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Scottish Invertebrate News the Scottish Invertebrate Conservation Newsletter March 2010 Inside This Issue

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Scottish Invertebrate News the Scottish Invertebrate Conservation Newsletter March 2010 Inside This Issue Volume 1 Issue 1 Scottish Invertebrate News The Scottish Invertebrate Conservation Newsletter March 2010 www.scottishinvertebrates.org.uk Inside this issue: We hope you enjoy this first Welcome to our first issue! 1 issue, and that it inspires you Scottish Invertebrate 1 to take part in the who is interested in Discoveries conservation of our native Welcome to our invertebrate conservation in invertebrates! International Year of 1 first issue! Scotland. It will include Biodiversity 2010 articles on new initiatives, Scottish Invertebrate 2 Welcome to the first issue of the latest discoveries, and Discoveries Continued Scottish Invertebrate News: opportunities to get involved. The Scottish Invertebrate It will also provide updates Surveyors Needed! 2 Conservation Newsletter. on the progress of the Gardening Scotland: 2 With the publication of ‘A Strategy, and a calendar of Buglife Volunteers Needed! Strategy for Scottish events, from introductory Invertebrate Conservation’, bugwalks to talks to under- Stocktake of Scottish 3 we are entering a very recorded species ID Invertebrates: What do we know? exciting time for invertebrate workshops. Southern cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus vestalis ) © Nick Owens conservation in Scotland. Contributions for future Solway Shingle Surveys 4 This biannual newsletter issues are very welcome - Southern cuckoo Invertebrate Events 4 aims to update everyone this is your newsletter! bumblebee in the Borders Calendar Scottish Invertebrate Discoveries Bob Dawson, of the Bumblebee Conservation Aspen hoverfly disperses! Every year new invertebrate Trust, collected two male The saproxylic Aspen discoveries are made in Southern cuckoo hoverfly ( Hammerschmidtia Scotland. From amazing bumblebees ( Bombus ecology, to records of ferruginea ) survives in only vestalis ) in the Borders in At least 65% of all species on species new to Scotland or about a dozen scattered July 2009. Identification was the planet are invertebrates. localities in north east science, this section confirmed by Murdo They provide us with food, Scotland, and are highlights just a handful of these fascinating discoveries! Macdonald of the Highland agricultural, medical and traditionally viewed as poor technological benefits, are Biological Recording Group. dispersers. Dispersal essential food for most birds distances are critical for This is a new species for and mammals and are integral conservation so a study Scotland, making 19 to ecosystem function. began in 2009, funded by species that can be found SNH and supported by the here. Bob Dawson 2010 is the International Year of RSPB at their Inch Marshes Biodiversity. This is the year to NNR. 1000 adults were spot get involved! Take part in -marked, and checked for at ‘Extinct’ caddisfly found surveys, create new areas of regularly spaced Aspen log along three 5km transect in Scotland invertebrate habitat and, most importantly, share your routes. Marked Aspen Bourletiella viridescens The Pincer-tailed caddisfly © Tim Ransom knowledge and enthusiasm! hoverflies were found on (Hydroptila tigurina ), has logs up to the limit of 5km, Highland Springtail record turned up in Scotland. Last What are you doing which is further than they seen in Britain in 1881, it were believed capable of is a UK first was thought this species for invertebrate dispersing! Work will The first confirmed UK may be extinct in the UK. continue in 2010 to conservation in 2010? record of Bourletiella The micro-caddisfly was determine how much further 2 Page on Continue Discoveries Invertebrate viridescens was found in found in Assynt by David these hoverflies may Pryce, one of the co- Pincer-tailed caddisfly ( Hydroptila August 2009 at 900m in the disperse. Graham Rotheray ordinators of the Riverfly tigurina ) © David Pryce Cairngorms. Tim Ransom Recording Schemes, and is photographed the tiny the first record of this springtail, which was later species in Scotland. This identified by Frans Janssens new record is over 350 miles and verified by Dr Peter north of the previous one, Shaw. This species is raising the possibility that widespread in Europe, this species may turn up in Aspen hoverfly ( Hammerschmidtia preferring cool, montane other areas. Craig Macadam ferruginea ) © Iain MacGowan grassland. Peter Shaw Page 1 Scottish Invertebrate Discoveries Continued Surveyors Needed! Ladybirds: Striped-stretch spider found The Aage V. Jensen Charity in Aberdeen Foundation is currently preparing Natives Vs. Invasives new Nature Plans for its three The Grampian Spider Group Scottish estates, and needs the There is a mix of good survey of Loirston Loch, on help of expert invertebrate and bad news regarding the south side of Aberdeen, volunteers! ladybirds in Scotland in this issue. As is discovered a female Striped- The Aage V. Jensen Charity traditional, we will deal stretch spider ( Tetragnatha Foundation is currently appraising with the bad news striata ). This is only the the biodiversity at its Scottish properties: first… second Scottish record of this Harlequin ladybird Harlequin ladybirds ( Harmonia axyridis ) Nationally Scarce spider. It ● Invertrossachs Estate (northern invades Glasgow © Francis Rowland was found in a small remnant slopes of the Menteith Hills, near Callander) The invasive non-native Harlequin ladybird ( Harmonia of reedbed in an area heavily axyridis ) has been found by Norman Storie (RSPB) in managed for fishing. The only ● Comer Estate (in the shadow of Kelvingrove Park. This highly variable ladybird previous Scottish record was Ben Lomond) originates in Asia and was deliberately introduced to from Loch of the Lowes in ● Claonaig (the gateway to the east North America in 1988 to control Aphids. It has since Perthshire. Mike Davidson of the Kintyre Peninsula, spread to Western Europe, arriving in the UK in 2004. overlooking Kilbrannan Sound) This species preys on our native invertebrates, including Return of the Pink prowler All three sites have been managed the eggs and larvae of butterflies, moths and even our based upon surveys undertaken Scottish ladybirds! The presence of the Harlequin Oonops domesticus , or the when they were purchased in the late ladybird in Scotland is deeply worrying, and a threat to Pink prowler, has been found ’80s and early ‘90s. New Nature our native species. For more information, help with in Hamilton, by Chris Plans are now being developed for identification or to report a sighting, please visit: Cathrine. This tiny spider has the three sites, and so updated data www.harlequin-survey.org . not been recorded in Scotland is required. Naturalists with since 1994. The Pink prowler Kidney spot ladybird at Dumbreck Marsh specialist interests are encouraged to is nocturnal and lives in contribute to this process, and free BTCV Scotland volunteers found the Kidney spot houses, while its widespread ladybird ( Chilocorus renipustulatus ) while carrying out short-stay accommodation is relative the Four-spined management work at Dumbreck Marsh LNR, near available to volunteers. prowler ( O. pulcher ) tends to Kilsyth. This is only the third record of this species in The Foundation contributes to nature Scotland! It was identified by Ruth McGuire (North occur outdoors. However, conservation throughout the world Lanarkshire Council) confirmed by Craig Macadam both can be found indoors, through ownership of reserves and (Buglife) and Dr Helen Roy, (Ladybird Survey). For and identification requires supporting research and other more information on our native ladybirds or to submit examination of leg spines at projects. Its goal is to give the records, visit: www.ladybird-survey.org . magnification. general public the opportunity to experience a rich and diverse nature Endangered bumblebee mimic hoverfly survives! – now and forever. This is an excellent opportunity to Fifteen years ago, shallow holes were cut into live pine ensure invertebrates are included in trees at Beinn Eighe NNR for the conservation of the the future management strategies of endangered bumblebee mimic and symbol of the three important and diverse sites. Malloch Society, Callicera rufa . A survey last year found For more information, contact Craig these holes still in use by this beautiful hoverfly Macadam (tel: 01786 447 504 / generations later. This highlights the importance of Callicera rufa © Ellen Rotheray [email protected]). protecting trees with natural holes. Graham Rotheray Gardening Scotland 2010: 4th - 6th June Buglife Volunteers Needed! Well managed gardens are an the Buglife stall. Full tickets will be important refuge for wildlife, including provided to volunteers, allowing free invertebrates. Where better to spread access to the event on the day. There are this message than the biggest a total of five places available over three gardening event in Scotland? days*, so this is an excellent opportunity to not only promote invertebrate Buglife will be providing a stall at conservation to a wide audience, but also Gardening Scotland 2010, promoting the Common red soldier beetle ( Rhagonycha fulva ) © to enjoy Scotland’s biggest gardening and ‘Strategy for Scottish Invertebrate Chris Cathrine outdoor living event. Conservation’, the Initiative for Scottish Invertebrates (ISI), and, most For more information, please contact importantly, Scotland’s fantastic Chris Cathrine (tel: 01786 447 504 / invertebrates themselves! [email protected]). Volunteers with a passion for invertebrates are needed to help man * Places: 1 Friday, 2 Saturday, 2 Sunday Page 2 Scottish Invertebrate News
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