A "legendary" insect has been found in the unlikely location of a south west London park.
Natural History Museum scientists discovered the globally rare False Click Beetle on Wimbledon Common - famed for its fictional residents the Wombles - during a routine insect survey at the 1,140-acre green space.
Intriguingly, like the Wombles the insect is known for its environmental credentials.
The Wombles' goal in life was to keep Wimbledon Common tidy by clearing up and recycling rubbish. Similarly, the False Click Beetle, Eucnemis capucina, is associated with unspoiled natural environments.
Dr Max Barclay, manager NHM's 10 million strong beetle collection, said: "Sampling beetles is like taking a blood test, it gives you quick idea of a whole ecosystem's health.
He added:"To find such a species at Wimbledon Common shows that the conservators are taking good care of the site, and managing it for wildlife, and that there are old important trees there that can support populations of rare insects.
He went on: "Eucnemis is a kind of legendary beetle. No-one I know has ever seen it, and the newest specimens in Natural History Museum are from the 1930s."
The beetle is considered a "Grade One" indicator of good quality ancient woodland.
Keita Matsumoto, who found the insect, said: "It was a lucky shot. I'm pleased I was swinging my insect net that afternoon instead of my tennis racquet."
In total the survey recorded more than 100 species of beetle, many of which had not been reported in the area before.
Additional reporting by PA
