Skip to main content

Buglife Fieldwork at Crom Estate

Written on . Posted in .

On Wednesday 9th June 2021, the LELP Environmental Education Officer was joined by Anna Hart from Buglife and a group of enthusiastic Year 10 pupils and staff from St. Kevin’s College in Lisnaskea, at Crom Estate, to search for elusive reed beetles.

A group of Year 10 pupils and their staff visited Crom Estate on Wednesday 9th June 2021.

Although the weather was a little windy and overcast for searching for the beetles, Anna carefully explained searching techniques, how to use the equipment and where reed beetles are commonly found and their preferred habitat. The pupils and staff from St. Kevin’s got stuck in immediately and it wasn’t long before a great selection of insects, moths, damson flies, beetles, spiders and snails had been collected from the rich shoreline at Crom. Furthermore, the pupils managed to find TWO different types of reed beetles! A very successful and fun morning for all involved.

The pupils caught a large selection of invertebrates using sweep nets and bug pots.

Many thanks to Crom Estate and the National Trust staff team for facilitating our visit, Ms Rogers and the pupils from St. Kevin’s College, LELP and Heritage Lottery Fund NI.

The pupils even managed to capture two types of Reed Beetle. Whilst neither where the specific beetle Anna is searching for, they are both great finds in trying conditions.