YEARLY HIGHLIGHTS
[CAIRNGORMS UP-CLOSE] [DEEPGREEN.EARTH]
Year: 2026
♀♂ Timberman (Acanthocinus aedilis)
Category: LONGHORN BEETLES
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 28 April 2026
Comment: It was fascinating to watch the male guarding the female, by clutching her wing-cases, as she moved around a fallen Scots pine trunk, chewing holes and laying eggs under the bark.
Green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
Category: BUTTERFLIES
Where and when encountered: Anagach Woods on 29 April 2026
Comment: The sunlight fell beautifully on the wings of this resting butterfly, on the edge of pine woodland.
Common lizard (Zootoca vivipara)
Category: REPTILES
Where and when encountered: Speybridge on 29 April 2026
Comment: This young lizard sat patiently and motionlessly on the stonework as I crossed the Old Speybridge.
Berytinus minor
Category: STILTBUGS
Where and when encountered: Dalnahaitnach on 30 April 2026
Comment: It was a most delightful surprise to encounter a stiltbug in the Cairngorms.
Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)
Category: BUTTERFLIES
Where and when encountered: Nethy Bridge on 8 May 2026
Comment: It was a great feeling to finally have enough time in the presence of a painted lady in the Cairngorms to take a photograph, after several years of fleeting glimpses at best.
Prasocuris glabra
Category: LEAF BEETLES
Where and when encountered: Glenfeshie on 11 May 2026
Comment: Given the rather small size of these beetles, it was especially satisfying to be able to find out the name of their species, having very much enjoyed watching them wander over the exposed river sediment beside an upland burn.
Lesser twayblade (Neottia cordata)
Category: FORBS
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 15 May 2026
Comment: Having previously only seen a single lesser twayblade – on mountain moorland and after the plant had gone to seed – it was triply satisfying to see a cluster of these small orchids in their prime and under veteran pines.
♀ Emperor moth (Saturnia pavonia)
Category: MOTHS
Where and when encountered: Duthil Plantation on 16 May 2026
Comment: The sighting of a mating pair of emperor moths turned what had already been a rather good day of being out and about into one that was utterly joyous. (One of the male's feathered antennae is visible in the photograph.)
Aradus depressus
Category: FLATBUGS
Where and when encountered: Anagach Woods on 21 May 2026
Comment: It is always a red-letter day when you see a flatbug, but it was especially pleasing to be able to watch one who was sitting in plain view, on wooden fencing, and in no apparent hurry to get on with his or her business.
♂ Red-belted awl-fly (Xylophagus cinctus)
Category: TRUE FLIES
Where and when encountered: Anagach Woods on 21 May 2026
Comment: Having encountered the common awl-fly in one of Grantown's deciduous woods earlier in the month, it was very satisfying to come across this conifer counterpart in pinewoods to the south of the town.
Six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae)
Category: MOTHS
Where and when encountered: Duthil Plantation on 23 May 2026
Comment: Seeing this striking caterpillar feeding on the classic host-plant (common bird's-foot trefoil) was a delightful experience.
Aspen hoverfly (Hammerschmidtia ferruginea)
Category: TRUE FLIES
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 26 May 2026
Comment: While my first photograph of an aspen hoverfly, following a suspected sighting the previous year, was assisted by a tip for a good trunk to visit, it was still a great thrill to see this rare and beautiful species.
Gonioctena decemnotata
Category: LEAF BEETLES
Where and when encountered: Abernethy Forest on 28 May 2026
Comment: Following several speculative searches for this beetle on aspen suckers in Abernethy Forest in previous years, it was incredible to actually find this insect in that place, with several adults, an aggregation of larvae, and at least a hint of some level of parental care being provided.
Bolitophagus reticulatus
Category: DARKLING BEETLES
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 30 May 2026
Comment: Several weeks before finding this species, I had identified a fallen birch covered in hoof fungus and determined to keep on visiting the microhabitat until this fantastic beetle appeared.
Dead-nettle leaf beetle (Chrysolina fastuosa)
Category: LEAF BEETLES
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 30 May 2026
Comment: This beetle took my breath away twice, once when I first saw the individual and a second time when I opened up the photograph on my laptop a little later.
Bird's-nest orchid (Neottia nidus-avis)
Category: FORBS
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 30 May 2026
Comment: Initially locating an emerging shoot of this orchid based on finding the dead stems of the previous year, it was so wonderful to be able to track the development and evenutal flowering of the new growth.
Eremocoris abietis
Category: GROUNDBUGS
Where and when encountered: Abernethy Forest on 12 June 2026
Comment: It is always satisfying to encounter a species of true bug with the Scottish Highlands for a heartland, and this instance was no exception.
Northern rose chafer (Protaetia cuprea)
Category: SCARAB BEETLES
Where and when encountered: Nethy Bridge on 12 June 2026
Comment: What a thrill it was to see this spectacular beetle taking nectar on the edge of pine woodland.
Calocoris alpestris
Category: PLANT BUGS
Where and when encountered: Blair Atholl on 13 June 2026
Comment: My first-ever sighting of this plant bug was quickly followed by ten further observations in the immediate vicinity and then seven more, including a last-instar nymph, a short distance away.
Six-spotted pot beetle (Cryptocephalus sexpunctatus)
Category: LEAF BEETLES
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 18 June 2026
Comment: Occasionally, looking for insects throws up an entirely unexpected discovery, as was the case with this scarce beetle.
Poplar hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)
Category: MOTHS
Where and when encountered: Blair Atholl on 20 June 2026
Comment: What a staggering sight this moth provided, resting on trackside vegetation.
Figwort weevil (Cionus scrophulariae)
Category: TRUE WEEVILS
Where and when encountered: Blair Castle grounds on 21 June 2026
Comment: Having failed to find this (or any closely related species) on figworts during a fortnight's eager searching, it came as a most pleasant surprise to chance upon this individual on an umbellifer.
♂ Phasia hemiptera
Category: TRUE FLIES
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 28 June 2026
Comment: As spectacular as this insect looks on a digital image, the real-life view is incomparable.
♀♂ Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)
Category: BUTTERFLIES
Where and when encountered: Inshriach Forest (west) on 29 June 2026
Comment: This mating pair was perched so gorgeously in the sunlight of a forest ride.