Summary

A field survey of the Red-list Vulnerable rove beetle Lathrobium rufipenne (Gyllenhal, 1813) was conducted between 7^th June and 12^th August 2022 in order to ascertain its status and distribution in Cheshire.

A desk study identified four sites with previous records and 17 sites to be surveyed. This included one site thought most likely to support an extant population (Wybunbury Moss), sites with historical records and sites thought to have potential to support the species.

Target sites

All sites were visited at least once with the exception of Oak Mere, Brackenhurst Bog and Petty Pool (access couldn’t be arranged to the latter site and the former sites were considered to be too dry to support the target species). Some of the sites were visited on more than one occasion.

Lathrobium rufipenne was found at a total of four sites. It was reconfirmed from Wybunbury Moss, rediscovered at Shemmy Moss and recorded for the first time at Lily Pool and Black Lake. Adults of both sexes were found and on 25^th July teneral specimens of the beetle were found at Shemmy Moss, giving additional insight into the breeding cycle of the species. With this in mind it seems likely that the species breeds in the spring and will overwinter in the adult stage, a strategy outlined in Lott, (2003a).

Published March 2023