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Sussex Wildlife Trust: Back garden beetlemania.

May 2nd, 2019
On 17th May 2011 Peter Hodge was stood waiting at Lewes bus station when he noticed an intriguing little black beetle crawling on the brickwork. Peter, being one of Britain’s top coleopterists (beetle experts), delicately picked up the little insect between his thumb and forefinger and took it with him.

And so both passengers rode the 143 bus back to Ringmer and into the pages of Sussex wildlife history. Because when Peter examined the little beast under his microscope, he realised it was the click beetle Melanotus punctolineatus – the first one recorded in Sussex - making it the 3,000th species of beetle recorded in our county.

That little beetle may have been historic but it wasn’t much to look at.To be honest, most of the other 2,999 Sussex beetles aren’t going to win any Miss Beetle beauty contests either. But if it’s good-looking beetles you want my friend then you need to take a trip to Arundel or Lewes this month because those towns are both famed for being a hotspot for the most glamorous beetle in Britain - the rose chafer.
 
The rose chafer is one seriously gorgeous insect. Each one looks like it’s been designed, carefully crafted, coated in the most dazzling metallic green and hand polished.

How can I put it? The rose chafer looks expensive. Their resemblance to Egyptian scarabs brings the romance of The Nile to your compost heap – a great place for their C-shaped larvae to develop. The adult beetles live for just a few weeks.

They’re powerful flyers too. Dark, smoky wings extend from under their emerald elytra (wing cases) and with a buzz our Faberge bugs take to the air. Admittedly they do tend to crash into fences quite a bit. I said it was beautiful, I didn’t say it was graceful. Recently these beetles seem to have been crashing around in other areas of Sussex.

So this summer I’m starting a campaign to make Sussex the official rose chafer capital of England. I’d like you to look in your gardens and nearby parks for this stunning, shiny green beetle.

If you see one, please try to take a picture and email it to my colleague Lois at the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre with details of when and where you saw it (loismayhew@sussexwt.org.uk).
Let’s put Sussex on the beetle map!

30 Days Wild
This June, join hundreds of thousands of people taking part in 30 Days Wild, the UK’s month-long nature campaign run by The Wildlife Trusts.
We’re challenging you to do something a little bit wild every day in June – sign up now to receive your free pack of goodies to help plan your wild month: www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild


By Michael Blencowe: Learning & Engagement Officer, Sussex Wildlife Trust.
rose chafer©Derek Middleton Sussex Wildlife Trust
rose chafer©Graeme Lyons Sussex Wildlife Trust
Sussex Wildlife Trust is an independent registered charity caring for wildlife and habitats throughout Sussex. Founded in 1961, we have worked with local people for over half a century to make Sussex richer in wildlife.
We rely on the support of our members to help protect our rich natural heritage. Please consider supporting our work. As a member you will be invited to join Michael Blencowe on our regular wildlife walks and also enjoy free events, discounts on wildlife courses, Wildlife magazine and our guide book, Discovering Wildlife in Sussex. It’s easy to join online at:
www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/join or T: 01273 497532.
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