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American oil beetle, are these native to Ireland?

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  • 09-04-2019 1:44pm
    #1
    emo72
    Registered Users Posts: 6,186 ✭✭✭


    Seen a large beetle out on my walk, took a photo and googled it. This looked like it. First time I ever saw one and it was an impressive size. So, are these common, and native?


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    #2
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,315 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    was it possibly a devil's coach horse?
    no photos attached, btw.


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    #3
    emo72
    Registered Users Posts: 6,186 ✭✭✭emo72


    magicbastarder wrote: »
    was it possibly a devil's coach horse?
    no photos attached, btw.

    No, not devils coach horse. Deffo looks like oil beetle. I tried uploading image but image is too big on my phone.


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    #4
    HoteiMarkii
    Registered Users Posts: 127 ✭✭HoteiMarkii


    Without an image it's just a guessing game really, but most likely a native insect species and not an American Oil Beetle.


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    #5
    emo72
    Registered Users Posts: 6,186 ✭✭✭emo72


    How the devil do you post images here? It's on my phone and it won't allow me to upload it because boards says it's too big.

    Edit is there an Irish oil beetle equivalent?


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    #6
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,419 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    emo72 wrote: »
    How the devil do you post images here? It's on my phone and it won't allow me to upload it because boards says it's too big.
    Upload it to an image hosting service like tinypic,com, and copy and paste the link provided for message boards. It'll add the appropriate image tags for you. Probably best to use the option to resize it to a reasonable size like 640x480 or 800x600 too.


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    #7
    HoteiMarkii
    Registered Users Posts: 127 ✭✭HoteiMarkii


    I'm aware of a Violet Oil Beetle (Meloe violaceus) which is a species found here. Never seen one though. There may be other similar looking species from the same genus present.


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    #8
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    HoteiMarkii wrote: »
    I'm aware of a Violet Oil Beetle (Meloe violaceus) which is a species found here. Never seen one though. There may be other similar looking species from the same genus present.

    Also look up Meloe proscarabeus


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    #9
    emo72
    Registered Users Posts: 6,186 ✭✭✭emo72


    I'll try again
    there you go lads. what do youd think? impressive looking critter.


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    #10
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    emo72 wrote: »
    I'll try again
    there you go lads. what do youd think? impressive looking critter.

    Yes, Meloe proscarabeus.

    Adults seen from April to June.


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    #11
    emo72
    Registered Users Posts: 6,186 ✭✭✭emo72


    mystery solved. it was the steel blue legs that threw me.


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    #12
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,993 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    Well spotted - Very nice beetle.


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    #13
    Thud
    Registered Users Posts: 2,533 ✭✭✭Thud


    Sorry to jump in on this thread, any ideas on what this insect is?
    Thought it was a bee at first but on closer inspection the wing casing would suggest not, possibly beetle/hoverfly/horsefly?

    478185.jpeg


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