False blister beetles of the genus Oedemera in Scotland

Abstract

The status and distribution of the Scottish false blister beetles (Oedemeridae) are summarised with particular reference to the genus Oedemera. Within this genus only three species have been reliably recorded in Scotland. Of the two widespread species virtually all the records are post-1990. One species - O. virescens - appears to be very common in the south of Scotland whereas the other species - O. lurida - is recorded mainly north of the central belt. While identification problems may partly account for these differences, they do not appear to provide a complete explanation with other unknown factors influencing their distribution.