Heather Beetle Pupae

Towards the end of August, heather beetle larvae descend into the vegetation beneath heather plants in order to pupate and mature. Leaving red, damaged heather behind them, the larvae develop a thin, crispy black coating which will shield them as they transform into adult beetles over the next few weeks.

 

By the start of September, heather that has been damaged by beetle will be extremely obvious, and the first indications of the attack’s gravity will be revealed by whether or not the heather starts to turn silvery and dead. Huge areas of moorland can be lost in a single season to a large outbreak of heather beetle, and while some plants can withstand light damage, the level of devastation can be staggering.

 

The timing of the larvae’s development roughly coincides with hatches of several important insect species, making chemical control of beetles at this time of the year into a particularly dangerous prospect. The same craneflies and ants which are emerging en masse in late August and early September will go on (directly or indirectly) to provide the food for young birds in May and June the following year, so while it is tempting to intervene with insecticide sprays, it becomes obvious that this really is not an option. Besides, it is quite difficult to spot larvae without the red discoloration of damaged heather to give you a clue, and even if it was possible to spray them off with chemicals, it would probably already be too late to save heather that had already been eaten.

 

The Heather Trust continues to support a resolution to the problem of heather beetle which rests in restoring damage, rather than the destructive suppression of a natural (albeit dramatic and destructive) event.

 

If you have come across beetle damage, please let us know, either by filling in a form online or by downloading it to complete by hand. For more advice or information, why not call us on 01387 723 201