Scarlet Malachite Beetle

Scarlet Malachite Beetle (Malachius aeneus) © Chris Gibson

Buglife collaborated with with Natural England, Lifeforms, Essex Wildlife Trust, Furzey Gardens and local landowners, to survey key sites for the Scarlet Malachite Beetle (Malachius aeneus), monitor their behaviour in the field and trial captive rearing. Lifeforms worked closely with landowners to ensure their sites are well-managed for the beetle and creating ‘beetle cottages’ that offered artificial nesting sites.

View more information

Quick Facts:

  • Name of Project: Scarlet Malachite Beetle
  • Duration of Project: 2012 – 2016
  • Location of Project: Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hampshire
  • Species benefiting from Project: Scarlet Malachite Beetle (Malachius aeneus)
  • Project partners: Natural England, Essex Wildlife Trust, Furzey Gardens

This small but handsome beetle is not only incredibly rare, it is rather mysterious. The adult beetles appear at the beginning of end of April/May, feeding on grasses and flowers in meadows, often in the vicinity of thatched or timbered cottages during the summer months.

The beetle is found mainly in Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hampshire, although it was once found in counties across the south and east of England. The reason for its decline is not known, but is thought to be caused by general habitat loss and intensive farming practices.

Research by Buglife has suggested that the beetle lays its eggs in thatch and timber. If you have a thatched roof or timbers in your home, and live in one of the areas where the beetle lives, please have a good look for these beetles, using our survey information and contact us if you think you have found any Scarlet Malachite Beetles.

From 2012 to 2016, Buglife worked in collaboration with Ian Hughes at Lifeforms together with Natural England, Essex Wildlife Trust, Furzey Gardens and local landowners, to continue surveys of key sites, captive breeding of the beetle as well as monitoring their behaviour in the field. Lifeforms has been working closely with landowners to ensure their sites are well-managed for the beetle and creating artificial nesting sites ‘beetle cottages’. For more information on management for the beetle see the Scarlet Malachite Beetle management sheet.

Where can I find the beetle?

The most important counties for this beetle are Essex, Hertfordshire and Hampshire, but in the last 3 decades it has also been found in Bedfordshire, Dorset, North Somerset, West Kent and Surrey.

If you live in one of the important counties or one where it has been previously found please look out for the beetle, join our Scarlet malachite beetle survey, and get in touch if you find one.

Help us to stop the extinction of invertebrate species

Engage with our work

Stay up to date with our work and help spread the word by following us on our socials and signing up to our monthly BugBytes email newsletter.

Donate to support us

Every contribution helps us to save the small things that run the planet by restoring vital habitats and rebuilding strong invertebrate populations in the UK.

Make a donation

Become a member

Join a community of invertebrate champions and access exclusive member benefits from just £3 a month, all whilst supporting our vital conservation work.

Join us
Buglife logo
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

More information about our Privacy Policy