Skip to main content
close x

Key To Map

Choose the categories you would like to display on the map.

Choose the categories to be display on the map

Scarlet malachite

Scarlet malachite

Another stunning, rare beetle with an unusual but little understood life history is the Scarlet malachite malachius aeneus.

Sadly, these sun loving beetles have only been recorded at a few sites in Britain since 2000, one of the strongholds being villages in the New Forest: North and South Gorley, and also a major site only discovered in 2011, Furzey Gardens, near Minstead.

They have been recorded in the Forest mainly in June, in grassy areas such as flower rich meadows, near thatched cottages. They eat pollen from grasses, plantain or flowers, including buttercups, but sometimes devour slow moving invertebrates.

The larvae are predators. It is believed that this species prefers old agricultural practices, such as the ecosystem that develops in old straw and hay, similar to changes in thatch.

Please look out for these beetles on flowers in meadows, particularly with thatched cottages in the vicinity and contact Buglife if you find one; don’t forget to photograph it if possible.

Conservation status: RDB3 – Red list, rare.

Photo:  Paul D. Brock


ID Tip

ID Tip

5-8 mm long, greenish bronze, with broad scarlet markings on the wing cases.

Gillie
Molland
Lead Ranger

profile

'To help ground nesting birds rear their young safely, keep yourself, dogs and ridden horses on the main tracks from the beginning of March to the end of August.'

Newsletter Image

Email

Newsletter

6

Free

Six free walking routes when you sign up for New Forest Newsletter


Subscribe to New Forest National Park Authority

By entering your email below you are consenting to us sending you newsletters. To unsubscribe, email communications@newforestnpa.gov.uk. More info: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/privacy-cookies


I think you mistyped your email
Your interests (tick at least one)










Please select one

By signing up to this form you are consenting to receive emails from us. Each email will contain a link to your personal reference settings where you can opt-out or change which emails you receive from us. Please read our Privacy Policy for more information about how we use data.

Subscribe to New Forest National Park Authority

Thanks, your subscription has been confirmed. You've been added to our list and your New Forest walking pack is on its way to you, including a link to download our free app.