You may be wondering, what is a SNOB? SNOB is an acronym for a species quite close to our hearts here at Species on the Edge. Back in March 2023 we held our first ever Species on the Edge event: a search for this elusive species, and we were very successful! We saw 24 of the wee beasties, and for many of the team it was the first time we got to meet one of our 37 priority species face-to-face. What better way to kick of the programme than with 24 short-necked oil beetles.
The short-necked oil beetle (Meloe brevicollis) is a native oil beetle in the UK. It is a shiny black beetle that can grow up to 24mm in length. It has a rectangular-shaped thorax and short, straight antennae that thicken towards the tip. They have large abdomens which protrude from under short elytra (wing cases) – almost like they are wearing a waistcoat that doesn’t quite fit them.
In 2009, the only known populations of short-necked oil beetles in Scotland were found on the Isle of Coll. Having been selected as a Species on the Edge priority species, we have been working hard to learn more about this elusive beastie in Scotland.
In March 2023 we kicked off our activity in the Outer Hebrides with a a short-necked oil beetle workshop on North Uist. After learning more about the beetle and how to ID it from Species on the Edge Buglife Officer, Sally Morris, we headed out to RSPB Balranald to see if we could find it. And weren’t we successful! We’ve been delighted that as a result of the increased awareness of the beetle that this event generated, as well as though surveys led by the Species on the Edge team and an oil beetle search campaign led by Buglife, records of the short-necked oil beetle have been popping up across the Western Isles. We now know for certain that the short-necked oil beetle has populations on Coll, Tiree, Barra, Islay and the Uists.
Learning more about short-necked oil beetles is vital to ensuring its continued survival here in Scotland. Sadly, populations are in decline due to the loss of flower-rich habitats owing to changes in countryside management. In addition, SNOBs are nest parasites of the northern colletes mining bee (another one of our 37 priority species) and therefore rely on healthy populations of this species for its survival. Loss of suitable flower-rich habitats has resulted in declines of northern colletes across northern Europe. It is for this reason that we are conducting surveys of the beetle and asking locals to the Scottish Western Isles to help us in our search. The more we know about the elusive species, the more informed our efforts can be in supporting its survival in Scotland. We are also working closely with land managers across the Inner and Outer Hebrides to support them in managing their land in a way that will benefit both themselves and any resident short-necked oil beetles.
Let’s hear more about the short-necked oil beetle and the work we are doing for it from some of the Species on the Edge team:
Sally Morris, Species on the Edge Buglife Officer, said: “Short-necked oil beetles are rare in Great Britain and vulnerable to extinction due to their small, scattered populations. Presence of short-necked oil beetles are a great indicator of a healthy biodiverse ecosystem, as their lifecycle is linked to the northern colletes mining bee, a species that relies on flower-rich coastal grassland. Over the four-year programme, we will be talking to landowners about how they can manage their land to provide the right conditions for the short-necked oil beetle, and other invertebrate species.”
Speaking on the SNOB-focussed event back in March 2023, Species on the Edge Programme Manager, Fiona Strachan, said: “It was great to be able to join the Outer Hebrides Species on the Edge team and take part in the first event of this exciting new programme. Finding Short-necked Oil Beetles at a new site was fantastic and highlighted how much there still is to learn and discover about species living on our coasts and islands.”
To find out how you can help us secure a future for the short-necked oil beetle in Scotland, you can head over to the Buglife website or get in touch with the experts at scotland@buglife.org.uk
