Rockface Beetle (Ochthebius poweri)
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: | Ochthebius poweri |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | Rye, 1869 |
| 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: | No |
| Justification: | Ochthebius poweri is a NERC Act S41 'species of principal importance' and was the subject of a UKBAP Species Action Plan. As a result of studies undertaken for the SAP, the distribution of O. poweri is now better understood than formerly. Recent surveys show it to be widespread in suitable habitat in SW England. |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | No |
| Justification: | A programme of research and survey has been completed so the ecology and distribution of O. poweri in England are now well understood. See: Bilton, D.T., Bratton, J.H., McCormack, S. & Foster, G.N. 2009. Ochthebius poweri Rye (Hydraenidae) in Britain and Ireland. The Coleopterist 18: 91-110. Ongoing casual monitoring is proportionate for this species. |
| 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: | N/A |
| Justification: |
Species Assessment
Not relevant as no Key Actions defined.
Key Actions
No Key Actions Defined
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.