Species

Species	Great silver beetle, Hydrophilus piceus, beetle
Habitat	COASTAL FLOODPLAIN AND GRAZING MARSH
Background and status	Great silver water beetles exist in the ditches and rhynes of freshwater grazing marshes. They only tolerate still and standing water. The Somerset Levels and Moors are a major stronghold. The beetle is also known from the Pevensey Levels and parts of East Anglia. It is very restricted within southern England to grazing marsh complexes. The beetle is estimated to exist in less than fifteen 10km squares in Great Britain post 1970 and is thought to have suffered a 25 - 49% decline in the last 25 years in Great Britain.
Main Threats	Eutrophication of ditches and rhynes in which it lives largely through pollution from agricultural run-off. Inappropriate ditch management. Loss of ditches through, in particular, agricultural intensification.
Conservation and targets	Better protection of floodplain and grazing marshes will benefit this species, though there are no specific targets set.