Rare Short-Necked Oil Beetle Breeds in Wales After 60-Year Absence
Larvae of the rare Short-Necked Oil Beetle found at Castlemartin Range, Pembrokeshire, confirm breeding in Wales for the first time in 60 years.
The story in focus
Surveyors at Castlemartin Range in Pembrokeshire have found larvae of the Short-Necked Oil Beetle, confirming the species is breeding in Wales for the first time in 60 years, according to BBC News. Natural Resources Wales says the discovery followed three years of searching.
- Short-Necked Oil Beetle larvae were found at Castlemartin Range, Pembrokeshire, indicating breeding.
- The species had not been reported in Wales for 60 years.
- Last year's survey found only dead adults, raising concerns about the beetle's future at the site.
- The beetle is nationally rare in Great Britain and listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
- The find is part of Wales's flagship species recovery programme, according to Natural Resources Wales.
Discovery at Castlemartin Range
Surveyors working at Castlemartin Range in Pembrokeshire have found larvae of the Short-Necked Oil Beetle, BBC News reports. The discovery suggests the species is breeding in Wales for the first time in 60 years. According to Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the larvae were found on a small area of the site after three years of searching.
The number and distribution of the larvae seen supported the conclusion that surveyors had found hatchlings from a larger batch of immature beetles, NRW said. Last year, the same survey found only dead adults, raising concerns about the species' future at the site.
A Vulnerable Species
The Short-Necked Oil Beetle is classed as nationally rare within Great Britain and listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It depends on solitary bees for its lifecycle and requires dense flower-rich coastal habitat with thick vegetation for shelter. NRW said these conditions mean there are only a handful of suitable sites in the UK.
Castlemartin Range is currently the only place in Wales where the species can be found. The beetle was rediscovered in Devon in 2006 and on the Isle of Coll in Scotland in 2009; since then, populations have been found on Tiree, Islay, Barra and Uist.
Conservation Context
The work at Castlemartin is part of Wales's flagship species recovery programme, according to NRW, which aims to conserve the beetle and other species sharing similar habitats. Anne Hobbs of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust said the evidence suggesting breeding in Wales was very exciting and thanked partners and volunteers for their support despite two years without a larval sighting.
Where in Wales was the Short-Necked Oil Beetle found breeding?
At Castlemartin Range in Pembrokeshire, where surveyors found larvae after three years of searching. It is currently the only place in Wales where the species can be found.
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