Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms

The Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms (RIC) project is improving the conservation fortunes of several of the UK's rarest insects.

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

@johopkins27 @nature_scot @CairngormsCo @CNPnature @bscgscotland @HighlandFolk Hi Jo! We did visit this year and were pleased to see the bee thriving. The seas of scabious are phenomenal thanks to a relaxed mowing regime. @HighlandFolk & @HighlandWPark are study sites for a @SRUC student study on the bees' nesting preferences this year. 🙌

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

Fantastic new sites found for Small Scabious Mining Bee recently by our brilliant partner organisations.

@CNPARangers Gillian Gibson has found the bee near Grantown while @rzss staff have found new sites @HighlandWPark & @RSPBScotland Insh Marshes

Well done #teambee 🙌🐝

[Buglife @Buzz_dont_tweet]

Sixty years on from Rachel Carson's #SilentSpring the problems with #pesticides have only worsened, with flying #insects down 60% & bird populations more than halved in just 17 years

Sign the petition to call for pesticide reduction targets now➡️https://t.co/lUWRjFfteb

@PAN_UK

[Royal Zoological Society of Scotland @rzss]

Some BIG news about a SMALL bee 🐝

As part of our work with @RareInverts6, we completed our first small scabious mining bee survey @HighlandWPark and found 70 bees and discovered important nest sites.

Find out more 👉https://t.co/5Jg01DX36z

[SCOTLAND: The Big Picture @ScotlandTBP]

Next Saturday we're taking over Perth Concert Hall for the #BigPictureConference.
We can't wait to hear from our fantastic line-up of speakers, covering a wide range of rewilding topics in what will be a fascinating day.

There's still time to get tickets: https://t.co/qSCj8lU8Xy

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

It's not just the Pine Hoverfly who finds sanctuary in deadwood homes. While looking for the hoverfly larvae, we often find other creatures.

Recently we've come across this beautiful social wasp nest inside a stump, plus a longhorn beetle larva & lots of newts!

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

@PinkfootedGus @RSPBScotland @RSPBLochGarten @BuglifeScotland @nature_scot @CNPnature @rzss @bscgscotland @BC_Scotland @BcHighland @HighlandNewt @PinkfootedGus you can also take a quick peek at the lovely stripy foot to double-check!

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

Cracking little finds @RSPBScotland Abernethy y'day.

The local moth, Grey Birch Button, (📸Carl Allott) originally only known from birch woods in the Scottish Highlands. And the handsome Ash Black Slug, a specialist of old woodlands.

Diverse, old woodlands = magical species😍

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

@bscgscotland On that note about spiders, staff @rzss @HighlandWPark found a small scabious mining bee being predated by a xysticus sp crab spider on a devil's bit scabious flowerhead this year. 🧐

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

@HelenTaylorCG Your efforts on behalf of pine hoverflies are GREATLY appreciated 👌😂

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

A perk of Small Scabious Mining Bee surveys is delving into the world of parasitic bees 🧐

At SSMB nest aggregations we have found female Box-headed Blood Bee, Little Nomad Bee & Black-horned Nomad Bee.

Important records of under-recorded species & fascinating to witness 🙌

[Buglife @Buzz_dont_tweet]

✨Join the Buglife Team✨

Would you like to help bees & other #pollinators along the #RiverTweed?

Do you have a passion for species-rich grassland management?

Enjoy working with local communities?

🦋Pollinators Along the Tweed🐝
👇
https://t.co/LZXKmgJrMx

#Conservation

[Tom Aspinall @taspinallphotos]

Meadows are great, don't get me wrong, but most were cut many weeks ago while lots of lives were still to be lived.

So here's to uncut places, messy places, places sheltering life long in to autumn, here's to gardens like mine! #Life @BumblebeeTrust @Buzz_dont_tweet @Love_plants

[Katty Baird @kattyponder]

Scalloped Hook-tip larva on birch in Glen Feshie this week.
Mini dragon? Pet dog?
Stylish whatever, both as a caterpillar and an adult moth. #MothsMatter

[Buzzing Scotland @BuzzingScotland]

Today, surveying for Broken-belted bumblebees & Small scabious mining bee w/ @RareInverts6 on Glenlivet Estate. Thanks @Markquiff for a fab site suggestion! Quite a few target bumblebee species spotted. Sadly, no Small scabious mining bee but could have been too cool & breezy.

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

@RSPBScotland @BuglifeScotland @BC_Scotland @nature_scot @CNPnature

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

Check out this brilliant blog by RIC partner, @rzss's, @carlallott all about his work on the Small Scabious Mining Bee!

On-going studies like this help us to better understand the bee's ecology. With greater understanding we can effect more positive change 🙌

[Royal Zoological Society of Scotland @rzss]

Meet one of Scotland's rarest bees, the small scabious mining bee 🐝

We are conducting surveys @HighlandWPark to establish the population size & distance the bees travel around the park.

Our NEW BLOG talks more about our work with this tiny pollinator 👉 https://t.co/cW1OAMNJxw

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

A lovely variety of moths on Wildland Estate at the weekend, despite the Sturgeon moon!

Some really beautiful species in the mix, including Autumnal Rustic, Bordered Beauty & Green Carpet.

Moths giving us a design lesson in bold patterns & striking colours 😍 #lovemoths

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

A much needed analysis of insect anatomy happening here!

Next up we need a breakdown of bees, to include all the varied and wonderful bumblebees, cuckoo bees and solitary bees.

@RSPBScotland @BuglifeScotland @BC_Scotland @nature_scot @CNPnature @rzss

[Royal Zoological Society of Scotland @rzss]

Ever wondered which bee-moji is the most anatomically correct?

US TOO. Luckily, our conservation programme manager and invertebrate expert(ebrate) Dr Helen Taylor was on hand to tell us which one is the bees knees 🐝

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

@leenybum @SRUC @HighlandFolk @BuglifeScotland @RSPBScotland @CNPnature @nature_scot @rzss @BC_Scotland @bscgscotland Yes the females create individual nest holes in the ground, but they are often found in what are called aggregations - where lots of females are nesting in the same area.

[Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms @RareInverts6]

Day 1 of a fascinating study of Small Scabious Mining Bee by @SRUC student, Kelly Powell, @HighlandFolk last week!

The project is studying the bees' nest locations across its Scottish sites. We hope the results will help us better understand the species' habitat needs 🙌