APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

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Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
Heterocerus fenestratus
- dorsal view on mud 1

Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
Heterocerus fenestratus
- dorsal view 1

Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
Heterocerus fenestratus
- ventral view 1

Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
Heterocerus fenestratus
- with 0.1mm division rule 1

Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
Heterocerus fenestratus
- femur 1

Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
Heterocerus fenestratus
- elytron 1

Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
Heterocerus fenestratus
- habitat / holes in mud bank 1

Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
Heterocerus fenestratus
- habitat 1

Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
Heterocerus fenestratus
- habitat 2

Variegated Mud-loving Beetle
Heterocerus fenestratus
- habitat / location 1

A number of specimens were found near its burrow on saltmarsh, on the uppershore of the Skern, Northam Burrows Country Park, Westward Ho!, Devon, 12.04.17.

This beetle appears to be able to live a fully marine lifestyle and be able to survive high salinity levels. It was seen living below the high tide line and survives by trapping air in its burrows for use when the tide comes in.

Variegated Mud-loving Beetle is a group name used on Bug Guide a US based website.

A big thank you to Dr. Paul Gainey for confirming the species.

The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help

people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.