Buglife oil beetles

About Buglife oil beetles

We are collating photos and records of oil beetles in the UK as part of a new conservation project - please help us by adding your pictures.

Oil beetles are fascinating insects, there are four species in the UK: the Black oil beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus), Violet oil beetle (Meloe violaceus), Rugged oil beetle (Meloe rugosus) and Short-necked oil beetle (Meloe brevicollis).

All four species of oil beetle in the UK are in decline. At a national level species’ ranges are contracting and at a local level populations are becoming weaker and more vulnerable to extinction. The main factors responsible are changes in the management of the countryside, a lack of information on the habitat requirements of species, and neglect.

Oil beetle larvae are nest-parasites of solitary bees. The viability of oil beetle populations is therefore dependent on the health and diversity of wild bees. The ideal habitat for these species is wildflower-rich semi-natural grassland and heathland – two habitats that have declined in quantity and quality due to intensive management of the countryside.

Information on the distribution of oil beetles is limited. More data is needed to improve our understanding of the beetles' needs, and target effective conservation action.


Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust is the only organisation in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates. We are passionately committed to saving Britain's rarest little animals, everything from bees to beetles, and spiders to snails.
www.buglife.org.uk

http://www.buglife.org.uk