Volume 1 Issue 2 Scottish Invertebrate News The Scottish Invertebrate Conservation Newsletter October 2010 www.scottishinvertebrates.org.uk Inside this issue: We’ve had to add more Welcome! 1 than twice as many Scottish Invertebrate 1-7 Welcome! This newsletter is the pages to meet demand! Discoveries perfect place to share The newsletter has Action for Scottish 8-11 Welcome to the second your own discoveries positively exploded ! Invertebrates issue of Scottish and catch up with other Invertebrate News . We hope that this Project Updates and projects in . inspires you to get Opportunities It has been a busy While the first issue involved in invertebrate Bob Saville Obituary 12 summer, but with the was a great success, conservation! field season for most this edition contains a 2008 Richard invertebrate groups greater variety of now drawing to a close, Lyszkowski collected a articles, covering an queen M. lonae at it’s time to sit down to even wider taxonomic Dundreggan, and the identify specimens and range with articles from nests were found in the reflect on the year. many contributors. same area by Andrew Jarman in 2009. Scottish Invertebrate Discoveries Scotland’s rarest ant? M. lonae has different Every year new entomologists from (Myrmica lonae ) © April ecology from M. invertebrate discoveries Glasgow Kelvingrove Nobile / www.antweb.org sabuleti , being less are made in Scotland. Museum, the dependent on warmth From amazing ecology, Aquatic Coleoptera Third nest record of and more associated to records of species Conservation Trust, the Scotland’s rarest ant! with open woodland. It new to Scotland or University of Glasgow is probably very scarce, science, this section and Darren Mann from A Myrmica lonae (a and more likely to be highlights just a handful the Oxford University species of red ant) nest found in Scotland than of these fascinating Museum of Natural has been found near farther south. Future discoveries! History have confirmed Arisaig – only the third surveys in suitable Short-necked oil beetle the rare find on these known in Britain! habitat in West two sites and with the found on Coll! Murdo Macdonald Scotland will almost aid of Ben Jones found found the nest under a certainly reveal more The Short-necked oil a further two sites on stone on the edge of a sites, but for the time- beetle ( Meloe Coll earlier this year. south-facing oak being M. lonae is a brevicollis ), believed to More info on page 6! woodland in August strong candidate for the have become extinct in this year. title of ‘Scotland’s the UK more than 60 Rarest Ant’. years ago, has been Bernhard Seifert Murdo Macdonald discovered on the established in 2000 Highland Biological RSPB’s Coll reserve. that what had Recording Group This fascinating beetle previously been (HBRG) was first rediscovered regarded as one in Devon in 2007 and in species of red ant, Invertebrate Discoveries 2009, Bob Heckford (a Myrmica sabuleti , was Continue on Page 2 lepidopterist from actually a complex of that species and M. Devon) and Ben Jones Short-necked oil beetle (the RSPB warden on lonae , citing a (Meloe brevicollis ) © specimen of the latter Coll) found the species Tony Oliver at two sites on the from Loch Maree. In Hebridean island. A Nicky Redpath team of visiting RSPB Scotland Scottish Invertebrate Discoveries Cont. Army worms found in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire! winged fungus gnats. Rare brackish-water mud snail in Scotland While a number of Mud snails (Hydrobiidae) verified as no species of these gnats are small gastropods specimens have been occasionally form (1.0-6.0 mm long) which collected from these impressive larval occur in brackish water habitats. processions – perhaps to open marine habitats. Morphological to avoid overcrowding – Hydrobids are common characters such as it is unknown if this benthic organisms that body size and pigment Leadhills worms behaviour is more reside within intertidal patterns on the (Army worms, common in the species and shallow waters and tentacles can be Diptera: Sciaridae) most famous for it, prefer soft substrates. affected by © Charlie Clark Sciara militaris . environmental and Following sightings parasitic factors which It is believed that the from local residents, challenge identification. larvae at Leadhills are representatives from those of S. militaris , Records indicate that South Lanarkshire which is native to H. acuta neglecta is Council’s Countryside rare but distributed continental Europe but and Greenspace widely in the Outer recorded at only a on North and Service collected larvae handful of other sites in South Uist, while its from a column of Scotland. If distribution is restricted suspected ‘army identification is elsewhere in Scotland. worms’ (Diptera: confirmed, the Verification of existing Sciaridae) at Leadhills discovery is potentially records will help in July 2010. of national significance. confirm the known Known locally as the Larvae have been distribution of this ‘Leadhills Worms’ and successfully raised to Mud snail (Hydrobiidae) species. It is hoped ‘Oor Nessie’, dense adults and identification that improved shells © Melissa Chevalier columns of the larvae is being undertaken by identification aids will then allow increased have been reported in a entomologists at The These snails are an recording and greater garden run by the Scots University of Glasgow, important link in lagoon confidence in Mining Company and the results will be food webs providing a identification, providing House Trust in published once this is vital food source for fish a clearer picture of the Leadhills for several confirmed. and birds. Often current distribution of years. These columns different species co-exist Siân Williams this rare snail. contain thousands of within one habitat and in Biodiversity Officer, abundant numbers e.g. Melissa Chevalier individual larvae. South Lanarkshire Peringia ulvae , Ventrosia BTCV Natural Talent Army worms are Council Apprentice ventrosa and Hydrobia actually larvae of dark- acuta neglecta. Current uncertainty over New species of water at Robroyston LNR and Craig Macadam the identification of beetle for Scotland! identified by Garth Buglife hydrobids, particularly H. Foster of the Aquatic acuta neglecta which is Surveys undertaken by Coleoptera easily confused with Buglife on behalf of Conservation Trust. other species, renders Froglife have revealed This beetle was first distribution maps something quite recorded in the UK from inaccurate. H. acuta unexpected – a new East Kent in 1983 and neglecta has been species for Scotland! has since expanded its recorded as present in Hygrotus nigrolineatus , range northwards. Its some lagoonal areas but a small diving beetle, appearance in a pond Hygrotus nigrolineatus © these records cannot be was collected by Craig in Glasgow is the first Lars Iversen Macadam from a pond record for Scotland.

Page 2 Damsels and dragons take to the air at Flight Pond! Scottish Invertebrate Discoveries Cont. The recent find of a Scirtid tree-hole beetle—not rare, just overlooked! Four-spotted chaser exuvia brings the total Two recent visits to number of species of Scotland by Dr Jonty dragonflies and Denton have yielded damselflies (Odonata) the second, third and at the National Trust for fourth Scottish localities Four-spotted chaser Scotland’s (NTS) for the tree-hole beetle (Libellula quadrimaculata ) Castle Fraser to ten – Prionocyphon exuvia © Juliette Dinning exceptional for the serricornis . This north-east of Scotland! The rich Odonata species is a member of Prionocyphon serricornis © Dr Jonty Denton The exuvia was found community, combined the small Scirtid family, on a rush by the edge with the pond’s wealth all of which have of the aptly named of other aquatic aquatic larvae and find a tree-hole, pick up ‘Flight Pond’ at Castle invertebrates, has led terrestrial adults. Once a stick, stir up the Fraser, an NTS the Ranger Service to thought a great rarity, leaves and debris and property in explore the possibility and ancient woodland look for the straw Aberdeenshire. The of Local Nature indicator, it is in fact a coloured larvae (5- discovery was made by Reserve designation for widespread species, 12mm long) with long the NTS Ranger the site in the future. but the adults are very fine antennae (see Service on a training Toni Watt short lived and elusive. picture) floating up! day led by local expert NTS Ranger Service Hence the vast majority You’re bound to get the and NTS volunteer of records are of larvae rat-tailed larvae of the Juliette Dinning. which develop in small hoverfly Myathropa pockets of water florea , but the rot hole trapped in holes in beetle might take two trees – especially or three goes. beech. If you are keen Dr Jonty Denton to make some exciting Scirtid Recording discoveries, as well as new county records, Scheme

Biological Association Surveys this year have for their project ‘Is the shown that the species Upland summer mayfly is no longer found at (Ameletus inopinatus ) many of the low altitude in hot water?’ Over the sites. Further work is summer they have planned over the winter Four-spotted chaser sampled watercourses to establish the current (Libellula quadrimaculata ) with historic records of distribution of the © Chris Cathrine Ameletus and have Upland summer mayfly. identified the lower Craig Macadam Is the Upland summer leading to its loss from altitudinal limit in five Ephemeroptera some watercourses. mayfly in hot water? key populations. Recording Scheme Louis Kitchen (BTCV The Upland summer Natural Talent mayfly ( Ameletus Apprentice), Willie inopinatus ) is the only Yeomans (Clyde River arctic-alpine mayfly Foundation) and Craig species found in the Macadam UK. It is thought that (Ephemeroptera increasing water Recording Scheme) temperatures are were awarded the Hugh Upland summer mayfly pushing this species Cary Gilson Award by (Ameletus inopinatus ) further and further the Freshwater © Stuart Crofts upstream, and even

Page 3 Scottish Invertebrate Discoveries Cont. New site for the rare Scabious mining ! Northern February red stonefly confirmed as It was thought that the Scottish endemic! rare Scabious mining bee ( Andrena Work undertaken by the from the Carpathians. marginata ) had been Riverfly Partnership The comparison extinct in Scotland for and Buglife has showed that B. putata more than half a century, confirmed that the is closely related to, but until Gill Nisbet found Northern February red clearly distinct from, B. one in Boat of Garten in stonefly ( Brachyptera starmachi . The 2002. Jane Bowman putata ) is a UK Northern February red then found a strong endemic species. is found in clean, fast population in Glen Specimens of adults flowing rivers in the Moriston in 2007 and were collected from Highlands and has also Gus Jones has alongside the upper been recorded from subsequently observed Scabious mining bee reaches of the River Wales. There have single females in a few (Andrena marginata ) Dee in March and sent been no recent records places in Strathspey. © Gus Jones to Peter Zwick in from Wales and it looks The bee is restricted to Germany – an like this endemic Devil’s-bit scabious pollen and provisioning international expert on species is now (Succisa pratensis ) as a nests. Clearly the area stoneflies. Peter restricted to the pollen source, and local holds a vigorous compared the Highlands of Scotland. botanist Margaret Fraser population, second only to specimens to Craig Macadam noted a particularly Glen Moriston in Brachyptera starmachi , Buglife impressive meadow of importance in Scotland – a species described this plant near Daviot, a fantastic discovery for a just south of Inverness. species thought so Murdo Macdonald recently to have been checked this site in extinct in the country! September this year, Murdo Macdonald and quickly found almost HBRG 20 females collecting New species of Scuttle fly (Diptera: Phoridae) from Scotland raises questions over feeding habits.

A new species of Scuttle nectar source. As pollen fly (Diptera: Phoridae) has not been recorded in has been described from the crop or stomach of Scotland by Dr Henry any phorids caught Above: Female Northern February red stonefly Disney—Megaselia visiting flowers, this (Brachyptera putata ) wigtownensis. This discovery raises the Below: Male Northern February red stonefly discovery calls into possibility that some may (Brachyptera putata ) question the worldwide pierce pollen grains and distribution of M. picta to ingest the contents, or Both photos © David Pryce which the specimen had discharge saliva onto originally been assigned. grains and ingest the Dr Disney has since saliva and any nutrients found M. wigtownensis released from the pollen. in northern Spain, where With 1,500 species of a specimen was Megaselia known and collected with a pine probably 10 times as pollen mass on its many undescribed, there proboscis. This is may still be much to learn! intriguing as phorids are Chris Cathrine nectar feeders, and male Buglife pine cones are not a

Page 4 SEPA scaleworm surveys uncover a plethora of marine species new to Scottish waters! andreapolis ( scaleworm Occelated The scaleworms are among the most readily recognisable of polychaete worms and are common in both intertidal and subtidal marine habitats. Over forty species have been recognised from Scottish ) © Myles O’Reilly O’Reilly Myles © ) waters but the distributions of many species are poorly known, partly due to the difficulties in identifying many species, which often requires microscopic examination of the scales, or the Malmgrenia Malmgrenia chaetae (hairs/spines). Scaleworms are often observed during environmental monitoring surveys of the seabed carried out by Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). With the current interest in documenting marine biodiversity, SEPA scientists have undertaken a study to review their finds of seas, was also found on Gattyana cirrhosa from the scaleworms in recent years, focussing on surveys Clyde, and from Shetland. In addition, two species in the Clyde and Argyll Sea Area. The SEPA of Herpyllobius were found – H. arcticus attached to scaleworm records include nearly thirty species. the body of G. cirrhosa and H. polynoes attached to Some of these are well known, such as the the head of Harmothoe antilopes . A third Occelated scaleworm ( Malmgrenia andreapolis ) Herpyllobius species (found attached to the head of with distinctive eye-like scale markings, which several Malmgrenia andreapolis ) appears to differ frequently lives within the burrows of Anchor sea- from any known described form and may represent cucumbers of the genera Labidoplax or a species new to science. Leptosynapta . Other species found, such as The morphology of Eurysilenium and Herpyllobius McIntosh’s scaleworm ( Malmgrenia mcintoshi ), with copepods is extremely modified comprising a simple a mottled brown scale pattern, or the Antler ovoid body and a tongue-like portion which inserts scaleworm ( Harmothoe pagenstecheri ) with through the host’s skin into its body cavity. There distinctive ornate antler-like tubercules on its are no antennae, mouthparts, or legs whatsoever. scales, have just been recognised as separate The only thing that gives away their copepodan species in recent nature is a pair of curled egg-sacs (ovisacs) years and are now protruding from the posterior end. having their known In addition to the copepods, the scaleworms were distributions clarified. checked for commensal entoproct zooids, which are Six of the species generally overlooked by ecologists. Although these found by SEPA – miniscule polyp-like symbiotic organsisms do not Enipo elizabethae, benefit the scaleworms they often attach to, neither Harmothoe antilopes , do they cause harm. The scaleworm Gattyana H. pagenstecheri, H. cirrhosa was found to harbour two entoproct species spinifera , Malmgrenia – Loxosomella compressa and L. harmeri which ljungmani and M. attach to the chaetae or scales respectively. An entoproct ( Loxosomella marphysae – are Another entoproct Loxosomella glandulifera was newly recorded from recovered from the tube of the Pocket scaleworm compressa ) [arrowed] on the Clyde and Argyll (Panthalis oerstedi ). None of these entoprocts have chaeta of a scaleworm Sea Area. A single previously been recorded from Scottish waters. (Gattyana cirrhosa ) small specimen of the Indeed, L. glandulifera is new even to UK waters! © Myles O’Reilly Fragile scaleworm The new distributional records described above for (Harmothoe fragilis ) from Loch Ryan represents the scaleworms, copepods and entoprocts reflect our first find from Scottish waters. limited knowledge of these invertebrate groups. Scaleworms were also checked for parasitic There is still much to be learned about many of our copepods which attach to the head or body of their smaller, more obscure, marine creatures. Full host. Four different copepod species were details of the study are to be published shortly in the identified. One of these, Selioides bocqueti, was Glasgow Naturalist Journal. recorded for the first time from Scottish waters, on Myles O’Reilly, SEPA the dorsum of Gattyana cirrhosa . Another copepod, Eurysilenium truncatum , new to British Page 5 Scottish Invertebrate Discoveries Cont. Technical Note: Short-necked oil beetle on Coll Barbut’s cuckoo bumble- were found by three bee found on Orkney! different observers between 8 th and 23 rd July on Mainland and Egilsay. This is a scarce species in Scotland and absent from the neighbouring Highland region, though the usual host, Bombus hortorum , is a common species. The nearest modern records are of four Barbut’s cuckoo bumblebee males in Aberdeenshire (Bombus barbutellus ) between 2002-2007. © Bob Dawson Bob Dawson Short-necked oil beetle A welcome but Bumblebee (Moloe brevicollis ) © unexpected discovery Conservation Trust Darren J. Mann this year was of Barbut’s Cuckoo Bumblebee John Crossley The Short-necked oil beetle ( Meloe brevicollis Bombus barbutellus in John Crossley Panzer) was, until 2006 believed extinct in the UK. Orkney. Three females Consultancy According to the Review of the scarce and Cave spiders in the ruins entering the ruin, he threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain (Hyman, 1992) it was only known from eleven vice counties, found himself of Cadzow Castle! mostly in southern , and was last recorded surrounded by the large at Chailey Common, East Sussex in 1948. The impressive but dark-brown spiders with harmless Cave spider, ping pong ball sized egg However, in 2006 Bob Heckford found a specimen at Bolt Tail, Devon — a site at which N.H. Joy Meta menardi has been sacks hanging from the (1902) had previously recorded the species over found in the ruins of ceilings. When one hundred years before. A second modern Cadzow Castle, in illuminated by a record emerged in 2009, when a first instar (a Chatelherault Country spotlight, these <2mm long triungulin) was identified from a Park in Hamilton! apparently dull spiders specimen of the Northern bee ( Colletes Chris Cathrine, a local reveal their markings. floralis ) collected during 2006 at Cahore Dunes, Ireland (Telfer, 2009). In June 2009 Bob Heckford spider enthusiast, Cave spiders are decided to check out sent pictures to Darren J. Mann for identification of probably under- two Meloe specimens, one collected by himself at rumours of giant black recorded, due to their Hogh Bay, Coll, the second collected a few days spiders dwelling in the secretive habitat. earlier near Sorisdale by Ben Jones (Coll RSPB ruins. He was not Chris Cathrine Warden). The former was clearly M. brevicollis , disappointed! Upon Buglife but, unfortunately the second proved more difficult to accurately identify, since the specimen exhibited unusual colouration and texture. In view of this, the authors planned a trip to assess the status of M. brevicollis on Coll and to see if the species was also on neighbouring Tiree. M. brevicollis was not found on Tiree despite several sites with large populations of the host bee being surveyed, most of which we believe to be of suitable habitat for the beetle. However, future survey work during June and early July will be conducted at sites across the island as there is a good chance that M. brevicollis may be overlooked. Cave spider ( Meta menardi ) © Chris Cathrine Page 6 On Coll a total of 39 specimens (including four dead males) were recorded from four sites. The team confirmed a strong population at the original site discovered by Heckford at Hogh Bay, and confirmed the identification of the Sorisdale population as M. brevicollis . We also located two further sites. One, Chrossapol Dunes, was discovered by Ben Jones; and the second was chosen based on our ‘suitable habitat’ theory. It is quite probable that M. brevicollis occurs throughout the Island on machair sites with large bee populations. The wide distribution and number of individuals found would indicate that Coll has a thriving M. brevicollis population, and if current management of the areas continues, the beetles’ future is secure. Habitat M. brevicollis has a strong association with sandy heaths, or at the very least with localities with well drained or sandy soils. Although M. brevicollis had not previously been recorded from Scotland, its occurrence on such high quality habitat as the machair is not surprising. At all four sites on Coll, M. brevicollis was found in association with large breeding aggregates of the Northern colletes (Colletes floralis ) in areas of high floral diversity, in particular with abundant Ranunculus species, which appears to be a preferential host plant for the adult stage. In most cases the beetles were found climbing on or at the bases of large dune hills in sheltered areas. Distribution map showing all known records of Meloe Darren J. Mann would be happy to receive data on brevicollis [Date Classes: Red circles 1800-1899; Blue British oil beetles, including photographs of circles 1900-1999; Green circles 2000-date] unidentified species. Please take multiple images © Darren J. Mann of specimens, including top and side views to ensure identification is possible. References For more information, go to: Hyman, P.S. (Revised Parsons, M.S.) 1992. UK Nature www.buglife.org.uk/conservation/ Conservation No. 3: A review of the scarce and currentprojects/Species+Action/Oil+Beetles threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain part 1 . Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. Acknowledgements Joy, N.H. 1902. Leptinus testaceus , & c., near Bradford, The authors would like to thank Bob Heckford and Gnorimus nobilis near Towcester, and Meloe brevicollis Ben Jones for allowing us to publish their records, from South Devon. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 3, and again to Ben Jones for his assistance during 179. our stay on Coll. The team were supported by Telfer, M.G. 2009. Seven beetles new to Ireland, seven grants from Lloyd Binns bequest (Glasgow Natural new to Northern Ireland and other noteworthy History Society) and SNH. discoveries. The Coleopterist 18(2), 121-129. Authors: Darren J. Mann, Hope Entomological Collections, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PW, [email protected] Geoff Hancock, Hunterian Museum (Zoology), Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ Jeanne Robinson, Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle St, Glasgow, G3 8AG Garth Foster, The Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust, Eglinton Terrace, Ayr, Ayrshire, KA7 1JJ

Page 7 Action for Scottish Invertebrates—Hot Off the Press: Project Updates The publication of the ‘Strategy for Scottish Invertebrate Conservation’ was a milestone for invertebrate conservation. Now, we need to implement the Strategy. The following articles will bring you up to date with some of the exciting projects being undertaken in Scotland that contribute towards invertebrate conservation, and the realization of the Strategy. More information about the Strategy is available at: www.scottishinvertebrates.org.uk Action for Scottish Invertebrates ID Workshops If you don’t know what invertebrates you have, you can’t conserve them. However, if you don’t have the skills, how can you record them? A new series of workshops, launched this year, is tackling the invertebrate identification skills gap in Scotland and aim to increase recording of these . Introduction Workshops allow beginners to learn the skills necessary to take their interest forward, while Under-Recorded Species Workshops provide an in-depth look at groups for more experienced invertebrate workers. Two introductory workshops were run in 2010: one at the National Trust for Scotland’s Mar Lodge (Aberdeenshire) and one at BTCV Scotland’s Balallan House (Stirling). Two focused workshops were also delivered: harvestmen (Opiliones) led by Mike Davidson at Perth Museum, and beetles (Coleoptera) led by Sarah Henshall at Balallan House (Stirling). The phenomenal response to the workshops has also put paid to the popular misconception that there is a lack of interest in invertebrates. For instance, the beetle workshop booked up in less than one hour! These workshops not only provide the opportunity to learn new skills, but are great fun as well! Further workshops will be run in 2011. If you are interested contact [email protected]

Chris Cathrine Buglife

PHOTOS: Craig Macadam shows a Golden-ringed dragonfly ( Cordulegaster boltonii ) to Lina-Elvira Back at the Introduction to Invertebrates Workshop at Mar Lodge; Harvestman Workshop field visit in Perth; Abbie Patterson collecting harvestmen; Gwen Potter identifying invertebrates; Mike Davidson leads the harvestman workshop. All photos © Chris Cathrine

Page 8 Deadwood Habitat Management Workshop

It’s important that land ranging from managers understand community woodland not only how to manage groups, to smallholders land sympathetically for to council rangers who invertebrates, but also advise on local why this is essential. projects. Following The deadwood habitat informative management workshop presentations by Ross run in the Highlands in Watson (RSPB) and October is the first in a Graham, the series that aims to participants spent the address this. afternoon gaining The RSPB’s Forest firsthand experience of horn beetles (larvae and Above: Graham Rotheray Lodge and Abernethy important deadwood adults) were definite leads the Deadwood Reserve provided the habitats and Workshop in the field invertebrates in the highlights! perfect venue for this Below: Long-horn beetle larva course, which was led field. Grubbing around The workshop was a Both photos © Chris Cathrine by Graham Rotheray, in deadwood habitats, great success, and Principal Curator of the participants another habitat Entomology for the uncovered a plethora of management workshop National Museums invertebrates, including will be run in 2011. For flies (Diptera), beetles Scotland (NMS) and further information, (Coleoptera), springtails representative of the please contact: (Collembola), Initiative for Scottish [email protected] Invertebrates (ISI). centipedes (Chilopoda) and millipedes Chris Cathrine Attendees were from (Diplopoda). Close Buglife diverse backgrounds encounters with long- Invertebrate habitat management advice published at: www.scottishinvertebrates.org.uk Scotland holds many are considered in internationally significant management plans. habitats important for The first four Habitat invertebrates. For Management Advice example, Scotland holds documents have been 8-13% of the total global published: blanket bogs, area of blanket bog. The lowland raised bogs, country also has many coastal vegetated shingle habitats that are unique and cereal field margins. Above: Claish Moss © Scottish Natural Heritage in the UK, such as The series provides land summer snowfields on Below: Corwall Port © Chris Cathrine managers with the tools mountain ranges, for to consider invertebrates, which the Cairngorms in the context of the plateaux is important. In Scotland Rural addition, invertebrates Development Programme rely on less obvious (SRDP) and other habitat niches, such as funding streams. deadwood in semi- natural woodland. Chris Cathrine Buglife It is essential that the needs of invertebrates

Page 9 Action for Scottish Invertebrates—Hot Off the Press: Project Updates Cont. Farmers in Caithness are sowing the seeds of the future for the Great yellow bumblebee A new three year project was “This project really shows how launched in 2010 to help the farmers can help the Great Great yellow bumblebee yellow bumblebee on their land, (Bombus distinguendus ). In and the volunteers are providing partnership with the Caithness crucial information on bee Biodiversity Group and numbers. The plots, although Bumblebee Conservation small, are a real explosion of Trust, eleven local farmers colour, irresistible to . This have each sown quarter year we’ve seen a blue haze, hectare plots of a short-term studded with crimson and purple. pollen and nectar mix Next year we will see the red, containing seven species, white, yellow and pink of clovers mainly agricultural legumes. and other legumes coming Sowing was carried out in May Great yellow bumblebee ( Bombus through. Red clover is a and June, and the mix will distinguendus ) © Simon Wellock particular favourite. The good remain in situ for three years, spread of small plots such as with a management payment for cutting back the these complements existing wildflower-rich areas, mix after flowering each year. From next year, the and is a very effective way to support the Great principal red clover component of the mix will be yellow bumblebee.” flowering strongly, providing support for spring The work was funded by Highland Council Landfill queens and colony growth. Communities Fund. Bob Dawson (BBCT) is The annual components of the mix (Phacelia, supported by grants from the Esmée Fairbairn winter vetch and crimson clover) flowered this Foundation and Scottish Natural Heritage. summer, but the plots will continue to be monitored in subsequent years by local trained volunteers for Bob Dawson the different mix components, arable wildflowers Bumblebee Conservation Trust and, of course, bumblebees. The Great yellow Our earthworms need your help! bumblebee has been recorded on all but one of the participating farms this year, with a maximum site The Earthworm Society of Britain, sponsored by count of 22 received to date. Most have been seen OPAL (Open Air Laboratories), launched in October foraging at Phacelia, crimson clover and common 2009, with a tough task ahead! hemp-nettle, but others have been using the red Earthworms are a vitally important ecological group clover of unharvested crops put in under agri- and yet one that we know very little about. There are environment schemes. The UK BAP Moss carder 27 species recorded in the UK (a number of species bee Bombus muscorum , which seems very scarce introduced several years ago may or may not remain in lowland Caithness, has also been recorded on resident in our soils) but we know very little of their the farms this year. distributions. To address this, the society will be Phyllida Sayles of the Caithness Biodiversity Group running a national survey of earthworms across the has been co-ordinating the volunteers. whole of the UK, and needs your help! “I am delighted that the efforts of all the volunteers All the data will be fed into the Society website and have been so well rewarded this season. Everyone will be accessible to all through the NBN Gateway. is now familiar with seeing the Great yellow We hope members of the public and scientists alike bumblebee on their patch; let’s hope the success will start helping us to gather some real, and very continues into 2011.” much needed, data on the UK’s earthworms. Bob Dawson, Conservation Officer with the To find out more about the Earthworm Society of Bumblebee Conservation Trust, was very upbeat Britain , go to www.earthwormsoc.org.uk . about the project: Emma Sherlock, Natural History Museum

Page 10 Red admiral (Red admiral © Lisa Ferguson Ferguson © Lisa VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED! Scotland’s invertebrates need your help! Many organisations and individuals are involved in

delivering the action needed to conserve atalantaVanessa Scotland’s invertebrates. The following projects are just some examples. You can get involved by volunteering with Buglife or other organisations. For more information about volunteer opportunities contact: e-mail: [email protected] ) tel: 01786 447 504 invasive Harlequin ladybird, for which there are no Bugs in Gardens launches in Dumfries & Galloway! Dumfries and Galloway records at present. Free training days and survey cards with handy Dumfries and Galloway Environmental Resources identification guides will be available to give Centre (DGERC) have recently launched their new members of the public the practical skills to identify two-year project ‘Bugs in Gardens’. The project will different species, so even complete beginners can encourage people to identify and record take part. invertebrates in their gardens and raise awareness For more information or to get involved contact Lisa of the value of gardens for biodiversity. The Bugs Ferguson at [email protected] . in Gardens project will focus on a few selected species groups which can be easily recognised and Lisa Ferguson are currently under-recorded, such as bumblebees, Dumfries and Galloway Environmental Resources moths and ladybirds - including the introduced Centre (DGERC)

The BTCV Natural Talent Apprenticeship scheme In June 2009 the Open University launched the will be recruiting for another four posts with the final iSpot website ( www.ispot.org.uk ), a project funded details of all the apprenticeships being posted on by the National Lottery through OPAL (Open Air the BTCV website by early November. The Laboratories), a partnership operating in England. scheme offers apprentices the opportunity to learn The site allows anyone to upload photographs of practical skills and about the ecology of our wildlife and to obtain identification, encouragement amazing wildlife, including invertebrates. and advice from over 6,000 registered users, Recruiting will be carried out in early January with a including highly experienced naturalists. view to successful candidates being in post by In its first year of operation, iSpot has helped users February 2011. identify 25,000 observations of some 2,500 species The Apprenticeships are as follows: ranging from lichens to birds. • Lowland Raised Bogs The scope of the iSpot project has just been extended with the appointment of Biodiversity • Caledonian Pinewood Invertebrates Mentors in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, • Saltmarsh Habitat Management funded by the Open University. Mentors will work with local groups to encourage an interest in wildlife • Soil Macroinvertebrates amongst the public, and to promote iSpot as a Full details of past and current apprentices can be means of developing wildlife knowledge and skills. found at www2.btcv.org.uk/display/naturaltalent If you are involved with a community wildlife group You can also take the opportunity to check out what and would like more information on iSpot, or advice our latest recruits are doing by following their Blog on how to develop skills in wildlife observation and at blogs.btcv.org.uk/natural_talent/ identification, contact Murdo Macdonald at John McFarlane [email protected] . BTCV Murdo Macdonald, Open University

Page 11 Bob Saville 9th February 1952—9th September 2010

Bob Saville was the driving force information to our behind the Wildlife Information knowledge of Centre and Barkfly Recording British Psocoptera. Scheme and was a key player in Bob almost entomology and biological discovered a recording in Scotland for many species new to years. He sadly succumbed to science in long-term illness in September, Edinburgh. He aged 58. Bob is survived by his was picking up a wife Val and his son Paul. barkfly that wasn’t I first met Bob in 1997 when he in the British key. was running the Lothian Wildlife This turned out to Information Centre in Leith. I had be Epicaecilius Bob Saville shares his knowledge and enthusiasm at started volunteering at the centre pilipennis , a Scotland’s first Bioblitz in Motherwell (2007) and working with Bob was an species that had © Graham Burns inspiration. People will certainly only recently remember Bob for his wide- been described and the Borders, are testament ranging knowledge of wildlife, but from Madeira. to Bob’s energy and dedication. possibly more so for his Bob developed novel collecting For those who knew Bob his enthusiasm and his eagerness to techniques and would often be cheerful and infectious encourage others. Bob was seen ‘painting’ tree trunks with a enthusiasm for entomology and experienced in a number of wallpaper brush. Hoisting barrels wildlife recording will be a invertebrate groups and wrote of cider vinegar into the tree continued inspiration. guides to the woodlice, canopy was another sampling More information about Bob’s grasshoppers and dragonflies of method he tried! As Bob’s study of work can be found at the the Lothians so that others could barkflies progressed he began to websites below. easily identify them. Bob was look more at the ecology and life- also instrumental in organising history of these species, trying to The Wildlife Information Centre: excursions to local wildlife sites, understand their feeding www.wildlifeinformation.co.uk gathering experts together to preferences and habitat National Barkfly Recording build up the species lists for these requirements. Always keen to Scheme: important areas. share his knowledge, Bob was www.brc.ac.uk/schemes/ Over the years Bob developed a instrumental in putting the Barkfly barkfly/homepage.htm specialist interest in barkflies Recording Scheme online. The (Psocoptera). This started as a website includes keys and a photo Donations to Buglife were kindly curiosity; minute would gallery which are invaluable aids received instead of flowers at consistently appear in samples for identification, plus links to Bob’s funeral. These will be and not surprisingly Bob wanted references and papers, many of used to fund a project in Bob’s to identify them. As barkflies which were written by Bob himself. memory. were an under-recorded group it The success of the Barkfly Duncan Sivell was not long before Bob was Recording Scheme and the Wildlife Buglife making new discoveries and Information Centre, which has adding large amounts of expanded to cover the Lothians

Credits and Information part of the ‘Action for Scottish If you would like to write an article Invertebrates’ project. This project for Scottish Invertebrate News , is grant-aided by Scottish Natural suggest a topic to be discussed, Heritage and delivered on behalf of or would like any further the Initiative for Scottish information, please contact: Invertebrates (ISI) by Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. Chris Cathrine (Editor) For more information, visit: [email protected] www.scottishinvertebrates.org.uk This newsletter is produced as