A student discovered two great silver water beetles - one of largest domestic species of the insects

One of Britain’s largest species of beetle has been found in Dorset for the first time in more than 200 years.

A Bournemouth University student discovered two great silver water beetles while surveying animal and plant life in the Blackmore Vale as part of his master’s degree.

Wren Franklin checked his discovery with the county’s recorder for beetles, who confirmed the last recorded sighting of them was in 1821 by influential entomologist JC Dale.

  • zante@slrpnk.netEnglish
    4·
    11 hours ago

    Have to admire the patience of a man who looks for something for 200 years.

    If I can’t find something after 5 minutes I start shouting at people.

    • GreyShuckOPMEnglish
      2·
      8 hours ago

      Their body is very reflective and can often appear silvery when in the water, but, more significantly, the beetles have pockets of air trapped underneath, which you can see here - definitely silver in appearance.