A Beatles Question

[Reverdin]

Saw this today and am not familiar with it.... any advice as to species... High up Gunnerside Gill in Swaledale....

[Essex Bertie]

It's one of the oil beetles. The photo looks good but i don't think identification is always straightforward. I would think someone on here will get it, but try your county recorder in any case - could be an important record.

[kevling]

Reverdin,

My guess is either Black Oil Beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) or Violet Oil Beetle (Meloe violaceus). Don't let the colour lead you to the latter though as either species can be black or violet in colour. I believe the shape of the thorax is a way of telling them apart (but that is beyond my skill set ).
Due to the extreme kink in the anteannae I would suggest a male.

Regards Kev

[Mark Colvin]

Hi Paul,

Definitely the Black Oil Beetle, Meloe proscarabaeus.

This may help:

Buglife Oil Beetle Guide.pdf

(2.37 MiB) Downloaded 29 times

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

[Reverdin]

Thank you all, very very much, most interesting, and I will search out the Beetles recorders for the YNU

[False Apollo]

I think this is a Black Oil Beetle, I found it in the middle of a path while walking near Breamore House, Hampshire, a few weeks ago. Thanks for the info, good to know what sort of Beetle it is.

Regards
Mike