A Rare mayfly has been discovered on two trout rivers in Derbyshire.
A Southern Iron Blue sub-species of the insect, was discovered during restoration work on to the rivers Dove and Manifold. It has two tails, a dark brown body and grey-blue coloured wings but has been described as in decline.
It is the first time the species has been recorded in the area, located within the Peak District National Park and near to Ilam.
Craig Macadam, national co-ordinator of the Mayfly Recording Scheme, described the discovery as “incredibly important”.
“The Southern Iron Blue Mayfly has suffered a huge decline in numbers in recent years,” he told the Derby Telegraph.
“This new sighting gives hope that it can be discovered in other watercourses in the Dove catchment and beyond.”
The Environment Agency’s David Ottewell added, “We now need to understand whether it has just come to Derbyshire, or whether it has always been there but there has been no record of it.”
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