At Kinver Edge, rangers discovered rare black oil beetles, reliant on solitary bees for dispersal. The life cycle involves beetle larvae hitching rides on bees before emerging as adults. The beetles are increasingly vulnerable, with three out of five UK species classified as rare, amidst ongoing habitat loss. The beetle population has steadily grown, with 213 seen in one day this year, marking a significant conservation success since the first sightings in the area since the 1970s, highlighting the interconnectedness of these species and their habitat.
These shiny black beetles, native to the UK, are increasingly vulnerable and completely reliant on a healthy bee population in order to survive.
Without a healthy wild bee population there would be no beetles. They're totally integral to each other's life cycle.
The larvae hitch a ride on the bee, consuming pollen, before later re-emerging in a new location as an adult beetle.
The numbers have grown every year to a peak count of 213 spotted in one day this year.
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