An animal that has only been recorded once in the UK before and was thought to be
extinct has been found alive and well living on a Devon Wildlife Trust nature
reserve.
The fly, Rhaphium pectinatum, was last recorded on 19 July 1868 when the renowned
Victorian entomologist George Verrall caught a male and female at Richmond in
Surrey. In the decades since it was presumed that the fly was extinct, but now,
nearly 150 years later it has been spotted again, this time at Devon Wildlife
Trust's Old Sludge beds nature reserve, near Exeter. The remarkable discovery was made by expert naturalist Rob Wolton who is a member of
the Devon Fly Group and the Dipterists Forum which specialises in the study of
flies.
Rob said:
'I took a recent trip to Devon Wildlife Trust's Old Sludge Beds nature reserve on
the outskirts of Exeter specifically to look for flies. Imagine my surprise when I
examined my catch that evening to find it included a fly that was presumed extinct
in Britain, not having been seen for 147 years! Definitely one to add to the list
of Devon specialities.'
Little is known about the handsome, metallic green coloured fly, apart from that it
is part of the family Dolichopidiae, a group which is known as long-legged flies.
Most members of the family live in tropical areas of the world. Rob explained:
'
The only other record of the fly was found near Richmond in London in 1868. Nothing
is known about its biology, but it seems that it may like brackish (salty)
conditions like those found at the Old Sludge Beds, and may even be associated with
the extensive tidal reed beds nearby at the head of the Exe Estuary. Finding the
fly here demonstrates the importance of the work the Devon Wildlife Trust does
looking after these unusual and special habitats. 'Flies don't always have the best press, but Rob was quick to point out the critical
part they play in all our lives:
'To most people, the only good fly is a dead one! Only a tiny proportion of the
flies in Britain are pests, while many are important for pollination and for
ensuring efficient recycling of the nutrients in dead plant material. And they are
an important part of the food web - many of our birds rely on them. Without flies,
there would be no swallows, and not many bats! Nor, incidentally, would we have any
chocolate - the cacao tree is pollinated by midges, a kind of fly!'
The fly has made its home at Devon Wildlife Trust's Old Sludge Beds nature reserve.
The five hectare site is situated between the River Exe and the Exeter Canal. Until
1969 it was used as a place where Exeter's sewage sediment was stored. Since 1979
The Trust has managed the place as a nature reserve for people and wildlife.
Devon Wildlife Trust's Steve Hussey said:
'So often we have to break the news of species that are disappearing, so it's good
to be able to announce the discovery of an animal that was thought to be extinct.
This is a very exciting find for Devon Wildlife Trust. We've worked hard at the Old
Sludge Beds nature reserve in recent years to maintain a patchwork of reed beds,
ponds and lagoons which now provide a home to local wildlife including rare
dragonflies, birds and amphibians. The presence of this special fly means that we
must be doing something right in supporting many of the species that make our county
so special.'
Photo: Rhaphium pectinatum. Copyright Rob
Wolton (All Rights Reserved)
