The freshwater bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Cheshire
Jonathan Guest Germany. The late Dr. Alan Savage School of Life Sciences, Keele University, STS 5BG. Dr. Ian Wallace Entomology Section, Liverpool Museum, William Brown St., Liverpool, L3 8EN.* ______*address for correspondence______
Introduction
Cheshire is predominantly a lowland county. It has a very large number of ponds, internationally important habitats in the form of meres and mosses, intriguing inland saline waters associated with the salt industry and two major estuaries. Upland water bodies are restricted to the far east of the county.
Eleven families of British Heteroptera are grouped as aquatic bugs with 64 species in 23 genera; Cheshire is both well-recorded and well-represented with 10 families, and 48 species in 21 genera. By stark contrast, the record coverage maps in Huxley (2003) show clearly that Lancashire, away from the coast, and especially south Lancashire, is very poorly recorded.
Water bugs are very familiar freshwater insects, with most species being easy to catch in a pond-net; a few are best sought by pressing marginal vegetation underwater, and one lives amongst Sphagnum moss. They can be preserved in isopropyl alcohol, or a 70% ethyl alcohol solution - the traditional medium used by freshwater biologists, or pinned, or even carded - but important identification features are found on the underside in several genera.
Identification is straightforward and satisfying using Savage (1989) for adults; for immatures of the large family Corixidae see Savage (1999) and for young pondskaters there is Brinkhurst (1959).
Information sources
Britten (1930) provided the first check-list for Cheshire water bugs, which was updated by Massee (1955) and Judd (1990). The Pond Life Project (2000) listed bugs found in 497 Cheshire and Wirral ponds; J. Guest has continued survey work and has now sampled over 1,100 water bodies in the county. A national distribution atlas has been published by Huxley (2003) and this work
J . Lancs, ct Che-ih. Em. Sac.. 127(2003) 10 draws heavily upon Cheshire data supplied by that author. Savage & Pratt (1976) produced a paper covering the water boatmen of the Cheshire meres, and A. Savage has also sampled extensively in the county. Distributional and ecological information on a national basis is summarised in Savage (1989 &. 1999) and Huxley (2003). Southwood & Lesion (1959) and Macan (1965) also provide useful information about ecology and distribution. A new checklist has recently been produced by Brooke (2004).
The JNCC Recorder computer package provides a distribution summary and rarity status for all British bugs on a national basis and this was up-dated in Pond Life Project (2000).
Status and distribution
The national status and a Cheshire status derived from Huxley (2003) and the surveys of J. Guest, is tabulated. Cheshire status categories are based on records from ca. 1,200 ponds and 100 other sites. It is hoped that these will further refine site assessments in the county.
Rare - 1 to 5 sites Scarce - 6 to 15 sites Local - 16 to 30 sites Common - 30 to 100 sites Very common - over 100 sites
Maps showing the distribution of all 48 aquatic Heteroptera species recorded from Cheshire are presented together with individual species accounts. Large circles represent post-1990 records and small circles represent records between 1950 and 1990. Pre-1950 records are not included in these maps but will be incorporated in an anticipated future atlas of Cheshire freshwater invertebrates.
Nomenclature follows Brooke (2004), vernacular names are from Pond Life Project (2000) and Huxley (2003) and the maps are arranged in the same sequence as Huxley (2003).
J . Ijm cs. NATIONALCHESHIRE NATIONALCHESHIRE STATUS STATUS STATUSSTATUS Hebridae Corixidae Hebrus ruficeps Local Rare Micronecta power i Common Rare Micronecta scholtzi Common Rare Hydrometridae Cymatia bonsdorjfii Local Rare Hydromelra slagnorum Common V. common Cymatia coleoplrata R. Notable Rare Claenocorisa propinqua Local Rare Veliidae Corixa dentipes Local Rare Microvelia reticulata Common Common Corixa panzeri Local Scarce Velia caprai Common V. common Corixa punctata Common V, common Hesperocorixa caslanea Local Scarce G erridae Hesperocorixa linnaei Common Common Aquarius najas Common Doubtful Hesperocorixa moesta R. Notable Rare Gerris argeniatus Local Scarce Hesperocorixa sahtbergi Common V. common Gerris costai Common Scarce Arctocorisa germari Common Scarce Gerris gibbi/er Common Rare Calticorixa praeusia Common Common Gerris lacustris Common V. common Callicorixa wollastoni Local Rare Gerris lateralis Local Scarce Sigara concinna Local Local Gerris odontogaster Common Common Sigara dislincia Common Common Gerris thoracicus Common Common Sigara dorsalis Common V. common Sigara falleni Common V. common Nepidac Sigara fossarum Common Local Nepa cinerea Common V. common Sigara lateralis Common Common Ranatra linearis Local Rare Sigara limitata Local Local Sigara nigrolineata Common Common Naucoridae Sigara scolli Common Scarce Uyocoris cimicoides Common Common Sigara semistriata Local Local Sigara stagnalis Common Scarce Apeheiocheiridae Sigara venusta Local Rare Aphelocheirus aestivalis Local Rare Additional species to look out for: Pleidae Plea minuiissima R. Notable Local Veliidae i Notonectidae Velia saulii Common Notonecia glauca Common V. common Corixidae Notonecta maculata Local Scarce Corixa affinis Local - Notonecta obliqua Common Scarce Notonecta viridis R. Notable Rare J. Lancs. A Chesh. Fnt. Soc.. 127 (2003) 12 Distribution maps for Cheshire water bugs Hebridae: Sphagnum Bugs Hydrometridae: Water Measurers One o f two British species One of two British species Hebrus mficeps (Thom.), Sphagnum Bug: Hydrometra stagnorum (L.), Water Measurer: This tiny rare Cheshire bug is easily overlooked The edge o f water-bodies, o f all sizes and types, and is best recorded by squeezing Sphagnum. It should be searched for this very common, thin, can also be found by treading Sphagnum lawns Cheshire bug as it makes its sedate escape and searching the surface of the flooded walking delicately over the water surface. footprint. Both these destructive methods should be used with great restraint. Veliidae: Water Crickets Two of five British species > , • • 1 3 rH i K mm # iff 9 • Microvelia reticulata (Bunn.), Lesser Water Velia caprai Tam., Water Cricket: The surface Cricket: This very small black and white of running water in ditches, streams and back common bug hides amongst dense emergent eddy pools o f rivers should be investigated for vegetation of ponds, lakes and ditches. It is this very common species which is also often encountered by treading vegetation under occasionally found in shady ponds. V. saulii Tam. water and searching the water surface. has yet to be recorded but might occur on lakes or rivers. J . Lcuks. i Chesh. EM. Sac.. 127 (2003) 13 Gerridae: Pondskaters Seven of eight British species Aquarius najas (DeGecr), River Skater: One old record from Marple and recent records from This smallest British pond skater is scarce in the eastern hills are all within the range o f G. Cheshire and lives amongst reeds at the edge of costai, our largest pondskater, so may be lakes. erroneous. The occurrence of A. najas in the county is not confirmed. Gerris costai (H.-S.)» Moorland Pondskater: Gerris gibbifer Schum., Humped Pond-skater: Typically a species of peat-pools and puddles There is only one recent site record for this acid on moorland. This rare species is thinly pool species, which was found in pools on distributed in the Pennine foothills. Lindow Common in July 1998. Gerris iacustris (L.), Common Pondskater: Gerris lateralis Sebum., Swamp Pondskater: A This very common pondskater is found on still bug o f small pools deep within carr woodland and waters of many sizes and slow-flowing parts of or mosses. This scarce species is not often rivers and brooks. encountered. J . Lcbks. <4 Chesh. Eni. Soc., 127 (2003) 14 Gerris thoracicus Sebum., Yellow Pondskater: Pondskater: Found on a variety o f still, clear This large pondskater is commonly found on a waters this common species is often associated variety o f eutrophic still waters. It is an early with C. lacuslris. coloniser of new ponds and, because it can tolerate slightly brackish conditions, is found in coastal ditches. Nepidae: Waterscorpions Both British species are recorded Nepa cinerea L„ Water Scorpion: One of Britain's largest bugs. It lives at the edge of Recorded for the first time in Cheshire from waterbodies in very shallow marginal Mobberley in 2002 (Guest, 2003a). This is one of vegetation. Britain's largest insects occurring in still waters. J. Lancs. dChes/i.&il.Soc., 127(2003) 15 Naucoridae Aphelocheiridae One British species One British species tlyocoris cinucoides (L.), Saucer Bug: This is a common species of ponds and lakes. It can be first Cheshire record for this species was from a confused with dytiscid water beetles and is a brook in Northwich (Guest, 2003b). It is a species fast swimmer when adult. of rivers and large streams and normally never comes to the surface to breathe. Pleidae: Lesser Backswimmers One British species Plea minutissima (FQssly), Lesser Back- swimmer: This is a local, lowland species. It favours well-lit eutrophic pools with plentiful submerged vegetation. J. Lancs, d Chesh Eni. Sac.. 127 (2003) 16 Notonectidae: Water-boatmen or Backswimmers All four British species \ \• V i ‘ 4 1 • , > \ • / Notonecta glauca L., Common Back- Notonecta maculata Fab., Spotted Back- swimmer: This very common species is found swimmer: A scarce species, this backswimmer in most permanent still waters as long as there likes bare water bodies such as newly-dug ponds, is some open water. concrete reservoir tanks and garden ponds. Notonecta viridis Delcourt, Small Back- swimmer: This rare species occurs on brackish Backswimmer: Typically an upland acid pool coastal and inland saline waters in Cheshire and species, this scarce backswimmer also occurs at appears to be spreading. lower altitudes. Corixidae: Waterboatmen Twenty six o f thirty three British species Micronecta poweri (D. & S.), W ater Singer or Micronecta scholtzi (Fieber), a Least Water a Least W aterboatman: This rare species Boatman: A rare Cheshire species preferring requires clear ponds and lakes with a sandy more eutrophic waters to M. poweri. bottom. Males stridulate hence the vernacular name. J. !.ancs. , f' \ T J* A _ i jU_ 5 » • • • s • ' — Glaenocorisa propinqua (Fieber), a Lesser Corixa dentipes (Thom.), a Water Boatman: A W ater Boatman: A rare, fast swimming bug, rare species occurring in low numbers in a range especially active at night and liking clear water of water bodies, without fish. i sV ' c \ rr\ \ r" 4 m- / J . --j-- Corixa panzeri (Fieber), a Water Boatman: Corixa punctata (Illiger), Common Water This scarce species is found in the clear water Boatman: A veiy common species occurring in a o f lakes and newly dug ponds and can tolerate wide range of still waters. brackish water. J . Ixm cs. d C h e sk Ent. &c.. 127(2003) 18 9 — 1 1 > 9 _m ^ c • 4 tiH .J —' • — 7 K 19 - • - > • 4 r--'” ■s i« s t ■ ■ • • T , _i__ F zz I Hesperocorixa castanea (Thorn.)* a Lesser Hesperocorixa itnnaei (Fieber), a Lesser Water W ater Boatman: A scarce acidic water species Boatman: This is a common species of well- with a preference for shallow habitat with vegetated ponds and small lakes. It is uncommon emergent vegetation. in the meres. Hesperocorixa moesta (Fieber), a Lesser Hesperocorixa sahlbergi (Fieber), a Lesser Water Boatman: A rare species found in Water Boatman: This very common species shallow, often recently formed, ponds. It is occurs in densely vegetated ponds and lakes, mainly recorded from southern England. which have a bed o f dead leaves or mud. In the meres it is confined to pools and ditches in the fringing Alder woods. Caliicorixa praeusta (Fieber), a Lesser Water Boatman: Occurring in a wide range of water Boatman: A common species occurring in a wide bodies but with a preference for lakes rather range of water bodies. than ponds, this scarce species can be quite frequent where it is found. J. Lancs. <6 ChesK Em. Soc.. 127(2003) 19 ^ ^ r 1 1 • - • - A ___ ..•P • ¥W 1T9 1 • !• y % Callicorixa wollastoni (D. & S.)t a Lesser Sigara concinna (Fieber), a Lesser Water W ater Boatman: This rare species is found in Boatman: An early coloniser, this local species is small, acidic, usually upland waters in the far usually found in low numbers but is sometimes east of the county. more abundant, especially in moderately saline waters where it can be the dominant species present. Cheshire is quite a stronghold nationally, for this species. Sigara distincta (Fieber), a Lesser Water Sigara dorsalis (Leach), a Lesser Water Boatman: This is a common species o f still Boatman: Britain's most widely distributed waters, especially larger ponds and lakes. corixid water bug is also very common in Cheshire, occurring in a wide range of still and slowly flowing waters. Sigara faUeni (Fieber), a Lesser Wafer Boatman: This very common insect likes Boatman: A local species found in waters with a eutrophic, bare-bottomed. water bodies and is a high inorganic nutrient level. very characteristic species o f the meres. J. Jm s. A Chesh. Km. Soc. 127 (2003) 20 Boatman: This common species is often the Boatman: A local species found in eutrophic most abundant species in bare, newly-dug ponds, pools, especially those near the sea or with slight pollution. > J ,71 \ — . k i \ » 1 «« ¥ « V 1— Sigara nigrolineata (Fieber), a Lesser Water Sigara scotti (D. & S.), a Lesser Water Boatman: Found in small weedy pools, usually Boatman: This scarce Cheshire species is in small numbers amongst other species; its frequently found elsewhere on acidic upland distribution extends to upland peaty pools. moorland pools. It has recently been recorded at Oakmere. Vagrants are recorded away from breeding sites. Sigara semistriata (Fieber), a Lesser Water Boatman: A local species most frequently Boatman: A scarce, brackish water coastal found in small, nutrient deficient pools, but also species that is also recorded from the saline in ditches. waters o f inland Cheshire. J. Lancs. & Chesk EnL Soc.. 127 (2003) 21 J ' i r \ • —^ 1 s • > ^_ \ \ ■ I l J - Sigara venusta (D. & S.), a Lesser W ater Boatman: A rare species occurring in small bare pools. Acknowledgements We thank: Thomas Huxley for providing Cheshire records from the British aquatic bugs database and Ken Allenby for his records. References: Brinkhurst, R.O. (1959). A description of the nymphs of British Gerris species (Hemiptera-Heteroptera). Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London, Series A, 34:130-136. Britten, H. in Lawson, A.K. (Ed.) (1930). Hemiptera - Heteroptera in A check list o f the fauna o f Lancashire and Cheshire. Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Committee, Part 1 ;66-70. T. Buncle, Arbroath, Scotland. Brooke, S. (2004). A checklist of British water bugs (Hemiptera- Heteroptera). Het News, Series 2, 3:8-10. Guest, J. (2003a). A first record of the Water Stick- insect Ranatra linearis (L.) (Heteroptera: Nepidae) from Cheshire. Annual Report & Proceedings of the Lancashire & Cheshire Entomological S o c i e t y , Guest, J. (2003b). The aquatic bug Aphelocheirus aestivalis (Fab.) (Heteroptera: Aphelocheirdae) in Cheshire. Annual Report & Proceedings o f the Lancashire &. Cheshire Entomological Socre/y, 124-126:36. Huxley, T (2003). Provisional atlas o f the British aquatic bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera). Biological Records Centre, Huntingdon. Judd, S. (1990). A checklist of the Lancashire and Cheshire Heteroptera. Annual report & Proceedings o f the Lancashire & Cheshire Entomological Society, 110:60-65. Macan, T.T. (1965). A revised key to the water bugs (Hemiptera-Heteroptera). Scientific Publication No 16. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside. Massee, A.M. (1955). The county distribution o f the British Heteroptera, 2“* edition. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 91:7-27. Pond Life Project (2000). A landscape worth saving. Final Report of the Pond Biodiversity Survey of North West England. Available from John Boothby, Pond Life Project, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool. Savage, A.A. (1989). Adults o f the British aquatic Hemiptera Heteroptera: a key with ecological notes. Scientific Publication No 50. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside. Savage, A.A. (1999). Keys to the larvae of British Corixidae. Scientific Publication No 57. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside. Savage, A.A. & Pratt, M.M. (1976). Corixidae (Water Boatmen) of the North-west Midland Meres. Field Studies, 4(3):465-476. Southwood, T.R.E. & Leston, D. (1959). Land and water bugs o f the British Isles. Wame & Co., London. J. Lancs. Chesh. Em . Soc., 127 (2003) 22 > ■e J" « \ V • • »• • • S i ■*d=“ --- Cymatia bonsdorffii (Sahlber^). a Lesser Cymatia coleoptrata (Fab.), a Lesser Water W aterboatman: A rare species o f weedy ponds Boatman: A rare species of weedy ponds and and lakes. lakes.