Abstract
Coccinella quinquepunctata (the five-spot ladybird), was considered extinct in the UK until 1987. Since this time the species is abundant, however, only in very specific habitat in Wales and Scotland. As a result, it is classified as (RDB3) Rare, mainly as a result of its preferred habitat; exposed riverine sediment. This habitat is in a constant state of alteration by natural and anthropogenic means with the quality of the habitat being degraded to the point that specialised invertebrate species, such as C. quinquepunctata, are at risk. In recent years, the rapid spread of the invasive alien Harmonia axyridis (harlequin ladybird) has been linked to a decline in native coccinellid numbers. There is concern that the narrow habitat requirements of C. quinquepunctata, together with the continuing spread of H. axyridis, will result in a decline in the abundance of C. quinquepunctata. Two habitat types (exposed riverine sediment and grassland adjacent to the ERS) along 12 Welsh rivers were surveyed for C. quinquepunctata, H. axyridis, and other coccinellids. When an individual coccinellid was recorded, so too was its elevation from the substrate. Plant species that C. quinquepunctata were observed on and vegetation density on the shingle were assessed in broad categories. Of all recorded coccinellids, 76% were C. quinquepunctata while 7% were H. axyridis. A third of the sites had no records of H. axyridis, while C. quinquepunctata was recorded at all sites. A significantly greater number of C. quinquepunctata were observed within 0.5 m of the exposed riverine sediment rather than higher up on the vegetation. Presence of the invasive plant Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) may have a negative effect on C. quinquepunctata, as it directly affects the vegetation growth on expose riverine sediment. These findings indicate that intraguild predation is unlikely to occur given the low abundance of H. axyridis in C. quinquepunctata habitat. However, the unstable nature of exposed riverine sediment, and a combination of threats from invasive alien species indicates that this species is still at risk of sudden decline and requires further monitoring and conservation efforts.
Highlights
Coccinella quinquepunctata Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a small conspicuous coccinellid, typically about 5 mm in length and red with black spots
The aim of this study was to discover more about the ecology of C. quinquepunctata and if this nationally rare species may be at risk from H. axyridis
Coccinella quinquepunctata was present at all sites, while H. axyridis was only recorded at 7 of the 12 sites surveyed and was only more abundant than C. quinquepunctata at one site (Figure 2)
Summary
Coccinella quinquepunctata Linnaeus (five-spot ladybird) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a small conspicuous coccinellid, typically about 5 mm in length and red with black spots. This species is not found in Ireland, whilst in the UK, C. quinquepunctata is only found in limited areas within restricted habitat of unstable river shingle, known as exposed riverine sediment (ERS), in Wales and Scotland (Roy et al, 2011). In Scotland, there were previous records of C. quinquepunctata in the early 1900s (Majerus and Fowles, 1988) and upon the rediscovery in Wales, surveys were subsequently undertaken at previously recorded sites on the River Spey in Scotland. Other sites of suitable habitat have been identified along the River Dee and surveys carried out resulting in further observations of this species in Scotland (Littlewood, 2015)
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