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Size: Up to 30mms long
Differentiation by colour can be unreliable. Black Meloe proscarabaeus and Violet Oil Beetles Meloe violaceus vary greatly in colour. Some Violet Oil Beetles are all black and some Black Oil Beetles can be violet-blue.
Black Oil Beetle – have a square shaped thorax, almost straight lower edge of thorax which is flat (not with depressed area at base), small tooth at base of thorax, large coarse punctures on thorax, up to 30 mm long.
Males of the Black and Violet Oil Beetles have very kinked antennae (the antennae of the females is slightly kinked). The Rugged, Mediterranean and Short-necked Oil Beetles have straight antennae in both sexes.
Violet Oil Beetle – square shaped thorax, indented lower edge of thorax with depressed area at base, large tooth at base of thorax, fine punctures on thorax, up to 30 mm long.
Black Oil Beetle – square shaped thorax, almost straight lower edge of thorax which is flat (not with depressed area at base), small tooth at base of thorax, large coarse punctures on thorax, up to 30 mm long.
FIg 1 To be Added
Distribution: Found in many parts of the UK.
Months seen: April to August
Diet: Vegetation
Habitat: Meadows and fields
Features:
The female oil beetle lays thousands of eggs into holes in the ground, and these hatch into larvae which sit around on flowers waiting to jump on board a passing bee. They then get a lift back to the bees nest where they feed on the bee larvae.
When alarmed, the adult oil beetles can release a foul smelling oil - hence the name.
Image Geoff Foale (C) 2017
