Oil beetles in Essex/Kent?

[Ukwildlifeo]

There is a glaring gap in my sightings/photographed list of 'classic' UK insects, which is due to the fact I have never seen an oil beetle. Does anyone know if they are found in Essex and/or Kent (or London for that matter) and if there is a reliable spot for seeing them?

[Rossco]

They're not easy to see because the adults are relatively short lived, they're typically active in the earliest parts of the season and they like to skulk around in the short vegetation, mostly the florally diverse sward of calcareous, south facing grassland and coastal sites wherever their hosts (ground nesting bees) are to be found. Any sites fitting the above description would be a good bet, but you could get a better idea if you drop the beetle recorders for Essex and Kent an email. I have the contact details for the Essex recorder and I'm sure someone else on here would be able to tell who the Kent recorder is.

[Laurence Clemons]

They can be found in north Kent along the Thames Estuary and Swale during April, typically in brownfeld sites where there are mining bee nests of e.g. Anthophora.

[bugbotherer]

I've found them at East Prawle in Devon associated with lesser celandine if that's of any help

[rockape65]

Hi, I realise your post is a year old but thanks to Google I came across it whilst trying to identify some beetles I found on Wallasea Island, did you find your Essex Oil Beetles? If not, is this what you were looking for? The place was crawling with them yesterday (13 March 2011).

[Klaas Reißmann]

On the left a male of Meloe violaceus, on the right a pair of Meloe violaceus, male on top.

Regards
Klaas

[rockape65]

That's great, thank you for the information Klaas.

Ian

[Ukwildlifeo]

Thanks. Wallasea is a bit of trek from Romford. Ive not seen one yet but Im off to North kent tommorow so maybe Ill have some luck there

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by rockape65

Hi, I realise your post is a year old but thanks to Google I came across it whilst trying to identify some beetles I found on Wallasea Island, did you find your Essex Oil Beetles? If not, is this what you were looking for? The place was crawling with them yesterday (13 March 2011).

Rockape bug life are after records of oil beetles. Can you send your here please: Buglife | Oil Beetle Hunt | Welcome to the Oil Beetle hunt

[rockape65]

No problems, I have the email from buglife, i shall do that straight away!!