Kugelann's Ground Beetle Poecilus kugelanni is a rare Red Data Book 1 species in the United Kingdom with records from only 25 sites since the 1800s.
It has been targeted as a species for action within the Dartmoor Biodiversity Action Plan. A couple of years ago I saw a presentation on the species which included some habitat photos from the Dart Valley where there is a strong a well researched population.
The habitat looked very similar to habitat that the National Trust manages in the Teign Valley (heathland with small rocky granite outcrops) just below Castle Drogo. I surveyed the heathland below the Castle in May this year on three separate occasions and found Kugelann's Ground Beetle on each occasion in two different 10km squares (SX78 and SX79). The area had been surveyed historically but no Kugelann's Ground Beetles were found. The population is probably a strong one as the beetles was found within minutes of arrival on all three occasions. One specimen was found within the pellet of a kestrel.
The species’ identification was confirmed by John Walters who is a national expert on the species and has carried out extensive surveys for the species in southern Britain since 2001. John has kindly supplied the following account of the species in Britain today.
“Earliest record 1911 from Newquay, Cornwall. Its historic range covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Middlesex, Norfolk and Nottinghamshire, with a further record from south Wales. Between 1960 and 1990 it was recorded once from the New Forest in 1970. Its status as RDB1 is a result of this lack of records but as a result of recent surveys it will probably change to RDB2. The survey work is based a study initiated as part of English Nature’s Scarce Ground Beetle Project between 2001 and 2007. As a result of these studies and other recent discoveries the beetle is currently known from 13 sites. Its present day range covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire and Norfolk.”
It is always pleasing to find rare species in new location. During 2009 I will try and establish whether the species occurs on heathland further down the Teign Valley. This discovery is timely as it adds weight to our desire within the Dartmoor team to manage the areas of open heath and stop any further invasion of the heath by gorse and birch. This work will be funded by Natural England under an ESA capital project.
It has been targeted as a species for action within the Dartmoor Biodiversity Action Plan. A couple of years ago I saw a presentation on the species which included some habitat photos from the Dart Valley where there is a strong a well researched population.
The habitat looked very similar to habitat that the National Trust manages in the Teign Valley (heathland with small rocky granite outcrops) just below Castle Drogo. I surveyed the heathland below the Castle in May this year on three separate occasions and found Kugelann's Ground Beetle on each occasion in two different 10km squares (SX78 and SX79). The area had been surveyed historically but no Kugelann's Ground Beetles were found. The population is probably a strong one as the beetles was found within minutes of arrival on all three occasions. One specimen was found within the pellet of a kestrel.
The species’ identification was confirmed by John Walters who is a national expert on the species and has carried out extensive surveys for the species in southern Britain since 2001. John has kindly supplied the following account of the species in Britain today.
“Earliest record 1911 from Newquay, Cornwall. Its historic range covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Middlesex, Norfolk and Nottinghamshire, with a further record from south Wales. Between 1960 and 1990 it was recorded once from the New Forest in 1970. Its status as RDB1 is a result of this lack of records but as a result of recent surveys it will probably change to RDB2. The survey work is based a study initiated as part of English Nature’s Scarce Ground Beetle Project between 2001 and 2007. As a result of these studies and other recent discoveries the beetle is currently known from 13 sites. Its present day range covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire and Norfolk.”
It is always pleasing to find rare species in new location. During 2009 I will try and establish whether the species occurs on heathland further down the Teign Valley. This discovery is timely as it adds weight to our desire within the Dartmoor team to manage the areas of open heath and stop any further invasion of the heath by gorse and birch. This work will be funded by Natural England under an ESA capital project.
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