Heather beetle outbreak in Blaenavon

Heather Beetle (Photo Samantha Williams)

My daughter, who now resides in Blaenavon, alerted me to the occurrence of hundreds of beetles congregating on and around properties in the town, including her own. Now I'm familiar with the heather beetle from walking the landscape, as its a common sight on the heather clad hillsides around south Wales. However, I was not aware of their ability to multiply in such numbers.

It seems these beetles can overwinter in the leaf litter of a heather moorland only to emerge in April and May when the temperature reaches 9 degrees. Populations respond to a food source i.e. heather, that is enhanced by atmospheric nitrogen and can become so numerous counts have been made of up to 2000 beetles per square metre. They generally have poor powers of dispersion, but are frequently blown around the landscape by prevailing winds.