UK conservation charity Buglife’s citizen science undertaking, the Scottish Oil Beetle Hunt, is issuing a name for assist. “As a part of the partnership programme, Species on the Edge, members of the general public are requested to look out for these superb beetles and report any sightings.”
In keeping with the group, Scottish information of oil beetles on iRecord greater than doubled final yr because of the mixed effort of the Scottish Oil Beetle Hunt and surveying carried out by the Species on the Edge staff. Survey work for Quick-necked Oil Beetle particularly yielded over 100 information of particular person beetles, with many new websites found for the species. The Black Oil Beetle was additionally confirmed from Scotland, following doubt about earlier information resulting from points with misidentification.
In 2023, Short-necked Oil Beetle had been discovered on Tiree for the primary time by Ranger Hayley Douglas. Lengthy regarded as current, this discovery is the most recent new island web site for the species, following on from populations present in North Uist in 2022, and Barra and Islay in 2021.
Species on the Edge is described as an formidable four-year programme for species restoration in Scotland that goals to take motion for 37 declining and threatened species throughout Scotland’s coasts and islands. It’s a partnership programme of eight organisations, funded by The Nationwide Lottery Heritage Fund. The partnership consists of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Bat Conservation Belief, Buglife, Bumblebee Conservation Belief, Butterfly Conservation, NatureScot, Plantlife and RSPB Scotland.
Considered one of these threatened species is the Quick-necked Oil Beetle, which has solely been present in a handful of places inside Scotland – the Isles of Coll, Islay and Tiree (Inside Hebrides), in addition to Uist and Barra (Outer Hebrides). Classed as Weak on the IUCN Pink Checklist, this species is at excessive danger of extinction and due to this fact it’s crucial that we study extra about this superb beetle to assist enhance its fortunes.
Oil beetles are eye-catching, charismatic beetles which are so-called as a result of they exude a yellowish oily substance from their leg joints when threatened. They’ve been described as trying like they’re carrying an ill-fitting waistcoat; the ‘waistcoat’ being the brief wing instances that don’t totally cowl the beetle’s stomach.
Oil beetles are underneath risk. Populations have declined because of the lack of flower-rich habitats owing to adjustments in countryside administration. As oil beetles are nest parasites of solitary bees, declines in populations of untamed bees has worsened their fortunes additional as they rely on them for survival. Scotland has fewer oil beetle information than each England and Wales, so it’s doable that oil beetles are underneath recorded in Scotland. To get a greater understanding of their present distribution in Scotland, it’s vital we maintain a have a look at and listen to about all sightings of oil beetles.
Sally Morris, Buglife Conservation Officer, explains: “Final yr was nice for oil beetles in Scotland, however we’re nonetheless far behind England and Wales for information – it’s time we catch up! Have you ever ever seen a shiny black beetle that could be an oil beetle? Please ship us a photograph and assist us to study extra about these superb beetles inside Scotland.”
Oil beetles have an incredible life cycle, intricately linked to that of solitary bees. After hatching, oil beetle larvae (referred to as triungulins) make their means onto a flower head the place they lie in await a solitary bee. Utilizing specialised hooks on their toes, they connect themselves to the again of a visiting feminine bee and when the bee returns to its underground nest, the triungulin disembarks and continues its improvement underground, consuming by the bee’s shops of pollen and nectar. Relying on species, they then emerge in the identical or following yr, as an grownup oil beetle prepared to start out the life cycle another time.
There are 5 species of oil beetle within the UK, solely three are present in Scotland, these are the Black Oil Beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus), Violet Oil Beetle (Meloe violaceus) and Quick-necked Oil Beetle (Meloe brevicollis). They’re giant, shiny black beetles, usually with a slight blue or inexperienced tinge to their colouring that may be seen in wildflower-rich grasslands, heathland, and coastal areas from March to June. They’re usually seen crossing footpaths because of the availability of compact naked floor by which they’ll burrow.
This survey is in partnership with the Nationwide Oil Beetle Recording scheme, launched in 2021. This scheme was established to assist us perceive extra about oil beetle abundance, distribution and ecology within the UK. No prior information is required to participate, anybody and everybody is inspired to submit information utilizing the iRecord app (with a number of photographs if doable), or to ship in particulars by way of electronic mail. Please tell us what you discover on social media utilizing the hashtag #OilBeetleHunt! An identification information will be discovered here.
Extra particulars will be discovered on the hyperlink: Oil Beetle Recording Scheme | UK Beetle Recording (coleoptera.org.uk)
Buglife welcomes any information, nonetheless they’re significantly curious about information from Argyll and the Hebrides as these are the places the place Quick-necked Oil Beetles are almost certainly to be discovered.
The Species on the Edge programme can also be asking for volunteers to assist seek for Quick-necked Oil Beetles in probably places within the Hebrides.
“In case you have a spare couple of hours from April – June and need to seek for this superb beetle in sand dunes and machair grassland close to you, please contact scotland@buglife.org.uk. All coaching and assist are offered, and no expertise is critical.”
“Due to Nationwide Lottery gamers, Species on the Edge is supporting conservation work and fascinating with native communities across the coast and islands of Scotland. For extra info on become involved in different Species on the Edge work please contact our Conservation Staff by way of scotland@buglife.org.uk.”
