News by Levels · Level 2 · Student worksheet

Rare Oil Beetle Young Found at Welsh Site

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

Read the story

Surveyors have found young short-necked oil beetles at Castlemartin in Pembrokeshire, the only site in Wales where the species is currently known to live, according to Natural Resources Wales.

Searches there in 2022 and 2025 found only dead adults. Finding larvae during a 2026 survey gives conservation workers evidence that the beetles are breeding at the site. The agency announced the result on October 28.

The larvae depend on solitary bees. They climb flowers and attach themselves to visiting bees, which carry them back to their nests. There, the larvae feed on pollen collected by the bees.

Source: Natural Resources Wales, 2026-10-28. https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/news-and-blogs/news/patience-pays-off-for-rare-species-in-pembrokeshire/?lang=en

Read and practise

1. What makes Castlemartin important for this beetle in Wales?

   1. It is one of several known sites in Wales.
   2. It is the only site where the species is currently known to live.
   3. It is one of two currently known sites in Wales.

2. Why did finding larvae encourage conservation workers?

   1. It gave evidence that the beetles are breeding at the site.
   2. It showed the beetles live at several Welsh sites.
   3. It showed the beetles do not need solitary bees.

3. What do the larvae eat in the bees’ nests?

   1. Nectar collected by the bees
   2. Food stored by adult beetles
   3. Pollen collected by the bees

Your turn

Explain how the larvae reach a bee nest and what the recent discovery suggests.

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Read online: https://newsbylevels.com/news/rare-short-necked-oil-beetle-larvae-wales-pembrokeshire-2026/level-2/