Saving the small things that run the planetLatin name: Orthocerus clavicornis
Notable feature: A small fuzzy black beetle with beautiful thick, brush-like antennae and pitting across its wing cases.
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Where in the UK: Widespread but highly localised around the coast of the UK on coastal dunes and occasional sand pits. In England it has a largely coastal distribution with records on the east and north-west coasts, but a cluster of inland Breckland records. It is found on a number of coastal sites in Wales, but is known in Scotland only from the Dornoch Firth.
The Brush-horned Sand Beetle (Orthocerus clavicornis) is a native, small fuzzy black beetle belonging to the ironclad beetle family.
It has beautiful brush-like antennae and is found amongst the lichen, roots and mosses of sandpits, and sand dunes within heathland. It is widespread but highly localised around the coast of the UK on coastal dunes and occasional sand pits.
In England it has a largely coastal distribution with records on the east and north-west coasts, but a cluster of inland Breckland records. It is found on a number of coastal sites in Wales, but is known in Scotland only from the Dornoch Firth.
Relatively little is currently known about the Brush-horned Sand Beetle, as evidenced by the gaps in our knowledge below.
Buglife is working to increase awareness of invertebrates and the Brush-horned Sand Beetle through specific projects and campaigns, such as Save Coul Links, but we need your help!
Join a recording scheme and log your finds – send any records/sightings to the UK Beetle Recording Scheme or download the iRecord app and get recording!
Do remember that we rely on donations to continue our work. If you have searched, found and learnt about our incredible invertebrates on our website, please do consider Making a Donation, Becoming a Member or maybe even making a purchase in our shop. For more ideas on how to support our work find out how to Get Involved. Thank you 🕷
