The New Forest cicada, a singing insect that hasn't been seen in the UK since the 1990s, is set to make a comeback thanks to a pioneering conservation project. The Species Recovery Trust has retrieved eggs from a French military base in Brittany, where the species still thrives, and brought them back to Paultons Park Zoo in Hampshire for rearing.
The once-familiar sound of the New Forest cicada (Cicadetta montana) is now mostly confined to mainland Europe. However, the project's organisers believe changes in habitat management contributed to its disappearance from Britain's landscape. The expedition to collect eggs was made possible by the diverse woodland and grassland habitats found at the 5,300-hectare Académie militaire de Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan site near Rennes.
Specialist ultrasound detectors were used to locate male cicadas' distinctive song within the vast military base. The devices helped SRT volunteers, including Pete Hughes, pinpoint areas where female cicadas had laid eggs by detecting scars on bracken stems left behind during this process. A total of 20 such stems bearing these scars were collected.
Upon their return to Paultons Park Zoo, the bracken stems were placed in miniature vases designed to keep them alive and prevent nymphs from falling into water. This careful setup is crucial due to the lengthy subterranean period during which the insects will feed on plant roots before emerging as adults – a process that can take anywhere between four and ten years.
Programmes manager Charlotte Carne highlighted the dual benefits of this project, stating that, in addition to reintroducing the cicadas into their native habitat, rearing them in captivity is providing valuable insights into their life cycle and behaviour. Research funded by Natural England since 2023 is essential for ensuring the long-term success of the reintroduction, with a future goal of having hundreds of cicadas singing through the New Forest during summer months.