One species of British Elaterid, Limoniscus violaceus (the Violet Click Beetle), is protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (WCA). The species was scheduled in 1998 and has since been added to the EU Habitats and Species Directive in Annexe 2a.
This designation within the WCA protects Limoniscus violaceus from-
Section 9.1 – intentional killing, injuring, taking
Section 9.2 – possession or control
Section 9.4a – damage to, destruction of, obstruction to access to any structure or place used for shelter or protection
Section 4b – disturbance when occupying such a place
Section 5a – selling, offering for sale, possessing or transporting for the purpose of sale
Section 5b – advertising for buying or selling
It’s designation under the EU Species and Habitats Directive ensures member states have an obligation to maintain, enhance and monitor their populations of the species through the network of Special Protection Areas (SAC’s).
The following table lists the conservation designations of British Elaterids.
| Species | Reporting Category | Designation | |||
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan list | Red Listing based on pre 1994 IUCN guidelines | Rare and scarce species | Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 | EU Habitats and Species Directive | |
| Lacon querceus | Priority Species | Endangered | |||
| Anostirus castaneus | Priority Species | Endangered | |||
| Ctenicera pectinicornis | Nationally Notable A | ||||
| Calambus bipustulatus | Nationally Notable B | ||||
| Aplotarsus angustulus | Rare | ||||
| Paraphotistus impressus | Nationally Notable B | ||||
| Paraphotistus nigricornis | Rare | ||||
| Selatosomus cruciatus | Extinct | ||||
| Limoniscus violaceus | Priority Species | Endangered | Schedule 5 Sections 9.1, 9.2, 9.4a, 9.4b, 9.5a, 9.5b | Annexe 2a | |
| Athous subfuscus | Rare | ||||
| Athous campyloides | Nationally Notable B | ||||
| Diacanthous undulatus | Nationally Notable B | ||||
| Adrastus rachifer | Rare | ||||
| Synaptus filiformis | Priority Species | Endangered | |||
| Agriotes sordidus | Rare | ||||
| Ampedus cardinalis | Vulnerable | ||||
| Ampedus cinnabarinus | Rare | ||||
| Ampedus elongantulus | Nationally Notable A | ||||
| Ampedus nigerrimus | Endangered | ||||
| Ampedus nigrinus | Nationally Notable B | ||||
| Ampedus pomorum | Nationally Notable B | ||||
| Ampedus quercicola | Nationally Notable B | ||||
| Ampedus rufipennis | Priority Species | Vulnerable | |||
| Ampedus sanguineus | Extinct | ||||
| Ampedus sanguinolentus | Nationally Notable A | ||||
| Ampedus tristis | Vulnerable | ||||
| Brachygonus ruficeps | Endangered | ||||
| Ischnodes sanguinicollis | Nationally Notable A | ||||
| Megapenthes lugens | Priority Species | Endangered | |||
| Procraerus tibialis | Rare | ||||
| Elater ferrugineus | Endangered | ||||
| Melanotus punctolineatus | Priority Species | Endangered | |||
| Fleutiauxellus maritimus | Nationally Notable A | ||||
| Negastrius pulchellus | Vulnerable | ||||
| Negastrius sabulicola | Vulnerable | ||||
| Oedostethus quadripustulatus | Nationally Notable A | ||||
| Cardiophorus asellus | Nationally Notable B | ||||
| Cardiophorus gramineus | Extinct | ||||
| Cardiophorus ruficollis | Extinct | ||||
| Cardiophorus vestigialis | Vulnerable | ||||
| Dicronychus equisetioides | Vulnerable |