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'Fascinating' rare beetle found in Wales again after three year search
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- The Short-Necked Oil Beetle, a rare species not seen in Wales for nearly 60 years, has been rediscovered in Pembrokeshire, with evidence suggesting it is now breeding there again.
- This beetle is nationally rare in Great Britain and listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, relying on solitary bees and specific habitats with thick vegetation and dense flowers for survival.
- After only dead adults were found in 2022, larvae were discovered this year at Castlemartin Range, indicating a potentially stable population in the area.
- The species is active from March to June in flower-rich coastal grasslands and sand dunes, with adults living about one year and growing up to 24mm in length.
- Conservation efforts in Wales, including ongoing surveys at Castlemartin, are part of a flagship species recovery programme aiming to protect the beetle and other species sharing its habitat.
