Key for the identification of British Meloidae

The latest checklist lists ten species from three genera. Some of these are very rare. Genus Meloe is the subject of a survey by Buglife - details at http://www.buglife.org.uk/getinvolved/surveys/Oil+Beetle+Hunt. The key below is adapted from Joy (1932) and can be used to identify the British fauna to species. Any of those marked "very rare" should be photographed and sent to Buglife. Some very useful photographs and aids to identification can be found at http://johnwalters.co.uk/research/oil-beetle-identification.php.