The freshwater bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Cheshire

Jonathan Guest Germany.

The late Dr. Alan SavageSchool o f Life Sciences, Keele University, STS 5BG.

Dr. Ian WallaceEntomology 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 o f 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. <f Chesh. Em. Soc , 127(2003) II

Checklist and relative abundance of Cheshire water bugs

N A T IO N A L C H E S H IR E N A T IO N A L C H E S H IR ES T A T U S S T A T U S S T A T U S S T A T U S

Hebridae CorixidaeHebrus ruficeps Local Rare Micronecta power i Common Rare

Micronecta scholtzi Common RareHydrometridae Cymatia bonsdorjfii Local RareHydromelra slagnorum Common V. common Cymatia coleoplrata R. Notable Rare

Claenocorisa propinqua Local RareVeliidae Corixa dentipes Local RareMicrovelia reticulata Common Common Corixa panzeri Local ScarceVelia caprai Common V. common Corixa punctata Common V, common

Hesperocorixa caslanea Local ScarceG erridae Hesperocorixa linnaei Common CommonAquarius najas Common Doubtful Hesperocorixa moesta R. Notable RareGerris argeniatus Local Scarce Hesperocorixa sahtbergi Common V. commonGerris costai Common Scarce Arctocorisa germari Common ScarceGerris gibbi/er Common Rare Calticorixa praeusia Common CommonGerris lacustris Common V. common Callicorixa wollastoni Local RareGerris lateralis Local Scarce Sigara concinna Local LocalGerris odontogaster Common Common Sigara dislincia Common CommonGerris thoracicus Common Common Sigara dorsalis Common V. common

Sigara falleni Common V. commonNepidac Sigara fossarum Common LocalNepa cinerea Common V. common Sigara lateralis Common CommonRanatra linearis Local Rare Sigara limitata Local Local

Sigara nigrolineata Common CommonNaucoridae Sigara scolli Common ScarceUyocoris cimicoides Common Common Sigara semistriata Local Local

Sigara stagnalis Common ScarceApeheiocheiridae Sigara venusta Local RareAphelocheirus aestivalis Local Rare

Pleidae Additional species to look out for:

Plea minuiissima R. Notable LocalVeliidae i

Notonectidae Velia saulii CommonNotonecia glauca Common V. common CorixidaeNotonecta maculata Local Scarce Corixa affinis Local -Notonecta obliqua Common ScarceNotonecta viridis R. Notable Rare

J. Lancs. A Chesh. Fnt. Soc.. 127 (2003) 12

Distribution maps for Cheshire water bugs

Hebridae: Sphagnum BugsOne o f two British species

Hydrometridae: W ater MeasurersOne of two British species

Hebrus mficeps (Thom.), Sphagnum Bug: This tiny rare Cheshire bug is easily overlooked and is best recorded by squeezing Sphagnum. It can also be found by treading Sphagnum lawns and searching the surface o f the flooded footprint. Both these destructive methods should be used with great restraint.

Hydrometra stagnorum (L.), W ater M easurer:The edge o f water-bodies, o f all sizes and types, should be searched for this very common, thin, Cheshire bug as it makes its sedate escape walking delicately over the water surface.

Veliidae: W ater CricketsTwo of five British species

> ,• •

1 3 HK

r imm #

iff 9 •Microvelia reticulata (Bunn.), Lesser W ater Cricket: This very small black and white common bug hides amongst dense emergent vegetation o f ponds, lakes and ditches. It is often encountered by treading vegetation under­water and searching the water surface.

Velia caprai Tam., W ater Cricket: The surface of running water in ditches, streams and back eddy pools o f rivers should be investigated for this very common species which is also occasionally found in shady ponds. V. saulii Tam. has yet to be recorded but might occur on lakes or rivers.

J. Lcuks. i Chesh. EM. Sac.. 127 (2003) 13

Gerridae: PondskatersSeven of eight British species

Gerris costai (H.-S.)» Moorland Pondskater: Typically a species o f peat-pools and puddles on moorland. This rare species is thinly distributed in the Pennine foothills.

Aquarius najas (DeGecr), River Skater: One old record from Marple and recent records from the eastern hills are all within the range o f G. costai, our largest pondskater, so may be erroneous. The occurrence of A. najas in the county is not confirmed.

This smallest British pond skater is scarce in Cheshire and lives amongst reeds at the edge of lakes.

Gerris gibbifer Schum., Humped Pond-skater:There is only one recent site record for this acid pool species, which was found in pools on Lindow Common in July 1998.

Gerris iacustris (L.), Common Pondskater: This very common pondskater is found on still waters o f many sizes and slow-flowing parts of rivers and brooks.

Gerris lateralis Sebum., Swamp Pondskater: A bug o f small pools deep within carr woodland and or mosses. This scarce species is not often encountered.

J. Lcbks. <4 Chesh. Eni. Soc., 127 (2003) 14

Pondskater: Found on a variety o f still, clear waters this common species is often associated with C. lacuslris.

Gerris thoracicus Sebum., Yellow Pondskater:This large pondskater is commonly found on a variety o f eutrophic still waters. It is an early coloniser o f new ponds and, because it can tolerate slightly brackish conditions, is found in coastal ditches.

Nepidae: WaterscorpionsBoth British species are recorded

Nepa cinerea L„ W ater Scorpion: One of Britain's largest bugs. It lives at the edge of waterbodies in very shallow marginal vegetation.

Recorded for the first time in Cheshire from Mobberley in 2002 (Guest, 2003a). This is one of Britain's largest insects occurring in still waters.

J. Lancs. dChes/i.&il.Soc., 127(2003) 15

NaucoridaeOne British species

AphelocheiridaeOne British species

tlyocoris cinucoides (L.), Saucer Bug: This is a common species o f ponds and lakes. It can be confused with dytiscid water beetles and is a fast swimmer when adult.

first Cheshire record for this species was from a brook in Northwich (Guest, 2003b). It is a species of rivers and large streams and normally never comes to the surface to breathe.

Pleidae: Lesser BackswimmersOne 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 BackswimmersAll four British species

\\ • 4V i ‘ 1 • ,

>\ • /

Notonecta glauca L., Common Back- swimmer: This very common species is found in most permanent still waters as long as there is some open water.

Notonecta maculata Fab., Spotted Back- swimmer: A scarce species, this backswimmer likes bare water bodies such as newly-dug ponds, concrete reservoir tanks and garden ponds.

Notonecta viridis Delcourt, Small Back- swimmer: This rare species occurs on brackish coastal and inland saline waters in Cheshire and appears to be spreading.

Backswimmer: Typically an upland acid pool species, this scarce backswimmer also occurs at lower altitudes.

Corixidae: WaterboatmenTwenty six o f thirty three British species

Micronecta poweri (D. & S.), W ater Singer or a Least W aterboatman: This rare species requires clear ponds and lakes with a sandy bottom. Males stridulate hence the vernacular name.

Micronecta scholtzi (Fieber), a Least W ater Boatman: A rare Cheshire species preferring more eutrophic waters to M. poweri.

J. !.ancs. <S Chesh. Enl. Hoc., 127(2003) 17

\ >\ ■e

• • » ••

S i■*d=“

Cymatia bonsdorffii (Sahlber^). a Lesser W aterboatman: A rare species o f weedy ponds and lakes.

>V J" «

•

---Cymatia coleoptrata (Fab.), a Lesser W ater Boatman: A rare species o f weedy ponds and lakes.

, f'

\TA _ i

J*

»jU_ 5

•• •

s •' —

Glaenocorisa propinqua (Fieber), a Lesser Corixa dentipes (Thom.), a W ater 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.

s ' ci

\ V\\ r" 4r r

m-/

J .--j--

Corixa panzeri (Fieber), a W ater Boatman: This scarce species is found in the clear water o f lakes and newly dug ponds and can tolerate brackish water.

Corixa punctata (Illiger), Common W ater Boatman: A veiy common species occurring in a wide range of still waters.

J. Ixmcs. d Chesk Ent. &c.. 127(2003) 18

>

• 4— '

•

> • •

■ss

9 — 1 19 _

7 —

m ^ ctiHK 19 . J

r--'” - -

4Ft ■ ■ • i« •

, _i__T zz I

Hesperocorixa castanea (Thorn.)* a Lesser W ater Boatman: A scarce acidic water species with a preference for shallow habitat with emergent vegetation.

Hesperocorixa itnnaei (Fieber), a Lesser W ater Boatman: This is a common species of well- vegetated ponds and small lakes. It is uncommon in the meres.

Hesperocorixa moesta (Fieber), a Lesser W ater Boatman: A rare species found in shallow, often recently formed, ponds. It is mainly recorded from southern England.

Boatman: Occurring in a wide range o f water bodies but with a preference for lakes rather than ponds, this scarce species can be quite frequent where it is found.

Hesperocorixa sahlbergi (Fieber), a Lesser W ater Boatman: This very common species occurs in densely vegetated ponds and lakes, 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 W ater Boatman: A common species occurring in a wide range of water bodies.

J. Lancs. <6 ChesK Em. Soc.. 127(2003) 19

Callicorixa wollastoni (D. & S.)t a Lesser W ater Boatman: This rare species is found in small, acidic, usually upland waters in the far east of the county.

Sigara distincta (Fieber), a Lesser W ater Boatman: This is a common species o f still waters, especially larger ponds and lakes.

r

• - •A

1 1

. . • P___

-

1 •%

• ¥W 1T9 !•

y

Sigara concinna (Fieber), a Lesser W ater Boatman: An early coloniser, this local species is usually found in low numbers but is sometimes 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 dorsalis (Leach), a Lesser W ater Boatman: Britain's most widely distributed 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 W afer Boatman: This very common insect likes eutrophic, bare-bottomed. water bodies and is a very characteristic species o f the meres.

Boatman: A local species found in waters with a high inorganic nutrient level.

J. J m s . A Chesh. Km. Soc. 127 (2003) 20

Boatman: This common species is often the Boatman: A local species found in eutrophicmost abundant species in bare, newly-dug ponds,pools, especially those near the sea or with slight pollution.

J ,71

1—««. k i ¥

V 1—

Sigara nigrolineata (Fieber), a Lesser W ater Boatman: Found in small weedy pools, usually in small numbers amongst other species; its distribution extends to upland peaty pools.

Sigara semistriata (Fieber), a Lesser W ater Boatman: A local species most frequently found in small, nutrient deficient pools, but also in ditches.

>\

\ »«

Sigara scotti (D. & S.), a Lesser W ater Boatman: This scarce Cheshire species is frequently found elsewhere on acidic upland moorland pools. It has recently been recorded at Oakmere. Vagrants are recorded away from breeding sites.

Boatman: A scarce, brackish water coastal species that is also recorded from the saline waters o f inland Cheshire.

J. Lancs. & Chesk EnL Soc.. 127 (2003) 21

\

J

•' i r

s—^

• 1

>^_\ ■

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 o f the nymphs of British Gerris species (Hemiptera-Heteroptera). Proceedings o f the Royal Entomological Society o f 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 o f the Water Stick- insect Ranatra linearis (L.) (Heteroptera: Nepidae) from Cheshire. Annual Report & Proceedings o f 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 o f 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 o f 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 o f 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