Blue gem
Two new populations of one of Britain’s rarest beetles have been discovered in Devon. The blue ground beetle, Carabus intricatus, has been found at two new sites on Dartmoor. Buglife’s Laura Larkin says, “Previously, the blue ground beetle was only known from 13 sites in Devon, Cornwall and South Wales, so these new sightings are significant.”
Mix and match
A long-term study by Cardiff University’s Otter Project has revealed that otter populations have yet to reconnect at the genetic level, despite strong recovery in population size. “Understanding why this has happened and what limitations may affect genetic mixing is crucial,” says lead author Nia Thomas. A lack of genetic diversity in the UK population leaves otters vulnerable to disease.