# Black Oil Beetle (*Meloe proscarabaeus*)

The Black Oil Beetle is a shiny black bug that loves to crawl around in the grass. It has a unique shape and can sometimes be found in sunny spots, making it fun to spot on a nature walk!

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Black Oil Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Meloe_proscarabaeus%252C_Odessa.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Igor Luzhanov, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meloe_proscarabaeus%252C_Odessa.jpg)

## Appearance

The Black Oil Beetle is a large, bulky insect with an iridescent black or dark blue body. Its soft, leathery wing covers are short and oval, not fully covering its swollen abdomen. This makes it look distinctively pear-shaped compared to other beetles.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Meloidae
- **Genus:** Meloe

## Interesting facts

- Female oil beetles can lay up to 10,000 eggs at once!
- Some ancient doctors used them to treat warts and other ailments.
- Their larvae are called triungulins, meaning 'three claws' for their legs.
- They don't have wings that can fly, even though they are beetles!

## Special abilities

- **Blister Defense:** Black Oil Beetle can ooze a toxic, blistering chemical from its leg joints that helps them deter predators.
- **Clever Larva:** Its larvae are super sneaky! They mimic female bees to hitch a ride to unsuspecting male bee nests.
- **Pollen Powerup:** Adult Black Oil Beetles munch on pollen and nectar, getting energy to lay thousands of eggs.

## Measurements & details

- **Size:** 10-30 mm
- **Lifespan:** 30-90 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Adults munch on pollen and nectar, while larvae are sneaky parasites in bee nests!

- **Age differences:** Larvae are parasitic, consuming bee eggs, larvae, and stored food; adults forage on pollen and nectar.
- **Primary Foods:** Pollen, Nectar, Bee eggs, Bee larvae, Stored bee provisions
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Parasitizes:** Ashy Mining Bee (*Andrena scotica*) — Larvae develop in their nests.
- **Eats:** [Dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — Adults feed on its pollen.
- **Eats:** [Meadow Buttercup](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-buttercup) (*Ranunculus acris*) — Adults feed on its pollen.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
- [Poisonous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/poisonous): Poisonous organisms produce toxins that can cause harm when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through contact.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Don't touch beetles unless you know they're safe. Some can make you feel itchy!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Black Oil Beetle?

Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How big is Black Oil Beetle?

10-30 mm

### How long does Black Oil Beetle live?

30-90 days

### What does Black Oil Beetle eat?

Adults munch on pollen and nectar, while larvae are sneaky parasites in bee nests!

### Where is Black Oil Beetle usually found?

Grasslands

### How does Black Oil Beetle hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Black Oil Beetle have?

6

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Black Oil Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-oil-beetle)