CONSERVATIONISTS are looking for more sightings of a rare beetle following a feature on a woodland at Pershore in the new series of the BBC’s Autumnwatch.
Harry Green, trustee and honorary vice-president of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, met presenter Kate Humble and a film crew at Tiddesley Orchard, near Pershore.
The BBC filmed the exploration of old orchard trees for the frass, or poo, of the rare noble chafer beetle.
Noble chafer beetles live in decaying fruit trees and can spend their entire life in one tree, so it is rare to see them flying.
Mr Green said: “It’s great to see a national programme take an interest in such a rare beetle. Noble chafers are only found in this area and a small area of Kent but Autumnwatch may well help us identify more populations.
“We used a spoon to find out whether there was frass in our trees, but you have to be careful in case you disturb larvae or the adults themselves.
“The adults are about the size of a thumbnail and are the most beautiful colour.
“They’re iridescent and can change colour according to how the light catches them. The beetles fly on warm days in late June and July.”
Anyone finding evidence of noble chafers in old orchard trees should report the finds to Worcestershire Biological Record Centre on 01905 759759.
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