Rare insects at RSPB Insh Marshes

Work to manage habitat for rare insects at RSPB Insh Marshes is bearing fruit.

This Strathspey nature reserve supports an important population of the Critically Endangered Aspen Hoverfly, which lays its eggs in rotting cambium under the bark of decaying Aspen trees, as well as in sap runs on living trees.

Last spring’s survey recorded two males and four females at three different trees, with one female seen egg-laying.

A pair of Aspen Hoverfly, back ends touching, on a rotting Aspen

Aspen Hoverfly pair mating_Insh Marshes_Credit Jane Sears (rspb-images.com)

A pair of Aspen Hoverfly mating at RSPB Insh Marshes, Scotland. Photo: Jane Sears (rspb-images.com)

Dark Bordered Beauty_Credit Mary Laing, RSPB

Dark Bordered Beauty. Photo: Mary Laing (rspb-images.com)

Aspen with suckers or saplings growing out of its roots

Suckering-aspen-habitat-of-the-dark-bordered-beauty-moth,-RSPB-Insh-Marshes-Nature-Reserve,-Scotland_2115116_Credit Jane Sears (rspb-images.com)

RSPB Insh Marshes' Suckering Aspen, which is the habitat of the Dark Bordered Beauty moth. Photo: Jane Sears (rspb-images.com)

Another insect burgeoning here is the rare Dark Bordered Beauty, a golden-orange moth that’s Endangered in the UK, which enjoyed its best-ever year at Insh Marshes. The caterpillars feed on young leaves from Aspen saplings, known as suckers.

At Insh Marshes, we work to reduce grazing pressure to ensure more suckers are available for caterpillars and ensure decaying Aspen wood is available for breeding hoverflies.

Learn how RSPB Insh Marshes is helping Beavers, too!