Rare oil beetle rediscovered in Wales after sixty years

A rare oil beetle missing for nearly sixty years has been found again in Wales.

Conservationists in Wales have discovered a rare oil beetle population, marking its first appearance in the region in nearly sixty years. The insect relies on specific habitats and solitary bees to complete its complex lifecycle. Officials hope the surprise find will lead to enhanced protection for local ecosystems.

• The habitatThe species depends heavily on solitary bees to complete its reproductive lifecycle.
• The timelineRecent surveys previously suggested the insect had vanished entirely from the Welsh countryside.