Volunteer Surveyors needed

We are delighted to offer some assistance in recruiting volunteers to help in finding and recording one of Britain’s rarest hoverflies – on the doorstep of Southampton, in the New Forest.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Green Forest Hoverfly (Caliprobola speciosa) which is confined to only two locations in the UK, one of which is the New Forest, has declined in recent years but there are very few biological records to support this. This is a truly spectacular but very rare hoverfly of the New Forest and Windsor Forest/Great Park areas. The metallic green body with yellow bands can render it surprisingly camouflaged when resting but also very wasp-like when hovering and darting.

A team of local volunteers from the UK Hoverflies Facebook Group has set up a project to search for it in the Forest in its preferred habitat of open old beech woodland with dead and decaying veteran trees where it basks in the sun and lays its eggs around tree stumps.

Last year there were 5 records only, including 2 from this local group and they have a lot more searching to do. They are looking help from late April to mid June.

So, how can you get involved?

The surveys are very flexible and it’s up to you how much time you wish to spare. The group would like people to visit potential sites in the survey period to see if you can find the hoverfly and, ideally, photograph it. They have identification details and an online map to show which areas have potential. All you really need is a camera and a map or GPS to help locate the sites and to record positions. A decent phone with camera and GPS may even suffice.

If you would like to get involved, please contact the survey coordinators for more information:

Andy Murdock andy@maploom.com
Paul Stevens paul.jill.stevens@gmail.com
07801 811176

1 comment