About Hydrochara caraboides (Linnaeus, 1758)
This species, Hydrochara caraboides, is a beetle that reaches approximately 15 millimetres (0.6 inches) in length. Despite its common name references a silver appearance, the beetle itself is actually solid black. It breathes while underwater by trapping air in hairs on the underside of its body; the resulting silver-colored air bubble is the source of the species common name. Hydrochara caraboides has a broad distribution across the whole of Europe. In the United Kingdom, it is limited to only three areas: the Somerset Levels, Cheshire, and north-east Wales. This beetle is classified as an endangered species, and receives legal protection under Schedule 5 of the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The species northern population cluster is currently made up of around 45 breeding pools, several of which are ditches. Most of these breeding sites have a central floating raft of densely interwoven vegetation, plus an area of shallow open water that holds scattered patches of emergent vegetation. Cattle poaching is considered a critically important factor for allowing this beetle to breed successfully at these water bodies.
