A black-and-white-striped moth that mimics a wasp has been discovered at Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire, England.
The six-belted clearwing – a nationally scarce moth that uses its lookalike appearance to deter predators – is the 10,000th species to be recorded at the National Trust-managed reserve. Experts believe it is the first site in the UK to reach this milestone, highlighting Wicken Fen’s status as one of Europe's most important wetlands for wildlife.
"When the National Trust bought Wicken for £10 back in 1899, it was only two acres in size,” says Alan Kell, countryside manager at the National Trust. “A concerted effort over time to expand, restore and care for it has created this haven for wildlife that is a thousand times the size it was,” adds Kell.
Though wildlife records began more than 200 years ago, it is in the past 25 years that sightings have really ramped up. Experts say a major expansion of the reserve, which started in 1999, is one of the main reasons for this surge, alongside warmer temperatures, which may be causing insects to move northwards into new areas. Monitoring methods have also improved, making it easier to find and identify animals and plants.
Other recent and notable records include the confusingly named chamomile shark – a type of moth – the tiny red-and-white ant beetle, a rare plant called grass vetchling, a white-tailed eagle and a white stork.
“I never fail to be surprised by what we find here, and it is absolutely a case in point that if you give nature the opportunity and the space, it will do remarkable things,” says Kell. "It is vital that we continue to restore as much fenland habitat as possible… The more space we can provide and the more wildlife 'corridors’ we can create, the greater chance we have of being able to support even more species – especially in this changing climate.”
10 more amazing species found at Wicken Fen
Ranger and wildlife television presenter Ajay Tegala reveals his top 10 ‘weird and wonderful’ species discovered at Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve.
Glow-worm - Larvae sometimes ride on snails' backs and deliver a toxic bite to paralyse their prey.
Common lizard - If threatened by a predator, the common lizard will shed its still-moving tail in order to distract its attacker and make a quick getaway. It can regrow its tail, although it is usually shorter than the original.
Fen nettle - Although it looks like a common nettle, it lacks the typical stinging hairs of other nettles, instead having fine, dense, non-stinging hairs.
Norfolk hawker - Until relatively recently, this dragonfly was only found near the Norfolk Broads but it has been spreading and now breeds on the Fen. Failed attempts were once made to introduce it at Wicken; a few years later it arrived naturally.
Water vole - Britain’s largest voles, they create complex burrows with underwater entrances and have unique behaviours, such as kicking mud at predators.
Cuckoo - Cuckoos are famous for brood parasitism: laying their eggs in the nests of other birds, leaving the host parents to incubate their eggs and raise their young.
Silver barred moth - This very rare moth is only found at three other places in the UK, the larvae feed on just two specific species of grass.
Water scorpion - Not a true scorpion, although it looks like one. This underwater predator uses its front pincer-like legs to catch its prey (tadpoles and small fish). Its tail is a kind of snorkel, rather than a sting, which it uses to breathe underwater.
Greater bladderwort - A carnivorous aquatic plant, its underwater leaves have tiny bladders that create a vacuum to suck in prey, which it then digests. The plant is free-floating, without any roots.
Clearwing moths - Clearwing moths have the remarkable ability to mimic wasps and hornets which helps them deter predators by appearing to be stinging insects; some even imitate wasps' flight patterns and buzzing sounds, but they do not sting. The 10,000th species to be recorded on Wicken Fen was the six-belted clearwing, a nationally scarce species.
Top image: moth trapping at Wicken Fen. Credit: Simon Stirrup
More wildlife stories from around the world
- “Unbelievable”: huge animal longer than bus seen leaping from Irish waters
- What’s the most common mouse in the UK?
- Rare ocean giant as big as a king-size bed spotted in Orkney
- Fierce battle between seal and enormous sea creature filmed in Dorset
- Pine martens return to Exmoor National Park after a 100-year absence
