Key action species

This species has been identified in the Threatened Species Recovery Actions - 2025 Baseline, published by Natural England, as having key actions which can help recover populations or prevent further loss.

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Black Oil-beetle

Meloe proscarabaeus

Linnaeus, 1758

A large black flightless beetle that is found in early Spring and Summer in meadows and coastal grasslands and on road verges and footpaths. The species relies on solitary bees on which they parasitize and are therefore dependent on healthy bee populations.

National assessment

Stable Least concern

Local assessment

Increasing

National recording scheme

Oil Beetle Recording Scheme

Associated assemblage

open short sward 177 other species in this assemblage

Last updated

2025-05-21

Statistics

Occurrences

135 since 2000 139 all time

Occupied 1 km squares

18 since 2000 21 all time

Earliest occurrence

1909

Latest occurrence

2023

Distribution

Show larger map

Status

Presumed extinct until it was rediscovered on a green lane near Ropsley in 2012, there are now at least eight confirmed distinct populations with potential sightings at four more. Numbers at some of these sites are considerable i.e. not just single occurrences. Habitats utilized include calcareous grassland, lowland meadow, semi-improved grassland and road verge and sea bank. The distribution of records suggests a south-easterly origin for our populations, with good numbers known from the Norfolk side of the Wash.

Although there have been no formal surveys ad hoc records alone show a rapid and apparently still increasing distribution since its rediscovery in 2012. It is expected that further populations which will be found, including further north.

Population monitoring

Standard 'Pollard Walk' transects (as used for monitoring butterflies) is recommended to monitor populations with the timing adjusted to oil beetle seasonality (February - June).

Less resource intensive timed-counts can also be used and may be more suitable for smaller colonies which cover a very small area, however these should still be repeated frequently during the season due to the effect of weather conditions on oil beetle activity levels.

Something missing?

If you've seen this species and want to report a sighting, head over to iRecord. If you're able to provide more context on the status in Greater Lincolnshire, habitat requirements or other information get in touch.

Occurrence since 1950

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This chart should not be relied upon for an indication of species status as variations in recording effort can heavily affect the count of occurrences and occupied 1km squares.

Associated habitats

Calcareous grassland

Meadows

Semi-improved grassland

Actions

Actions in Greater Lincolnshire relating to or including this species

2023
Conservation
Benefiting from actions carried out on Lincolnshire sea banks by the Environment Agency following a Review of the Importance of Lincolnshire Sea Banks for Scarcer Insects.

Potentially important environmental impacts

cessation of grazing

overgrazing

surfacing of paths and roads

Threatened species recovery actions

Actions from Threatened Species Recovery Actions 2025 Baseline published by Natural England.

(Re-)introduction

Translocations of adult beetles to sites with suitable habitat and nesting bees species known to be used as hosts

Education/awareness raising

Raise awareness among the public of this species as it's fairly large, distinctive and would be noticed by casual observers. Given the disjunct population, other populations are probably to be discovered.

Scientific research

Define autecology of larvae and adults at known sites. Population genetics of known populations

Untargeted habitat management

This species would benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages

References

Buglife (2012) Oil beetle species management sheet (downloadable from www.buglife.org.uk).

Falk, S. 2024. Insects of Lincolnshire's sea banks. British Wildlife 36: 35-43

Webb, J., Heaver, D., Lott, D., Dean, H.J., van Breda, J., Curson, J., Harvey, M.C., Gurney, M., Roy, D.B., van Breda, A., Drake, M., Alexander, K.N.A. and Foster, G. (2017). Pantheon. [online] Available at: http://www.brc.ac.uk [05/02/2025].

Wilkins, T.C., Baker, T.G, Hipperson-Jervis, C. and Thompson, M. (2025). Threatened Species Recovery Actions 2025 Baseline Version 1.1 - Spreadsheet. Joint Publication JP065. Natural England and partners, UK. https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6106216194113536

Data sources

Local species recorders

Oil Beetle Recording Scheme. Oil Beetle Recording Scheme - records verified via iRecord. Licenced under CC-BY https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0.

Cite this page

Barnes, C. (2025). Meloe proscarabaeus Linnaeus, 1758 species profile, in Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (ed.) Greater Lincolnshire species data bank. Available at: http://glincsson.glnp.org.uk/view?taxon_list_item_key=NBNORG0000018213 (Accessed 08 November 2025).