EGGS OF EXTINCT UK CICADA SPECIES BROUGHT TO BRITAIN

Eggs of the New Forest cicada, an insect species not recorded in the United Kingdom since the 1990s, have been brought back to Britain. The Species Recovery Trust obtained the eggs as part of efforts to reintroduce the singing insect to its former habitat. The cicadas will be reared in controlled conditions before potential release into the wild. The project marks an attempt to restore a species that disappeared from British ecosystems decades ago.

The New Forest cicada was last documented in the UK during the 1990s, after which no sightings were recorded in the country. The species is distinguished by the audible sounds males produce, which give the insect its common name. Cicadas of this type are found in warmer regions of continental Europe, where populations remain established. The Species Recovery Trust identified the species as a candidate for reintroduction based on historical records of its presence in southern England.

The reintroduction programme represents a broader effort by conservation organisations to restore lost species to British wildlife. The Species Recovery Trust has not yet announced a timeline for releasing the reared cicadas into the New Forest or confirmed specific locations for their release. The success of the project will depend on whether the insects can establish viable breeding populations in UK conditions. Further details regarding the rearing process and release strategy are expected as the programme progresses.