A museum in Liverpool has achieved a world first by successfully breeding an Indian ground beetle in captivity.

In 1968 the city famously exported its own Beatles to India to great acclaim.

Forty-one years later India sent Liverpool’s World Museum Bug House eight of the ground beetles (Anthia sexguttata) with the intention of breeding them, something never successfully achieved before.

Seven of the beetles died leaving only one female left who staff believed would not survive for very long.

However, last month staff were surprised to see a young adult male in the tank with the female.

The female had burrowed away eggs in the sand which went unnoticed by staff until one hatched.

Paul Finnegan, education team leader at the Bug House, believes the secret to their success is the sand/cement substrate he used in the tank.