Oil beetles are conspicuous, charismatic beetles with an extraordinary life-cycle that is intricately linked to solitary bees. This new recording scheme has been set up by Liam Olds to help gather information about their distribution and ecology, and to inform conservation of the group, which includes some very rare species.

Visit the Oil Beetle Recording Scheme page for more information and to see the latest records.

(Photo by Liam Olds shows Violet Oil Beetle, Meloe violaceus.)