10 Mar 26 - Signs Of Spring Part 5 - Black Oil Beetle

Another sign of Spring was finding this Black Oil Beetle on a recent visit to St Aldhelms. This is a species I've seen locally on a few occasions along the Purbeck coastline and in my Swanage garden during the first covid lockdown, but one I typically expect to see in April. So, an early March Black Oil Beetle wasn't something I was expecting to see. Thanks to Phil Saunders and Steve Morrison for saving me the hassle of trying to figure out which species of Oil Beetle this was.

Black Oil Beetle: The parallel-sided pronotum indicates it's a Black Oil Beetle. I saw another four on 21 Mar 26 which was an impressive count, seeing as how I've not seen more than one in a day before

There is also one of the Whiplash Rove Beetles to the left of the Black Oil Beetle. However, the photo isn't good enough to identify the species. It could be Littoral Whiplash Rove Beetle (Paederus littoralis) which has black mandibles or the very similar Paederus riparius which has yellow mandibles. Both species have been recorded on the Purbeck coastline and so trying to figure it out based on range isn't possible.

12 Apr 20 - B Is Also For Big-Beetle #BWKM0

After photographing my first Black and Red Squash Bug & identifying it, I went back into the garden to see if there were any other Bees flying. One part of the garden has a lot of Bluebells & it's a real sun trap, which the Bees love. While I was standing there, I saw a large bodied Beetle, about 30 mm long appear & walk towards the Bluebells. Before it had disappeared into the mass of leaves, I managed to get some photos of my first very Oil Beetle. I've walked past the pictures on a sign at Old Harry on many occasions & so I knew immediately what it was. What I hadn't appreciated was how large they can get. After a bit of searching online, I suspected it was a Black Oil Beetle, but wanted it run the photos past Phil Saunders who seems to know everything about the local invertebrates despite only living in Dorset for just over a year. The first photo I sent Phil, came back as only a probably. But fortunately, some of the other photos were more conclusive & Phil confirmed my suspicions.

Black Oil Beetle

Black Oil Beetle

Black Oil Beetle

Black Oil Beetle: Phil has provided this link on how to identify the UK Oil Beetles & a form to report sightings

They are cracking looking Beetles & a real privilege to see my first in the garden. Both Black Oil Beetle & Violet Oil Beetle occur locally along the Purbeck coastline & I am surprised I've not bumped into them before over the years.

Check tomorrow to see the next day's wildlife sighting at #BWKM0.