Heather Beetle (Lochmaea suturalis) is causing problems in a number of areas. They eat heather, which can cause older plants to die. Young heather is more resilient to a beetle attack and can recover, but an attack in older plants can kill off areas of heather moorland.

Burning areas affected by a beetle attack is an effective way of encouraging recovery, cutting is less effective in this instance, as the beetle will live, dormant, in litter below the heather over winter, only emerging which warmer weather arrives. Whilst cutting removes the beetle staple diet, it does not kill them. The beetle itself is rarely seen, but evidence of its activity is more easily visible. Plants will loose the lush green leaves and look bare and grey, and the stems will turn an orange colour. If left unchecked, the heather will die and the area turn to rough grassland.

In New Zealand, where Heather is an invasive species, Heather Beetle have been introduced and are proving successful in killing the plant.

Go back to Moorland Management page