Bembidion tillyardi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bembidion tillyardi |
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| Conservation status | |
 Nationally Critical (NZ TCS) |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Bembidion
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| Species: |
tillyardi
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| Synonyms | |
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The Back Beach beetle (Bembidion tillyardi) is a tiny ground beetle that is in great danger of disappearing. It lives only in the wet sand of Back Beach, a small sandy area near Nelson, New Zealand. This beetle is considered "Nationally Critical," which means it is very close to extinction.
How the Back Beach Beetle Was Found
This special beetle was first described in 1927 by Albert E. Brookes. He studied beetles that were collected in 1925 at Tahuna Beach, near Nelson. The person who collected them was R. J. Tillyard, who was in charge of the Cawthron Institute. Brookes named the beetle Cillenum tillyardi to honor Tillyard. Later, its name changed a couple of times, and now it's known as Bembidion tillyardi.
What Does the Back Beach Beetle Look Like?
This small beetle cannot fly. It is about 4 millimeters (mm) long and 1.3 mm wide. That's roughly the size of a grain of rice! It lives in tiny burrows, about 1-2 mm wide, in sandy places where the high tide reaches. It likes sand that doesn't have too much mud.
Why the Back Beach Beetle Needs Our Help
The Back Beach beetle has only ever been found at Back Beach. This beach is a sandspit located behind Tahuna Beach in Nelson. The beach itself is not very old. It formed after 1875 when a local river changed its path. Over time, sand built up, and Back Beach appeared around 1914. For many years, people used the beach for fun activities, even car racing until the 1960s.
Today, the Back Beach beetle's home is shrinking. The main river channel in the area is slowly washing away parts of Back Beach. The beetle's habitat is also threatened by rising sea levels. Another big problem is fine mud and dirt settling on the sand. The beetle cannot live in sand that has too much of this fine sediment.
People using the beach for recreation also pose a threat. This is especially true for illegal off-road vehicles. These vehicles can damage the beetle's burrows and its sandy home. Because of these dangers, the Department of Conservation has given Bembidion tillyardi a "Nationally Critical" status. This means it is one of New Zealand's most endangered species. Efforts are being made to protect this unique little beetle and its special beach habitat.
