Oulema melanopus (Linnaeus, 1758)
This colourful leaf beetle is much less common than the virtually identical Oulema rufocyanea and this seems to be the first record for the Sherwood Forest area. With a length of around 5mm, Oulema melanopus feeds on grasses and cereal crops and is probably common and under recorded throughout much of Nottinghamshire. This adult was photographed on Sherwood Heath in July 2012.
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Nottinghamshire (VC56) distribution of Oulema melanopus
 
 
 
 
The records for the Nottinghamshire distribution map are currently provided by the following contributors - Trevor and Dilys Pendleton. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Stuart Warrington. The National Trust (Clumber Park invertebrate records). Allan and Annette Binding (Clumber Park invertebrate records). Charlie Barnes. Brian Wetton.

You can contribute your own records to help us gain an accurate status of this species in Nottinghamshire. Send an Excel spreadsheet of your records via the 'contact us' link at the top of the homepage.

Updated November 2022
copyright © Trevor and Dilys Pendleton (www.eakringbirds.com) . .
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