Epsilon Open Archive

Abstract

The blister beetle (Apalus bimaculatus, Coleoptera: Meloidae) is a beetle managed for conservation in Sweden. The species inhabits at-risk ephemeral and patchily distributed sandy habitats and are dependent on stable colonies of the bee species (Colletes cunicularius) on which it parasitizes. The beetle is not considered threatened at a global or European level. It has previously been categorized as Vulnerable (VU, 2000) and near threatened (NT, 2005 & 2010) in the Swedish National List, but are now considered as Least Concern (LC, 2015). The change in categorization is due to that more populations have been found, which is believed to be an effect of overlooked populations in the past. The species is still considered as declining in the country, due to a general decrease in area of suitable habitat e.g. from sandpits becoming overgrown after excavation has ceased, and when sand dunes and other sandy areas are used for human development. The beetle population in this project has until now inhabited a sandy area between pine-dominated forest and areas used for human activities. The site is in Uppsala, Sweden, and it is located in a part of the city previously little used for human development but where major building work is planned and ongoing.