A critically endangered longhorn beetle has been found thriving in one of the most unexpected places in the Cairngorms, the car parks of Glenmore.
Known as the blood red longhorn beetle, this rare species was believed to be hanging on by a thread in the UK, surviving only in Strathspey.
Now, thanks to careful habitat management by Forestry and Land Scotland and detailed research by conservationists, the beetle has been recorded in higher numbers than ever before.
Over 50 individuals have been identified in the past two survey seasons alone, compared to fewer than 100 records in total before the project began.
The discoveries were made at the Hayfield and Allt Barn car parks in Glenmore, where surveys are being led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland with support from the Cairngorms Trust and local citizen scientists.
Georgina Lindsay, Conservation Manager at RZSS, said:
“We have started this conservation programme with the aim of boosting the blood red longhorn numbers and range in the wild.”
She added:
“Finding decent numbers of the species at these FLS locations is really good news because it gives us a good idea of the sorts of habitat elements to focus on.”
The secret to their success appears to lie in the unassuming but carefully managed landscapes around the car parks.
These areas combine open, nectar-rich ground with nearby pine woodland and the presence of deadwood, all essential ingredients for the beetle’s survival.
“Basically, they seem to need a mix of open, nectar-rich ground near pine woodland with deadwood available,” said Georgina.
“The land around the Hayfield and Allt Barn car parks in Glenmore meets all of these requirements.”
The larvae live in standing or fallen pinewood, while the adult beetles feed on flowers such as wild angelica and yarrow.
These flowers flourish in the sunny, undisturbed edges of paths and car parks, especially when mowing is avoided during the beetles’ key flight season in late summer.
Colin Leslie, Environment Advisor at Forestry and Land Scotland, praised the efforts to let nature lead.
“This is a great find and once again illustrates the importance of deadwood in our landscapes,” he said.
“As part of our restoration of the native pinewoods in the Strathspey area, we have been increasing the amount of deadwood within the forests by retaining fallen trees, stumps and standing dead trees.”
He added:
“The beetles don’t just benefit from that, they also help to sustain it.
“The larvae help break down dead pinewood, which puts nutrients back into the soil, and the adults are valuable pollinators.”
By simply delaying grass cutting and letting wildflowers flourish through the summer, entire ecosystems can start to heal.
And from the quiet edges of car parks, life returns in brilliant red.
