WATCH: One of Britain’s rarest bugs discovered by loch in shadow of Cairngorms’ highest peak
One of Britain’s rarest species - a relic from the Ice Age - has been discovered at a new site high in the Cairngorms.
The endangered fly species Wiedemannia simplex named, better known as the Arctic Wave Dancer for its lochside courtship displays, is found on just three sites in the range and nowhere else in the UK.
The National Trust for Scotland team at Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve is celebrating the discovery of the rare and threatened fly species at Lochain Uaine.
This tiny Ice Age relic can only develop in cold, deep and pure water making the Cairngorms’ high-altitude lochs a suitable home for the species.
During its short adult life span in the summer months, it can be found clinging to the verges of rocks and displaying its unique courtship dance and waterproof abilities against the waves lapping against lochside boulders.
A search for the species by entomologist Iain MacGowan, entomology research associate at the National Museums of Scotland, and trust staff in July, last year, found the Arctic Wave Dancer dancing on the edges of Lochain Uaine and its granite boulders.
The site is 950m high in the shadow of Ben Macdui, and the species has never been recorded there before.
The next nearest populations to those in the Cairbngorms are in the Arctic regions of Finland, Norway and Russia.
The species was initially rediscovered by Iain MacGowan at Loch A’an (Loch Avon) in 2018 and in 2020 it was discovered for the first time by MacGowan at Loch Etchachan on the Mar Lodge Estate.
Due to the specific cold water temperatures required for the species to thrive, the Arctic Wave Dancer is one of the species most at risk from climate change and is one of the trust’s research priority species in its Plan for Nature.
Andrew Painting, the National Trust for Scotland’s conservation officer at the Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve, said: “The Arctic Wave Dancer lives in about as remote and challenging an environment as you can find in Scotland so finding it at a new site was a wonderful surprise, and is a testament to the hard work and skill of dedicated entomologists like Iain MacGowan.
“Our charity is responsible for protecting the nature in our care and the discovery of one of Britain’s rarest species at Mar Lodge Estate is evidence of nature’s resilience and the importance of our conservation work.
“Every species we protect is a step towards safeguarding Scotland's nature, beauty and heritage for everyone.”
Mr MacGowan said: “Although it's small, this fly is of enormous importance to the Cairngorms and the wider British Isles.
“Living on only a few of the high-altitude lochs, it is on the front line when it comes to meeting the challenge of climate change.
“Finding it at its highest-level site, 950m at Lochan Uaine, will hopefully ensure that the populations will be better able to withstand the effects of a warming climate.
“We must continue to monitor this iconic species and carry out further surveys of other potential sites.”
Launched in 2024, the trust’s Plan for Nature outlines its ambitions for conserving the nature in its care and will play an important part in delivering government commitments for nature including the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, and tackling the nature and climate crises.
The Plan for Nature supports the trust’s vision to provide access and enjoyment of Scotland’s nature, beauty and heritage for everyone, as outlined in its 10-year strategy, launched in 2022.
