Heather Beetle 2016

Heather beetle damage from 2015's outbreak on Brownsea Island (photo C. Hartley)

It has been an oddly quiet start to the year for beetle records. We usually hear stories of beetle dispersal across the U.K. during late March and early April, but the only evidence we have picked up on has been of the damage caused by 2015's major outbreak around Poole and Brownsea Island on the South Coast. Brownsea Island is a National Trust property consisting of around 500 acres of dry heath and woodland, and mass dispersals of heather beetle were noted in April 2015. Judging by recent photographs taken of the property, the beetles have done their worst and much of the heather is now in a very sorry state. It will be interesting to follow this up with the site managers to find out their plans for restoring the damage over the coming months.

As always, we are keen to hear from members and supporters as the beetle season begins, and our Survey Form is still available to download and return with information relating to beetle outbreaks across the U.K. It will be interesting to see how this long, dry period of weather will effect beetle numbers in 2016, since past trends and history suggest that successful "boom" years for beetle reproduction depend on damp, moist conditions during May and June.

In some cases, heather beetles have directly contributed to a startling loss of heather coverage in the Uplands, and without management, it is easy to lose heather to other more competitive and invasive species. The Heather Trust is leading the way in research into heather beetle, and our research projects at Langholm Moor and the Derbyshire Peak District are shedding new light on the best treatments and management options in the aftermath of an outbreak. For more information on heather beetle or our work, why not visit our Heather Beetle page.