Rare Beetle Rediscovered in Dorset After Two Centuries

A species of beetle, recognized as one of Britain’s largest, has been discovered in Dorset, marking its first appearance in the county in over two centuries. The discovery of two great silver water beetles was made by a Bournemouth University student during his master’s degree research, which involved surveying animal and plant life within the Blackmore Vale. Wren Franklin verified his find with the county’s beetle recorder, who confirmed that the last documented observation of these beetles occurred in 1821, recorded by the notable entomologist JC Dale. Known as the UK’s heaviest beetle, the great silver water beetle is characterized as a gentle giant, not an aggressive predator, primarily consuming plant material as a scavenger. Mr Franklin stated, “It was a really exciting discovery. As soon as I found them, I knew I’d come across something special.” He further commented, “Great silver water beetles are often found in the Somerset Levels, so this begs the question: have they been hiding undetected in the Blackmore Vale for two centuries or have they recolonised recently whilst looking for new habitats? We’ll never know, but it is great to find them using newly-created wetland habitat.” These great silver water beetles have evolved to inhabit water and reed beds for the majority of their lives, though they are capable of flight between different water bodies. Mr Franklin emphasized the importance of observing wildlife, attributing numerous threats to biodiversity to human activity. He added, “People know about the threats faced by big animals in other parts of the world, but there are also loads of fascinating species in our own neighbourhoods which are equally imperilled.” For updates, BBC Dorset can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites and provides information on its approach to external linking.