Agabus labiatus
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Invertebrate > insect - beetle (Coleoptera) > Water beetle |
| Red List Status: | Near Threatened (Not Relevant) [NT(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | Included in the baseline Red List Index for England (Wilkins, Wilson & Brown, 2022) |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Agabus labiatus |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | (Brahm, 1790) |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | Foster, 2010 |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | While A. labiatus still has a relatively wide geographical range in GB, extensive losses in England have been indicated (Foster et al, 2016), including in well-worked areas such as the North-east, the Fens & Home Counties. Its habitat is seasonal pool systems in fens, heaths and commons. This remains a Cinderella habitat, often overlooked, even on protected sites. It is at risk both from climate change (potentially resulting in premature drying-out) and from modification of pool systems for the perceived benefit of amphibians or Odonata. While this species may occasionally disperse by flight, this is probably rare and it is unlikely to recolonise sites naturally once lost. |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | A high proportion of A. labiatus populations are on protected sites, including land owned and managed by public bodies (e.g. Defence Estates, Forestry Commission) or conservation organisations. Better recognition of the needs of this species and other biota dependent on seasonal pool systems could, at least, reduce risks of accidental losses. |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | No |
| Justification: | This is a very localised and probably sedentary species, so untargeted habitat management is unlikely to be beneficial. There is a danger that generic pond management/restoration prescriptions could result in further loss of populations and fragmentation of its distribution. |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 4. Autecology and pressures understood |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Unknown |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Opportunistic - insufficient |
| Species Comments: | Ad hoc recording as part of GB water beetle recording scheme (Balfour-Browne Club/Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust) |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Re-survey former (pre-2000) sites to better understand the extent and drivers of decline of this formerly widespread species.
Action targets: 3. National Monitoring Plan agreed and implemented
Action type: Status survey/review
Duration: 2 years
Scale of Implementation: Unknown
High priority sites: Historic records extend from Cornwall to the Scottish border, with around 38 pre-1980 hectads. Some sites can be scoped-out, e.g. based on findings of County atlases or where habitat no longer exists.
Comments: Survey work would be best co-ordinated with the Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust and might be at least partly carried out by volunteers.
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Based on updated survey information, advise site managers on the presence and requirements of this species in consideration of SSSI, nature reserve management, and other land management, especially pond restoration and water level control. Consider options for listing this species as a site 'feature' (e.g. review of SSSI citations).
Action targets: 5. Remedial action identified
Action type: Advice & support
Duration: 2 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites: All protected sites identified as supporting A. labiatus, based on updated survey information.
Comments:
Key Action 3
Proposed Action: Raise awareness of the importance of seasonal pool systems at all extant sites for this species and carry out training of relevant staff. This should emphasise 1) the need to avoid making seasonal water bodies permanent (but have a strategy to mitigate persistent drying-out), 2) avoidance of fish introduction, and 3) the need for invertebrate surveys where major works are proposed. This is relevant to many at-risk water beetles, and other taxa e.g. Fairy Shrimp, Slender Pond-snail.
Action targets: 5. Remedial action identified
Action type: Education/awareness raising
Duration: 6-10 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites: Roll-out nationally
Comments:
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.