Extinct

This species is considered to be extinct in Greater Lincolnshire.

Key action species

This species has been identified in the Threatened Species Recovery Actions - 2025 Baseline, published by Natural England, as having key actions which can help recover populations or prevent further loss.

View actions

Helochares obscurus

(Müller, O.F., 1776)

National assessment

Unassessed

Local assessment

Extinct

Associated assemblage

reed-fen 107 other species in this assemblage

Statistics

Occurrences

0 since 2000 1 all time

Occupied 1 km squares

0 since 2000 0 all time

Earliest occurrence

–

Latest occurrence

–

Distribution

Show larger map

Something missing?

If you've seen this species and want to report a sighting, head over to iRecord. If you're able to provide more context on the status in Greater Lincolnshire, habitat requirements or other information get in touch.

Occurrence since 1950

{ "type": "area", "time": null, "labels": null, "marker": null, "xtitle": null, "ytitle": null, "ztitle": null, "xticks": 12, "yticks": null, "ystep": 1, "xmin": null, "ymin": null, "xmax": null, "ymax": null, "toolbar": "true", "logarithmic": null, "horizontal": null, "stacked": null, "height": 250, "colors": ["teal"], "points": [["Occurrences","1950",0],["Occurrences","1951",0],["Occurrences","1952",0],["Occurrences","1953",0],["Occurrences","1954",0],["Occurrences","1955",0],["Occurrences","1956",0],["Occurrences","1957",0],["Occurrences","1958",0],["Occurrences","1959",0],["Occurrences","1960",0],["Occurrences","1961",0],["Occurrences","1962",0],["Occurrences","1963",0],["Occurrences","1964",0],["Occurrences","1965",0],["Occurrences","1966",0],["Occurrences","1967",0],["Occurrences","1968",0],["Occurrences","1969",0],["Occurrences","1970",0],["Occurrences","1971",0],["Occurrences","1972",0],["Occurrences","1973",0],["Occurrences","1974",0],["Occurrences","1975",0],["Occurrences","1976",0],["Occurrences","1977",0],["Occurrences","1978",0],["Occurrences","1979",0],["Occurrences","1980",0],["Occurrences","1981",0],["Occurrences","1982",0],["Occurrences","1983",0],["Occurrences","1984",0],["Occurrences","1985",0],["Occurrences","1986",0],["Occurrences","1987",0],["Occurrences","1988",0],["Occurrences","1989",0],["Occurrences","1990",0],["Occurrences","1991",0],["Occurrences","1992",0],["Occurrences","1993",0],["Occurrences","1994",0],["Occurrences","1995",0],["Occurrences","1996",0],["Occurrences","1997",0],["Occurrences","1998",0],["Occurrences","1999",0],["Occurrences","2000",0],["Occurrences","2001",0],["Occurrences","2002",0],["Occurrences","2003",0],["Occurrences","2004",0],["Occurrences","2005",0],["Occurrences","2006",0],["Occurrences","2007",0],["Occurrences","2008",0],["Occurrences","2009",0],["Occurrences","2010",0],["Occurrences","2011",0],["Occurrences","2012",0],["Occurrences","2013",0],["Occurrences","2014",0],["Occurrences","2015",0],["Occurrences","2016",0],["Occurrences","2017",0],["Occurrences","2018",0],["Occurrences","2019",0],["Occurrences","2020",0],["Occurrences","2021",0],["Occurrences","2022",0],["Occurrences","2023",0],["Occurrences","2024",0],["Occurrences","2025",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1950",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1951",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1952",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1953",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1954",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1955",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1956",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1957",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1958",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1959",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1960",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1961",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1962",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1963",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1964",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1965",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1966",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1967",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1968",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1969",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1970",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1971",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1972",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1973",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1974",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1975",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1976",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1977",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1978",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1979",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1980",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1981",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1982",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1983",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1984",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1985",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1986",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1987",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1988",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1989",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1990",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1991",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1992",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1993",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1994",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1995",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1996",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1997",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1998",0],["Occupied 1km squares","1999",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2000",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2001",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2002",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2003",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2004",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2005",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2006",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2007",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2008",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2009",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2010",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2011",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2012",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2013",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2014",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2015",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2016",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2017",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2018",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2019",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2020",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2021",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2022",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2023",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2024",0],["Occupied 1km squares","2025",0]] }

This chart should not be relied upon for an indication of species status as variations in recording effort can heavily affect the count of occurrences and occupied 1km squares.

Threatened species recovery actions

Actions from Threatened Species Recovery Actions 2025 Baseline published by Natural England.

Advice & support

Advise site managers on the presence and requirements of this species in consideration of SSSI, nature reserve management, and other land management, especially pond restoration and water level control. Consider opportunities for listing this species as a site 'feature' (e.g. review of SSSI citations).

Scientific research

Undertake a review of this species and other water beetles dependent on relict-fens in order to promote better understanding of their conservation requirements. Helochares obscurus belongs to a suite of water beetles closely associated with remnant fens; others include Agabus striolatus, Dryops anglicanus, D. auriculatus, D. griseus, Hydrochus brevis, H. ignicollis, H. megaphallus, Hydroporus elongatulus, H. glabriusculus, H. scalesianus, Laccornis oblongus and Limnebius aluta.

Status survey/review

Determine population status and trend in England through a programme of survey work covering both known and potential sites.

References

Webb, J., Heaver, D., Lott, D., Dean, H.J., van Breda, J., Curson, J., Harvey, M.C., Gurney, M., Roy, D.B., van Breda, A., Drake, M., Alexander, K.N.A. and Foster, G. (2017). Pantheon. [online] Available at: http://www.brc.ac.uk [05/02/2025].

Wilkins, T.C., Baker, T.G, Hipperson-Jervis, C. and Thompson, M. (2025). Threatened Species Recovery Actions 2025 Baseline Version 1.1 - Spreadsheet. Joint Publication JP065. Natural England and partners, UK. https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6106216194113536

Data sources

Local species recorders

Cite this page

GLNP (2025). Helochares obscurus (Müller, O.F., 1776) species profile, in Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (ed.) Greater Lincolnshire species data bank. Available at: http://glincsson.glnp.org.uk/view?taxon_list_item_key=NBNORG0000088338 (Accessed 08 November 2025).