Rhynchites auratus (Scopoli, 1763) (Coleoptera, Rhynchitidae) new to Suffolk
This relatively large and strikingly coloured weevil (see Cover) was, historically, always a great rarity in Britain. It was seemingly only known from the surroundings of Crayford, West Kent, where it was last recorded in 1839. By the twentieth Century it was believed long-extinct in this country. However, in 2005 it was re-discovered, but in north-east Essex (Cuming, 2006), a quite remarkable discovery given its previous known distribution. Subsequent survey work by Nigel Cuming and, more recently, the author revealed that it was not hard to find in the right habitat conditions between Colchester and Maldon. In 2022, the author discovered the weevil inhabiting Blackthorn scrub on the seawall at Little Oakley, just south of Harwich in the far north -east of Essex. This discovery, many miles from its known range, triggered debate about just how far the weevil had spread (although its point of origin is a matter of uncertainty) and whether or not it had reached Suffolk.
The larvae of this weevil develop within the stones of Blackthorn sloes, with mature, woody growth in full sunlight seemingly the best place to find them (Cuming, pers. comm.). Adults can be readily beaten from suitable sloe-bearing branches between early April and early July. During the early summer of 2023, the author was assisted by Annie Northfield, Bob Seago and Charlotte Smith in undertaking surveys to the north and east of Colchester and into south-east Suffolk.
On 24 May 2023, the author was walking from East Bergholt to Flatford Mill in the Stour Valley, hoping to survey the numerous Blackthorn hedges known to be present on the National Trust land at Flatford. A speculative beat of roadside Blackthorn halfway there struck success before Flatford had been reached, thereby adding this species to the Suffolk list. During the day, several more R. auratus were found in hedgerows at Valley Farm to the east of Flatford Mill. Suitably encouraged, on 21 June, the author visited the Suffolk Wildlife Trust Spouse’s Vale nature reserve between Leavenheath and Bures. Within a few minutes, specimens were beaten from old hedges surrounding the ‘Kingsland’ field. These became the most northerly British record for the species. Despite numerous attempts, it was not found around Capel St Mary, where the author lives.
Given the relative ease with which it can be found on suitable Blackthorn around Colchester, it seems unlikely that the Essex population is a long-standing, but undiscovered population, even taking into account the apparent reluctance of Coleopterists to go round beating Blackthorn bushes once it has finished flowering (Mark Telfer, pers. comm.). How it came to recolonise these shores is likely to remain a mystery. What seems certain is that this beetle is now spreading in Britain and so might be encountered elsewhere in Suffolk in the years to come.
References
Cuming, N. (2006). The discovery of Rhynchites auratus (Scopoli) (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae), a species new to Essex, and previously considered extinct in Britain. Essex Naturalist 23 (New Series): 36–37.
Adrian Knowles
Jessups Cottage, London Road, Capel St Mary, IP9 2JR
