Black Oil-beetle
Meloe proscarabaeus
This record describes Meloe proscarabaeus (species). Recorded family: Meloidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A large (~30mm) shiny black beetle with a straight base to the thorax and a very small rounded tooth at the base. Detailed photos showing key features required. Unimproved grassland, occasionally woodland sites. Found throughout the UK, less common in the north. No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Meloe proscarabaeus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meloe_proscarabaeus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Meloidae
- Genus
- Meloe
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Unimproved grassland, occasionally woodland sites.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Found throughout the UK, less common in the north.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Meloe proscarabaeus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
