Violet Click Beetle Project

The Violet Click Beetle is known to breed in hollows of ancient decaying Ash (Fraxinus spp) and Beech (Fagus spp) trees. It is quite specific in its habitat requirements and breeds where the heartwood is undisturbed and has decayed into a black mulch. The species is thought to breed repeatedly in the same tree until it completely rots away, at which point it must source a new ancient Ash or Beech to continue its lifecycle.

This elusive species is incredibly difficult to find and monitor, which hinders efforts to conserve it and its habitats. This project has established new monitoring methods for the habitats of Violet Click Beetle adults and larval habitats.

Throughout this project, we worked closely with Dr Deborah Harvey at Royal Holloway, University of London.

What did the project do?

The project trialled new non-invasive methods for detecting both adult and larval habitats of Violet Click Beetles. Working closely with Dr Deborah Harvey of Royal Hollaway University for over the three years, pheromone traps were deployed allowing for adult beetles to be surveyed. Methods of detecting larvae were also deployed at known sites. This allowed for both adults and larvae of this elusive species to be surveyed without damaging the vital deadwood habitat the Violet Click Beetle relies upon.

The results of this project will lay the foundations for a cost-effective and non-lethal approach to monitoring and assessing the status of Violet Click Beetle populations. It has helped us to establish the presence and abundance of the species in both the known habitats and sites where there is potential for them to be present.

With effective monitoring methods, we can inform conservation strategies more effectively and hopefully discover new populations of the Violet Click Beetle, to protect one of our most endangered insects for the future.

How can you support beyond the project?

We encourage you to submit any Violet Click Beetle sightings on the iRecord website or app.