Gloucestershire Centre for Environmental Records (GCER), hosted by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, is using the discovery to emphasise the importance of wildlife recording in understanding how species are shifting and responding to environmental change. 

Tina Bouttle, Environmental Records Officer at GCER says “the great silver water beetle’s conservation status is listed as near threatened. 

“These are both significant records as it shows this species is on the move having only previously been recorded on the somerset level and in the east of England.” 

Despite its name, the great silver water beetle looks black. However, when in water, it holds a film of air against its belly which lends it a silvery sheen. The beetle lives underwater, in ditches and pools, going up for air occasionally to top up the oxygen supply stored in the bubble around its body.  

Like many other beetles, it is a strong flier and gets attracted by moth traps.  This is where both Gordon and Bill found the beetles, as part of their respective routine monitoring of moth numbers in West Gloucestershire.  

A great silver water beetle was also this year recorded in Norfolk for the first time, with experts believing the species may be gradually expanding westward. The reasons behind this movement remain unclear and could provide an important avenue for future research. 

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and GCER are encouraging members of the public to continue submitting wildlife records to help build a clearer picture of the county’s biodiversity. They are particularly encouraging people to look closely at their moth traps.  

Even if people are unsure what they have spotted, photographs can often help experts identify species and track changes in wildlife populations. These records play a vital role in strengthening understanding of Gloucestershire’s natural environment and informing evidence-led conservation work to restore habitats and reverse species declines. 

The discovery also highlights the importance of landscape-scale conservation and habitat recovery projects, including Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s Mission Wild initiative, which is working to restore nature across the county and create a more resilient landscape for wildlife. 

To submit your wildlife recordings, head to: www.gcer.co.uk

To find out more about Mission Wild, head to: www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/MissionWild