Current status
Mire pill-beetle is confined to lowland floodplain raised mires. Bronze Age subfossils have been found at two of its current sites. It has thus survived during periods of flooding, rapid mire growth and drought, so it is likely to be able to find pockets of suitable habitat within a range of future mire-surface conditions. It prefers open damp, rather than dry or wet, peat, with abundant low-growing acrocarpous mosses, especially Dicranella cerviculata, D. heteromalla and Campylopus pyriformis.
The species was first found alive in Britain in 1977 and three sites are now known, all in the Humberhead Levels of South Yorkshire and north Lincolnshire. The two large sites, Thorne and Hatfield Moors, each support numerous small and fragmented populations. Removal or destruction of habitat for peat extraction has reduced the potential area of habitat for the species by 80% on Hatfield Moors and around 30% on Thorne Moors since 1970. A very small, isolated population was found at Haxey Grange Fen, about 5 km south of Hatfield Moors, but the area of suitable habitat is only a few square metres.
In Great Britain this species is classified as Endangered. It is protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with respect to disturbance or destruction of its habitat.
Current factors causing loss or decline
Drainage for peat extraction.
Drought and fire.
Shading by encroaching birch scrub and bracken.
Falling groundwater levels, due to land drainage and excessive water abstraction.
Current action
Populations on all three sites are contained within SSSIs. Thorne and Hatfield Moors are proposed SPAs, and c50% of Thorne Moors is a candidate SAC.
The majority of Thorne and Hatfield Moors is owned by NE. Part of these sites are managed as an NNR. The eastern part of Thorne Moors (Crowle Moors) is a Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve and a small area of Hatfield Moors is managed under a Section 39 agreement between Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, NE and the owners.
Action plan objectives and targets
Maintain populations on all known sites.
Enhance the population size at all known sites by 2010.
Restore populations to areas lost since 1970 by 2020.
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
Take account of the species' requirement in response to applications for water abstraction licences. (ACTION: EA)
Site safeguard and management
Where possible, ensure that all occupied habitat is appropriately managed by 2010. (ACTION: NE)
Ensure that the habitat requirements of the species are taken into account in relevant development policies, plans and proposals, including peat extraction. (ACTION: NE, LAs)
Ensure that the species is included in site management documents for all relevant SSSIs. (ACTION: NE)
Species management and protection
If necessary to restore populations lost since 1970, undertake habitat restoration and/or re-introductions at suitable former or potential sites. (ACTION: NE)
Advisory
Advise landowners and managers of the presence of the species and the importance of beneficial management for its conservation. (ACTION: NE)
Future Research and Monitoring
Undertake surveys to determine the status of this species. (ACTION: NE)
Conduct targeted autecological research to inform habitat management. (ACTION: NE)
Establish a regular monitoring programme for the species. (ACTION: NE)
Pass information gathered during survey and monitoring of this species to a central database for incorporation in national and international databases. (ACTION: NE)
Encourage research on the ecology and conservation of this species on an international level, and use the experience gained towards its conservation in the UK. (ACTION: NE, JNCC)
Communications and Publicity
Promote opportunities for the appreciation of mire pill-beetle and the conservation issues associated with its. This should be achieved through articles within appropriate journals, as well as by a publicity leaflet. (ACTION: NE)
Links with other action plans
None given.
Local implementation
The following LBAPs are working on Curimopsis nigrita:
Publication details
Originally published in: UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume IV: Invertebrates (March 1999, Tranche 2, Vol IV, p63)
Related links
ARKive Visit the ARKive website to view images and further information relating to this species