A caddisfly last seen in Britain 129 years ago has turned up in the Highlands.
 
The tiny insect was rediscovered by David Pryce, one of the co-ordinators of the Riverfly Recording Schemes.

It was found beside a river in Assynt, Sutherland, while Mr Pryce was undertaking field work for his PhD at the University of Stirling.

The Pincer-tailed caddisfly (Hydroptila tigurina) is a micro-caddisfly, measuring around 3mm, which lives in fast, stony rivers.

The only other record of this species is from Ambleside, Cumbria in 1881 and it was thought that after nearly 130 years with no records, this species may be extinct in the UK.

This new record, over 350 miles north of the previous one, raises the possibility that this species may turn up in other areas.

Craig Macadam, Buglife's conservation officer for Scotland, said riverflies have suffered a dramatic decline in numbers in recent years. To find a species over a century after it was last recorded is fantastic news.

"Hydroptila tigurina is only found in a handful of countries in Europe. This new record represents the first record of this species in Scotland."

Riverflies include Mayflies (Ephemeroptera), Caddisflies (Trichoptera) and Stoneflies (Plecoptera) - a total of 278 species in the UK.

The Riverfly Recording Schemes promote the study and recording of caddisflies, mayflies and stoneflies in the United Kingdom.