First oil beetles are out and about here. Going to check out the coast path today to see if I can spot more. #oilbeetle #wildlife

Mating between Meloe proscarabaeus (female) and Timarcha goettingensis (male) photographed in lab.

#LiteratureNotice Riccieri et al. Strange Love 2: The Second Case of Interspecific Sexual Behavior Between Meloe Linnaeus and Timarcha Latreille (Coleoptera: Meloidae, #Chrysomelidae) doi.org/10.1649/0010... #Beetle #Beetles #oilbeetle

Illustration of an oil beetle (Meloe impressus) 🐞
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#scientificillustration #zoology #biology #insect #animal #boardgame #insectarium #menagerie #cardgameart #sciart #beetle #oilbeetle #bug

This is apparently an Oil Beetle, Meloe Violaceus and from my understanding is supposed to be fairly rare? I know I've never seen one before in my life.

An Oil Beetle, Meloe Violaceus, chilling on a chunk of concrete. My understanding is that these are fairly rare. They secrete an oil that causes severe blistering when squished. Pretty cool looking though!

Check out this thing! Just chilling on a chunk of concrete by my front door, Meloe Violaceus apparently, and fairly rare from what I've been looking into. #bugs #blisterbeetle #maine #creature #meloeviolaceus #oilbeetle #rarebug #soundsoftheforest

🌊 Great to join hundreds of volunteers to help remove up to 13,000 tyres from the River Ogmore! Led by A Peace of Nature #Ogmoreriverclean

🦗 If you are heading there today join the hunt for an #OilBeetle? Record it here: irecord.org.uk/external/oil...

#OgmoreRiverClean #ValeNature #LNPCymru

Thanks to @liamolds.bsky.social I now know that this little beauty is a male Meloe violaceus. It’s a rare oil beetle #oilbeetle

Black Oil Beetle at RSPB Arne last week - scuffling around to the soundtrack of gulls, Blue Tits and Chiffchaffs, plus my 2-year old daughter supportively saying “Come on beetle!” 🙂

#Beetle #OilBeetle
@rspb.bsky.social
@colsocbi.bsky.social

Wasn’t expecting to see a Violet Oil beetle but it caught my eye - all shiny in the sunlight! Such a lovely metallic colour😀 #beetles #oilbeetle @colsocbi.bsky.social #dorset

Today's highlight: two oil beetles (I saw 8 in total). #oilbeetle #ölkäfer #majbaggar #meloe

Met this little Violet Oil beetle in Cairngorms today. Not sure what’s it’s wearing on head - hoping it’s dead leaf remnants that’ll wear off. Apparently a rarity so I’m happy I’ve met one now. #beetle #OilBeetle #insects

#recordoftheweek #cofnodyrwythnos is Meloe proscarabaeus the Black Oil-beetle found at Pen Anglas, Pembrokeshire by Clive Hurford 📸. Thank you for sharing your records and photos.
#oilbeetle #buglife #wwbic #springwatch #spring #solitarybees

close-up photo of a large, flightless beetle walking on the sandy ground; its abdomen is extremely large, and its whole exoskeleton has a dull black appearance with many small pits adding texture; its antennae are made up of many small segments

another photo of the same beetle, this time from a more top-down angle; here you can get a better view of its disproportionately small elytra, which seem to be somewhat vestigial as this beetle doesn't have functional wings

[BIG bug pic]

I've decided today is bugposting day so here's a CHUNKY friend that I'm told you probably _shouldn't_ touch. This is an unidentified species of oil beetle (genus _Meloe_), if you think you know the species feel free to throw suggestions in the […]

[Original post on meow.social]

Amazing find today while out and about! A rare #oilbeetle. Fabulous and fascinating creature! @carabidaeuk.bsky.social @liamolds.bsky.social

Black Oil Beetle (I think) out for a walk in the sun today - helped it off the road to avoid being squashed

#oilbeetle #beetles #insects #ukwildlife

Black oil beetle seemingly floating atop the thick blades of grass

First oil beetle of the year in the meadow. There is a lot of "oooo hello!" on my walks at the moment, catching up with old friends I guess. Also, a lot of walking around with eyes fixed on the ground. Have to remind myself to look up once in a while.

#insects #ukinsects #pembrokeshire #oilbeetle

A dead Oil Beetle Meloe proscarabaeus - large shiny black beetle

First Woodlarks survey for @btobirds.bsky.social
Sadly no Woodlarks (and very little suitable habitat amongst the pig farms and arable fields
However, I did find an Oil Beetle (unfortunately it was dead on the road)
#heathlandbirdssurvey #oilbeetle
#spring

A photo of an oil beetle stopped while walking through some dead leaves.

Oil beetle. 2021
Won't be long and I might see one of these. I usually see one or two at the start of the season.

#oilbeetle #beetle #insect #wildlife #nature #photography

This #beetle is the Black #Oilbeetle #Meloe proscarabaeus.

Oil beetles are fascinating, such a distinctive body shape.

They look cool, & they can produce an oil to deter potential predators which contains canthiridin. This can cause people to blister,hence their other name #Blisterbeetles

#sciart

Antenna of an Oil beetle, Meloidae. Great colors are visible here at 20:1.

#oilbeetle #meloidae #ölkäfer #coleoptera #insects # macrophotography #käfer #beetle