‘Fascinating’ rare beetle found in Wales again after 60 years

Conservationists have found Short-Necked Oil Beetle larvae at Castlemartin Range in Pembrokeshire, the first evidence in years that the rare species may be breeding in Wales again. Experts say the discovery is encouraging for a beetle that depends on solitary bees and a specific flower-rich habitat to complete its life cycle.

The larvae were found after three years of searching, following a survey last year that recorded only dead adults. Their number and distribution support the possibility they came from a larger batch of young beetles. The species is nationally rare in Great Britain and classed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List; Castlemartin is currently its only known site in Wales, with few suitable habitats elsewhere in the UK.