Heather Beetle Season

One of the first beetle larvae of 2014

Let this Talking Point serve as a timely reminder that heather beetle larvae are very much on the move as we approach the end of July, with some early signs of damage starting to show in the hills overlooking the Heather Trust office at Dumfries.

There is a certain knack to spotting the beetle larvae in situ, but as Langholm Moor headkeeper Simon Lester pointed out at the Scottish Game Fair, there is a certain smell to beetle damage which is a giveaway. Perhaps sap is oozed out because the beetles fray the growing stems, and a trained nose can identify the familiar odour of bashed heather which accompanies normal cutting or mulching operations. Although this was initially taken with a pinch of salt, it turns out that it really is possible to "smell the beetle".

Judging by smell is one way of identifying beetle damage in progress, but it is not the best way for someone who has not seen the work of the larvae "in action". Sudden, dramatic reddening of heather is the best indication, although this is slightly confused after a very long, scorching summer when many patches of heather (particularly on shallow soils) are beginning to look a little tatty and sad.

If you do encounter beetle damage this summer, please let us know. Our survey form is easy to download, from our Heather Beetle webpage, and there is plenty more information on our site, including the latest news on our beetle research projects in the Peak District and at Langholm Moor.