about oil beetles...

[Dannica]

When is the best time to look for oil beetles?

The bbc website suggests that females often cross footpaths as they burrow in bare ground, and that the beetles favour both wild flower grassland and heath, but where else might these beetles be found (or where are they most likely to be)?

As Listed beetles, are we allowed to pick them up in containers etc. to photograph them, or does their status mean they are not to be touched?

Ta,
D

[Jim Ford]

I'll follow this thread with interest. I've always wanted to find an oil beetle ever since I read about their life cycle in Fabre's books when I was young.

You can download the book from here (it's long out of copyright):

The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles by Jean-Henri Fabre - Project Gutenberg

Jim

[Dannica]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I'll follow this thread with interest. I've always wanted to find an oil beetle ever since I read about their life cycle in Fabre's books when I was young.

You can download the book from here (it's long out of copyright):

The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles by Jean-Henri Fabre - Project Gutenberg

Jim

Ooh, lovely. This student doth like the free book! Thank you mister Ford, sir

[faz]

Found in many parts of the UK April to August in Meadows and fields

[The Woodman]

Buglife has a bit about them here....Buglife | Oil Beetle Hunt | Oil Beetle Hunt - Conservation

[Dogghound]

I find that coastal grassland often supports them in fairly decent numbers. Certainly around here they tend to prefer the southern facing side of coastal headlands (both filey and Flamborough) which is probably reflective of their prey.

[Matt Smith]

Originally Posted by Dannica

As Listed beetles, are we allowed to pick them up in containers etc. to photograph them, or does their status mean they are not to be touched?

None of the Oil Beetles are protected in any way, so you may do with them what you will.

[Jim Ford]

So where in S.E. England is the best place to see them?

Jim

[MattPrince]

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

None of the Oil Beetles are protected in any way, so you may do with them what you will.

Though one would hope that you treat them with some respect! Especially if you are lucky enough to find m.brevicollis or m.rugosus. which probably should be protected.

During the buglife survey we found quite a few m.violaceus and m.proscarabeus in march april and may. Coastal footpaths being the best bet. The footpath to one of the axe estuary can be inundated with proscarabeus in Spring.

M.rugosus is the one I'm missing..its an Autumn species.

Cheers
Matt

[Geoff F]

I find them (in the SW) amongst fairly short wet grass close to the coast and sometimes walking along narrow paths between the grass in April. But they aren't common and it does take a bit of searching time.

Also, identification between the species is a bit tricky. See The Woodman's link for ID help.