It is the 60th anniversary of The Beatles’ film Help, which was filmed at exotic locations such as the beaches of Nassau, the ski slopes of Austria and Salisbury Plain at Knighton Down, Larkhill.
This tenuous Fab Four link introduces readers to my Fantastic Five amazing beetles found around Salisbury Plain.
First, the oil beetle. They rely on solitary bees to complete their life cycles, and their populations are dependent on the health and diversity of wild bees. Their ideal habitat is wildflower-rich grassland, a habitat that has declined in quantity and quality due to intensive countryside management.
Second, the green tiger beetle. A ferocious and agile predator, it hunts spiders, ants and caterpillars. It is one of our fastest insects and a dazzling metallic green colour.
Third, the bloody-nosed beetle. It derives its name from its unusual defence mechanism: when threatened, it secretes a distasteful blood-red liquid from its mouth. This flightless beetle lives on grassland, heathland and hedgerows.
Fourth, and another ferocious predator, the Devil’s coach horse beetle hunts invertebrates after dark in gardens and on grassland. It is well-known for curling up its abdomen like the tail of a scorpion when defending itself.
Fifth is my favourite and the most apt for Salisbury Plain, the Bombardier beetle which has the infamous ability to release rapid bursts of stinky, burning-hot liquid gas from its rear end at predators.
Thanks for joining me on this brief Magical, Mystery Tour, if you are lucky to see one of these beautiful creatures, please help us conserve them by recording them on irecord.org.uk
Iain Perkins
Pictured: The Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle
