Conservationists have released the 30,000th pine hoverfly into the Cairngorms National Park, marking a major milestone in efforts to restore one of Britain’s rarest insects.

The release follows the placement of nearly 7000 larvae across four sites in March 2026 as part of a long running breeding programme led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

The pine hoverfly is classed as critically endangered in Scotland and depends on complex woodland habitats now largely limited to parts of the Cairngorms.

The landmark release took place in difficult conditions, with teams working through high winds and hail as part of the Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms project.

Georgina Lindsay said:

“The scale of our achievement really only struck me when we found out that 18,000 people live in the Cairngorms and we’ve now released almost twice as many flies!

“The reintroduction project is hugely important for the species, which is one of Britain’s rarest insects.

“This milestone is emblematic of so much hard work and dedication, and a tribute to collaborative work between organisations with a shared mission.”

The releases were carried out on land managed by RSPB Scotland, Forestry and Land Scotland and Anagach Woods Trust.

Gen Tompkins said:

“It’s fantastic to be celebrating this massive milestone.

“Alongside the large number of hoverflies released, it’s exciting that we are now starting to record more wild bred individuals at release sites and in new areas too.

“This would not be possible without a lot of hard work from project partners, volunteers and land managers restoring diverse and dynamic pine forests that include flowering trees and shrubs that pine hoverflies and other wildlife depend on.”

The project is supported by a range of organisations and funding bodies, reflecting a coordinated effort to restore habitats and secure the future of the species.