Conservationists say evidence suggests the Short-Necked Oil Beetle is breeding in Wales again after a 60-year absence, with larvae discovered at Castlemartin Range in Pembrokeshire.
Named for its stubby shape and ability to secrete an oily yellow-orange substance from its knee joints when alarmed, the beetle is classed as nationally rare in Great Britain and listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It depends on solitary bees for its lifecycle and requires flower-rich coastal grassland and sand dune habitats with thick vegetation for shelter.
Last year, a survey at the site found only dead adults, raising concerns about the species' future and its continued presence on the site. But this year, after three years of searching, experts discovered larvae. The number and distribution of the larvae supported the suggestion that surveyors had found some of the hatchlings from a larger batch of immature beetles, according to Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
Anne Hobbs, from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, said it was "very exciting" that the evidence suggested the species was breeding in Wales again. She described the beetle as an "amazing creature" and said their work needed to consider the "needs of several species to be effective". She thanked partners and volunteers for persevering after two years without larval sightings, and said "we look forward to the continued management of the site so that this amazing species can survive now and into the future."
The beetle project is part of Wales's flagship species recovery programme, Natur am Byth, which aims to conserve several endangered species sharing similar habitats. Only a handful of sites in the UK are suitable for the beetle, according to NRW, and only about one in 10,000 larvae make it to adulthood.
The beetle was rediscovered in Devon in 2006 and has since been found on several Scottish islands and on Salisbury Plain. Castlemartin is currently the only place in Wales where it is known to exist.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The rediscovery at Castlemartin demonstrates that sustained habitat management can reverse species decline in Wales.
- Because the beetle relies on solitary bees, its return signals the health of the wider insect and plant community in coastal grasslands.
- The Natur am Byth programme provides a model for conserving multiple vulnerable species that share the same habitat.
Background
The Short-Necked Oil Beetle was driven to near-extinction in Britain by habitat loss over the 20th century. It was not reported in the UK for almost 60 years after 1948. Rediscoveries in Devon in 2006 and in Scotland in 2009 gave hope, but in Wales it remained absent until the recent find at Castlemartin. The site is managed as part of Wales’s Natur am Byth flagship species recovery programme.
What to Watch
- Continued larval surveys in coming years to confirm a self-sustaining population at Castlemartin.
- Expansion of suitable habitat management to other coastal sites in Wales.
- Impact of climate change on the specific coastal grassland and dune habitats.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedLarvae suggest the beetle is breeding in Wales again after a 60-year absence.BBC Wales: “A rare species of beetle has been found in Pembrokeshire after not being seen in Wales for 60 years. ... Anne Hobbs, from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, said it was "very exciting" that the evidence suggested the species was breeding in Wales again.”
- SupportedThe Short-Necked Oil Beetle was found at Castlemartin Range in Pembrokeshire.UK news | The Guardian: “The short-necked oil beetle, driven to the brink of extinction in Britain due to habitat loss over the course of the 20th century, has been found at Castlemartin range in Pembrokeshire, according to Natural Resources Wales (NRW).”
- SupportedThe beetle project is part of Wales’s flagship species recovery programme, Natur am Byth.UK news | The Guardian: “The beetle project, part of Wales’s flagship species recovery programme, Natur am Byth, is working to conserve several endangered animals and plants that share similar habitats to the short-necked oil beetle”
- Reports differAnne Hobbs of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust said it was “very exciting” that the evidence suggested the species was breeding in Wales again.BBC Wales: “Anne Hobbs, from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, said it was "very exciting" that the evidence suggested the species was breeding in Wales again.”
- SupportedHobbs described the beetle as an “amazing creature”.BBC Wales: “Hobbs described the Short-Necked Oil Beetle as an "amazing creature"”
- SupportedHobbs said the work needed to consider the “needs of several species to be effective”.BBC Wales: “said their work needed to consider the "needs of several species to be effective".”
- SupportedHobbs said, “We look forward to the continued management of the site so that this amazing species can survive now and into the future.”BBC Wales: “"We look forward to the continued management of the site so that this amazing species can survive now and into the future."”
- SupportedLast year, a survey at Castlemartin found only dead adults, raising concerns about the beetle’s future and continued presence at the site.BBC Wales: “Last year, the survey at Castlemartin found only dead adults of this particular beetle, raising concerns about the future of this species and its continued presence on the site.”
- SupportedThe number and distribution of larvae supported the suggestion that surveyors found hatchlings from a larger batch of immature beetles.BBC Wales: “The number and distribution of the beetle larvae seen also supported this, according to Natural Resources Wales (NRW).”
- SupportedOnly about one in 10,000 larvae make it to adulthood.UK news | The Guardian: “Only a handful of sites in the UK are suitable for the beetle, according to NRW, and only about one in 10,000 larvae make it to adulthood.”
- SupportedOnly a handful of sites in the UK are suitable for the beetle, according to NRW.UK news | The Guardian: “Only a handful of sites in the UK are suitable for the beetle, according to NRW”
- SupportedCastlemartin Range is currently the only place in Wales where the beetle is known to exist.BBC Wales: “Castlemartin Range, in Pembrokeshire, is currently the only place in Wales where the species can be found”
