West Highland species finds are a first in Britain

Nature: Rainforest fungus and two gnats discovered

A rare rainforest fungus and two tiny fly species – never before seen in the UK – have been discovered on the west coast of Scotland.

The surprise finds came during an insect survey at Loch Arkaig Pine Forest in Lochaber, where the two species of fungus gnat came to light, while the hazel gloves fungus was in Dunollie Wood, Argyll.

Fungus gnats are tiny flies whose larvae feed on mushrooms and fungi.

The two species – Boletina gusakovae and Mycetophila idonea – are more common on mainland

Europe, with Mycetophila idonea seen in Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Georgia and Luxembourg.

Boletina gusakovae has normally been found in Finland and Russia.

The insects were captured in 2018 using malaise traps, which resemble a backpacker’s tent and funnel flying insects into a collection jar. The traps were in place for four months and 262 types of flying insect have so far been identified.

Surveyor Ian Strachan said he thought it was likely that the flies had long been in the UK, but had simply never been spotted before.

“This was a very exciting find. It makes all the hours of sorting seem worthwhile,” he said.

“It is a very laborious process. It could be several years before all the species are identified – but I am determined to get as many as possible done.”

And near Oban, retired countryside ranger Richard Wesley from Cullipool on the Isle of Luing discovered the hazel gloves fungus on a trip to Dunollie Wood with Lorn Natural History Group.

Mr Wesley said: “After resting on a log, I looked down and to my surprise spotted a windblown twig with a small sample of hazel gloves, as though it had been placed there for me to find.”

They searched for further samples, with Cynthia Grindley and Noelle Odling finding two more.

The hazel gloves fungus – or Hypocreopsis rhododendri – is a priority species on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and Scottish Biodiversity List.

George Anderson of Woodland Trust Scotland said: “Hazel gloves is an indicator of high-quality temperate rainforest so we are really pleased it has been identified at Dunollie Wood.”