A future in the forest

The Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms (RIC) partnership project is now celebrating over 30,000 Pine Hoverflies released into the wild! 

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), a RIC partner, have a groundbreaking conservation breeding for release programme for Pine Hoverfly based at Highland Wildlife Park. This year, team members from RZSS and RIC have braved some wild weather and released nearly 7,000 larvae across four sites, bringing the project to this momentous milestone.

Pine Hoverflies are one of Britain’s rarest insects, now found only in the Cairngorms National Park. The Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms partnership began in 2017 and has been working to return the Critically Endangered Pine Hoverfly back to the pine forests where it belongs, with the breeding for release programme beginning in 2018. A few years later in 2021, the first releases took place and the breeding for release programme has continued to grow since.  

The species rely on complex habitats and, crucially, water-filled ‘rot holes’ in old tree stumps where they lay their eggs. They also need flowering plants to feed on as adults. Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms helps to drive forward habitat creation and management that benefits this species and the larvae are released into artificial rot holes created by RIC partners at release sites.

Surveys and monitoring allow the partnership to continue building on conservation efforts for Pine Hoverfly, and at the heart of the project are dedicated volunteers who make this possible. These amazing volunteers also support habitat management and community outreach. 

In 2025, RSPB Scotland, Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms, and other members of the Pine Hoverfly steering group contributed to the Pine Hoverfly Strategy, which reflects a long-term commitment of all members to the recovery and survival of the Pine Hoverfly.

The Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms (RIC) project aims to learn more about some of our most threatened invertebrate species for which the Cairngorms National Park is an important stronghold. These include Pine Hoverfly, Aspen Hoverfly, Dark Bordered Beauty moths, Small Scabious Mining bee and Kentish Glory moth. 

Through working with local volunteers to deliver surveys, and landowners to ensure valuable habitats are protected and improved, the partnership is making a difference for the little guys. 

Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms is a partnership between Buglife, Butterfly Conservation, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, NatureScot, RSPB Scotland and RZSS.  

This project is supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot and the Scottish Government’s zoos and aquariums fund, and relies on critical funding from the Cairngorms National Park Authority, The Cairngorms Trust, Forestry and Land Scotland, Marvelous Europe Inc., NatureScot, The National Geographic Society, Cheeky Panda and the John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust.  

Surveys and monitoring are supported by the Species Volunteer Network, made possible thanks to players of the Postcode Lottery.