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Brush-horned Sand Beetle

Fast Facts

Latin name: Orthocerus clavicornis

Notable feature: A small fuzzy black beetle with beautiful thick, brush-like antennae and pitting across its wing cases.

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Where in the UK: Widespread but highly localised around the coast of the UK on coastal dunes and occasional sand pits. In England it has a largely coastal distribution with records on the east and north-west coasts, but a cluster of inland Breckland records. It is found on a number of coastal sites in Wales, and scattered records on both the east and west coast of Scotland, including the Ardeer Peninsula and Coul Links

Brush-horned Sand Beetle (Orthocerus clavicornis) © Roger Key

The Brush-horned Sand Beetle (Orthocerus clavicornis) is a native, small fuzzy black beetle belonging to the ironclad beetle family.

It has beautiful brush-like antennae and is found amongst the lichen, roots and mosses of sandpits, and sand dunes within heathland.  It is widespread but highly localised around the coast of the UK on coastal dunes and occasional sand pits.

In England it has a largely coastal distribution with records on the east and north-west coasts, but a cluster of inland Breckland records. It is found on a number of coastal sites in Wales, and scattered records on both the east and west coast of Scotland, including the Ardeer Peninsula and Coul Links.

Relatively little is currently known about the Brush-horned Sand Beetle, as evidenced by the gaps in our knowledge below.

  • Size: 3.5-5mm in length
  • Life span: Unknown
  • Diet: Unknown
  • Reproduction: Unknown
  • When to see: Adult Brush-horned Sand Beetles can be found from April to June with a resurgence from August to September.
  • Population Trend: Although the Brush-horned Sand Beetle has clearly declined through the 20th century, probably at least partly through development, there is little evidence that this decline is continuing.
  • Threats: Loss of dune and heathland to afforestation, developments (urban and recreational) and conversion to agriculture. Recreational disturbance can degrade its habitat, with loss of vegetation though activities such as horse riding, motorbiking and heavy foot traffic.
  • Fun Fact:  The Brush-horned Sand Beetle is strongly associated with dog lichens (Peltigera spp.), with a particular preference for P. canina.

How you can help: 

Buglife is working to increase awareness of invertebrates and the Brush-horned Sand Beetle through specific projects and campaigns, such as Save Coul Links and Ardeer Peninsula – Scotland’s bee haven, but we need your help!

Join a recording scheme and log your finds – send any records/sightings to the UK Beetle Recording Scheme or download the iRecord app and get recording!

Do remember that we rely on donations to continue our work.  If you have searched, found and learnt about our incredible invertebrates on our website, please do consider Making a Donation, Becoming a Member or maybe even making a purchase in our shop.  For more ideas on how to support our work find out how to Get Involved.  Thank you 🕷

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