normandia nitens, three RDB3 species, five Na and 41 Nb species. The most important site is the River Teme, with its rare riffle or elmid beetles (the Normandia, plus Macronychus quadrituberculatus and Oulimnius major, the last species being first discovered in Britain at Bransford Bridge). It shares the first two of these elmids with the River Wye, but is clearly the more important river on the basis of the rare Hydraena species that also occur. Other important sites include the Wyre Forest, but there are doubtless still more good quality sites to be found. Don found several salt-loving species at Upton Warren, and I show the map of Enochrus bicolor to demonstrate just how weird the Worcestershire find is.

You don’t have to be an expert or a millionaire to survey water beetles, though it helps to be shortsighted! Some of the smallest species are the most interesting and you can often pick them out of the water with a tea strainer if you don’t have a pond net. I shall gladly identify material for anyone in Worcestershire so long as it is accompanied by enough locality data to access it in RECORDER (minimum: site name, grid reference, date, recorder). I try to give a return post service with feedback on any rarer species found. Water beetles should be preserved in 70% industrial methylated spirit without glycerine.

[Prof Foster kindly sent us a list of water beetles and hon. water beetle species included in the National Recording Scheme. Using this Martyn Hodgson extracted all the water beetle records currently held in the Worcs BRC. These were sent to Prof Foster who combined them with the records he already held for Worcestershire, and sent us a complete list. This has slightly improved Worcestershire’s standing in the water beetle world! Part of his comment on the full list is given below together with a list of records from the River Teme].

There are now ca 1,070 records in the scheme for Worcestershire, a healthy improvement thanks to the additional records you sent. Looking at the statuses of the species you don’t need to be a genius to see how important the Teme at Bransford Bridge is in terms of the local biodiversity, but I would rate the Teme the best river in Britain

Table shows records of water beetles records from the River Teme up to October 2000

Elmis aeneaRiver Teme, AlfrickSO74451327-Oct-81Goddard, Dr D.G.
Limnius volckmariRiver Teme, AlfrickSO74451327-Oct-81Goddard, Dr D.G.
Anacaena globulusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Anacaena globulusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Mar-89Lott, Mr D.A.
Brychius elevatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Brychius elevatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Elmis aeneaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO785306-Jun-80Cooter, Mr J.
Elmis aeneaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Elmis aeneaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Elmis aeneaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795306-Jun-86Collier, Mr M.J.
Elmis aeneaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795303-May-90Lott, Mr D.A.
Elmis aeneaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Esolus parallelepipedusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Esolus parallelepipedusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Esolus parallelepipedusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Gyrinus urinatorNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Mar-89Lott, Mr D.A.
Haliplus fluviatilisRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Haliplus fluviatilisRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Haliplus fluviatilisRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795306-Jun-86Collier, Mr M.J.
Haliplus lineatocollisRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Helophorus arvernicusNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Helophorus brevipalpisRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO7953MAY 1980 -Cooter, Mr J.
Helophorus brevipalpisRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Helophorus brevipalpisRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795306-Jun-86Collier, Mr M.J.
Heterocerus marginatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805328-May-78Cooter, Mr J.
Heterocerus marginatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO79653214-May-98Lott, Mr D.A.
Hydraena minutissimaNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Hydraena minutissimaNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Hydraena minutissimaNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Hydraena nigritaNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Hydraena pulchellaRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Hydraena pulchellaRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Hydraena pulchellaRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO795306-Jun-86Collier, Mr M.J.
Hydraena pulchellaRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Hydraena ripariaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Hydraena ripariaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Hydraena ripariaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795306-Jun-86Collier, Mr M.J.
Hydraena rufipesNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795303-May-90Lott, Mr D.A.
Hydroporus palustrisRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Laccobius striatulusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Laccobius striatulusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Laccobius striatulusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795303-May-90Lott, Mr D.A.
Laccophilus hyalinusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795303-May-90Lott, Mr D.A.
Limnebius nitidusNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Limnebius truncatellusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Limnius volckmariRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Limnius volckmariRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Limnius volckmariRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795306-Jun-86Collier, Mr M.J.
Limnius volckmariRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Limnius volckmariRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO785306-Jun-80Cooter, Mr J.
Macronychus quadrituberculatusRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO785306-Jun-80Cooter, Mr J.
Macronychus quadrituberculatusRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Macronychus quadrituberculatusRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Macronychus quadrituberculatusRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO795306-Jun-86Collier, Mr M.J.
Macronychus quadrituberculatusRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO795303-May-90Lott, Mr D.A.
Macronychus quadrituberculatusRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Macronychus quadrituberculatusRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO805313-Sep-85Bilton, Dr D.T.
Macronychus quadrituberculatusRDB3River Teme, Bransford BriSO805306-Jun-80Cooter, Mr J.
Nebrioporus elegansRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Nebrioporus elegansRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795303-May-90Lott, Mr D.A.
Normandia nitensRDB2River Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Normandia nitensRDB2River Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Ochthebius bicolonNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Ochthebius minimusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Orectochilus villosusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO785306-Jun-80Cooter, Mr J.
Orectochilus villosusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Orectochilus villosusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Orectochilus villosusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805306-Jun-80Cooter, Mr J.
Oulimnius majorNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Oulimnius majorNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Oulimnius majorNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795306-Jun-86Collier, Mr M.J.
Oulimnius majorNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Oulimnius majorNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805313-Sep-85Bilton, Dr D.T.
Oulimnius troglodytesNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Oulimnius troglodytesNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Oulimnius tuberculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO7953MAY 1980 -Cooter, Mr J.
Oulimnius tuberculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Oulimnius tuberculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Oulimnius tuberculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795306-Jun-86Collier, Mr M.J.
Oulimnius tuberculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795303-May-90Lott, Mr D.A.
Oulimnius tuberculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Oulimnius tuberculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805313-Sep-85Bilton, Dr D.T.
Platambus maculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO785306-Jun-80Cooter, Mr J.
Platambus maculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Platambus maculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Platambus maculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Mar-89Lott, Mr D.A.
Platambus maculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795303-May-90Lott, Mr D.A.
Platambus maculatusRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Pomatinus substriatusNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805306-Jun-80Cooter, Mr J.
Pomatinus substriatusNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Pomatinus substriatusNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Pomatinus substriatusNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Mar-89Lott, Mr D.A.
Pomatinus substriatusNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Pomatinus substriatusNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO805313-Sep-85Bilton, Dr D.T.
Pomatinus substriatusNaRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO785306-Jun-80Cooter, Mr J.
Poophagus sisymbriiRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Riolus cupreusNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Riolus cupreusNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Riolus subviolaceusNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Riolus subviolaceusNbRiver Teme, Bransford BriSO795313-Sep-85Foster, Prof G.N.
Stictotarsus duodecimpustulatusNbRiver Teme, Brasford BriSO795329-Aug-80Foster, Prof G.N.
Helophorus brevipalpisRiver Teme, CotheridgeSO75-1970Foster, Prof G.N.
Orectochilus villosusRiver Teme, CotheridgeSO75-1970Foster, Prof G.N.
Elmis aeneaRiver Teme, Ham Bridge, KSO74460402-Jun-84Foster, Mr A.P.
Helophorus brevipalpisRiver Teme, Ham Bridge, KSO74460402-Jun-84Foster, Mr A.P.
Hydraena minutissimaNbRiver Teme, Ham Bridge, KSO74460402-Jun-84Foster, Mr A.P.
Laccobius striatulusRiver Teme, Ham Bridge, KSO74460402-Jun-84Foster, Mr A.P.
Nebrioporus elegansRiver Teme, Ham Bridge, KSO74460402-Jun-84Foster, Mr A.P.
Oulimnius tuberculatusRiver Teme, Ham Bridge, KSO74460402-Jun-84Foster, Mr A.P.
Georissus crenulatusNaRiver Teme, Meadow MillSO69167514-May-98Lott, Mr D.A.
Elmis aeneaRiver Teme, Stanford BridSO71465802-Jun-84Foster, Mr A.P.
Haliplus ruficollisRiver Teme, Stanford BridSO7146581925 - 1932Tottenham, Rev C.E.
Helophorus arvernicusNbRiver Teme, Stanford BridSO7146581925 - 1932Tottenham, Rev C.E.
Orectochilus villosusRiver Teme, Stanford BridSO7146581925 - 1932Tottenham, Rev C.E.
Oulimnius tuberculatusRiver Teme, Stanford BridSO71465802-Jun-84Foster, Mr A.P.
Platambus maculatusRiver Teme, Stanford BridSO71465812-Jun-25Tottenham, Rev C.E.
Stictotarsus duodecimpustulatusRiver Teme, Stanford BridSO7146581925 - 1932Tottenham, Rev C.E.

Editor's acknowledgements

Many thanks to Will Watson who followed up Don’s contact with Garth Foster. This led us into correspondence which has enabled us to up-date our records and to encourage water beetle recording. Also to Garth Foster for his time and help, and for offering to identify specimens. Harry Green.

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