Scaly cricket expert joins local amateurs in hunt for insect

Volunteers from La Societe Guernesiaise’s entomology section surveyed the rare species along with visiting academic Professor Karim Vahed, of the University of Derby, who studies the cricket species at its three known locations in the UK – Chesil Beach, Branscombe and Marloes. It has also been found in Sark.

Pitfall traps were left at Spurs Point overnight, the place where the density of scaly crickets is thought to be the same as Chesil Beach.

Earlier in the spring, La Societe Guernesiaise entomology section secretary Trevor Bourgaize trapped nine adult scaly crickets at the site – 167 were trapped there in June last year.

‘I have never seen adults at this time of year,’ said Professor Vahed, who has been researching them for a number of years.

Unfortunately, wet weather yesterday morning meant crickets proved elusive, however four were found.

‘Really they prefer the warm and I suspect on sunny days the crickets come up and bask,’ said Professor Vahed.

‘The species is classified as vulnerable internationally and it would be good to set up a monitoring scheme to look at the species long term.

‘I am trying to do this at the three sites in the UK to assess whether they are in decline and if they are affected by rising sea levels or other impacts of climate change, they could act as a measure of health in shingle areas.’

He said it would be interesting to survey again later in the year once eggs laid have hatched.

Mr Bourgaize plans to survey other areas for populations and hopes volunteers will continue to help.

‘There are a 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”.’

This is why it is important driftwood is left on beaches, something urged by entomologist enthusiast Andy Marquis, who identified other insects in the traps before their release.

‘It’s good to see lots of people help, if you don’t look you don’t know what you’ve got.

‘We have been seeing lots of Halophiloscia couchii [woodlouse species] and Ligia oceanica [common sea slater],’ he said.

Guernsey biodiversity education officer Julia Henney was also helping as was manager of the Biological Records Centre, Elizabeth Sweet.

‘It’s a great collaboration between academic and citizen science.

‘It’s really difficult to study these small and elusive creatures and it does take hard work.

‘It’s good to see people today coming and getting involved in researching this species,’ said Ms Henney.

‘I think that it is hugely important not just to learn more about the scaly cricket but to have quantitative data to find out what’s going on for local populations.

‘It gives us a baseline for the future, plus we are really fortunate to have Professor Vahed here,’ said Ms Sweet.

Entomology section member Vic Froome volunteered to help.

‘Doing this work tells us about our island nature, if we don’t study it, we don’t know what’s going on, it’s the same for any species around the world,’ he said.

Mr Froome thought it was sad that wildlife from the area, including the crickets, may be lost if Longue Hougue is chosen as the new site for inert waste.