Rare beetle that oozes substance when attacked rediscovered in Wales

By the Editorial Team · Monday, November 2, 2026

Conservation groups have confirmed the short-necked oil beetle is breeding again at the Castlemartin range in Pembrokeshire after nearly 60 years of absence. This rediscovery is crucial for ongoing habitat recovery efforts, as the beetle's survival depends on specific environmental conditions and solitary bees, highlighting the need for coordinated species conservation.

A rare beetle species, the short-necked oil beetle, has been rediscovered in Wales after nearly six decades, conservation groups announced. The beetle was found at the Castlemartin range in Pembrokeshire, a site managed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

The short-necked oil beetle, named for its distinctive stubby form and its ability to secrete a yellow-orange oily substance from its knee joints when threatened, faced significant declines over the 20th century primarily due to habitat loss. The species depends on solitary bees and specific vegetation to complete its life cycle. Its larvae use hook-like feet to attach themselves to solitary bees and rely on these hosts to transport them to nests where they feed on pollen before emerging as adults. The beetle’s lifespan as an adult is approximately one year.

Only a limited number of sites across the UK provide suitable conditions for the beetle’s survival, with NRW estimating that roughly one in 10,000 larvae reach adulthood. The species is classified as nationally rare. Before the Welsh rediscovery, populations were recorded in Devon in 2007, the Hebrides, and Salisbury Plain.

While the beetle had been detected at the Pembrokeshire site in 2020, surveys conducted in 2022 and 2025 identified only dead adults, prompting concerns about the species’ ongoing viability in the area. However, follow-up surveys in 2026 uncovered larvae distributed in a pattern suggesting a successful emergence of new hatchlings, indicating that the beetle may be breeding again at Castlemartin.

Anna Hobbs, project delivery officer for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, expressed optimism about the findings. She noted that the beetle’s survival is closely linked to the presence of solitary bees and specific habitat conditions, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts that address multiple interdependent species. "The short-necked oil beetle is an amazing creature and not only depends on a very specific habitat to survive, but the presence of solitary bees as well. So, the work we do needs to consider the needs of several species to be effective," she said.

The rediscovery and evidence of breeding form part of Wales’s broader species recovery initiative, known as Natur am Byth, which aims to protect endangered species sharing similar habitats, including the shrill carder bee and goldilocks aster. Conservationists continue to work with partners and volunteers to maintain and manage the site to support the beetle’s survival going forward.

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