Press Release

Press Release Archive: Monday 20 July 2009

BioBlitz smashes record number of different species found over 24 hours

The Banovallum BioBlitz last weekend was a huge success and the team of scientists, naturalists and the public found 476 different species at Banovallum House in Horncastle.

The 24-hour wildlife survey, or BioBlitz, of the gardens of Banovallum House in Horncastle took place from 4pm on Friday 10 July until 4pm on Saturday 11 July 2009. It was the fourth BioBlitz to be held and more species were recorded this year than during any of the previous events (2008 - 357, 2007 - 326 species, and 2006 - 250). Of the species recorded, 177 (37%) had not been seen in the gardens before. The new records included 5 species of slugs and snails, 35 beetles including 3 nationally notable beetles: Chrysolina oricalcia - a leaf beetle, Stenus ater and Tachyporus formosus - both rove beetles, and 22 flies including one nationally notable fly: Beris clavipes - a soldier fly. Three of the moths found have been identified as priorities nationally as they are widespread but in decline: Caradrina Morpheus - Mottled Rustic, Melanchra persicariae - Dot Moth, and Spilosoma luteum - Buff Ermine Margaret Haggerty, Manager of the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership, said: "The number of species recorded illustrates just how much biodiversity there is living in our gardens and countryside. Every time we do this event and invite naturalists and the public to help us find the wildlife in the gardens, we find species previously unrecorded here." "Over 140 people took part in the BioBlitz. Seeing and finding so many invertebrates is partly down to lots of people looking and searching. It was great to see so many children enjoying looking for invertebrates throughout the whole garden. Without all that help we wouldn’t have discovered so many. We are also very thankful to the wildlife specialists and experts who can identify all these animals and plants." Over 24 hours, 476 species were recorded: 1 fungi 4 lichens 8 mosses and liverworts 1 horsetail 141 flowering plants 21 slugs and snails 2 earthworms 1 leech 1 millipedes and centipedes 1 mayfly 4 dragonflies and damselflies 1 grasshopper 1 earwig 1 thrips 35 true bugs 1 lacewings 57 beetles including 8 species of native ladybird 1 scorpionfly 13 butterflies 77 moths 28 true flies 19 sawflies/ants/bees/wasps including 8 bumblebees 5 crustaceans (woodlice, freshwater shrimp) 6 mites 10 spiders 4 fish 1 amphibian 27 birds 4 mammals   Over 700 species have now been recorded from the gardens of Banovallum House. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust PR Officer, Rachel Shaw, commented: "One of the highlights was being able to show people some of the moths we had caught in the light traps on the Friday night. These included the large and impressive privet hawkmoth which has a black and pink striped abdomen. We were also delighted to find 8 species of native ladybird as well as the non-native harlequin ladybird. Two of these ladybirds we hadn’t previously recorded: the water ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata) which lives near water on reeds and a small brown ladybird known only as Rhyzobius litura which is small without much pattern and has hairs all over. It is probably quite common but is not often noticed or identified. We now have a total of 12 species of ladybird recorded in the gardens of Banovallum House." The Banovallum BioBlitz is organised by the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership, Lincolnshire Naturalists’ Union and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. It is held at Banovallum House, Manor House Street, Horncastle LN9 5HF, the headquarters of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

Notes to Editors

1. Biodiversity is short for biological diversity; it describes the amazing richness and variety of all living things. The Banovallum BioBlitz is organised by the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership, Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.
   
2. The Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership brings together local authorities, statutory agencies, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations with a responsibility for and interest in biodiversity in the historic county of Lincolnshire.  The partnership coordinates action, information and protection and provides services for partner organisations through the Biodiversity Action Plan, Environmental Records Centre and Local Wildlife Sites.  The Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership is independent of any of its constituent organisations. Visit:  lincsbiodiversity.org.uk
   
3. The Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union is the only amateur Natural History Society covering the whole of Lincolnshire. Members study, record, hold meetings, supply information, publish books, exhibit, discuss and learn. Visit:  lnu.org
   
4. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and wild places throughout the historic county of Lincolnshire – from the Humber to the Wash. The Trust is Lincolnshire’s leading nature conservation charity with over 25,000 members and around 100 nature reserves. The Trust is a member of a nationwide network of 47 local trusts which work to protect wildlife - The Wildlife Trusts. lincstrust.org.uk
   
5. There are 47 local Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney.  We are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone.  With 765,000 members, we are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species, whether they be in the countryside, in cities or at sea. 135,000 of our members belong to our junior branch, Wildlife Watch.  We manage 2,200 nature reserves covering more than 84,000 hectares; we stand up for wildlife; we inspire people about the natural world and we foster sustainable living. wildlifetrusts.org

For further information please contact

Rachel Shaw, Public Relations Officer
Tel: 01507 526667   (ansaphone out of office hours)
Fax: 01507 525732
Email: Rachel Shaw

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Banovallum House
Manor House Street
Horncastle
Lincolnshire LN9 5HF

Website: www.lincstrust.org.uk