Anthicus scoticus Rye, 1872
Family: Anthicidae

This insect belongs to a genus of ant-like beetles which require warmth in their surroundings and in northern countries are restricted either to warm synanthropic (disturbed) sites such as compost heaps, or to bare sandy or gravelly water margins where the sun’s rays can generate suitable warmth in the soil. The present species, though locally common in central Europe, is rare and apparently in decline in the British Isles (Hyman and Parsons, 1994). In Ireland it has been recorded only on Lough Neagh and on the coast at Carlingford Lough.

In Britain it is entirely coastal but very rare, living in strandline refuse in salt-marshes. This species was formerly known as Anthicus scoticus Rye and as such would have had status as a British Isles endemic. It is now regarded as a form of the more widespread European species Anthicus flavipes (Chandler et al., 2004).

In brief

• In Ireland, seemingly restricted nowadays to Lough Neagh

• Formerly known from a coastal site on Carlingford Lough

• Favoured habitat: strand line refuse in sheltered salt marsh environments, or the drift line on Lough Neagh sandy beaches

• Best time to see it is on sunny days in May - June

• Rare and declining – stronghold both UK and Ireland

• Possibly threatened by changes in shoreline habitat around Lough Neagh but threats to coastal localities unknown.

Species description
Anthicus flavipes is a very small beetle (2.5mm), and has an ant-like shape as the name suggests. The body surface is dark but is covered with close-set grey hairs giving it a striking silvery or light grey appearance in life (Figure 1).

Life cycle
Adults are present only in the warmer months, May to September, although numbers decline from July onwards. Its breeding behaviour is unknown but it probably overwinters as larva or pupa to emerge as an adult in the spring. Mating takes place mainly in the months May-July.

Similar species
Three other ant-like beetles (Anthicidae) are reliably recorded from Ireland. Only Omonadus floralis (L.) is common and this is confined to compost heaps and disturbed warm places away from waterbodies. Omonadus floralis is reddish both on the thorax and the base of the elytra with the rest of the elytra being yellowish.

How to see this species
A visit to any of the larger Lough Neagh beaches in May-June (Figure 2) will enable this species to be seen. Choose a warm, sunny day as this is when they are most active. They may be seen running frenetically across hot, loose sand above the shoreline. They also spend time in the lines of wet detritus along the shoreline but are less easy to see. This is probably where they feed, on particles of decaying organic material. Relevant access permissions should always be sought prior to visiting any sites.

Current status
The range encases Lough Neagh and coastal sites in west Scotland, Cumbria and the Isle of Man. Most or all British records relate to salt-marshes and the Lough Neagh sites are unusual in being both sandy and inland. Johnson (1888, 1896) reported it twice from a beach at Greenore, County Louth, crawling on shingle, but these records have not been confirmed.

All other Irish sites are on Lough Neagh (Figure 2). Johnson & Halbert (1902) refer to a record of Claude Buckle for Shane’s Castle, without date, but probably made in 1901, and appear not to have seen the beetle on the Lough themselves. Anderson (1979) found it commonly on beaches at Moyola Waterfoot, County Londonderry. In 1996, a survey of Lough Neagh beaches uncovered a further 12 sites making 14 in all (Figure 2). Many of these are small and close together with, effectively, three discrete clusters: around Ballinderry Waterfoot; between Moyola Waterfoot and Toome and near Shane’s Castle.

Why is this species a priority in Northern Ireland?

• A rare and declining species – stronghold in both UK and Ireland

• In northern Britain, fresh populations are establishing along Channel coasts from the Continent. It is probably also in decline in Northern Ireland and certainly very vulnerable in its very isolated Lough Neagh sites. It is important in a British Isles context as it is in decline in northern areas.

Threats/Causes of decline
The cause of decline is unknown but fragmentation of habitat and increasing isolation of remnant populations is probably to blame. The dispersal characteristics of this species are unknown as also is the potential for genetic exchange between the colonies on Lough Neagh. However, the situation there looks more hopeful than that in northern Britain.

Conservation of this species

Current action

• Lough Neagh and Carlingford Lough are designated as ASSIs

• Surveys have been undertaken on sandy beaches at Lough Neagh

• Implementation of the NI HAP for Coastal Saltmarsh, and indirectly by Eutrophic Standing Waters.

Proposed objectives/actions

• Monitor Lough Neagh sites

• Survey suitable sites on the shoreline of Carlingford Lough to see if remnant populations exist there.

What you can do
This is a tiny species with specialised requirements but which is easy enough to observe on Lough Neagh. Elsewhere, information is urgently required on its status on marine coastlines, particularly where undisturbed, sheltered saltmarshes still exist. If you encounter something which suggests this species please note the precise locality and contact CEDaR at the National Museums Northern Ireland, 153 Bangor Road, Cultra, Co. Down, BT18 0EU, Tel: 028 9039 5256, cedar.info [at] nmni.com, or roy.anderson [at] ntlworld.com.

Further information

Links
http://www.coleopterist.org.uk/

Northern Ireland Habitat Action Plans

http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/area_interest_sitesview?SiteNo=ASSI030

http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/area_interest_sitesview?SiteNo=ASSI103

Literature
Anderson, R. (1979). The Coleoptera of a Lough Neagh sandy shoreline with recent records of Stenus palposus Zetterstedt (Staphylinidae) and Dyschirius obscurus Gyllenhal (Carabidae). Irish Naturalists’ Journal 19: 297-302.

Buck, F.D. (1954). Handbook for the identification of British Insects Vol. 5(9), Coleoptera (small families). Royal Entomological Society, London.

Chandler, G.S., Nardi, G. and Telnov, D. (2004). Nomenclatural notes on the Palaearctic Anthicidae (Coleoptera). Mitt. Internat. Entomol. Ver. 29(4): 109-173.

Janson, O.E. (1924). Coleoptera at Lough Neagh (Co. Antrim) and Newcastle (Co. Down). Irish Naturalist 33: 69-72.

Johnson, F.W. (1888). Coleoptera at Carlingford. Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine 25: 139-140.

Johnson, F.W. (1896). Entomological notes from the north of Ireland in 1895. Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine 32: 156.

Johnson, W.F. & Halbert, J.N. (1902). A list of the beetles of Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 6(3) : 535-827.

O’Mahony, E. (1951). An Irish record of Anthicus angustatus Curt. (Col., Anthicidae). Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine 87: 32.

Text written by:
Dr Roy Anderson

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