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1:27 AM 29th July 2020
nature

Rare Species Spotted At Rabbit Ings Country Park In Barnsley

 
A rare beetle usually found near the south coast of England has been spotted at Rabbit Ings Country Park in Barnsley.

Tawny Longhorn beetle (Paracorymbia fulva). Photo by Mick Birkinshaw
Tawny Longhorn beetle (Paracorymbia fulva). Photo by Mick Birkinshaw
The Tawny Longhorn beetle (Paracorymbia fulva) was discovered on the park on 16 July by regular park visitor, Shaun Wood, who was able to clearly photograph the creatures.

The photographs were sent for verification by expert and recorder for all Coleoptera (beetles), Bob Marsh at the Yorkshire Naturalist Union, to confirm the recording of this species at the park.

This is the second record of the Tawny Longhorn in Yorkshire in the space of a year, with the first being found at Allerthorpe Common near York last year.

Little is known about this beetle as its larvae has never been found, however, it is thought that they are moving north due to global warming, with sightings in the midlands in recent years.

Ian Kendall, Estates Manager for the Land Trust, said, “The fact that nobody really knows much about this beetle makes it even more exciting that it has been found on our park.

“We’ll be keeping an eye on the Tawny Longhorn and monitoring the population here. We know that woodland habitats are important for them, so this will be the focus of our efforts.

“It’s always great to see the vast array of nature Rabbit Ings attracts and this sighting further proves that well-managed parks and green spaces can be beneficial to both visitors and biodiversity.”

Rabbit Ings Country Park

Rabbit Ings Country Park in Royston is open every for anyone who wants to take a break from the indoors and get back to nature. It is a country park located on the former colliery yard and spoil heap of the Monkton Colliery and then the Royston Drift Mine, which closed in 1989. The 64-hectare site, situated near Royston in South Yorkshire, is home to an array of wildlife – including newts, snakes and herons. The Land Trust has owned and managed the park since 2012, in partnership with Groundwork.

For more information, please go to thelandtrust.org.uk/space/rabbit-ings-country-park