More light being shed on Guernsey's scaly cricket population - talk tomorrow night

Professor Karim Vahed of the University of Derby is giving a lecture on his work tomorrow night.

Guernsey and Sark are the only Channel Islands the Atlantic scaly cricket has been recorded in.

It has been found at just four UK sites with the largest being Chesil Beach in Dorset.

Storm damage and pollution is posing a threat and UK populations appear to be declining.

Last June, La Societe Guernesiaise Entomology section secretary Trevor Bourgaize set pitfall traps at Spur Point in Guernsey and trapped 167 individuals which Professor Vahed considered to be equal density to Chesil Beach.

The section have now made a list of potential sites the cricket may be found at and these will be surveyed this summer.

'There are a large number of sites to look at on Guernsey and being close together would mean colonisation would be easier.

'It is possible that the species lays its eggs in driftwood and may well increase its range by 'rafting',' said Mr Bourgaize.

Part of the reason for finding out where on island the scaly cricket is found is because land reclamation of sites for inert waste, such as Spur Point where they are found, would mean losing the crickets from the area.

During his visit, Professor Vahed will conduct fieldwork on the species.

'There will be 100 traps and we will set them at various heights of the beach to try and work out what area is used most.

'They live on shingle habitat and eat detritus [waste and debris] and little is known about their life cycle,' said Mr Bourgaize.

The pitfall traps used to find individuals are made using Pringles tins containing bait and covered by rocks.

The top of the tube is cut into strips and fanned out on the ground acting as a ramp.

These are set in the evening and checked the following morning as scaly crickets are nocturnal.

Creatures will fall into the traps and can be identified before being released.

Royal Haskoning who are carrying out Environmental Impact Assessments in the area in light of reclamation plans for Longue Hougue are working with the Entomology Section to learn more about the animal's distribution.

Mr Bourgaize said the Spur Point area is rich in isopods – an order of crustaceans including woodlice and relatives – some of these are scarce in the UK however may be common on Guernsey shores.

Mr Bourgaize has already recorded scaly crickets in Guernsey and Sark this year and will look forward to the results of the fieldwork.

BLOB: On Wednesday 24 April Professor Karim Vahed will give a lecture on the scaly cricket's lifecycle and his conservation work on behalf of English Nature. The lecture is free to attend and starts at 8pm at the Guernsey Aero Club, La Planque Lane, Forest. Email entomology@societe.org.gg for further information.